Monday 23 June 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Football: Neymar powers Brazil into World Cup last 16

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BRASILIA (AFP) - Neymar scored a brilliant brace as Brazil beat Cameroon 4-1 on Monday to secure top spot in World Cup Group A and a last-16 tie against Chile.The Barcelona forward scored the 100th goal of the tournament in Brazil's 100th World Cup finals match to put the hosts ahead in the 17th minute. He restored their lead before the interval after Joel Matip had equalised for Cameroon.Fred got Brazil's third early in the second half with substitute Fernandinho adding a late fourth.Brazil's win, combined with Mexico's 3-1 victory against Croatia in the other Group A game in Recife, ensured that they progress as group winners, ahead of Mexico on goal difference.Brazil were much stronger, but head into Saturday's game against Chile in Belo Horizonte knowing that they can still improve.Cameroon were already out of the tournament after losing their opening two matches, but the Indomitable Lions had the advantage of playing without any pressure.Volker Finke's men passed the ball confidently early on and Vincent Aboubakar gave the hosts something to think about with a shot that was blocked by Marcelo, but it was Brazil who took the lead.The opening goal came as a huge release for Brazil and their fans in the crowd of over 69,000.Neymar's coolly sidefooted into the far corner of the net first-time from a low Luiz Gustavo cross.However, the goal owed as much to the industry and craft of Luiz Gustavo, who did superbly to rob possession from Benjamin Moukandjo on the left before delivering a pinpoint ball.It was the first time in the tournament that Scolari's side had scored the first goal of a game, and both Neymar and Fred came close to increasing their advantage, the latter lunging desperately to connect with a Paulinho cross but unable to scramble the ball home.Instead, Cameroon silenced the home fans when they drew level in the 26th minute.Allan Nyom got away from Dani Alves on the left and delivered a low ball that evaded Thiago Silva and David Luiz to give Matip the easiest of finishes. The Schalke player recorded Cameroon's first goal at this World Cup.Brazil did not panic, and Neymar again intervened to restore their lead in the 34th minute.When Nyom's headed clearance was returned by Marcelo, the Barcelona player collected possession and cut inside before sending in a low shot from the edge of the area that passed underneath Nicolas Nkoulou and went right through Charles Itandje in goal.Scolari replaced Paulinho at the interval, sending on Fernandinho, and the Manchester City midfielder had an immediate impact, helping Brazil open up a two-goal cushion four minutes into the second period.His pass released David Luiz on the left-hand edge of the area and the latter's centre was headed into a gaping goal from four yards by the grateful Fred, who scored his first goal of the finals. The striker may just have been in an offside position when the cross came in, but the Swedish assistant referee did not raise his flag, much to Cameroon's frustration and Fred's relief.Neymar was withdrawn for the closing stages and watched as Fernandinho poked home the fourth goal in the 84th minute, having combined superbly with Fred and Oscar after Cameroon lost possession in their own half.Mexico's captain Rafael Marquez, appearing in his fourth finals, broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute to set his team on the way to a 3-1 win over Croatia in Recife.Andres Guardado and Javier Hernandez added the further goals so that Mexico now play Netherlands in the next round.Midfielder Hector Herrera was desperately unlucky to see 25-yard strike cannon back off the crossbar on the quarter-hour.Mexico also had a penalty appeal for a handball against Darijo Srna turned down in the second half. But Croatia were eventually undone as Marquez rose highest to head home a corner from Herrera.Mexico doubled their lead on 75 minutes as Guardado steered home after he was picked out in the box by Oribe Peralta.Substitute Hernandez then ghosted in unmarked to nod in a header at the far post as Miguel Herrera's men picked apart a ravaged Croatia defence at will.Croatia pulled one back through Ivan Perisic three minutes from time while substitute Ante Rebic was sent off in the dying stages for a wild lunge on Carlos Pena.

