Friday 4 July 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

PPP observes Black Day today

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is observing Black Day today (Saturday) throughout the country to mark the imposition of martial law by General Ziaul Haq.On July 5, 1977 former military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq imposed martial law in the country dismissing the government of PPP led by their founder leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and stayed to the rule for 11 years despite promising to hold elections within 90 days.

Neymar ruled out of World Cup with fractured vertebrae

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FORTALEZA (AFP) - Brazil on Friday lost superstar striker Neymar for the World Cup after he fractured a vertebrae during his side's 2-1 World Cup quarter final win over Colombia.Colombia defender Juan Zuniga kneed the 22-year-old Neymar in a crunching tackle and the Barcelona player was stretchered off in agony in the closing minutes of the game in Forteleza. The injury and the suspension of captain Thiago Silva for the semi-final against Germany overshadowed a sensational David Luiz goal that sealed victory in one of the most physical games seen at this World Cup.A hospital exam showed he suffered a fracture of the third vertebra in his back, team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told reporters.Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari fumed that Neymar has been hunted throughout the tournament and that no punishment was given for the tackle on him.I have been saying for three matches that Neymar has been hunted, but all the other countries say it is not true and it is only their players that are hunted.Silva was booked for a second time in the tournament for impeding a clearance by Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.But in Zuniga's case there was not even a yellow card and Thiago got a yellow card for nothing, Scolari said.Brazil are in the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 12 years, but Scolari, who has vowed his side will win their sixthWorld Cup, now faces a major crisis.Silva put Brazil ahead after seven minutes and Luiz scored a sensational 30 metre free kick to give Brazil victory.Colombia's James Rodriguez extended his lead as the tournament's top scorer with his sixth goal in five games from the penalty spot after Julio Cesar brought down Carlos Bacca.But Colombia now leave and Brazil must now prepare without Neymar and key defender Silva for only their second World Cup meeting with Germany in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday. The Germans beat France 1-0 earlier in the day.Luiz's goal was another special moment in the World Cup.Today It was great because I hit the exact point where the ball can go many ways and it is difficult for the goalkeeper, said Luiz.And the Paris St Germain defender said Brazil had the replacements in Dante and Henrique to cope with the absence of his club teammate Silva.We have two players that are great players and that have prepared to play just like Thiago and myself. Colombia also complained about Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo.The referee did not help, said Rodriguez who suffered in marking but was himself booked for a tackle on Brazil's Hulk.

Football: Luiz stunner sends Brazil into semi-finals

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FORTALEZA (AFP) - A sensational David Luiz free kick took Brazil into the World Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 victory over Colombia but the tournament hosts saw star striker Neymar carried off in agony. Brazil's captain Thiago Silva will also be suspended for Tuesday's semi-final against Germany after he followed up his first World Cup goal with his second yellow card of the tournament.Brazil are in the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 12 years and coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is one step nearer his vow to win the cup for a sixth time.But Scolari buried his head in his hands when he saw Silva booked and faces an anxious wait for news of Neymar who was reportedly taken to hospital for tests. Neymar was stretchered off with a back injury after being clattered by Colombia defender Juan Camilo Zuniga. Globo television said the Brazilian star was taken away in an ambulance.Colombia's James Rodriguez extended his lead as the tournament's top scorer with his sixth goal in five games from the penalty spot after Julio Cesar brought down Carlos Bacca.But Colombia now leave and Brazil move on to only their second World Cup meeting with Germany in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday. The Germans beat France 1-0 earlier in the day.Roared off on by a fervent home crowd, the hosts made a fast start and were ahead inside seven minutes.Just as in their last 16 clash with Chile a finish at the back post from a Neymar corner opened the scoring as Silva escaped the clutches of Carlos Sanchez to bundle home.Silva then had defensive duties to do as he got the slightest of touches to Juan Cuadrado's drive to turn it behind as Colombia tried to react.Jose Pekerman's men could have been further behind moments later, as David Ospina got down well to parry Hulk's effort before making a more comfortable save from Oscar.Silva had to intervene once more to break up flowing Colombia counter-attack led by Rodriguez, but Cuadrado's poor pass allowed the Brazilian captain to intercept when he had two free teammates waiting for a cross.Ospina denied Hulk once more with another save low to his left before Neymar bent a free-kick inches over the crossbar as Brazil ended the half looking to kill the game off.Chances at both ends dried up early on in the second-half, despite the game continuing to be played at a frenetic pace.Brazil were dealt a huge blow midway through the second-half when Silva was booked for barging into Ospina as he sought to clear the ball.Brazilian nerves were settled in the 69th minute when Luiz sent a wonderful dipping free-kick high past Ospina from fully 30 metres.Yet, Colombia were back in the game 10 minutes from time when substitute Carlos Bacca was upended by Julio Cesar inside the area.The Brazil goalkeeper was lucky just to see a yellow card from Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo. But he could do nothing to stop Rodriguez rolling home his sixth goal of the tournament from the resulting penalty.Scolari's men saw out the final few minutes, but there could be more bad news ahead as they wait for news of Neymar's fate.

