<p>China's indigenously designed and built amphibious aircraft AG600, touted as the world's largest, successfully carried out its first take-off and landing tests on Saturday.</p>

<p>The aircraft, developed and built by the state-owned aircraft firm Aviation Industry Corporation of China, took off and later landed on the water in Hubei province's Jingmen, state-run China Daily reported.</p>

<p>The seaplane took off from the Zhanghe Reservoir at 8:51 am (local time) and stayed airborne for about 15 minutes, said the report which also accompanied the videos of the aircraft's take off.</p>

<p>The aircraft code-named Kunlong was piloted by four crew members.</p>

<p>Early this month, it completed its first water taxiing trials at a high speed of 145 kilometres.</p>

<p>Designed to be the world's largest amphibious aircraft, AG600 is powered by four domestically-built turboprop engines and has a range of 12 hours.</p>

<p>It will be mainly used for maritime rescue, fighting forest fires and marine monitoring, according to an earlier report by the state-run Xinhua news agency.</p>

<p>The aircraft has passed a series of tests since its maiden flight last December. It successfully finished eight taxiing tests on water at a speed of 80-kilometre per hour and 120-kilometre per hour.&nbsp;</p>


China's indigenously designed and built amphibious aircraft AG600, touted as the world's largest, successfully carried out its first take-off and landing tests on Saturday.

China's indigenously designed and built amphibious aircraft AG600, touted as the world's largest, successfully carried out its first take-off and landing tests on Saturday. The aircraft, developed and built by the state-owned aircraft firm Aviation Industry Corporation of China, took off and later landed on the water in Hubei province's Jingmen, state-run China Daily reported. The seaplane took off from the Zhanghe Reservoir at 8:51 am (local time) and stayed airborne for about 15 minutes, said the report which also accompanied the videos of the aircraft's take off. The aircraft code-named Kunlong was piloted by four crew members. Early this month, it completed its first water taxiing trials at a high speed of 145 kilometres. Designed to be the world's largest amphibious aircraft, AG600 is powered by four domestically-built turboprop engines and has a range of 12 hours. It will be mainly used for maritime rescue, fighting forest fires and marine monitoring, according to an earlier report by the state-run Xinhua news agency. The aircraft has passed a series of tests since its maiden flight last December. It successfully finished eight taxiing tests on water at a speed of 80-kilometre per hour and 120-kilometre per hour.

China-built world's largest amphibious plane completes maiden flight test

<p>Afghanistan will play its maiden Test match in the southern Indian city of Bangalore on June 14, cricket officials announced Tuesday.</p>

<p>India&#39;s cricket board said it welcomed the opportunity to host its &quot;friends&quot; for their first Test since they gained full status last year.</p>

<p>The war-torn nation have played the majority of their home games in India, which has supported the minnows in their quest for Test status.</p>

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<h5>The Test will kick off on June 14</h5>
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<p>&quot;It will be a historic day for Afghanistan and everybody is waiting for it,&quot; Afghanistan cricket board chairman Atif Mashal said in New Delhi.</p>

<p>Afghanistan have emerged as a competitive international team, with strong performances in the limited-overs format including two one-day series victories in Zimbabwe.</p>

<p>Last year, spinner Rashid Khan and former captain Mohammad Nabi became the first Afghans to be picked in the lucrative Indian Premier League auction.</p>

<p>Afghanistan and Ireland were granted five-day status in June last year by the International Cricket Council, becoming the 11th and 12th Test-playing nations.<br />
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India's cricket board said it welcomed the opportunity to host its 'friends' for their first Test since they gained full status last year

Afghanistan will play its maiden Test match in the southern Indian city of Bangalore on June 14, cricket officials announced Tuesday. India's cricket board said it welcomed the opportunity to host its "friends" for their first Test since they gained full status last year. The war-torn nation have played the majority of their home games in India, which has supported the minnows in their quest for Test status. The Test will kick off on June 14 × "It will be a historic day for Afghanistan and everybody is waiting for it," Afghanistan cricket board chairman Atif Mashal said in New Delhi. Afghanistan have emerged as a competitive international team, with strong performances in the limited-overs format including two one-day series victories in Zimbabwe. Last year, spinner Rashid Khan and former captain Mohammad Nabi became the first Afghans to be picked in the lucrative Indian Premier League auction. Afghanistan and Ireland were granted five-day status in June last year by the International Cricket Council, becoming the 11th and 12th Test-playing nations.

Afghanistan to play maiden Test against India at Bengaluru in June

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China-built world's largest amphibious plane completes maiden flight test

Afghanistan to play maiden Test against India at Bengaluru in June