Football: Mexico down Croatia to set up Dutch date

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RECIFE (AFP) - Veteran Mexico captain Rafael Marquez helped set up a last-16 clash against the Netherlands by finishing second in Group A after Monday's 3-1 win over ten-man Croatia, who exited the World Cup.Mexico needed just to avoid defeat in Recife to take their place in the knockout phase, but three goals in ten second-half minutes killed off Croatia's hopes.The Mexicans needed more than an hour to break the deadlock at the Arena Pernambuco before the floodgates finally burst.Marquez scored with a header on 72 minutes before Andres Guarado grabbed Mexico's second and substitute Javier Hernandez netted a third in quick succession to book their Dutch showdown at 1300 local time (1600GMT) on Sunday in Fortaleza.Ivan Perisic grabbed a late consolation for the Croats before replacement forward Ante Rebic was sent off just before the final whistle.Croatia bow out by finishing third in the group after their opening 3-1 defeat to Brazil and 4-0 trouncing of Cameroon, while Mexico finish second in the table to Brazil on goal difference.Coach Niko Kovac had recalled defender Sime Vrsaljko for Croatia, with left-back Danijel Pranjic pushing up into midfield, but it was a move that ultimately didn't pay off.The Mexicans were unchanged from the side that held hosts Brazil to a goalless draw last Tuesday thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.Mexico coach Miguel Herrera opted to again leave Hernandez out of his starting line-up before the Manchester United star netted after coming on for the final 25 minutes.The Mexicans had the best of the opening exchanges when Hector Herrera's long-range shot beat Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, but thundered off the crossbar on 16 minutes.Croatia fired in numerous crosses, but Mexico goalkeeper Ochoa was again solid between the posts.After a goalless first-half, the Mexicans got the breakthrough when Herrera's corner was powered home after Marquez out-jumped the defence on 72 minutes.Croatia threw everything forward to find an equaliser, but left spaces at the back which Mexico exploited with their second goal just three minutes later.Valencia's Guarado finished off a lightning counter-attack on 75 minutes to leave Croatia on the ropes.Mexico then grabbed their third when another Herrera corner was flicked on by Hector Moreno for Hernandez who nodded home at the back post on 82 minutes.Perisic grabbed a late goal for Croatia when he converted Ivan Rakitic's final pass just before Rebic was shown a straight red for taking out Carlos Pena on 89 minutes.

Football: Super-subs sink Chile as Dutch top group

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SAO PAULO (AFP) - Super-subs Leroy Fer and Memphis Depay sank Chile with two late goals Monday as the Netherlands won 2-0 to top World Cup Group B and likely avoid a clash with Brazil.Fer's first international goal on 77 minutes and Depay's strike in injury time brought a rousing finish to a cautious game between two sides who had already reached the knock-outs.In a match of few chances, Fer buried a strong header with just his second touch after coming on and Depay slid in to meet a raking cross from man-of-the-match Arjen Robben.The most clever team won the game, said Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, although he dismissed his goal-scoring substitutions as luck.Leroy Fer... I know he's really good at headers, that way you have a head-start against Chile, you have an advantage, Van Gaal said.With Memphis, we analysed that Chile in the last 15 minutes always give more space so if you field a more creative player you'll have a chance to make opportunities.The Netherlands and Chile were level on points before their game in Sao Paulo but top place was crucial to hopes of avoiding Brazil, who are expected to win Group A, in the last 16.We did everything possible but the Netherlands imposed their play on our attackers through their defence. We need to polish a few things, said Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli.Both started cautiously in bright sun at a packed and noisy Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo.With Robin van Persie suspended, Dynamo Kiev's Jeremain Lens made his World Cup debut up front for the Dutch and Fenerbahce veteran Dirk Kuyt was deployed on the left of midfield.Chile benched Juventus's Arturo Vidal, who was one booking away from suspension, but took a chance on fit-again midfielder Charles Aranguiz, who was also on a yellow.A slip by Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez let Chile's first dangerous moment go begging when Aranguiz's dummy surprised him on the edge of the box.The Netherlands' best early moment came when Wesley Sneijder had a long-distance free-kick parried by Claudio Bravo at his near post. A moment of magic nearly put the Dutch ahead when on 40 minutes, Sneijder won the ball from Marcelo Diaz and fed Robben, who shrugged off Gonzalo Jara and charged forward.As Chilean defenders backed off, the Bayern Munich forward rode Gary Medel's challenge and surged into the box but with space to shoot, he dragged his effort wide.Chile nearly took the lead a minute before half-time when Felipe Gutierrez rose to meet Diaz's free-kick from deep and nodded a back-header narrowly wide.Just after the hour-mark, Sanchez had a penalty shout turned down by Gambian referee Bakary Gassama. Sanchez then nutmegged Lens on the byline and warmed goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen's hands with a shot from a tight angle as the tempo and noise-level rose.Lens came off for PSV Eindhoven's 20-year-old forward Depay, who scored the winner against Australia, and Sneijder withdrew for Norwich City midfielder Fer.And just two minutes after coming on, the 24-year-old met Daryl Janmaat's high cross from the right with a huge leap and planted an unstoppable header inside the post.Chile pressed for the equaliser and during a sequence of corners, Sanchez had another penalty shout waved away following a tangle with Dutch enforcer Nigel De Jong.But as Chile pushed forward, Robben galloped into space on the left and his cross from near the byline was met by the sliding Depay to make sure of an ultimately deserved win.In Curitiba, Spain ended their miserable World Cup defence with a 3-0 win over Australia.David Villa became the fourth Spanish player to score in three World Cups when he backheeled home Juanfran's low cross for his 59th international goal in his 97th and final appearance as Spain finally got a win.Andres Iniesta marked his 100th cap for his country with a lovely through-ball for Fernando Torres to double Spain's advantage on 69 minutes, before Juan Mata slotted home a third eight minutes from time.Victory means Spain finished third in Group B behind the Netherlands and Chile, whilst Australia slipped to a third consecutive defeat.

