Saturday 31 May 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

US soldier released by Taliban in prisoner swap

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BAGRAM AIRFIELD (AFP) - A US soldier captured nearly five years ago in Afghanistan was freed Saturday in exchange for five Taliban inmates held at the Guantanamo prison in a dramatic deal brokered by Qatar.US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was in good condition after Taliban fighters handed him over to a few dozen US special operations forces backed up by helicopters at an undisclosed location in eastern Afghanistan, defence officials said.In announcing the breakthrough, President Barack Obama thanked Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, for helping to bring home the only American to be held captive by the Taliban in the 13-year-old war.Today the American people are pleased that we will be able to welcome home Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, held captive for nearly five years, Obama said in a statement.The White House said Obama would address the American people in the Rose Garden at 6:15 pm (2215 GMT).Previous attempts to secure the 28-year-old Bergdahl's release through a swap with the Taliban had failed but this time, Qatar was able to secure an agreement.A senior administration official confirmed that, in connection with the army sergeant's return, the United States had transferred five Afghan Guantanamo detainees to the Arab emirate.With the personal commitment of the emir of Qatar, with whom the president spoke on Tuesday, we were thankfully able to obtain Sgt Bergdahl's release, the official said in an email.An opportunity arose several weeks ago to resume talks on Bergdahl's release, the official said, and we seized it.Bergdahl disappeared in June 2009 from a base in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province near the Pakistan border, with the Taliban later saying they had captured him.On behalf of the American people, I was honoured to call his parents to express our joy that they can expect his safe return, mindful of their courage and sacrifice throughout this ordeal.Bergdahl's parents said they were joyful and relieved to hear that their son was a free man.We cannot wait to wrap our arms around our only son, they said in a statement quoted by CNN. Today, we are ecstaticPentagon officials said Bergdahl was freed in the evening and brought to the Bagram air base north of Kabul, where he was receiving medical treatment.From there, he was to be taken to the US military medical facility at Landstuhl, Germany for further treatment and evaluation, before a reunion with his family in Texas.But soon after the news broke, Obama faced criticism over the transfer of the Taliban inmates from the US prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.Influential Republican Senator John McCain -- while welcoming Bergdahl's release -- called the transferred detainees hardened terrorists.The senator demanded to know what steps were being taken to ensure that these vicious and violent Taliban extremists never return to fight against the United States and our partners.US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said the United States had coordinated closely with Qatar to ensure that security measures are in place and the national security of the United States will not be compromised.The senior administration official concurred, saying we will not transfer any detainee from Guantanamo unless the threat the detainee may post to the United States can be sufficiently mitigated.According to a State Department official, the five transferred detainees are Mohammad Fazl, Mullah Norullah Noori, Mohammed Nabi, Khairullah Khairkhwa and Abdul Haq Wasiq.A Taliban source in the Pakistani city of Quetta told AFP that all five had been officials in the Taliban regime driven out of power in the US-led invasion of Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, and that they were influential among the Taliban ranks.News of their transfer was welcomed with great happiness by the militants, who had long sought their release from Guantanamo Bay as a condition for launching peace talks.Their transfer leaves 149 detainees in the US military prison in Cuba, including 12 Afghan nationals, of whom four have been approved for transfer.During his time in captivity, Bergdahl appeared in several Taliban videos.In January, the United States obtained a proof of life video of the soldier -- the first concrete evidence in more than three years that he was still alive. The United States government never forgot Sergeant Bergdahl nor did we stop working to bring him back, Hagel said.Secretary of State John Kerry said he had spoken with outgoing Afghan President Hamid Karzai to brief him on the exchange.Word of Bergdahl's release came just days after Obama unveiled plans to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2016, ending America's longest war 15 years after the September 11 terror attacks.Obama confirmed that the 32,000-strong US contingent in Afghanistan would be scaled back to about 9,800 troops by the start of next year.The drawdown relies on Afghanistan signing a long-delayed Bilateral Security Agreement laying out the terms of the US military presence in the country after this year.

Syria tunnel bombing kills 20 soldiers: monitor

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BEIRUT (AFP) - At least 20 Syrian regime forces were killed Saturday when Islamist rebels planted explosives in a tunnel under an army position in the northern city of Aleppo, a monitor said.Aleppo's historic Old City has seen horrific violence ever since the rebels launched a major offensive against Syria's former economic hub in July 2012. The area is a flashpoint area that sees daily fighting, and the army has set up multiple positions there.Islamist rebels detonated a tunnel near the Zahrawi market in the Old City of Aleppo, killing at least 20 army soldiers and pro-regime militiamen, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.Fighting broke out after the explosion, and at least one rebel was killed, said the Britain-based Observatory.The attack was claimed by the Islamic Front, Syria's largest rebel alliance which groups thousands of fighters across the strife-torn country.It posted a link to a video on its Twitter account, showing a huge blast throwing a massive cloud of debris up into the air.In recent weeks, the Islamic Front has frequently used tunnels to plant massive amounts of explosives beneath army positions.The tactic has been used mainly in Aleppo and neighbouring Idlib provinces.The latest blast came a day after the Observatory said some 2,000 people have been killed since January in regime bombing of rebel-held areas of Aleppo city and nearby towns and villages.The Syrian Revolution General Commission, a network of activists on the ground, said the air force launched fresh barrel bomb attacks on the Beni Zeid area of Aleppo on Saturday.Rebels, meanwhile, fired mortar rounds on a neighbourhood controlled by the regime in Aleppo, killing four people and wounding 17 others, said the Observatory.An activist also reported that the Red Crescent and the International Committee of the Red Cross delivered 14 trucks of food aid Saturday to Raqa province, much of which held by radical Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.The aid that arrived is by no means sufficient to feed the families here, who suffer from terrible poverty, said activist Abu Ibrahim from Raqa.Syria's war has killed more than 162,000 people, and forced nearly half the population to flee their homes.

Police fire tear gas at Turkey anniversary protest

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ISTANBUL (AFP) - Turkish police fired tear gas and water cannon at hundreds of people in Istanbul and Ankara Saturday as demonstrations marking a year since deadly anti-government protests erupted in fresh violence.Police clashed with protesters near Istanbul's iconic Taksim Square, scene of last year's unrest that claimed eight lives and left thousands injured, an AFP reporter on the ground said.Everywhere is Taksim, everywhere is resistance, the demonstrators shouted. Riot police also deployed tear gas and water cannon to disperse some 1,000 people in the capital Ankara, who hurled fireworks.In the run-up to the anniversary, Turkey's prime minister had warned authorities would do whatever is necessary to curb protest.I am calling on all my people. Do not be deceived. This is not an environmentalist campaign. There is no sincerity here, Recep Tayyip Erdogan told thousands of supporters at an Istanbul rally.If you go there, our security forces have received clear-cut instructions and will do whatever is necessary from A to Z, said the premier.You will not be able to take to (Taksim) like you did last year because you are obliged to abide by the laws... If you do not, the state will do whatever is necessary for its security, he warned.Security was tight around Taksim Square and other points in Istanbul, with some 25,000 police deployed, streets to the square blocked and public transport curtailed.Pressure on the international media was also high amid a tense climate around Taksim. Police briefly detained a CNN team in the middle of a live report in the square. Turkish police released CNN team after half an hour. Officer apologised for another officer who kneed me while I was being detained, CNN's Ivan Watson wrote on Twitter. Authorities said 65 people had already been arrested.Last year, what started as a small campaign to save the nearby Gezi Park from the bulldozers eventually drew an estimated three million protesters in an outpouring of anger at the perceived authoritarian tendencies of Erdogan's Islamic-rooted government.Eight people died and thousands were injured in the ensuing violence as police launched a brutal crackdown, frequently employing tear gas and water cannon.Istanbul governor Huseyi Avni Mutlu said this week: We know what happened in June last year and it is not a good memory ... We do not want to see such sorrow again.But activists defied the ban on protests, with Mucella Yapici, founding member of the activist group Taksim Solidarity, vowing we will be on the streets despite what she called the government's policies of violence and injustice.I am trying to remember all the voices and the sounds I heard here last year. You can't erase those memories, 41-year-old Sebnem, an actress, said early Saturday before Gezi Park was closed. Ugur, 31, a teacher, said: We will long remember all the people who lost their lives here, as well as the way our state behaved.Earlier in Ankara, a group of protesters lit candles, released pigeons and lay carnations on the ground at Guven park, where 26-year-old Ethem Sarisuluk was shot in the head by police last year.Last year's deadly protests turned into the largest challenge to Erdogan since his party came to power in 2002. It has been a year since the Gezi events erupted, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said Saturday. This is not something to commemorate or to be proud of. There are lessons that we have learned, he said without elaborating. I don't want such events to happen again as they do not serve Turkey's peace, progress and strength.