Federer demolishes Raonic to set-up Djokovic title duel

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LONDON (AFP) - Seven-time champion Roger Federer demolished Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to reach his ninth Wimbledon final on Friday where he will face old rival Novak Djokovic for the 35th time.Federer will be chasing a record eighth Wimbledon title and 18th Grand Slam crown overall in what will be his 25th championship match at a major while top seed Djokovic, the champion in 2011, targets a seventh major in his third Wimbledon final in four years.Djokovic had earlier defeated Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (9/7) as the threatened overthrow of the established order fell flat.Federer, 32, who becomes the oldest man to make a Grand Slam final since Andre Agassi reached the 2005 Australian Open final at the age of 33, will take an 18-16 career lead over Djokovic into Sunday's championship match.It was down to big concentration really, said Federer, who will be playing in his first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon in 2012 when he went level with Pete Sampras as a seven-time winner. I had to focus on every point. You always say that but today especially I had to be careful on my serve and there were only a few chances when he served.I took those chances and I'm unbelievably happy. I've played some great tennis this week, under pressure at times as well.Federer added he was delighted to have made the final 12 months after suffering a second round exit at the hands of Sergiy Stakhovsky.I didn't play well last year here where I expect so much of myself, so I was happy to get through the first rounds and then play better in the second week. I'm so happy I got it done.Federer has beaten Djokovic in two out of three meetings in 2014 and was looking forward to renewing their rivalry which stretches back to 2006.Novak and myself always play good matches. We've played a lot in the last six months. It's gone back and forth a bit, he said.He is a great champion and is used to these occasions. He's got the trophy here in the past and knows how it's done. I know I don't have 10 years left, so I'm going to try and enjoy it as much as I can. That I get another chance to go through these kinds of emotions is great.Raonic came into his first Grand Slam semi-final having fired a tournament-leading 148 aces.But that crude, one-dimensional approach was never likely to be enough against a man of Federer's class.The Swiss had a 4-0 career advantage over the 23-year-old going into Friday's encounter and once the seven-time champion broke in the first game, the tone was set for a semi-final which had none of the drama of the earlier tie between Djokovic and Dimitrov.Federer allowed just seven points on his serve to Raonic in the first set and was equally dominant in the second where a break in the ninth game was the foundation for an untroubled two sets lead.The Canadian, bidding to become the first man from his country to reach a Grand Slam singles final, remained oddly impassive throughout his Centre Court examination, never engaging the crowd on his side as his big day passed him by.Federer, serving and volleying to avoid the pitfalls of the bone-dry baselines which had send Djokovic and Dimitrov slipping and sliding, broke again for 5-4 in the third and the tie was wrapped up in the next game.