Football: Spain restore pride with win over Australia

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CURITIBA (AFP) - Dethroned champions Spain bowed out of the World Cup with a 3-0 win over Australia thanks to goals from David Villa, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata in Curitiba on Monday.Villa, who is next set for a three-month spell in Australia with Melbourne City, became the fourth Spanish player to score in three World Cups when he backheeled home Juanfran's cross for his 59th international goal in his 97th and final appearance for La Roja nine minutes before half-time.I have always had a lot of love for the national team and it has always been what I dreamed about, said Villa.I would play until I am 55 but that is impossible and I have to be realistic, added the 32-year-old.Andres Iniesta then marked his 100th cap for his country with a lovely through ball for Torres to double Spain's advantage on 69 minutes before Mata slotted home a third eight minutes from time.Victory means Spain finished third in Group B behind Chile and group winners the Netherlands, whilst Australia slipped to a third consecutive defeat.The only thing I can say about the game is that we played a dignified match, said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque.However, Del Bosque refused to say when he would take a definitive decision on whether he will stay on as coach for the Euro 2016 qualification campaign.I have been with the national team six years and throughout that time we have been the number one ranked side in the world.We have a group of players that have behaved and performed excellently. Now we have to lose with our heads held high and the future of the Spanish national team, as you saw today, is in good hands no matter who the coach is.Australia boss Ange Postecoglou was left to reflect on his side's most disappointing display after encouraging performances against Chile and the Netherlands.Obviously it is a very disappointing way for us to finish the tournament.Full credit to Spain, they are a very good football side and after the first 10 or 15 minutes, when I thought we started well, they controlled the game.We looked a little tired. We have faced three world class opponents and particularly today we struggled.The Aussies had started with the energy that had characterised their performances against Chile and the Netherlands, but without the suspended Tim Cahill lacked a threat in the final third.Mathew Leckie pulled a shot well wide for the Socceroos on five minutes but as the half developed Spain began to take control with Villa particularly prominent.The former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid striker first went close when his volley from Iniesta's pass at the far post skewed wide.Australia keeper Maty Ryan then had to beat away Jordi Alba's driven shot from a narrow angle before Villa very nearly set up the opener with a low cross that the late-arriving Koke and Torres just couldn't turn home.Villa did finally get his goal on 36 minutes with a lovely backheeled finish from Juanfran's low cross to extend his record as Spain's leading scorer of all time.Koke came close to making it 2-0 before half-time when his long-range shot was tipped behind by Ryan.Del Bosque surprisingly replaced Villa with Mata just before the hour-mark, with the striker breaking down in tears as he took his place on the bench.Matt McKay sent a dipping volley over the bar as Australia looked in vain for an equaliser that would deliver their first point of the tournament.However, their hopes were killed off when Iniesta released Torres in behind the Australia defence to coolly slot beyond Ryan into the far corner.Mata rounded off the scoring eight minutes from time when he controlled Cesc Fabregas's lofted pass and rolled the ball through the legs of the helpless Ryan.

