Saturday 5 July 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Karachi: All set for MQM solidarity rally

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – All arrangements have been finalised for Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) solidarity rally at the Jinnah Park today.The MQM is staging a rally in Karachi to express solidarity with Pakistan Army for the ongoing operation in North Waziristan.

Netherlands beat Costa Rica on penalties, into World Cup semis

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SALVADOR (AFP) - Substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul saved two penalties in a dramatic shoot-out on Saturday as the Netherlands edged Costa Rica 4-3 to reach the World Cup semi-finals.After a goalless 120 minutes, the towering Newcastle United custodian came on at the end of extra time and he saved from Bryan Ruiz and Michael Umana to win the quarter-final for the Dutch.It was another masterstroke from Manchester United-bound coach Louis van Gaal, who despite his ingenuity was unable to engineer a breakthrough in normal and extra time.Costa Rica rarely threatened and appeared content to play for penalties, their strong suit after goalkeeper Keylor Navas kept out Greece in a shoot-out in the last 16.But their bluff was called and after Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt all buried their kicks, the outstretched Krul denied Umana to seal the win.The thrilling shoot-out came after a match in which goalkeeping also featured strongly when the Dutch hit the woodwork three times and were repeatedly denied by Navas.Their first chance came when Kuyt squared it to Memphis Depay, who found Van Persie in the area but had his close-range shot well blocked by Navas.The goalkeeper then spared Ruiz's blushes, after his captain gave the ball away on the halfway line, when he stopped smartly from Depay.Robben's frank admission to diving dominated the build-up but Uzbek referee Ravshan Irmanov had no delay in awarding free-kicks when he went down twice in quick succession.And Sneijder nearly buried the second when he curled it past the wall, only for his goal-bound shot to be denied by Navas's fabulous flying, one-handed save.The Levante 'keeper was again on his toes when he came out quickly to dive on Robben's through-ball just ahead of the on-rushing Van Persie.The Netherlands were starting to carve Costa Rica open but despite 63 percent of possession in the opening half, they went into the break goalless.Costa Rica hadn't had a shot on target but they had a chance on the hour when Junior Diaz surged and found Campbell, who went sprawling but had his penalty claim denied.Costa Rica withdrew Campbell for Marcos Urena, and they were forced into another change when midfielder Cristian Gamboa was stretchered off and replaced by Dave Myrie.Dutch coach Van Gaal threw on Jeremain Lens for Depay in a bid to avoid extra time, and Sneijder nearly broke the deadlock when he hammered a free-kick against the near post.Navas again denied Van Persie from close range, and with two minutes remaining the sharpshooter appeared to have it won when Sneijder floated a ball over the defence.But Van Persie, scorer of a magnificent diving header in the Dutch win against Spain, embarrassingly swung and missed with his favoured left foot with the goal at his mercy.In injury time, the Dutch appeared cursed as Daley Blind's ball ran across the face, missing a forest of outstretched legs, and Van Persie's shot was deflected onto the bar.Extra-time began for the sixth time this World Cup and Navas rescued Costa Rica again when he turned away Ron Vlaar's header before needing treatment after a clash with Kuyt.After they changed ends for the final time, Robben painfully clashed heads with Johnny Acosta and substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was booked for colliding with Navas.With penalties looming, Urena threatened to snatch it for Costa Rica when he broke clear, but he was denied by goalkeeper Jan Cillessen.And almost immediately at the other end, Sneijder hit the woodwork for the second time when he smashed a curling shot off the crossbar.Van Gaal withdrew Cillessen for the 1.93m (six feet three inches) Krul exactly on 120 minutes for the penalties.And his judgement looked impeccable when Krul saved Costa Rica's second kick, struck by Ruiz, and then palmed away Umana's low and one-handed before racing away in triumph.