Tennis: Nadal powers on at French Open

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PARIS (AFP) - Rafael Nadal produced another imposing display of claycourt tennis at Roland Garros on Saturday to crush Argentinian Leonardo Mayer 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 and reach the last 16 of the French Open.Seeking to become the first man to win five straight titles in Paris and the first to win nine times at the same Grand Slam, Nadal has lost just 19 games in getting to the last 16.At the same stage last year en route to his eighth French Open title, Nadal had dropped two sets and lost 48 games.Mayer, ranked 65th in the world, had little to offer as Nadal led from the start and was able to play well within his limits and still race away with the match.The only blip came in the eighth game of the second set when Mayer broke for the first time in the match to level at 4-4.But minutes later Nadal snuffed out any nascent threat to go two sets clear and the outcome was a formality after that.The Spaniard's record at Roland Garros since 2005 is now 62 wins for one loss, that coming against Robin Soderling of Sweden in a 2009 fourth round match.Next up for the Spaniard, who will turn 28 on Tuesday, is little-known Serb Dusan Lajovic, who saw off American hope Jack Sock 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.Asked if he would asking for advice on how to tackle Nadal from fellow Serb Novak Djokovic, Lajovic wryly replied: Yeah, I will try to ask everybody some tips against Rafa.You need to have a lot of tips and confidence to beat him, but I hope to enjoy the match if he wins and to give my best. The man Nadal defeated in last year's final, fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, also reached the last 16 by defeating Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-2, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.The fifth seed had little difficulty in despatching a player he had taken on six times previously and not dropped a single set.He will now go on to take on 19th seed Kevin Anderson of South Africa who moved through when opponent Ivo Karlovic of Croatia retired with a back injury after losing the first set 6-3.With 35-year-old Karlovic measuring 2.11m (6ft 11in) and Anderson 2.03m (6ft 8in) their towering showdown out on Court 2 had been billed as the tallest match in Grand Slam history, but it lasted only 43 minutes.Anderson also reached the last 16 last year in Paris, the first South African to do so since Wayne Ferreira in 1996.At 32, Ferrer was one of 10 men aged 30 or over to reach the third round, the most at any Grand Slam event since 1978 Wimbledon when there were 12.The highest number of players aged 30 or over through to the round of 16 at Roland Garros was eight in 1969.American hopes of having three players through to the last 16 for the first time since 1995, when Andre Agassi, Michael Chang and Jim Courier reached that stage, were shattered with the defeat of Sock.John Isner made the fourth round on Friday and Donald Young has the chance to join him later Saturday when he needs to defeat Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.Andy Murray is also due to be in action later Saturday going up against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber, who won a tournament on clay in Dusseldorf last weekend.The British seventh seed's best showing to date at Roland Garros is a semi-final appearance in 2011 when he lost to Nadal. He missed last year's tournament through a back injury.French interest was high on Saturday with Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet both hoping to join Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the fourth round.Monfils was playing Italian 14th seed Fabio Fognini and Gasquet had Spanish 24th seed Fernando Verdasco.

Tennis: Kuznetsova leads senior surge as Paris stars fade

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PARIS (AFP) - Svetlana Kuznetsova led a seniors surge into the French Open last 16 on Saturday with a marathon win over Petra Kvitova as Roland Garros lost the fourth of its top five seeds.Kuznetsova, 28, won a three-hour 13 minute thriller to defeat fifth-seeded Kvitova 6-7 (3/7), 6-1, 9-7 in the longest match of the women's tournament.The 2009 champion capitalised on Kvitova's 65 unforced errors and 10 double faults to set-up a fourth round clash with another Czech, 27-year-old Lucie Safarova.Former Wimbledon champion Kvitova, a semi-finalist in 2012, had enjoyed a 3-0 career edge over the Russian going into Saturday's clash, but her efforts were undermined by twice needing medical timeouts to treat a back and leg injury.She saved two match points in the 12th game of the decider but the inconsistencies which continue to plague her big-hitting game saw her twice fail to serve out the tie in the 10th and 14th games of the third set.I knew I was going to give everything I could and run every mile, every metre I could, and put as many balls back and try to be aggressive because if you watch the match, Petra was inside the court and I was next to the fence, said Kuznetsova who was also US Open champion in 2005.I left everything I could out there. I came up with a win, but I was very close to the loss, as well.Kuznetsova, playing in her 12th consecutive Roland Garros, will next face Kvitova's Fed Cup teammate Safarova who put out Serb 11th seed Ana Ivanovic, the 2008 champion, 6-3, 6-3.It was left-handed Safarova's fifth successive victory against Ivanovic as she booked a place in the last 16 in Paris for the first time since 2007.I was pressuring Ana into her backhand side and then attacking the forehand side, which was working well. I was serving decent. So overall the game was really good, said Safarova, who is 3-3 with Kuznetsova in a rivalry stretching back seven years.Fourth-seeded Simona Halep, the highest-ranked woman left, made the last 16 for the first time as the Romanian continued to escape the Roland Garros carnage.The 22-year-old brushed aside Spain's Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor 6-3, 6-0 and next tackles 15th seeded American Sloane Stephens. Halep, 22, has lost just 11 games in three rounds in Paris.In contrast, the failure of Serena Williams, Li Na and Agnieszka Radwanska to get beyond the third round marked the first time in the Open era that the top three seeds had gone out before the last 16.Halep, relegated to Court 2 for her third round match, finished off Torro-Flor in just 64 minutes.I feel stronger now than last year, and I started to play more aggressive like I did in juniors when I won here in 2008, said Halep, who has collected all of her seven career titles since the start of 2013.So I found my good way to play, and I found a way to be relaxed on court and just to take the pleasure without pressure.Stephens, 21, reached the fourth round for a third successive year thanks to a 6-3, 6-4 win over Russian left-hander Ekaterina Makarova.Serb sixth seed Jelena Jankovic, a three-time semi-finalist, brushed aside Romania's Sorana Cirstea, a quarter-finalist in 2009, in straight sets 6-1, 6-2 and the 29-year-old will next face Sara Errani, the Italian 10th seed.Errani, 27, who was runner-up to Maria Sharapova in 2012, routed Israel's Julia Glushko 6-0, 6-1 in just 52 minutes.German 28th seed Andrea Petkovic, a quarter-finalist in 2011, beat France's Kristina Mladenovic, the conqueror of Li Na in the first round, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.It was the 26-year-old Petkovic's second win over the blonde Frenchwoman this year having also come out on top at the Paris Indoor event.The former world number nine will face Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens after the world number 148 eased past Spain's Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-2, 6-1.