Tennis: Djokovic, Murray cruise through Wimbledon openers

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LONDON (AFP) - Top seed Novak Djokovic and defending champion Andy Murray stormed into the Wimbledon second round Monday with such speed that All England Club organisers had to pad out the Centre Court schedule.Murray took out baby-faced Belgian, David Goffin 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 in a shade over two hours while Djokovic, the 2011 champion and runner-up to the third-seeded Briton in 2013, needed just 88 minutes to dispose of Kazakhstan's Andrey Golubev, 6-0, 6-1, 6-4.In between, Li Na, the women's second seed, took only 77 minutes to get past Polish qualifier Paula Kania.As a result, Centre Court fans in possession of the hottest tickets in town were treated to 10th seeded Dominika Cibulkova facing Canadian qualifier Aleksandra Wozniak as a closing gesture.Murray, bidding to become the first British man to successfully defend a Wimbledon title since Fred Perry in 1936, hit eight aces and 28 winners past world number 104 Goffin.I thought it was a very high standard of match, we played some great rallies, and I was glad to finish it in three sets because he was playing very well, said Murray.Sometimes you can win in three and not play well but in terms of the way I struck the ball it was a good start.The British star was never broken as he brushed past the 23-year-old Goffin with new coach Amelie Mauresmo and former NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal looking on from the Centre Court stands.Murray, who has made at least the semi-finals on his last five appearances at the All England Club, goes on to face Slovenia's Blaz Rola.Djokovic, playing for the first time since losing the French Open final to Rafael Nadal, won the first 11 games of his Centre Court mis-match against world number 55 Golubev who has now lost all four of his main draw appearances at Wimbledon.The Serb fired seven aces and 34 winners and next tackles Czech veteran Radek Stepanek for a place in the last 32.It was a great start, especially in the first two sets. Credit to Andrey for coming back in the third, but I cannot be happier with the performance, said Djokovic.Murray and Djokovic were joined in the second round by Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych, the 2010 runner-up, who came from a set down to beat Romania's Victor Hanescu, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.Spanish seventh seed David Ferrer, twice a quarter-finalist, also made it through by seeing off compatriot Pablo Carreno-Busta 6-0, 6-7 (3/7), 6-1, 6-1.Grigor Dimitrov, the Bulgarian 11th seed who won the Queen's title last week, beat Ryan Harrison of the United States, 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, 6-2.But Spanish 18th seed Fernando Verdasco, who took Murray to five sets in the quarter-finals in 2013, was knocked out by Australia's Marinko Matosevic 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.Chinese women's second seed Li Na, a three-time quarter-finalist, got back on track after her French Open misery thanks to a 7-5, 6-2 win over Kania.Li suffered her worst Grand Slam performance since 2011 when she slumped to an opening round exit against Kristina Mladenovic in Paris.But the 32-year-old from Wuhan was too strong for world number 183 Kania, hitting 24 winners to set up a second round meeting with Austria's Yvonne Meusburger.In the beginning I was a bit shaky because I hadn't played her before and she was using my power against me, so I was really happy to win in the end, said Li.Former women's world number one Victoria Azarenka won her first match since January as the eighth seed triumphed 6-3, 7-5 against Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who was a semi-finalist back in 1999.The former Australian Open champion has been plagued by a left foot injury which kept her off tour from Indian Wells in March to Eastbourne last week where she lost her opener to Camila Giorgi.US 18th seed Sloane Stephens, a quarter-finalist in 2013, was defeated by Russian former top 10 player Maria Kirilenko, 6-2, 7-6 (8/6).Kirilenko, who had won just one match all year after a lengthy battle with a knee injury, claimed victory on a sixth match point.Australian 17th seed Samantha Stosur fired 13 aces but still suffered another Wimbledon nightmare when she slumped to a 6-3, 6-4 defeat to Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer.The former US Open champion has now failed to get beyond the third round in 12 Wimbledon appearances.Five-time champion Venus Williams, the 30th seed, beat Spain's world number 53 Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.Czech sixth seed Petra Kvitova, the 2011 champion, beat compatriot Andrea Hlavackova, 6-3, 6-0.

Tennis: Li back on track after Paris pain

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LONDON (AFP) - Li Na admitted she was relieved to get back to winning ways at Wimbledon after cracking under the pressure of challenging for the French Open title.As a former champion at Roland Garros, where she became the first Asian to win a Grand Slam singles title in 2011, China's Li was desperate to make a strong bid to regain the trophy in Paris this year.But the 32-year-old, who had won the Australian Open just months earlier, crashed to a first round defeat against Kristina Mladenovic.It was Li's worst Grand Slam performance since 2011, when she bowed out of the US Open at the same stage, and she responded by taking several weeks off.Revitalised by her holiday, the two-time Grand Slam champion made a solid start to her Wimbledon campaign with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Polish qualifier Paula Kania on Monday.I feel pretty good. After a vacation I feel fresh because during the French Open I could feel the pressure was there. I couldn't handle it anymore, Li said.If you have a high ranking, you always wish you can do well. Also another player, if they play against you, for them it is nothing to lose. So they just try to play their best.For me, I was feeling, even coming into the claycourt season, already I was missing something.Especially when I came to Paris, I really wished I could do well. So maybe I put a lot of pressure on myself.I needed to take a vacation to think about what I should do in the future. And also the racquets, they need a vacation as well. They cannot see me every dayWorld number two Li will face Austria's Yvonne Meusburger in the second round as she looks to get past the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the first time.But she admits the quick transition from clay to grass has made it difficult for her to emulate her other Grand Slam successes at Wimbledon.I never think I can play well on the grass court. For me it's tough. I think for everyone it's tough because we play on the grass for only one month in the whole year, she said.It's pretty close from the French Open to Wimbledon, only two weeks. So it's very tough for me to change the surface.Kania, ranked 183rd, had never before played a WTA Tour-level match, let alone appeared at a Grand Slam. The 21-year-old showed few signs of being overawed and broke Li in the first game.But Li finally began to take control just in the nick of time, breaking Kania as she served for the set at 5-4 and then again two games later to snatch the set.The reigning Australian Open champion finished the job comfortably after surging into a 5-1 lead in the second set.