Football: FIFA to probe Neymar tackle as anger mounts

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Brazil grappled with the injury blow which ruled Neymar out of the World Cup on Saturday as FIFA said it was investigating the tackle which saw the star striker stretchered out of the tournament.Neymar's tournament-ending injury cast a pall over Brazil's 2-1 quarter-final win over Colombia on Friday, prompting anguish and anger amongst his compatriots.FIFA said it is studying footage of the aerial challenge from Colombian defender Juan Zuniga which left Neymar with a fractured vertebrae. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee is analysing all the elements provided, the videos and the match reports, and will decide whether or not to take action, FIFA spokeswoman Delia Fischer said.Zuniga was rapidly being cast as Brazil's public enemy number one on Saturday but insists he had not sought to hurt Neymar in the tackle.When I'm on the field I always do what I have to, to defend my country and the shirt I wear, but always without intent to injure anybody, Zuniga said.But Zuniga's protests failed to impress Brazilian legend Ronaldo, who accused the Colombian of a violent attack.I believe there was an intention to hurt by the player. I believe it was very aggressive and very violent, he said.Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro agreed, saying Zuniga had intentionally struck Neymar with his knee.I didn't like that very high knee. That leads me to believe it was a foul with a prior intention to cause harm, he said.Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff reflected the sense of national anguish, writing a personal message to Neymar.Your painful expression yesterday on the pitch ... wounded my heart, along with that of all Brazilians, Rousseff wrote.Several Brazilian newspapers vented fury at Zuniga, with O Dia denouncing the criminal knee while a columnist in O Estado de Sao Paulo accused him of a crime of national lese-majeste.The fallout over the affair deflected attention from Saturday's quarter-finals, where Lionel Messi's Argentina will aim to overcome Belgium in Brasilia while in Salvador the Netherlands face Costa Rica.Messi is aiming to lead Argentina into the semi-finals after losing in the last eight in 2010 and 2006.Argentina have failed to reproduce their best form during four matches of the World Cup so far, leading some to accuse them of an over-dependence on Messi.But Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella insists that a lot of good work is going unnnoticed.Any team that has a player like Messi will greatly depend on him, said Sabella.But I believe that what he's doing is the work of the entire team. He's the best player in the world, but he's part of a team.The Dutch meanwhile will be favourites to progress against minnows Costa Rica, with in-form attackers Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie spearheading the challenge.Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto stoked controversy ahead of the match by stating he was really worried about Robben diving.He urged Uzbek referee Ravshan Irmatov not to be afraid to hand out yellow cards if necessary.Maybe he would have to leave the field because he gets two yellow cards for diving. That could happen, said Pinto.