Motorcycling: Magisterial Marquez makes it six from six poles

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MUGELLO (AFP) - Spain's world champion Marc Marquez secured his sixth successive pole position in six races this season as he timed fastest in qualifying for Sunday's Italian MotoGP at Mugello.The 21-year-old Honda rider, who has won the opening five races this season to become the first rider since Giacomo Agostini in 1972 to achieve that feat, was recording his 43rd career pole.He edged out Italian Andrea Iannone and Spain's two-time world champion Jorge Lorenzo on a Yamaha.Lorenzo, who has a had a poor season by his high standards and presently stands in just fifth place in the championship race, 80 points adrift of Marquez, was happy with his performance. I'm satisfied with third place because it's important to start in the first row here to try to avoid some problems with the first laps and be with the front group, said the 27-year-old.I feel like it's a second place because Iannone has extra soft tyres that can maybe get some extra tenths.Iannone had provided evidence of this as earlier on his Ducati he had established in the practice session a new official top speed record for the MotoGP world championship of 349.6km/h (217.2 mph).Iannone's compatriot, nine-time champion Valentino Rossi, was left fuming by a mix up over his tyres which will see him start from 10th on the grid in what will be his 300th race at this level.We made a big mistake in the qualifying, we decided to change the front tyre at the same time as the second rear, said the 35-year-old, who last year ended a two season winning drought when he won the Dutch MotoGP.It was the wrong decision, I felt really bad with the softer front and I was unable to improve my lap time.It's a great shame, because I had a good potential and could have started on the front, my pace is good with the bike, but it's like this. Tomorrow from the fourth row everything will be harder and more difficult.

Golf: Masters champ Watson leads Memorial event

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DUBLIN (AFP) - Bubba Watson moved one shot ahead of the field after firing his second straight three-under 69 in the third round of the PGA Tour's Memorial Tournament on Saturday.The left-handed American and reigning Masters champ ended 54 holes at 12-under-par 204 at the Muirfield Village Golf Club. In the last eight years, Watson hasn't finished better than tied for 23rd at this $6.2 million event.Another American Scott Langley, shot five-under 67 to move into second place.Japan's Hideki Matsuyama posted a three-under 69 and moved into third at 10-under 206. World number one Adam Scott, of Australia, carded a four-under 68 and climbed to nine-under, where he is alone in fourth place.Charl Schwartzel, of South Africa, and Jordan Spieth both shot 67 in round three. They were joined in fifth place at eight-under-par 208 by Billy Horschel (68), Robert Streb (69), Brendon Todd (69) and second-round leader Paul Casey (76).

Boxing: Froch KO's Groves to retain super-middleweight titles

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LONDON (AFP) - There was no controversy or arguing over the outcome this time as Carl Froch knocked out George Groves in the eighth round in defence of his two world super-middleweight titles at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.Froch stopped his British rival with a big right hand to retain his International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) belts in front of a record crowd of 80,000. It was a stunning finish from Froch after a tense eight rounds, with the punch separating Groves from his senses and leaving him on the canvas.It was Froch's fourth defence of the IBF belt and second defence of the WBA title, in what is his third reign as world champion. Froch improved to 33 wins and two defeats and he perhaps only has one more fight left before retiring.That may be against another British fighter James DeGale, who stopped American Brandon Gonzales in the fourth round on the undercard in an eliminator for the IBF belt.For Groves, a second defeat in his 21st fight leaves a third fight with Froch looking unlikely.It was not as exciting an encounter as their first one had been until the savage finish from Froch, which nailed Groves to the canvas.There was no question Groves could carry on and referee Charlie Fitch immediately waved the fight off as the challenger tried to get to his feet.In November, referee Howard Foster controversially stopped Groves in the ninth round, with the Londoner ahead on the judges' scorecards after putting Froch on the canvas in the first round.It had been a thrilling encounter and such was the interest in the rematch that a record boxing crowd - the biggest in Britain for a fight since the Second World War - turned up to see it.Froch stressed pre-fight he would be more controlled in the rematch after admitting he had fallen for Groves' mind games and teasing in the build up to their first fight, leading to mistakes.The 36-year-old had even employed a sports psychologist to help him prepare for the biggest fight held in Britain in recent history which is expected to generate up to 20million pounds.And to ensure he did not get wound up before the fight, Froch stood with his back to Groves until it was time to fight.It was the Nottingham boxer's 12th successive world title fight but he looked nervous and cautious in the first round, while Groves scored with his fast jab.Groves, who successfully lobbied the IBF to order a rematch, had predicted a left hook would finish Froch inside three rounds but like the champion did not throw combinations early on.It was tense, with neither wanting to leave himself open and in the third round there were boos at the inaction until Froch threw a flurry of blows.Groves, 26, caught Froch with a big right on the counter after the champion had landed a left at the end of the third as the fight warmed up.Froch's careful approach meant Groves was first to land a meaningful blow in the fourth with a right cross.But Froch launched his biggest assault in the fifth round when he hammered Groves with a series of hooks before the Londoner scuttled off to safty.Groves became ragged and more open as fifth went on and Froch took advantage in his best round so far to edge ahead.Just as Froch seemed to be assuming control, Groves got through with a left to the chin that rocked his rival back onto his heals in the seventh.But with the challenger trapped against the ropes, Froch suddenly threw a big right that detonated like a bomb on his jaw, which left Groves in a heap on the canvas in the eighth round.The Londoner tried to get up but referee Charlie Fitch instantly stopped it after two minutes and 35 seconds of the eighth round. Groves had to sit on his stool for a few minutes while he regained his senses before getting to his feet.