Tennis: Djokovic downs Dimitrov to reach Wimbledon final

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LONDON (AFP) - Novak Djokovic moved a step closer to his second Wimbledon title as the top seed booked his third appearance in the final with a gritty 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (9/7) victory over Grigor Dimitrov on Friday.Djokovic, who won the Wimbledon title in 2011, rarely hit peak form in a patchy semi-final on Centre Court, but showed all his battling qualities to overcome the Bulgarian 11th seed in a three hour and two minute war of attrition.The 27-year-old, a six-time Grand Slam winner, will face seven-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer or Canadian eighth seed Milos Raonic in his 14th Grand Slam final as he looks to avenge last years final defeat against Andy Murray.World number two Djokovic will reclaim top spot in the rankings from Rafael Nadal for the first time since September 2013 if he lifts the trophy in his third Wimbledon final in four years on Sunday.I thought I started well, but once again I allowed my opponent to get back into it, Djokovic said.The fourth set could have gone either way but overall Im happy to be in another Wimbledon final.Its the semi-finals of Wimbledon playing against the future star. He was fighting and playing some great shots, so it was a tough match and its a good win for me definitely.Djokovic has been beaten in five of his last six Grand Slam finals, with his last major triumph coming at the 2013 Australian Open, and he admitted he is desperate to end that frustrating run this weekend.Im looking forward to another championship match, especially considering I have lost the last couple of finals, he said.I will have to be at my best. Its a big challenge. Its the Wimbledon final, the biggest event we have in the sport, and Im looking forward to competing in it.After his sensational quarter-final victory over defending champion Murray, this inconsistent display was a disappointing way for Dimitrov to end his best run at a Grand Slam.But the 23-year-old is clearly on the rise and will move into the top 10 for the first time next week.There was little to separate them for much of the match, with Djokovic edging the first set after a poor Dimitrov service game at 2-2.Djokovic broke for a 2-1 lead in the second set, but still looked strangely tense and a sloppy backhand into the net gifted Dimitrov a break back in the sixth game.With girlfriend Maria Sharapova cheering him on from the players box, Dimitrov began to unfurl some sublime winners and he broke again to earn a 5-3 lead before serving out the set.The tension and errors remained high, with both players struggling to keep their footing on the dusty, sun-baked court.After coming from behind to defeat Marin Cilic in the previous round, Djokovic was battle-hardened and stepped up his level to win the third set tie-break in flawless fashion.Dimitrov appeared to have surrendered in the third game of the fourth set when three successive double faults and a careless forehand put Djokovic 2-1 ahead.But Djokovic gave Dimitrov renewed hope when he dropped his own serve in the next game.Still looking unhappy with the slippery surface, Djokovic had to save three break points at 3-3 and a set point at 4-5 before taking an angry swipe at the grass.Dimitrov took it to a tie-break and worked his way into 6-3 lead, but Djokovic saved all three set points to break Dimitrovs resistence at last and, after squandering one match point with an ill-advised rush to the net, he converted the second to seal a gruelling triumph.

Tennis: Bouchard awaits Wimbledon coronation

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LONDON (AFP) - Eugenie Bouchard insists she will only be satisfied with her meteoric rise if she is crowned queen of Wimbledon in Saturday's final against former champion Petra Kvitova.Bouchard's royalty-obsessed mother named the 20-year-old Canadian after the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth II's second son, while her sister is named after Beatrice, Andrew's elder daughter.Those regal connections have earned Bouchard plenty of intrigued enquires from the British media throughout her march to a first Grand Slam final and the 13th seed would dearly love a royal audience with the Duchess of Kent, who presents the Venus Rosewater dish awarded to the women's singles champion at the All England Club.And if she does lift the trophy, the ice-cool Bouchard may finally let her emotions pour out.After falling at the semi-final stage of both the Australian and French Opens this year, Bouchard could have been forgiven for embarking on a jubilant celebration following her 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 victory over world number three Simona Halep in Thursday's last four clash on Centre Court.But like the royals idolised by her mother, Bouchard carries herself with a serene disposition and when she finally clinched victory on her sixth match point, she only briefly raised her arms and gave a small fist pump.Bouchard, the junior Wimbledon champion only two years ago, holds herself to high standards and becoming the first Canadian to reach a Grand Slam final is nothing more than she expected, so she will save any real celebrations for if she wins the title this weekend.I'm proud of what I've accomplished, but the job is not over, she said.I started playing tennis at five years old and I was nine when I decided I wanted to do it professionally. Since that age I dreamt of winning a Grand Slam.It's been a long time in the making, for it to finally come together, all the hard work, the talent I know I have, the effort I put in, for it to produce results on the match court. It's not just an overnight thing. I've been believing in myself more and more.Bouchard's breakthrough performance has recalled memories of Maria Sharapova, who rocked the tennis world by defeating Serena Williams in the Wimbledon final aged just 17 in 2004.A decade later, the effervescent blonde seems set to inherit Sharapova's mantle as the most marketable player of her generation.Bouchard is happy to accept flattering comparisons with the five-time Grand Slam champion, but would prefer to be seen as more than a clone of the glamourous Russian.I see it as a compliment to be compared to someone like Sharapova who has won five slams, Bouchard said.She's a great champion so I see it in a positive light.But I'm also my own person, I don't want to be the next someone else. I want to be the first of me.I want to be my own individual person. I'll try to make my own history.Another thing Bouchard appears has in common with Sharapova is her decision not to engage much with her fellow players.While Bouchard hasn't gone out of her way to make friends because she thinks close ties with opponents would hinder her bid to reach the top -- she admits to falling out with British star Laura Robson recently -- Kvitova is a more popular figure among her peers.And the Czech's rather cold comments about the Canadian hinted at an undercurrent of tension between the finalists.I have many friends on the tour. Of course I think it is possible, said Kvitova, who has dropped just one set en route to the final and defeated Lucie Safarova 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 in the last four.I'm glad that I have a friends here. I don't know her (Bouchard). I just know how she's playing, and that's it. We are not really talking to each other.

