Blacks Caps go for double spin strategy

NAPIER // New Zealand are set to go into the second Test against the West Indies with two spinners. While captain Daniel Vettori said the starting XI had not yet been finalised for the match which starts today, he said Jeetan Patel would be included at the expense of one of the seamers. "We played here last season and he bowled well against England,"he said. "I think this pitch is often mis-represented. It's not as bouncy as people say.

"All the games that I have played here, it has just been a good flat wicket so we're hoping that with the sun out baking, it's going to be a good flat deck. "Hopefully what I managed to do in Dunedin [first Test], the pair of us can do in this game." The Black Caps captain took 6-56 in that drawn game and felt the twin spin option was a good one, provided both were on the mark. "Anyone is vulnerable to quality spin bowling so if Jeetan and myself can bowl well, we see that as a good option for us," added Vettori.

The decision on which seamer would be dropped had yet to be decided but Vettori confirmed the all-rounder James Franklin had overcome his blow to the ribs and would be in the attack along with the in-form Iain O'Brien, leaving Kyle Mills or Mark Gillespie as the unlucky player. Gillespie had a disappointing outing in Dunedin where he did not get a wicket and conceded over 100 runs off his 21 overs.

On the other hand Mills, who was a late call-up for the injured Jacob Oram, took 3-64 off his 24 overs and Vettori admitted it was going to be a tough call to make. "Our plan for these guys is about being patient and building pressure and that's what Kyle did in the last game on a flat wicket." * PA Sport

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

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Killing of Qassem Suleimani

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Our legal advisor

Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.

Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.

Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.