Cycling: Quintana on brink of Giro success as Rogers wins stage

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MONTE ZONCOLAN (AFP) - Nairo Quintana of Colombia is certain of Giro d'Italia victory barring any final stage disaster after preserving his handsome lead in Saturday's penultimate 20th stage won by Australia's Michael Rogers.Quintana came home in a pack ahead of his closest rival Rigoberto Uran and carries a 3min 7sec lead into Sunday's closing 172km flat run.The Movistar rider, who measures just 1.67m (5ft 6in) and finished second in last year's Tour de France, is set for his first major Tour victory as the race which began in Belfast, Northern Ireland three weeks ago, concludes in Trieste. For Rogers this was his second win after coming home first in the 11th stage which finished at Savone.Bjarne Risse (team manager) told us to get two in the escape and I was the last one to get in. Nicolas (teammate Roche) really worked hard for me and I could concentrate on the Zoncolan, a climb I didn't know, said Rogers. We had very little information on the time gaps but at the end I delivered a time-trial performance on the climb. Every victory is beautiful but the Zoncolan, is a mountain historic on the Giro. For any rider, it's a dream to win this stage, he added. Rogers came out on top at the summit finish, outlasting Italian Franco Pellizotti by 38secs after the two men broke away from an early escape group.I wanted to win but victory wasn't smiling on me, said a dejected Pellizotti. If I had done it, it would have been the greatest day of my career. There were so many fans who came out to support me. Such a shame. he added. Another Italian Francesco Bongiorno, who was badly hindered by an over excited supporter, took third place, 49secs adrift of Rogers with Irishman Nicolas Roche in fourth at 1min 35secs. I am very bitter about what happened, said Bongiorno. I couldn't play my card the way I wanted because of this push from the supporter and I had to put my foot down which made me lose my rhythm.On a climb like this, it's very difficult to recover and I cried with anger, but what could I do. It should be a warning, perhaps alcohol was too high as well. The supporters are there to help but they have to show respect, added the Bardiani rider. Quintana and Uran crossed the line together at 4min 45secs but it had no major effect on the overall standings. Organisers had promoted the 167km run from Maniago to Monte Zoncolan as one of the toughest in Europe with a final 10km run facing the riders with a climb of 11.9 per cent. After a long breakaway group reached the base of the final climb with a lead of seven minutes on the peloton, Rogers and Bongiorno made their move 5km from home with the Australian making his final attack at 3km from the finish following the fan incident with the Italian. The 34-year-old Rogers only returned to competition in April at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege following a positive doping test last season that was eventually dismissed.

Sangakkara ton just enough as Sri Lanka see off England

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LONDON (AFP) - Kumar Sangakkara's first century at Lord's laid the platform for Sri Lanka's nailbiting seven-run series-levelling win against England in the fourth one-day international on Saturday.Just days after they'd been shot out for 67 during a 10-wicket defeat at Old Trafford, Sri Lanka made 300 for nine after being sent into bat.Sangakkara's 112 -- his first hundred at Lord's in any format -- was the centrepiece and together with Tillakaratne Dilshan (71), he put on 172 for the second wicket after they'd managed just 15 runs between them in Manchester.England needed what would have been their joint second-highest total to win a one-day international.But their pursuit of a victory target of 301 was rocked immediately when Lasith Malinga reduced England to 10 for two by removing captain Alastair Cook and Ian Bell.But Jos Buttler, who came in at 111 for five, brought the hosts back into the match with a brilliant maiden ODI hundred off just 61 balls, the quickest ever scored by an England batsman.Buttler also broke the equivalent Lord's ground record of 82 balls for an ODI hundred set by West Indies great Clive Lloyd during the 1975 World Cup final.Together with Ravi Bopara (51), the man-of-the-match shared a sixth-wicket stand of 133 that left England eyeing a remarkable win.England got the target down to 20 off two overs and then 12 off the last one, bowled by Malinga.Buttler took a first-ball single but Chris Jordan then drove Malinga straight to Dilshan at long on.Buttler then took two only to be run out for 121 off the fourth ball when he dug out a yorker straight back to Malinga.In all he faced just 74 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes.A target of nine off two balls was beyond new batsman James Tredwell and Malinga, who took three for 52, had again proved himself a superb 'death' bowler to leave the series all square at 2-2 ahead of Tuesday's finale at Edgbaston.That was one hell of a game, said Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews at the presentation ceremony.It was one of the best innings I've seen; Jos batted brilliantly. But we saved the best 'til last and it's pretty hard to get 10 runs of Lasith Malinga.Sangakkara and Dilshan batted extremely well; they set the platform.For Buttler, whose century was his first in 32 ODIs, it was a case of mixed emotions on a day when the wicketkeeper/batsman of both teams made hundreds.That's the best I've ever played. It's brilliant to play that well but it's disappointing not to get over the line, said the 23-year-old, who broke the England record for an ODI hundred of 69 balls set by the exiled Kevin Pietersen against South Africa at East London in 2005. England captain Alastair Cook admitted his side's top-order batting had left Buttler with too much to do.It was looking pretty bleak before Buttler and Bopara got going..We know we have to play the first 30 overs better.Earlier, Sangakkara's 19th ODI century saw the 36-year-old take 13 balls to get off the mark.But such was the composure and experience of the left-hander, playing his 373rd match at this level, he never looked flustered.Sangakkara found his touch in the 18th over with three boundaries in successive balls from Joe Root.Dilshan fell when he was bowled by James Anderson after attempting one trademark 'Dilscoop' shot too many.Sangakkara's two off Jordan saw him to a 95-ball hundred with 13 fours.However, Sangakkara was dismissed when off-spinner Tredwell had him stumped by Buttler.Malinga struck with his first ball when he had Cook lbw on review with an inswinger before fellow opener Bell edged the 'slingshot' seamer to Mahela Jayawardene at slip.Gary Ballance (42) and Root (43) staunched the flow of wickets but the Yorkshire duo's stand of 84 contained just three fours as England went 21 overs without a boundary.Sangakkara took an excellent catch off spinner Ajantha Mendis after Ballance played a reverse sweep.And when he stumped Eoin Morgan, England were 111 for five.But an undaunted Buttler hit cleanly and went to fifty by driving seamer Nuwan Kulasekara for six before later twice driving him over the extra cover boundary off successive balls.

Flintoff warms-up with club treble

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LONDON (AFP) - Andrew Flintoff prepared for his anticipated Lancashire comeback by taking three wickets for his old club side on Saturday.Friday saw Lancashire announce that the 36-year-old all-rounder was back in their Twenty20 squad five years after the former England captains injury-induced retirement.And ahead of his expected return to county duty in Lancashires Twenty20 clash at home to arch-rivals Yorkshire at Old Trafford this coming Friday, Flintoff took three for 26 in 12 overs, including five maidens for St Annes against Penrith in the Northern League.He fared less well with the bat, managing just two but St Annes, chasing 133 for victory, still won by two wickets.Flintoff told his Twitter followers: Loving my day - 11 (sic) overs and great fun.Had a bit if help from Watty the keeper for my first wicket, still not sure it carried.After his brief innings, Flintoff added: Blocked one to long off for 2 off 3 England great Ian Botham warned Flintoff was making a massive mistake in coming out of retirement.Flintoff, like Botham a pace bowling all-rounder and ex-England captain, was forced to quit in 2009, his ankles and knees having repeatedly suffered from the pounding they took as he charged in.While I wish him all the very best, I think he is making a massive mistake, Botham wrote in his column in Saturdays Daily Mirror tabloid.Weve not seen Fred on a cricket field since those memorable days in 2009 -- and five years is a long time out of the game.For those that cant remember that far back, Fred had no choice but to quit cricket because of a chronic knee injury that had made walking difficult let alone bowling at 90 miles an hour, Botham added.Unless hes managed to swap knees with someone, I dont know how it has suddenly got better, allowing him to tear in and play the game properly.To come back after five years out of the game and with that injury still in the background is a huge risk. I just hope he does not let himself down too badly.But after Saturdays club fixture, Flintoff responded by tweeting: Thanks for your concerns BeefyBotham but being happy is never a mistakeA powerful batsman and aggressive bowler, Flintoffs greatest all-round series came when he scored 402 runs and took 24 wickets as England regained the Ashes 2-1 in 2005.

Karachi: 4 including cop die in incidents of violence

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – At least four individuals including a cop were killed while another four injured in various incidents of firing and violence. Police took seven suspects into custody during, Dunya News reported.An individual identified as Ghulam Abbas was gunned down in Khamosh Colony. Another tortured body was found at Garden area.In another incident, unidentified persons shot a railway police officer dead at Landhi area.Another individual was injured in hand grenade attacks at Baldia Ittehad Town and Lyari Gulistan colony.DCO Konrangi Zubair Ahmed’s driver and police guard were injured after firing on Ahmed’s car.