Tennis: Kvitova crushes Bouchard to win Wimbledon title

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LONDON (AFP) - Petra Kvitova stormed to her second Wimbledon title in the shortest women's final since 1983 as the Czech sixth seed crushed Canada's Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-0 on Saturday.Kvitova, who first won Wimbledon in 2011, took just 55 minutes to end her three-year wait for a second Grand Slam crown, leaving shell-shocked world number 13 Bouchard helpless to repel a brutal barrage of 28 winners and four aces on Centre Court.Playing in her first Grand Slam final since her maiden triumph at Wimbledon, the 24-year-old Kvitova produced a brilliant display of power-hitting to secure the 12th career title.Fittingly, Kvitova's breathtaking performance came in front of her childhood hero Martina Navratilova, whose 54-minute win against Andrea Jaeger 31 years ago was the last Wimbledon final to take less time than this ruthless demolition.I had great tactics from my coach, he always knows how I need to play, Kvitova said.All my team helped me a lot throughout the years to come back here and win the trophy again.I can't say it's more special but after three years to be back here with the trophy is so special.After struggling to cope with the fame and increased expectations that came with her first Wimbledon triumph, Kvitova has finally recaptured the thrilling form that brought her that breakthrough success.The left-hander dropped just one set in her seven matches en route to lifting the Venus Rosewater dish for the second time and will rise to fourth in the world rankings next week.While Kvitova celebrated, Bouchard, the youngest finalist at a major since Caroline Wozniacki in 2009, was left to lick her wounds after a chastening defeat in her first Grand Slam final.The photogenic and fiercely competitive Bouchard, named after Princess Eugenie by her royalty-obsessed mother, has been widely compared to Maria Sharapova and this was supposed to be her coronation as the queen of Wimbledon.Bu instead, with her regal namesake watching from the Royal Box, the 20-year-old was swept away and now shares with Sharapova the unwanted distinction of being thrashed by Kvitova in a Wimbledon final.It was really tough for me today but I am proud of how I have played for these two weeks, Bouchard said. I feel like it's a step in the right direction. I'm not sure I deserve all your love today but I certainly appreciate it.Kvitova was unloading some searing groundstrokes and Bouchard, no slouch in the power stakes herself, was unable to respond as a flashing forehand winner from the Czech secured the first break in the third game.Bouchard, bidding to become the youngest Grand Slam winner since Sharapova in 2006 at the US Open, responded by adding even more bite to her returns, but Kvitova had the answer to everything the youngster could throw at her.The Canadian, playing in only her sixth Grand Slam tournament, was wilting under the relentless barrage and the Czech, hitting with an unstoppable combination of aggression and accuracy, broke again for a 5-2 lead.Kvitova's onslaught left the bewildered Bouchard, who had grown used to bullying opponents into submission herself over the last fortnight, shaking her head in frustration.The Canadian briefly stemmed the tide with a break of her own in the next game, but Kvitova answered emphatically with another sequence of sledgehammer winners to break again and seal the set.There was no sign of Kvitova letting up in the second set and a crushing overhead left Bouchard almost ducking for cover as it fizzed over her head.As statements of intent go, it was a resounding success and Bouchard, rapidly losing her stomach for the fight, tamely surrendered her serve in the second game.Kvitova had a vice-like grip on the trophy now and she sprinted to the finish line with two more breaks to complete the most clinical final victory Wimbledon had seen for decades.

Golf: Stadler leads French Open by four shots

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VERSAILLES (AFP) - American Kevin Stadler will carry a healthy four shot lead into the final day of the French Open after a solid third round of one over 72 at Le Golf National on Saturday.The 34-year-old Reno, Nevada native, saw French playing partner Victor Riu pull within one shot with three birdies on the front nine before disaster struck for the 29-year-old local favourite.Six bogeys down the stretch for Riu saw him slip into a tie for second with Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee on five under. I'm satisfied to finish these 18 holes, the score was pretty average today but nothing too terrible, said Stadler.I wasn't striking the ball as good as I have, but I picked up a lot of pars.It was difficult today with the wind, there were cross winds which made it tricky.I tweaked my back a while back and it hasn't been great for a couple of months but it wasn't too too painful, I'll get some treatment on it now.It will probably be more of the same tomorrow (Sunday), try to make a lot of pars. Jaidee moved into contention with a fine round of two under par 69 that leaves him four back of Stadler while US Open champion Martin Kaymer carded 70 to stand alone in fourth, a further two shots back. The good thing today was my putting, except for the last hole where I made bogey, said Jaidee. It's going to be a very challenging day tomorrow (Sunday), it was windy today and raining at times, sometimes the wind was blowing in different directions and it was gusty which made it difficult, added Jaidee. Stadler, the son of former Masters' winner Craig 'the Walrus' Stadler is making his first appearance at the Albatross layout near Versailles as he chases a third career victory. After winning the Johnnie Walker Classic in 2006, he returned to winning ways in February at the Phoenix Open and is now set to play at the British Open on July 17 at Hoylake for the first time since 2008. Riu, meanwhile, is having the best tournament of his career as the two men were followed by huge crowds despite chilly, wet weather that was sprinkled with sunny spells at the venue for the 2018 Ryder Cup. The right hander from just down the road at Saint-Nom-la-Breteche, is on the verge of qualifying for his first major tournament at the Open and can do so by finishing in the top ten on Sunday. I'm a bit disappointed with my finish after a good start. I was a bit tired at the end but I'm happy to finish the 18 holes, said a slightly dejected Riu. I missed a couple of puts by just a few centimetres.Riu is set to start his final round in the company of Kaymer in the penultimate group with Stadler and Jaidee going out last at 12h45 local time (1045 GMT).To play with Martin Kaymer will put a bit of pressure on me and I'm sure there will be a lot of people tomorrow but I'm looking forward to it, added Riu. Englishman Matthew Baldwin and Austria's Bernd Wiesberger are tied for fifth on two under, while a group of five players including defending champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland are a further shot adrift. Sweden's Robert Karlsson, Irishman Damien McGrane, Michael Hoey of Northern Ireland and Englishman Mark Foster are all part of this group, chasing the three top ten places that will book a ticket to the British Open.