Oil prices fall as Iraqi output stays on line

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NEW YORK (AFP) - World oil prices fell Monday as investors reassessed a political crisis in Iraq that remains concerning, but has yet to result in crude supply disruptions. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for August delivery dropped 66 cents to $106.17 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.European benchmark Brent oil for August delivery fell 69 cents to $114.12 a barrel in London.Iraq remained in focus as US Secretary of State John Kerry Monday pledged intense support for Iraq against the existential threat of an extremist militant offensive pushing toward Baghdad from the north and west. The campaign of the Sunni Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant pushed oil prices to nine-month highs last week.The militants have captured swathes of Iraq's north but have yet to directly threaten the key oil-producing region in the south.Iraq is the second-biggest oil exporter in the 12-nation Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). It has more than 11 percent of the world's proved resources and produces 3.4 million barrels per day.The insurgency is still continuing. However it's still not impacting production and not really making any sort of material threat, said Matt Smith, an analyst at Schneider Electric.Unless we see things really deteriorate or escalate, then we're likely not to push too far above where we are here with prices, Smith said.With no new developments, some profit taking is in order, but naturally limited as all will be waiting on Iraq developments, said VTB Capital analyst Andrey Kryuchenkov.

Euro holds steady despite weak eurozone data

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The euro held largely unchanged against the dollar Monday, despite poor economic data for the 18-nation eurozone pointing to slowing growth, and a deeper contraction in France.Forex volatility continues to trade near record-lows and seemingly little promises to break the euro and the US dollar out of recent ranges, said David Rodriguez at DailyFX.Eurozone business activity slipped for the second month running in June, suggesting the single-currency bloc's modest recovery could be stalling.Markit Economics' Eurozone Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for June slipped to 52.8 points from 53.5 in May, coming in at the weakest level since December. The data showed that growth remained robust in Germany, Europe's largest economy, despite weakening slightly, but that the downturn deepened in France, the country increasingly generating the most worry in the currency bloc.Business activity in France slumped to 48.0 points from 49.3 points, even lower below the 50-point line which marks the difference between expansion and shrinkage of the economy. Although the survey suggests the eurozone as a whole should grow by at least 0.4 percent in the second quarter, France appears to be entering a renewed downturn after GDP (gross domestic product) stagnated in the first quarter, said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit.

Four-star Prasad stuns England in second Test

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LEEDS (AFP) - Dhammika Prasad's dramatic four-wicket burst following a Test-best 160 from skipper Angelo Mathews left Sri Lanka on the brink of victory in the second Test against England at Headingley on Monday.England were 57 for five at stumps on the fourth day, needing a further 293 runs to reach their imposing victory target of 350.Sri Lanka have won just two Tests in England and never claimed a series on English soil of more than one match.But, having held out for a draw in the first Test at Lord's with just one wicket standing, Mathews's men were now on course for a memorable victory.After the first couple of days no one thought we would be in this position, Mathews told Sky Sports.Prasad bowled a brilliant spell and got four wickets for us and we are sitting pretty.Earlier in the day, England bowled too short and Prasad, recalled in place of the dropped Nuwan Kulasekara, showed them the value of pitching the ball up.England were 39 without loss when Prasad, the fifth bowler used by Mathews, struck twice in his first over on the way to figures of four for 15 in six overs.With his third ball he induced England captain Alastair Cook to bottom-edge a pull onto his stumps.That meant the left-handed opener's run without a Test century since he scored the last of his England record 25 hundreds against New Zealand at Headingley last year now extended to 24 innings.And next ball Prasad's excellent full-length delivery had Gary Ballance plumb lbw for a duck.Ian Bell prevented a hat-trick but Prasad was in the wickets again when Australia-born opener Sam Robson, who in the first innings made a maiden Test century, drove loosely outside off stump and was caught by second slip Mahela Jayawardene for 24.Prasad then surpassed his previous Test-best of three for 82 against Pakistan in Colombo six years ago when he squared up Bell with a fine delivery that clipped the top of off-stump.England were now 52 for four, with Prasad having taken four for 10 in 24 balls.And to what became the last ball of the day, nightwatchman Liam Plunkett fell for nought when he chipped a gentle catch to cover off left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.Mathews's superb 160 was the centrepiece of Sri Lanka's second innings 457.It was only his fourth century in 40 Tests but third since he became captain last year.And it meant the all-rounder, whose knock surpassed his 157 not out against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi last year, had set new personal Test-bests with both bat and ball this match after the seamer took four for 44 in England's first innings.Mathews received excellent support from Herath (48) in an eighth-wicket stand of 149.The pair were only separated on the stroke of tea when Mathews, in search of a single for his 150, sent back Herath only for the non-striker to be run out by Root's direct hit from mid-on.I said 'hang in there and I will score the runs', and we did, recalled Mathews when asked what advice he'd given Herath.He played a brilliant knock.Herath did give a tough chance on 21 off little-used off-spinner Moeen Ali when wicketkeeper Matt Prior failed to grab a deflected sweep off his pad.Mathews too had a reprieve on 87 when fast bowler Plunkett dropped a hard-hit return catch, one of several chances missed by England in this Test.Sri Lanka resumed Monday on 214 for four, a lead of 106, with Jayawardene 55 not out and Mathews 24 not out.They briefly faltered at 277 for five when fast bowler Plunkett took two wickets in two balls.An angry Mathews threw his bat down in frustration but he responded by driving Plunkett for a ferocious six over mid-wicket.England had seemed more concerned trying to get Herath on strike than dismissing Mathews, with Cook rarely putting pressure on his Sri Lankan counterpart with attacking fields.Mathews's impressive innings of more than five hours, including 247 balls with 25 fours and a six, ended when he chipped a James Anderson full-toss to mid-wicket.