PMLN conspired against every democratic govt: Sharjeel Memon

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Sindh government on Saturday bashed the federal government with accusations. Sindh’s Information Minister Sharjeel Memon alleged that cuts are being made from Sindh’s shares. He claimed that the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) has been part of conspiracies against every democratic government, adding that those who consider Lahore the whole Pakistan haven’t learned anything from the history, Dunya News reported.Addressing a press conference, Memon alleged that PMLN led federal government is acting with bias against Sindh and is treating Sindh like a step mother. He claimed that Sindh’s share of resources is being cut.He said that the Thar coal project was ignored. He alleged that the federal government fulfilled not a single promise about Karachi operation and that Sindh government was paid not even a penny.Memon claimed that Lahore has the most line losses and yet unfair load shedding is being imposed on Sindh.He said that PMLN got accountability cases against itself nullified whereas PPP leaders Yousaf Raza Gilani and Makhdoom Ameen Faheem were issued arrest warrants.PPP leader said that PPP won’t bow down before PMLN led government, adding that his party doesn’t want to adopt the way of protest.Memon said that PMLN has conspired against every democratic government in the past, adding that those who consider Lahore the whole Pakistan haven’t learned anything from the past.He claimed that Nawaz Sharif has entered into an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance) with former president Pervez Musharraf.He demanded operations similar to that of Karachi in other cities as well.

UN teams up with top sailors to research oceans

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UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United Nations is teaming up with top sailors to conduct scientific research in remote areas of the oceans during a non-stop race around the globe.UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and the Barcelona Foundation for Ocean Sailing, which is organizing the race, announced what they called an unprecedented alliance between the sailing and scientific communities at a news conference Friday.Barcelona's deputy mayor Maite Fandos, who is president of the foundation, said the third Barcelona World Race starting Dec. 31 will be turning our skippers into agents of the collection of ocean science from salinity levels to micro-plastic pollution.Mathieu Belbeoch, the commission's technical coordinator, said each skipper will put an Argo robot with sophisticated instruments into a remote area to measure the dynamics of the ocean. The robots or floats are part of a global project researching climate change.There are currently more than 3,600 battery-operated floats in the world's oceans but Belbeoch said there are major gaps.What is important is that these skippers are reaching remote places that don't see many ships in the southern oceans, he said.The three-month race goes from Barcelona to Barcelona via three southern capes Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn and the Cook Strait.Jean-Pierre Dick, winner of the two previous two-crew Barcelona races in 2007-08 and 2010-11, said: We know they are remote because it's very cold there, there are a lot of big waves, and there are very little fishermen and very few commercial boats going there.Belbeoch said the current idea is to set an Argo Day, probably when the first ship is south of Australia and the last one is south of South Africa, and from that day every skipper can decide the best time to deploy their float.What is important is that the handicap is the same for every race same mass, same instrument, and same starting date to deploy the instrument, he said.Belbeoch said the floats are slightly smaller than a man and weigh between 20-30 kilograms. The ones the skippers will test go to a depth of 6 kilometers (3.7 miles), he said.According to Argos, about every 10 days the floats pump fluid into an external bladder and rise to the surface measuring temperature and salinity. Satellites determine their position and collect their data, the bladder then deflates, and the float returns to its original depth to drift until the cycle is repeated.Dick said where to put the float in the boat is going to be a problem because the weight moves from side to side while sailing, but once that's settled you have nothing to do except spend a quarter of an hour putting the float in the water.I think that's feasible, he said. It's a great opportunity to do this if, of course, the sport's fairness is maintained.

Pak Army capable to deal with any aggression: Army Chief

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QUETTA (Dunya News) – Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif said on Saturday that Pakistan Army is a symbol of unity, adding that the army is ready to respond to any sort of aggression, Dunya News reported.According to Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR), Army Chief visited Command and Chief Staff College Quetta. Addressing the participants of the course, he said that Pakistan Army is the symbol of unity and that it is fully capable to handle any sort of aggression.He said that Pakistan Army has the distinction of successfully fighting the threat on two different fronts, adding that Pak Army’s sacrifices are regarded with respect across the world.Army Chief emphasized the future leadership that they should remain aware of the global and regional changes and always focus on the professional training.Army Chief received a special welcome upon arrival to Quetta by Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Naseer Khan Janjua.
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Friday 30 May 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

PM to formally inaugurate Nandipur Power Plant today

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ISLAMABAD (Online) - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Shahbaz Sharif will formally inaugurate Nandipur Power Plant in Gujranwala on Saturday (today).The plant has started electricity production of 100 MW which has been added to the national grid. The power project, with the capacity of 425 MW, was initiated seven months ago. Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will formally inaugurate the project.The project has a total capacity of 425 megawatts and it would be completed by December this year at a cost of 574 million dollars.The project is being executed by China Don Fang Electric Corporation.

JUI-F intends to resolve all issues through dialogue: Fazl

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ISLAMABAD (Online): JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that Islam teaches peace, tolerance and respect for human life.Addressing a tribal jirga and reference in memory of Malik Qadir Khan Shaheed in Peshawar on Friday, he said we want to resolve all issues through dialogue.Maulana Fazlur Rehman said shedding blood of innocent people is against Islam and humanity. He said western forces are bent upon hatching conspiracies against our religion and civilization.Speaking on the occasion, the Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Sirajul Haq said no place, including hujra and masjid, is safe from terrorism. He said protection of life and property is the responsibility of government.Sirajul Haq said that there is no university and medical college in FATA. The militant tendencies can be overcome through promotion of education in FATA.He said the nation should extend full support and cooperation to the tribal people.

Obama to meet Ukraine's Poroshenko in Poland: US official

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama will meet Ukrainian president-elect Petro Poroshenko in Poland next week, during a European tour dedicated to shoring up regional security amid the worst East-West crisis in years.The meeting will come less than two weeks after the pro-European Poroshenko, a chocolate tycoon, was elected in the shadow of a showdown between Washington and Moscow over the fate of Ukraine that has brought relations to their lowest level since the Cold War.The meeting will take place in Warsaw, where Obama will pay a highly symbolic visit to attend celebrations of the 25th anniversary of Polands first post-communist elections.This is an important time for President Obama to affirm directly to president-elect Poroshenko our commitment to... Ukraine, said Ben Rhodes, a deputy US national security adviser.Rhodes said Obama would support Ukraines efforts to reduce tension and pursue dialogue and the unity of the country.We very much admired the people of Ukraine who turned out in huge numbers to elect president-elect Poroshenko. We have admired his commitment to dialogue, Rhodes said.This will be an important time for the president to check in directly.After spending two days in Poland, Obama will move on to the G7 summit in Belgium and talks in Paris with French President Francois Hollande.He will also travel to Normandy for the 70th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landings during World War II, where he will come come face to face with Russian President Vladimir Putin, from whom he has been estranged over Moscows actions in Ukraine.But there are no plans for Obama to hold a formal bilateral meeting with the Russian leader.The US leader will be at the Elysee Palace, Hollandes official residence, on the same day as Putin also holds talks there, on Thursday.There are no plans for three-way talks, however, Rhodes said.Washington has been pursuing a campaign to isolate Putin over its annexation of Crimea -- which has included the cancellation of the G8 summit in Sochi next month, and Moscows de-facto expulsion from the group.