Formula One: Rosberg snatches pole at British Grand Prix

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SILVERSTONE (AFP) - Nico Rosberg claimed pole position for Sunday's British Grand Prix with a late fastest lap in the final seconds of a dramatic and shock-filled qualifying session on Saturday.The 29-year-old German secured the prime starting position by persevering on his final lap in rapidly-drying conditions as Mercedes team-mate and home hero Briton Lewis Hamilton pulled into the pits, thinking like most observers that he was already safe on pole.It was a sensational finish to an unpredictable session that saw both Ferrari and both Williams eliminated in the Q1 part of qualifying and which delivered surprises throughout.For Rosberg, it was his fourth pole of the year, drawing him level with Hamilton, his first at Silverstone and the eighth of his career and gave him a great opportunity to enlarge his 29 points lead in the drivers' championship.It was definitely quite crazy, said a remarkably cool Rosberg. Certainly in first qualifying it was and last qualifying also. The tyres were still drying out so we lost time on the out lap.We sat in the garage and eventually came to the conclusion that we might as well go out and have a look. Then it seemed like it was worth it because the last part of the lap was very dry. It was a great team effort.Hamilton had dominated until the final seconds when, thinking he was secure, he went to the pits while his rivals improved their times by more than three seconds in the final sector of the lap.Rosberg's fellow-German, defending four time champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull, qualified second on the front row ahead of Briton Jenson Button of McLaren, German Nico Hulkenberg of Force India and Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen who was fifth for McLaren.Hamilton wound up in sixth place ahead of Mexican Sergio Perez in the second Force India and Australian Daniel Ricciardo in the second Red Bull.Asked why he pulled in, a bitterly disappointed Hamilton said: I don't know, I don't have much of an answer... I just decided not to do the lap.He added that he did not believe it was dry enough for him to improve his time.Obviously not... I don't have anything to say to you at the moment.Mercedes team boss Paddy Lowe said it was the driver's decision to abort the lap.He felt the lap was worse, said Lowe. He bailed out, which was unfortunate as a lot of time was found in sector three.On a day of intermittent heavy rainfall, and after a rain-hit final free practice in the morning, it was always likely that the rapidly-changing conditions would create problems.This was apparent in Q1 when the treacherous weather created a major upset as both Ferraris and the two Williams men, who had locked out the front row of the grid in Austraia two weeks earlier, were eliminated along with the two Caterhams.In gently drying conditions, Hamilton set the early pace ahead of Ricciardo before the struggling teams gambled on slick tyres in the closing minutes. This led to a scramble in which Mercedes reacted first, Rosberg going quickest ahead of Kvyat with Hamilton third.But Ferrari and Williams missed 'the window' and hit problems as it began to rain again.This resulted in Finn Valtteri Bottas and his Williams team-mate Brazilian Felipe Massa winding up 17th and 18th ahead of Alonso in 19th and Raikkonen who was 20th.Britain's Max Chilton will start in 17th after qualifying a career-best 13th but suffering a penalty for a gearbox change.His Marussia team-mate Jules Bianchi starts 12th, the highest grid position for the team since they entered F1 in 2010 as Virgin Racing.Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado, who qualified 15th, was excluded from qualifying because there was insufficient fuel in his car to provide the one-litre sample required by the regulations.The Lotus driver stopped out on track after his car ran out of fuel, following an error by engine suppliers Renault on consumption calculations.It means Maldonado will start 20th on the grid, but on front of Caterham duo Marcus Ericsson or Kamui Kobayashi who failed to complete a lap within the 107 percent mark in Q1.