Last dangerous chemicals shipped from Syria: watchdog

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THE HAGUE (AFP) - The last of Syria's declared chemical weapons have been shipped from the war-torn country and are en route for destruction at sea, the world's chemical weapons watchdog said on Monday.As we speak, the ship (carrying the last chemicals) has just left the port (of Latakia), Ahmet Uzumcu, head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, said at a press conference in The Hague.Removing the stockpile of precursor and other chemicals has been a fundamental condition in the programme to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons programme, Uzumcu said.Syria had previously shipped out 92 percent of its stockpile of chemical weapons under the terms of a UN-backed and US-Russia brokered agreement last year.But the remaining eight percent of the stockpile remained at one site and Damascus said it was unable to transport it to the port of Latakia because of security concerns.While a major chapter in our endeavours closes today, OPCW's work in Syria will continue, Uzumcu said.We hope to conclude soon the clarification of certain aspects of the Syrian declaration and commence the destruction of certain structures that were used as chemical weapons production facilities.The Syrian foreign ministry confirmed that the final cargo of chemical agents has today been taken outside Syrian territory.The Dutch head of the joint OPCW-UN mission, Sigrid Kaag, hailed the end of the most operationally challenging task within the effort to eliminate the Syrian chemical weapons programme.We hope that our contribution will ultimately make a meaningful difference for the Syrian people and the region, Kaag said.Under last year's agreement Syria had until the end of June for the destruction of its chemical weapons, but it has been widely acknowledged that the deadline would not be met.The deal was reached after a sarin nerve gas attack in a rebel-held Damascus suburb killed around 1,400 people. Damascus agreed to hand over its chemical arsenal after the US threatened airstrikes against President Bashar al-Assad's regime in response. A Danish ship is now to take the chemicals for transhipment in Italy's port of Gioia Tauro to the US ship Cape Ray for destruction at sea, while some chemicals are to be destroyed at sites including in the US and Britain.Uzumcu hailed the disarmament mission as a major undertaking marked by an extraordinary international cooperation.Never before has an entire arsenal of a category of weapons of mass destruction been removed from a country experiencing a state of internal armed conflict, he said.Although there were delays in the process, the cooperation of the Syrian Arab Republic has been commensurate with the requirements of the decisions, Uzumcu said.However, an OPCW investigation team said last week that chemical agents such as chlorine, which Syria was not obliged to hand over, have recently been used in Syria in a systematic manner.Assad's regime and rebels have both accused the other of using chemical agents, including chlorine, in the bloody uprising that began in March 2011 and in spite of Damascus promising to hand over all its chemical arms.An OPCW team probing the allegations was attacked with a roadside bomb and gunfire on May 27, preventing them accessing the site of an alleged attack in the village of Kafr Zeyta.Despite not being able to visit the alleged site of the chlorine attack, OPCW officials spoke to doctors in Kafr Zeyta and obtained their verbal medical reports relating to the treatment of individuals allegedly affected by exposure to chlorine.The chlorine probe came after France and the United States alleged that Assad's forces may have unleashed industrial chemicals on several rebel-held villages in recent months.Syria did not have to declare its stockpile of chlorine -- a weak toxic agent that can be considered a chemical weapon if used offensively -- as part of the disarmament deal as it is widely used for commercial and domestic purposes.