Peter Mutharika wins Malawi's disputed presidential vote

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BLANTYRE (AFP) - Peter Mutharika, the brother of Malawi's former leader, was declared the winner of the country's disputed presidential election Friday after garnering 36.4 percent of the votes cast.The electoral commission said the opposition politician came ahead of Lazarus Chakwera who obtained 27.8 percent of the vote and outgoing president Joyce Banda who won 20.2 percent.Electoral commission chief Maxon Mbendera declared Mutharika president-elect after last week's vote that Banda claimed was marred by serious irregularities and null and void.A law professor and former cabinet minister, Mutharika, 74, is the brother of the late president Bingu wa Mutharika.The election in the tiny and poor southern African nation was dogged by controversy from the start, with some polling stations opening 10 hours late and some voting stations recording more votes than there were registered voters.Anyone with complaints has seven days to lodge petitions to the courts.The results were announced minutes after a court refused to grant an extension for a recount that had been sought by Chakwera.Riot police patrolled key areas of the commercial capital Blantyre as the results were awaited after earlier demonstrations turned violent, leaving one protester dead.

Tennis: Djokovic, Federer tested as Gulbis causes women stir

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PARIS (AFP) - Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer passed tough four-set tests to reach the French Open last-16 on Friday where they were joined by where they were joined by outspoken Ernests Gulbis who found himself accused of sexism.Second seed Djokovic, the 2012 runner-up, stretched his career streak over Croatia's 25th seed Marin Cilic to 9-0 after a topsy-turvy 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (2/7), 6-4 win.Djokovic, the 2012 runner-up, next faces French 13th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who beat Poland's 22nd seed Jerzy Janowicz 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 for a place in the quarter-finals after seeing off Cilic who allowed 22 break points and committed 64 unforced errors.A pulsating encounter on Suzanne Lenglen court ended when Cilic, rattled by a shout from the crowd, served up his fifth double fault.Marin is a tough player with plenty of strengths, said Djokovic. He is a great guy with lots of qualities.Physically I had to work very hard, because he was very aggressive, and I could expect that. I came into the match knowing that he's going to take his chances.Federer, the fourth seeded 2009 champion, needed more than three hours to record his fifth win in five meetings against Russian Dmitry Tursunov who twice needed treatment on a leg injury.His 7-5, 6-7 (7/9), 6-2, 6-4 win also gave him a fourth round spot for the 12th time beating the previous record of 11 set by Guillermo Vilas.Federer, the 17 time major winner, next faces Gulbis who reached the last 16 for the first time since 2008.It was tough to lose the second set but nice to win the match, said 32-year-old Federer, who is contesting his 58th straight Grand Slam.It was not a straightforward win. I knew Dmitry would try different things, take big cuts at the ball but I am pleased to have played solid.Gulbis, the 18th seed, won a fractious third round clash against 35-year-old Czech Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 in the Court One bullring, firing 19 aces and 45 winners.After the match, Gulbis caused a stir by claiming tennis is no place for female players. A woman needs to enjoy life a little bit more. Needs to think about family, needs to think about kids. What kids you can think about until age of 27 if you're playing professional tennis, you know, said the 25-year-old.Gulbis, whose last fourth round appearance at a major came in 2008 when he made the quarter-finals in Paris, insists he already has a game plan to tackle Federer.You don't need to be scared to do certain things against him, because most of the people they go on the court and they lose already before it has started, said the 18th seed. I can tell you that's not gonna be the case with me.Milos Raonic became the first Canadian man in history to reach the last 16 at Roland Garros.The 23-year-old number eight seed defeated France's 29th seed Gilles Simon 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 in a match which ended in the gloom at 2130 local time (1930GMT).Raonic will face either Martin Klizan of Slovakia or Spain's Marcel Granollers for a place in the quarter-finals.Granollers was ahead two sets to one when play was called off for the night.American 10th seed John Isner made the last 16 for the first time with a 7-6 (15/13), 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (5/7), 7-5 win over Spanish 17th seed Tommy Robredo on the back of 77 winners and 17 aces balanced out by 74 unforced errors.Isner, who has now played eight tiebreaks in 11 sets so far, carved the only break on Friday in the 11th game of the fourth set.Isner is the first American in the last 16 since Robby Ginepri in 2010 and with Jack Sock and Donald Young still to play, the US could have three men in the fourth round for the first time since 1995.Isner next faces Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych, a semi-finalist in 2010, who beat Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4.

Tennis: Sharapova is ruthless, Tomljanovic makes history

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PARIS (AFP) - Maria Sharapova moved a step closer to winning a second French Open crown on Friday on a day when Croatia's Ajla Tomljanovic made history by upsetting third seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the third round.The Pole's 6-4, 6-4 defeat meant that the tournament's top three seeds had all been ousted inside six days, with top seed and defending champion Serena Williams losing in the second round and second seed Li Na departing in the first.It was the first Grand Slam in the Open era where the top three women seeds all failed to make the last 16.Playing later in the day, seventh seed Sharapova dodged the debris to inflict a 6-0, 6-0 thrashing on hapless Paula Ormaechea of Argentina.Asked if she saw herself now as the favourite win the tournament, The Russian replied: Its tough to talk about favourites, but there is no reason why I shouln't be the favourite -- I have won four Grand Slams.Ranked 72nd in the world, 21-year-old Tomljanovic will play Spanish 14th seed Carla Suarez Navarro, who ended the dream run of 18-year-old American wildcard Taylor Townsend 6-2, 6-2, with a quarter-final place at stake.Fourth seed Simona Halep of Romania is the top seeded player left in the draw, having reached the third round on Thursday.After seeing the first two seeds go out you kinda feel like -- hey I can do that too. I grew up with these girls that were doing that, the Florida-based Tomljanovic said.I went out out there and I really felt that I could win. It showed and that was how I won.I have a fourth round next and obviously happy, but I do not want to get too happy about it either.Tomljanovic ended 2013 ranked 78th in the world, improving from 495th - the biggest ranking improvement by any player in the top 100.This year she lost in the third round at the Australian Open but more recently failed to qualify for the main draw at Madrid and Rome in the buildup to Roland Garros.For Radwanska it was the first time she had failed to make it past the third round at a Grand Slam event since the 2012 French Open.Last year she was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon, a quarter-finalist at the Australian and French Opens and made the fourth round at the US Open.Watched by Croatian 1997 French Open winner Iva Majoli, Tomljanovic quickly took control of a match played in front of a sparse centre court crowd.She jumped out into a 5-1 before a shell-shocked Radwanska managed to break serve and get back to 5-4.The Croatian made no mistake on serve in the following game though and an early break in the second set sent her on the way to the biggest win of her career.While newcomer Tomljanovic was making the headlines on centre court, veteran Australian Samantha Stosur was stealthily moving through the draw out on the Suzanne Lenglen court.The 19th seed, a finalist at Roland Garros in 2010, pulled off an impressive 6-4, 6-4 win over Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia to set up a last 16 meeting with Sharapova.Stosur, the 2011 US Open champion, had too much firepower for the dimunitive Cibulkova, taking an early lead in the first set and staying ahead after that.The Australian lost to Sharapova in the third round of the Madrid Masters earlier this month, having also defeated Cibulkova in the previous round.I love playing here and have had some great moments and some of the best matches in my career, so hopefully I can still have a few more matches this year, she said.Also flying the flag for Spain was Garbine Muguruza, who defeated Serena Williams in straight sets in the second round.Unseeded Muguruza scored a 6-2, 6-4 win over Anna Schmiedlova of Slovakia, who defeated Serena's big sister Venus in the second round.In later matches, eighth-seeded German Angelique Kerber moved past Slovak veteran Daniela Hantuchova 7-5, 6-3, while fast-rising Canadian Eugenie Bouchard defeated Johanna Larsson of Sweden 7-5, 6-4.Finally France's Pauline Parmentier became just the fourth wildcard to reach the women's last 16 at Roland Garros in the Open era, outlasting Germany's Mona Barthel 1-6, 6-1, 7-5.