Cycling: Kittel wins Tour first stage as Cavendish crashes

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HARROGATE (AFP) - German Marcel Kittel won the opening stage of the Tour de France in Harrogate on Saturday as home favourite Mark Cavendish crashed in the final sprint.Giant-Shimano's Kittel will wear the race leader's yellow jersey on Sunday's second stage after triumphing in the 190.5km run from Leeds.Slovak Peter Sagan took second on the stage with Ramunas Navardauskas of Lithuania in third.A grimacing Cavendish, 29, came over the line several minutes later holding his arm across his body.He came crashing down hard on his shoulder in the final straight after contact with Australian champion Simon Gerrans, who also hit the deck, the pair taking down two or three other riders.It was a dramatic and disappointing finish for Cavendish, who had been hoping to win in the town where his mother was born.He was seen holding his collarbone and in evident pain as he lay on the tarmac.His Omega Pharma-Quick Step team looked to have controlled the run in to the finish until Spring Classics specialist Fabian Cancellara made a daring break for home with just over one kilometre left.He was swallowed up, though, in the final few hundred metres as the sprinters' teams cranked up the speed.Cavendish's crash, though, caught several riders out, forcing them to break and swerve to avoid the debris, leaving only a handful of racers to contest the sprint.Kittel, the star sprinter of last year's Tour, was in the right place and proved too strong for three-time green jersey winner Sagan.

New Zealand beat Windies by 12 runs in first Twenty20

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ROSEAU (AFP) - New Zealand relied on their two most experienced batsmen to defeat the West Indies by 12 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis scoring method in the rain-affected first T20 International at Windsor Park on Saturday to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.Replying to the home side's total of 132 for eight off 18 overs in the rain-affected match, the tourists were cruising at 117 for four after 15 overs when the cumulative effect of a persistent drizzle and fading light forced the umpires to call a halt to the match.The final match is scheduled for Sunday at the same venue.Brendon McCullum spearheaded the run-chase for the Black Caps, the captain underlining his reputation as one of the most prolific scorers in the shortest form of the international game with an innings of 40 off 35 balls to wrest the initiative for his team despite a three-wicket burst by his West Indies counterpart, Darren Sammy.He came to the crease when Krishmar Santokie had Jimmy Neesham bowled off the inside-edge and found an able partner in Kane Williamson. The man of the series from the Tests helped his captain put on 53 for the second wicket before he became Sammy's first wicket.McCullum's knock, and the support of Ross Taylor (28 not out), overshadowed the pulverizing innings of 52 off 39 balls by Andre Fletcher that paced the West Indies to what seemed a competitive total after they were in early trouble at 10 for two. Taylor smashed two sixes and a four off an over from all-rounder Russell that shot New Zealand so far ahead of the required rate that victory was a formality from that point.Fletcher and Darren Bravo (30) put on 88 for the third wicket, but the excellent bowling of seamer Tim Southee (2 for 20) restricted the home side in the critical final overs of the innings.Debutant leg-spinner Ish Sodhi was the only New Zealand bowler to suffer against the West Indies batsmen, conceding 35 runs off three overs. He did have the consolation however of claiming the wicket of Fletcher just at the point where the attacking right-hander was set to accelerate even further.