Formula One: Hamilton back on top but stops on track

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SILVERSTONE (AFP) - Lewis Hamilton remained calm despite another setback with his car on Friday after he topped the times in second practice for this weekend's British Grand Prix.The 29-year-old Briton, who is bidding to add a second home triumph to his victory of 2008, clocked the fastest lap of the afternoon, but was then left stranded on track with engine problems.He had outpaced Mercedes team-mate and championship leader German Nico Rosberg with a best lap of 1min 34.508sec to emerge fastest by 0.228sec on a warm and blustery day at Silverstone.I'm not frustrated, said Hamilton, who missed the last half hour of the session. You know, it just happened, but, I just don't know why it keeps happening to my car so much.In a later comment on his Twitter account, he added: When you step back and look, things are positive - it's not the race and we can learn from this.Hamilton lies second in the title race, 29 points behind Rosberg and has said he needs to win on Sunday to regain momentum in their duel for the crown.He has twice suffered mechanical failures and retirements in races, but Rosberg has finished every race in the leading two.Two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Spain, steered his Ferrari into third fastest, seven seconds down on the pace-setter, ahead of the two Red Bulls of Australian Daniel Ricciardo and German defending four-time champion Sebastian Vettel.They were both more than a second behind on one lap pace but showed improvements in relative competitive speed on the long runs in the latter stages of the long afternoon session.Hamilton seemed to suffer a serious engine problem an hour into the 90-minutes session when he stopped out on the circuit. Engine stopped, he told the team by radio. Says engine kill, no shifting.Hamilton managed only 14 completed laps in the session compared to Rosberg's 35, but will have access to the championship leader's data after the session.Rosberg leads Hamilton by 29 points in the title race.Finn Valtteri Bottas was sixth fastest for Williams - having missed the morning session when his car was run by Susie Wolff, the first woman to take part in a Grand Prix for 22 years - ahead of Briton Jenson Button in the leading McLaren.Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen was eighth fastest in the second McLaren ahead of Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari and 10th placed Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso.In a day of many incidents, the afternoon saw Swedish rookie Marcus Ericsson of Caterham and Vergne running off track and Bottas surviving an engine explosion after pulling his car into the Williams garage.

Oil prices extend drop

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LONDON (AFP) - Oil prices fell further Friday on easing concerns over supply disruptions, offsetting firm demand for crude in the United States and China, traders said.Brent North Sea crude for delivery in August dipped 13 cents to stand at $110.87 a barrel approaching midday in London.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for August slipped 16 cents to $103.90 compared with Thursday's close.Singapore's United Overseas Bank said in a client note that supply fears begin to ease after Libya declared an end to an oil crisis that has slashed exports.Crude prices began sliding on Wednesday after Libya's interim Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thani declared that authorities had wrested control of export terminals from rebels. Production in Libya, a member of the OPEC oil cartel, has been severely limited for a year since rebels blockaded terminals as part of a campaign to restore autonomy in the country's eastern region. Its output currently stands at some 320,000 barrels per day, about a fifth of its normal production.Libya has seen promising progress this week in regards to recovering much of its halted oil export capacity, said Dorian Lucas, an analyst at energy consultancy Inenco.But supporting prices was news that Asia's industrial powerhouses, China and Japan, both saw manufacturing activity expanded further in June, he added.Meanwhile in the United States, the Labor Department on Thursday said the US economy added 288,000 jobs in June, well above expectations of 215,000, while the unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent from 6.3 percent in May. Back on the supply side, concerns over a possible supply disruption due to Iraq's security crisis have also eased.Islamist militants have overrun swathes of territory in Iraq since June 9, but have so far not yet directly threatened the key oil-producing region in the country's south.Oil price losses have been capped, however, by a bigger-than-expected drop in US crude inventories.The US Energy Information Administration on Wednesday said American commercial crude inventories fell 3.2 million barrels last week, almost twice the amount predicted by analysts.