European stocks drop as data disappoints

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LONDON (AFP) - European stock markets fell on Monday as traders reacted to a further drop in eurozone business activity that offset positive news for Chinese manufacturing, analysts said.Londons FTSE 100 index of top companies slipped 0.27 percent to stand at 6,806.72 points approaching midday in the capital.Frankfurts DAX 30 lost 0.35 percent to 9,952.11 points and the CAC 40 in Paris shed 0.34 percent to 4,525.72 compared with Fridays closing levels.Milan slumped 1.08 percent and the Madrid market gave up 0.16 percent. The euro fell to $1.3582 from $1.3597 late in New York on Friday.Weaker PMI figures from Europe have stymied any chance of an early bounce for European markets, and have cancelled out some of the good news from China, where the manufacturing PMI moved into expansion territory for the first time this year, said Alastair McCaig, market analyst at IG traders.Miners have been in demand this morning thanks to the (Chinese) news, which has gone some way to leaving the FTSE as the relative outperformer.BHP Billiton won 2.0 percent to 1,939.75 pence and Rio Tinto gained 1.87 percent to 3,135 pence.Eurozone business activity slipped for the second month running in June, suggesting a modest recovery could be stalling, a closely watched survey showed on Monday.Markit Economics said its Eurozone Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for June, a leading indicator of overall economic activity, slipped to 52.8 points from 53.5 in May, coming in at the weakest level since December.The data showed that growth remained robust in Germany, despite weakening slightly, but that the downturn deepened in France, the country increasingly generating the most worry in the currency bloc.- Alstom shares slip -In Paris, shares in power and rail group Alstom slipped 0.11 percent to 27.97 euros, shedding esarly gains on a weekend deal for the French state to become a shareholder as US firm General Electric obtained the gas turbine division of the group.But brokers Aurel BGC said that the formula agreed for the government to buy Alstom shares from conglomerate Bouygues at 35 euros per share or more was unnecessarily complex.At Bank of America-Merrill Lynch, analysts said that the market might not like the deal for the state to acquire 20 percent of Alstom.In Asia, stock markets ended mixed on Monday amid the positive Chinese manufacturing figures.The early purchasing managers index (PMI) figures from banking giant HSBC added to an upbeat morning for the region, which was already in positive territory after another record close on Wall Street.HSBC said early results showed its PMI of Chinese manufacturing came in at 50.8 this month, up from a final reading of 49.4 in May.Anything above 50 indicates growth and anything below suggests contraction.The latest figure is the first time the reading has come in above 50 since Decembers 50.5, and will raise hopes that a slowdown in the worlds second biggest economy has bottomed out.It also follows a recent spate of data indicating a pick-up in the Asian economic giant after the government introduced some measures to kickstart growth.In foreign exchange deals on Monday, the British pound rose to $1.7021 from $1.7010 late on Friday.The euro slipped to 79.79 British pence from 79.93 pence.On the London Bullion Market, the price of gold climbed to $1,315.38 an ounce from $1,312.50 on Friday.

Zimbabwe editor on subversion charge kept in jail

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HARARE (AFP) - A Zimbabwe magistrates court on Monday remanded in custody the editor of a state-owned newspaper who is facing charges of subversion and undermining the authority of President Robert Mugabe.Edmund Kudzayi, editor of the Sunday Mail, was ordered by regional magistrate Vakai Chikwekwe to return to court on July 7.Kudzayi will now lodge an application for bail at the High Court as the magistrate was not able to make a ruling because of the seriousness of the charges, his lawyer Admire Rubaya, said.The charges against Kudzayi include calling Mugabe a tyrant and dictator, and alleging that he stole an election.These remarks were allegedly made in 2008 in publications he wrote for before joining state media this year.Kudzayi is also facing charges of creating a fictitious Facebook account in the name of Baba Jukwa, who has a cult following for his claims to expose Mugabe government secrets.The Facebook account was a hit during elections last year.Baba Jukwa accused Mugabe of rigging the vote and published cellphone numbers of prominent figures in government, asking people to call them and tell them we know what is going on.Kudzayi is also facing another charge of keeping ammunition in an unsafe place.Kudzayi was appointed editor of the Sunday Mail two months ago, but has incurred the wrath of the long-ruling Mugabe.Earlier this month, Mugabe accused his information minister, Jonathan Moyo, of using his influence over the state media to attack rivals within the ruling ZANU-PF party, which is riven by divisions over who should succeed the ageing president.Moyo has fallen in and out of favour with Mugabe since first becoming information minister in 2002.He was sacked in 2005 after being linked to a clandestine meeting held to discuss Mugabes succession.Since his recent re-appointment, Moyo has overseen the hiring of new editors at state newspapers and suspended the head of the state broadcaster.