Football: World Cup kick-off venue not ready for final test

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SAO PAULO (AFP) - The stadium hosting the opening match of the World Cup on June 12 will not be finished in time for its final test event, its owners said Friday.Sao Paulo's Corinthians Arena had to schedule a last-minute test for Sunday, 11 days from the World Cup kick-off, after its first official match revealed a host of problems despite only filling the stadium to half capacity.But Corinthians football club, the stadium's owners, said safety officials had only authorized them to sell 40,000 tickets for the second test event, still short of the 65,000 fans expected for the World Cup opener between Brazil and Croatia.That will likely create new friction with FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, the football governing body's task-master for host country preparations, who wrote in a dismayed tweet after visiting the stadium on May 21 that it is vital for us that all facilities will be tested under full match conditions.Work on Brazil's 12 host stadiums has been marred by chronic delays, cost overruns and construction accidents that have killed eight workers -- three of them in Sao Paulo.The stadiums in host cities Curitiba, Cuiaba, Porto Alegre and Natal are all incomplete to varying degrees 13 days from the opening ceremony and match.Valcke, who has had a rocky relationship with local organizers -- at one point saying the Brazilians needed a kick up the backside -- again underlined the urgency of the situation.The staging of a FIFA World Cup is a collective effort and we will not have a single moment to relax until the opening matches in all 12 cities, he wrote on FIFA's website Friday.All of them -- and sorry if I keep repeating myself -- must be perfect.In Sao Paulo the main problem is two temporary seating areas with a capacity of 10,000 people each.Corinthians said one set of extra stands was in the process of being finished ahead of Sunday's match, a Brazilian league game between Corinthians and Botafogo.The other is finished, but firefighters have only authorized the club to open it at half capacity, said Fast Engenharia, the company installing the structures.Work on the temporary seating areas was delayed when a worker fell to his death from one of them on March 21.The labor ministry halted work on them for two weeks after the accident, demanding safety improvements.The stadium finally held its first official match on May 18, between Corinthians and Figueirense.The 36,000 fans faced broken elevators, exterior lighting problems, patchy cell-phone connectivity and a drenching storm that forced some to move to higher seats because part of the glass-panelled roof was still unfinished.Brazil officially handed the stadium over to FIFA on May 21, long past the original December 31 deadline for all 12 stadiums.Corinthians say the venue will end up costing between 920 million and 950 million reais ($417 million and $431 million) -- between 14 percent and 18 percent over its original budget.

Motorcycling: Marquez fastest at rain-hit Mugello

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MUGELLO (AFP) - World champion Marc Marquez set the fastest lap time for Honda in the rain-hit MotoGP practice Friday at Mugello ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.The Spaniard clocked 1min 48.004sec after two sessions with the second disrupted by intermittent light rain which forced most riders to take cover.Marquez's best lap was just four-tenths of a second off his own Mugello circuit lap record set last year, and put him 0.382 seconds clear of Yamaha's Valentino Rossi.Marquez started the first session gently on the Tuscan circuit where he fell twice last year.I was unsure this morning and I didn't want to force things. But as the session progressed I felt good, said the Catalan, who has won five consecutive races starting from pole position.Pramac Racing's Andrea Iannone of Italy set the third-fastest time and was the only other rider to lap within half a second of Marquez.It wasn't raining enough to go on grooved tyres and too much to try out the smooth, said Rossi, although the Italian star was pleased with a positive day.I'm not very far either and with Jorge Lorenzo (his teammate) we tested two types of settings that have given good results.

Cycling: Quintana extends Giro lead with 19th stage win

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MONTE GRAPPA (AFP) - Colombia's Nairo Quintana, wearing the leader's pink jersey, closed in on victory by winning the 19th stage of the Giro d'Italia on the slopes of Monte Grappa on Friday.The Movistar rider consolidated his race lead two days before the finish as he crossed 17sec ahead of Italy's Fabio Aru following a 26.8km time-trial.Colombian Rigoberto Uran, second in the overall standings, finished third at 1min 26sec, as Quintana achieved his second stage success of this year's race.Quintana holds a 3min 7sec lead on Uran in the overall standings with Aru at 3min 48sec.It was my speciality, I couldn't let this stage go, especially given my family had come from Colombia to watch me, said Quintana.I'm delighted to have given them this victory.Having finished second to Chris Froome at last year's Tour de France, this has been Quintana's opportunity to consolidate his position as the best climber in the world and a Grand Tour contender.But he refused to be drawn on whether he would challenge for the Tour next season.I need to keep improving. Youngsters who like me are from the 1990 generation are very strong.Aru, of course, and (Michal) Kwiatkowski, (Rafal) Majka. Our levels are not very far apart.Last year the Tour de France gave me the opportunity to show who Nairo Quintana is, to show that I'm able to challenge on a three-week race.In this Giro, I've consolidated.Saturday's final stage in the mountains covers 167km from Maniago to Monte Zoncolan, with the final climb considered one of the toughest in Europe with 10.1km at 11.9 percent gradient.It is an ideal climb for Quintana to extend his lead, if anything.It's a very demanding climb, I like the beginning, said the Colombian.I didn't manage to ride the rest of it when we came here for reconnaissance because of the snow.I'll control things and if I'm feeling good, I'll try to win the stage.The main battle is likely to be for the minor places with Aru needing to make up 41sec on Uran to snatch second place while both Rolland and Italian Domenico Pozzovivo perhaps hoping to snatch a podium spot.However, they are 1min 38sec and 2:28 behind respectively and would need a huge performance on the Zoncolan to move up into the top three.The time-trial did see a certain amount of movement in the top 10 as 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans climbed two places to seventh with an 11th placed finish.The Australian had dropped from third to ninth after struggling on Thursday's 18th stage.Canada's 2012 Giro winner Ryder Hesjedal dropped two places to ninth.Pozzovivo moved up to fifth after taking more than a minute out of Poland's Rafal Majka, who dropped to sixth.

Crude oil prices sag

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices fell on Friday as traders took a breather after recent gains, but signs of stronger US gasoline demand and smoldering tensions in Ukraine provided support, according to analysts.The US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in July, shed 87 cents to $102.71 a barrel compared with Thursday's close.Brent North Sea crude for July fell 56 cents to stand at $109.41 a barrel in London deals.The US Department of Energy's weekly oil report on Thursday showed overall US inventories rising, but gasoline, or petrol, supplies falling in the week ended May 23.Desmond Chua, market analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore, told AFP the decline in gasoline supplies suggested robust demand going into the US summer driving season when Americans take to the roads for their holidays.Traders are tracking also the escalating fighting between government troops and separatist rebels in Ukraine, a major pipeline conduit for Russia's natural gas exports to Europe.Russia-Ukraine talks over past energy debts and future gas sales stuttered as Ukraine's prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Friday that Kiev would never purchase gas at the $500 per 1000 cubic meters price currently set by Russia.He warned that Kiev would file for arbitration if no new gas supply agreement is reached.But the talks will continue after Ukraine made its first payment on past and future gas deliveries to Russia's Naftogas.