Sri Lanka eye top spot in ODI rankings

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COLOMBO (AP) - Sri Lanka want to use the forthcoming series against South Africa as a stepping stone toward the No. 1 spot in the one day international rankings, ahead of next years World Cup.Thats at the back of our mind, Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said of the top spot ahead of a three-match series against South Africa. But we just want to take it game by game, series by series, play positive cricket.Sri Lanka will play three ODIs and two test matches against South Africa.The first ODI is on Sunday in Colombo.Sri Lanka is presently third in the ODI rankings, while South Africa is fifth. Australia is the top ranked country.AB de Villiers, who leads South Africa in the shorter forms of the game, said the upcoming tour would be tough due to the hosts great form.Sri Lanka won the World Twenty20 tournament this year and has returned from a successful tour in England where it beat the home side in all three forms of the game.

Rain puts Flintoff return on hold

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LONDON (AFP) - Andrew Flintoffs possible comeback to competitive cricket following a five-year absence was frustrated by the weather in Birmingham on Friday.The all-rounder, whose last appearance for England was against Australia in the 2009 Ashes finale at The Oval, was included in Lancashires squad for their domestic Twenty20 match against the Birmingham Bears (Warwickshire).But Fridays match at Edgbaston was abandoned without a ball being bowled after rain began to fall 90 minutes before the scheduled start and did not let up.I reckon I might get one before my 40th, Flintoff wrote on Twitter, in response to Lancashire team-mate Kyle Hogg tweeting: will have to wait again for a game.Flintoff, 36, announced he was coming out of retirement in May when it was announced hed signed a short-term Twenty20 deal with home county Lancashire after training at Old Trafford in the build-up to the season.He then played for Northern League club St Annes and made a couple of appearances for Lancashires 2nd XI.Flintoff had been named in Lancashires squad for their Twenty20 match against Northamptonshire two weeks ago, but only as cover in case of injury.But Fridays match was the closest hed come to playing for the senior side this season, although the abandonment took place before the teams had been announced.With the weather we didnt really get to know what the game was going to entail, but he had a strong chance of playing tonight, said Lancashire captain Glen Chapple.He has been in decent form for a while and as a team we have been in good form.The players have been doing their jobs really well and it maybe comes down to a tactical change on certain pitches rather than leaving a player out.There is not going to be any chances taken with our team selection no matter who we play, veteran seamer Chapple insisted.Flintoff is expected to remain in Lancashires squad for their next scheduled match in the competition, away to Worcestershire at New Road on Sunday.

Ice melted; Ch Nisar meets PM Nawaz

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LAHORE (Dunya News) - The meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was held in Lahore on Friday Night. Chief Minister Punjab was also present in the meeting.Interior Minister was assured before the meeting that all his reservations on the recent developments would be addressed. After the meeting Ch Nisar once again agreed to play his active role in the PML-N’s affairs.

Government considers calling Army to give security to Long March

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ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) In a high profile meeting conducted today, presided over by the Prime Minister of the country, in the federal capital, the prospects of calling in the Army for help giving security to Imran Khans long March on August 14, were discussed. The Armed Forces will be requested to take over the security in light of the Article 245 of the constitution. The need to bring in the Army was discussed mainly for two reasons, according to the sources. Firstly, Police force is only limited and if they are asked to look after the security of a rally comprising thousands of men and women from across the country, it can create law and order situation in other parts of the country. The second and more important reason is the credibility that the Army enjoys in the PTI ranks. The presence of Police can also be misused by the mischievous elements that may infiltrate the marchers.Voters verification was also discussed in the infamous four constituencies during this meeting. Sources claimed that the high level meeting had the discussion on prospects of voters verification in the four constituencies on its agenda. Earlier today, Pervaiz Rasheed had also mentioned that the government was seriously considering the option of opening the four constituencies for voters verification. PTIs long standing demand may also meet success in the near future if the government submits to the pressure created by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insafs projected Long March and the oppositions continuous protests. Pervaiz Rashweed had welcomed the elasticity that Imran Khan has brought in his stance, earlier today.The security of the capital city, as well as that of the marchers, is the top priority of the government as any mishap can create a new scene in the country. The infighting of the ruling party, PML (N), has also made it a little tough for the government to handle the issues in a political manner. Chaudhry Nisar is reportedly unhappy with the state of affairs. However, according to the latest news that are coming from the capital are that Shehbaz Sharif has succeeded in wooing chaudhry Nisar in and has taken himself to Lahore along with him where the Interior Minister would meet the Prime Minister today (Saturday).It is also worth mentioning here that the sensitive installations and buildings throughout the country are already under Armys check. In 2009, when the Pakistan Muslim League (N) had decided to march upon the capital city during Lawyers movement, calling in the Army was also considered by the then ruling coalition. However, the marchers had only reached Gujranwala when Nawaz Sharif had called the long march off as Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani had succumbed to the pressure and had reinstated Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Immigration in America's DNA, Obama says