Spain judge wraps up royal corruption probe

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MADRID (AFP) - A Spanish judge says he will wrap up a corruption probe into King Felipe VIs sister Princess Cristina and her husband Inaki Urdangarin on Wednesday, opening up the prospect of a historic criminal trial.Less than a week after 46-year-old Felipe VI took the crown from his father Juan Carlos promising an honest and transparent monarchy, the judges decision threatens to put damaging royal corruption allegations back in the headlines.The investigating judge in Palma de Mallorca, Jose Castro, will issue the results of his probe on Wednesday, the court said in a brief statement sent to reporters by text message.Under the Spanish legal system, the judge will recommend any suspects to be charged, details of the charges they may face and the names of those he may want to be sent for trial.A final decision, however, is taken by the Palma de Mallorca provincial court after considering any appeals.Anti-corruption prosecutors have previously opposed the judges decision to name Cristina, 49, as a criminal suspect for complicity in the allegedly dodgy business dealings of her husband, a former Olympic handball player.Long thought of as untouchable, the smiling, blonde-haired Cristina, would be the first direct relation of the Spanish monarch in history to stand in the dock as a criminal defendant.The judge has spent more than two years probing allegations that Urdangarin, 46, and a former business partner creamed off money from government contracts awarded to Noos, a charitable foundation he chaired.He suspects them of embezzling six million euros ($8 million) in public funds altogether.Cristina was a member of the foundations board and with her husband jointly owned another company, Aizoon, which investigators suspect served as a front for laundering embezzled money.

Qadri will not bring revolution but wants to spread anarchy: Rasheed

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ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has said that Pakistan Awmi Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri will not bring revolution but wants to spread anarchy in the country.In a statement, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said at a time when armed forces are engaged in operation against terrorists in North Waziristan, the lives of the masses should not be put at stake by resorting to protests.He said it is high time for the political parties to alleviate the sufferings of the Internally Displaced Persons and not to provide any opportunity to the terrorists carry out any act of terrorism.He said the demands of Tahirul Qadri are just to attract the attention of the media.Meanwhile, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique says Chief of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, Tahirul Qadri is staging a drama to spread anarchy in the country.He said the government has never created hurdles in the ways of demonstrations and sit-ins by the political parties. If Tahirul Qadri wants to do politics he should go to the people for vote.He said workers of PAT tried to destroy the peace of Islamabad.He said Lahore incident was the result of provocative speeches of Tahirul Qadri.Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan said today's actions of Chief of Pakistan Awami Tehreek Dr Tahir- ul-Qadri have brought a bad name to Pakistan at world level.Talking to newsmen in Lahore, he said Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri should also enquire after the health of police personnel attacked by his followers outside Islamabad Airport and Rawalpindi this morning.Rana Mashood said this is time to help the displaced people of North Waziristan, express solidarity with the armed forces and not launch agitations.

People will topple PML-N government soon, claims Qadri

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri said on Monday that from now on, there would be a revolution everyday and the final call for a historic revolution would be given soon.Addressing the gathering at Minahjul Quran International (MJI) Secretariat Model Town, Dr Tahirul Qadri said the nation would receive good news very soon and the government will be toppled by the people.“The rulers will try to escape, but they will be put behind bar. About 10, 000-14,000 houses can be built at Raiwand Palace,” he said.Earlier, talking to media at Jinnah Hospital here on Monday, Dr Thirul Qadri said that blood of the martyred workers will not go to waste and it will be avenged from the cruel rulers in the form of green revolution. He said that the Punjab government set an example of brutality by killing innocent workers of his party on June 17.Qadri said that Sharif brothers have repeated the examples of Hitler and Mussolini by committing state terrorism.The PAT chief said that his party workers laid the foundation of revolution by sacrificing their lives. He said the situation could be controlled if the Punjab government had consulted Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar.Tahirul Qadri thanked leaders and workers of political parties who expressed solidarity with Pakistan Awami Tehreek during the difficult time. He also thanked Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar for his role to normalize the present situation.Tahirul Qadri blamed that the Government of Pakistan hijacked his plane and diverted it to Lahore.Dr Tahirul Qadri arrived at Jinnah Hospital and inquired after the health of the party workers who injured in police firing during Model Town tragedy on June 17.Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar and PML-Q leader Chaudhry Pervez Ilahi were accompanying the PAT chief.A large number of party workers including women were present in the premises of Jinnah Hospital and surrounded the party chief to welcome him.Tahhirul Qadri disembarked from the plane at Lahore airport after he conditionally agreed that Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar should accompany him to Jinnah Hospital and then his party secretariat at Model Town.To fulfill Tahirul Qadri’s demand, Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar arrived at Lahore airport and held meeting with the PAT) chief inside the plane.Tahirul Qadri said he agreed to come out of the plane because he considers Chaudhry Sarwar as his brother and not as representative of the government.After arrival of Chaudhry Pervez Ilahi at Lahore airport, Tahirul Qadri, along with the Punjab Governor and the PML-Q leader left for Jinnah Hospital.It is pertinent to mention here the federal government diverted Qadri’s plane to Lahore where he refused to get off until army assures his security but later he agreed conditionally and disembarked from the plane after Punjab governor held meeting with him inside the plane.
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