Euro up on dollar ahead of crucial ECB meeting

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The euro rebounded from three-month lows against the dollar Friday but remained relatively weak ahead of next week's key meeting of the European Central Bank (ECB).The euro pushed to $1.3630 from the $1.36 line Thursday, but still remained far below its recent peak over $1.39.A report on US consumer spending in February, showing a minor contraction, disappointed but was mostly dismissed by economists who pointed to a large jump the month before.It is obvious that after an unseasonably colder January and February consumers came out with a vengeance in March. So, April's poor showing on the spending front is payback for a strong March, said Chris Christopher, director of consumer economics at IHS Global Insight.The euro's fate remained hinged on how much action the ECB will take in its June 5 policy meeting to shore up growth and fight disinflation in the eurozone. The Frankfurt-based central bank has already signaled that it was comfortable with easing monetary conditions, hinting at a possible interest rate cut and more when it meets next Thursday.The yen was flat on the dollar but lower against the euro. Data showed Friday that the Japanese economy stumbled in April following the sales tax hike, and the International Monetary Fund warned that aggressive monetary easing may need to be maintained for an extended period.The Bank of Japan should act quickly if actual or expected inflation stagnates or growth disappoints, the IMF said.

'Hunger Games' to become mobile game

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SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - The Hunger Games is becoming a mobile game.Interactive entertainment company Kabam announced Friday that it agreed with film studio Lionsgate to make a title for play on smartphones or tablet computers based on the dystopian books and films.San Francisco-based Kabam specializes in mobile games that are free-to-play, instead bringing in revenue through tactics such as digital ads or hawking virtual goods or abilities.Lionsgate has an unparalleled track record of developing and producing blockbuster movie franchises like The Hunger Games, Kabam chief operating officer Kent Wakeford said in a release.Partnering with Lionsgate, Kabam will build a mobile game thats as much fun to play as the movie is to watch.Kabams vision for the game included casting players in roles as District members out to build alliances and liberate themselves in the spirit of the story told in the books on which the film is based.The story centers around a futuristic society which stages televised death matches among youth.The first two Hunger Games films starring Jennifer Lawrence have taken in more than $1.5 billion at box offices worldwide, according to Kabam.The next installment in the series is set for release in November.We are so pleased to be working with Kabam to give the fans an experience like they have never had before, said Lionsgate executive vice president of digital media Danielle DePalma.Being able to role-play with the mentors straight from the world of The Hunger Games will let fans feel as if they are in the middle of the action.The game will be developed in the Kabam studio in China that made a mobile game based on The Hobbit.

Pakistan appoint Luden as fielding coach

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LAHORE (AFP) - Pakistan on Friday appointed South African Grant Luden as the national cricket team's new fielding coach, completing a recruitment drive with an eye on winning next year's World Cup.Luden quit as Bangladesh's trainer earlier this month and has signed a two-year contract with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).PCB chairman Najam Sethi told media Luden would also fill the role of trainer with the Pakistan team.The PCB had tried to lure Zimbabwe born Richard Halsall to the position but negotiations were unsuccessful.Luden's appointment is the latest in a number of hires the PCB has made ahead of the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.Waqar Younis has been appointed as the team's head coach and Grant Flower is in as batting coach.Both Flower and Luden will join the squad in time for Pakistan's tour of Sri Lanka in August where they will play two Tests and three one-day internationals.Pakistan then host Australia and New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates between October 3 and December 19.

Narine opts for IPL over Windies' Tests

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ST JOHN'S (AFP) - West Indies' off spinner Sunil Narine has opted to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) final and as a result will miss the forthcoming Tests against New Zealand, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said Friday.Narine wanted to play for Kolkata Knight Riders in Sunday's IPL 2014 final, and as a result missed the WICB's June 1 deadline for joining the Windies' preparatory camp.The WICB said that the 26-year-old will now not be considered for home Tests against New Zealand on June 8 and 30.WICB Director of Cricket Richard Pybus said that under recent guidelines players must make themselves available for team preparations in order to be considered for Tests.The onus of the WICB is to protect the integrity of international cricket at all times, said Pybus.International cricket, and specifically Test cricket, is priority and requires dedicated preparation which is integral to team success.The WICB policy requires players to commit to sufficient preparation leading in to a series as part of a culture of excellence.Narine will however be considered for selection for two Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand on July 5 and 6 in Dominica, the WICB said.Training squad: Denesh Ramdin (Captain), Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo,Dwayne Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Kirk Edwards, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Shane Shillingford, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor.

ECB and Downton apologise over Pietersen comments

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LONDON (AFP) - The saga of Kevin Pietersen's extraordinary exit from the international arena took a fresh twist Friday when the England and Wales Cricket Board and its managing director, Paul Downton, apologised for criticism of the batsman made by the former England wicketkeeper.Downton appeared on BBC Radio's Test Match Special programme on May 22 and during the course of a wide-ranging interview went into details about England's controversial decision to ditch former captain Pietersen following the team's 5-0 Ashes series loss in Australia.ECB chief Downton said the 33-year-old appeared disinterested and distracted in the fifth Test in Sydney, and added he was unable to find anyone within the England squad who wanted South Africa-born Pietersen to remain in the team.An angry Pietersen responded by labelling Downton's remarks wholly untrue.And having gone to the trouble of negotiating an exit with Pietersen, the ECB was embarrassingly forced to admit that some of Downton's comments were in breach of the settlement agreement made with the batsman when his England central contract was terminated.On May 22 during an interview on BBC Test Match Special, Paul Downton of the ECB made a series of comments about Kevin Pietersen with which Kevin takes issue, including the comments he made regarding his perception of Kevin's attitude during the Sydney Test on last winter's Ashes tour, said an ECB statement issued late Friday.Some of those comments were made in breach of a settlement agreement between the ECB and Kevin Pietersen which was concluded at the time Kevin's central contract was terminated earlier this year.Paul Downton and the ECB both apologise to Kevin Pietersen for those comments made that were in breach of the settlement agreement and have confirmed that they will abide by its terms moving forward.Until recently, the ECB's explanations for effectively ending the international career of Pietersen, England's leading run-scorer across all formats, had contained only limited detail.But by focusing on Pietersen's attitude, Downton had appeared to clarify the situation.However, the tome of the ECB statement suggested they and Downton were apologising for his remarks being broadcast in public rather than the points behind them. Pietersen responded to Downton's radio interview by saying: The suggestion that I was uninterested during the winter Ashes series against Australia is wholly untrue.Although I was having injections in my knee, which inhibited my mobility and thus my ability to field close to the wicket, I was fully motivated to play for England and whilst I accept that the series as a whole fell well below my own personal standards, I finished the series as the (England) top scorer.I did, and continue to have a good relationship with most of the England players.Pietersen is still on the books of Surrey but his planned return to action for the Oval-based county on Friday in a Twenty20 fixture against Middlesex was scuppered by a finger injury.
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