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama on Friday called Americas legacy as a country of immigrants part of the nations DNA, as members of the military community were sworn in as citizens at the White House.At a Fourth of July event marking the 238th anniversary of American independence, Obama praised the newly minted citizens -- some two dozen active duty military, their spouses, veterans, and reservists -- who remind us that America is and always has been a nation of immigrants.The presidents remarks came with the country embroiled in a tense debate over how to stanch an influx of undocumented immigrants from Mexico and Central America, among them thousands of minors, who have flooded across the border into the US in recent months.Throughout our history, immigrants have come to our shores in wave after wave, from every corner of the globe. Every one of us -- unless were Native American -- has an ancestor who was born somewhere else, Obama said.Thats what makes America special. Thats what makes us strong. The basic idea of welcoming immigrants to our shores is central to our way of life, it is in our DNA, the president said.And he used the event to plug his support for immigration reform, long stalled in the US Congress.We believe our diversity, our differences, when joined together by a common set of ideals, makes us stronger, makes us more creative, makes us different, Obama said.If we want to keep attracting the best and brightest from beyond our borders, were going to have to fix our immigration system, which is broken, and pass commonsense immigration reform, the US president said.We shouldnt be making it harder for the best and the brightest to come here, and create jobs here, and grow our economy here. We should be making it easier.Republican leaders will not pass immigration reform because they fear conservative activists who oppose offering a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented migrants as amnesty, particularly in an election year.Obama has said House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner told him last month that his chamber would not vote this year on comprehensive legislation that passed the Democratic-run Senate a year ago.Obama said last week that he has asked the Department of Homeland Security to come up with recommendations within the next few months, which he pledged to immediately implement using his executive powers.The immigration issue has gained new urgency after some 52,000 unaccompanied minors crossed illegally into the US via Americas southern border since October.Obama has vowed to send more resources to secure the southwestern US border, where the flood of child migrants has stretched customs services and deepened the partisan bile over immigration reform.Obama also wants to drastically increase the number of immigration judges to the area and to do more to crack down on criminal and smuggling networks.

Suicide bomber kills 15 in attack on Iraq forces

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle at a security forces position north of Baghdad on Friday, killing 15 people, police and a doctor said.The attack south of the sensitive shrine city of Samarra in Salaheddin province, where militants have overrun the state capital and a swathe of other territory, also wounded 25 people.Samarra, 15 kilometres (nine miles) north of where the attack took place, is home to the revered Shiite Al-Askari shrine, which was bombed in February 2006, sparking a bloody Sunni-Shiite sectarian war.The position was occupied by a mix of Iraqi soldiers and civilians who have volunteered to fight a major jihadist-led militant offensive that has overrun chunks of five provinces.Security forces folded under the weight of the initial onslaught, in some cases shedding uniforms and abandoning vehicles to flee, prompting the government to announce it would arm and equip people who volunteered.While government forces have since performed better, they are still struggling to carry out effective offensive operations against the militants.

Football: Hummels heads Germany into World Cup semi-final

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - A Mats Hummels header sent Germany into a record fourth successive World Cup semi-finals as they beat France 1-0 in the Maracana on Friday.The Germans -- who have not won the World Cup since 1990 -- will play either hosts Brazil or Colombia in Belo Horizonte next Tuesday.Hummels headed home from a superb freekick by Toni Kroos to give the Germans the lead in the 13th minute.Germany thought they should have been awarded a penalty shortly afterwards as Miroslav Klose went down with his shirt being tugged by Mathieu Debuchy.France had their chances with the best seeing German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer marking his 50th appearance with a great double save first from Mathieu Valbuena and then Karim Benzema.Benzema had a great chance to level affairs in the dying seconds as he worked some space on the left but his shot was batted away by the peerless Neuer.
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