Finch shines among stars in Lord's bicentenary

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LONDON (AFP) - Australia's Aaron Finch seized his chance to shine among some of cricket's greatest players with a commanding innings of 181 not out as MCC beat the Rest of the World in the Lord's bicentenary match on Saturday.Set 294 to win a one-day match marking the 200th anniversary of the 'home of cricket', MCC finished on 296 for three with 25 balls to spare against an equally star-studded Rest of the World team.Finch, already in England playing for Yorkshire, was involved in partnerships with three of the best batsmen cricket has known to cap a memorable Lord's debut for the 27-year-old Victoria right-hander. He put on 107 for the first wicket with Indian hero Sachin Tendulkar, cricket's leading run-scorer in both Tests and one-day internationals.Finch then added 67 and 122 with two contrasting West Indies left-handers in Brian Lara (23) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (37 not out) respectively.Tendulkar said it would not be long before Finch, who made a Twenty20 world-record 156 against England at Southampton last year, made his Test debut.It was a special innings, I was telling him 'it was a joy to watch you play', Tendulkar said.I'm sure we'll see him in the long form of the game as well.However, one sadness for a capacity crowd was that Rest of the World captain Shane Warne was unable to bowl after his first ball batting saw the leg-spin legend suffer a broken right hand when he was struck by an accidental beamer from fast bowler Brett Lee.Asked if he and his former Australia team-mate were still friends, Warne jokingly said: We were.As for Finch, his fellow Victorian, Warne said: He's a fantastic player, I would love to see him in Australian colours in Test matches.Earlier, Yuvraj Singh's blistering 132 off 134 balls took the Rest of the World to 293 for seven after they had collapsed to 68 for five following four cheap wickets -- Adam Gilchrist, Tamim Iqbal, Kevin Pietersen and Shahid Afridi -- for Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.Tendulkar, who only retired in November, gave his adoring fans in a capacity Lord's crowd plenty to remember him by with the pick of his seven fours a straight drive down the ground off current Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle.'The Little Master', cheered to the echo throughout the match by his adoring fans, thanked the public for their support but said it had been tough going out in the middle.Forty-four runs, a little more than how old I am, the 41-year-old Tendulkar said.It shows on me, doesn't it? I have been enjoying my retirement, doing the things I didn't get to do for 24 years.Tendulkar fell when he bottom edged an intended cut off Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, Test cricket's most successful bowler.Left-hander Lara also showed his enduring class with a cracking drive behind point off West Indies paceman Tino Best and a booming drive off medium-pacer Paul Collingwood.But Durham captain and former England all-rounder Collingwood proved an unlikely bowling hero with two wickets in two balls as Lara was caught behind and India star Rahul Dravid bowled off the inside edge for a golden duck.Chanderpaul survived the hat-trick ball.Opening batsman Finch was quickly into his stride with pulled boundaries off Best and Siddle.He also hammered leg-spinner Afridi for six over deep square leg and lofted Yuvraj's left-arm spin high over the long-on boundary.A single off Collingwood saw the 27-year-old Finch to a 96-ball century.He eventually ended the match with a six off Yuvraj.In all, Finch faced 145 balls including 23 fours and six sixes.

Strauss in Pietersen swearing storm

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LONDON (AFP) - Former England captain Andrew Strauss found himself involved in a fresh row regarding Kevin Pietersen after making highly offensive comments about his former Test colleague while broadcasting on Saturday.Sky Sports commentator Strauss, believing he was off the air in a break in play during the Lords bicentenary match between MCC and the Rest of the World, reportedly used a particularly obscene epithet to describe Pietersen.But although Strausss remarks werent heard by Sky viewers, they were picked up on an overseas app receiving a continuous feed of the Sky commentary.A brief statement issued by Sky said: Earlier comments were made during a break in play which were heard overseas. We apologise for the language used.Pietersen, after making a match-saving hundred in a Test against his native South Africa at Headingley in 2012, was briefly dropped from the England team after sending text messages said to contain derogatory references to Strauss to Proteas players.Strauss, twice an Ashes-winning captain, retired following South Africas 2-0 win in that series.The former opening batsman insisted at the time, however, that he had not quit as a result of the comments made by Pietersen, his predecessor as England captain.However, he did say in retirement: I wasnt all that bothered about him (Pietersen) sending texts to the South African players that he knew quite well.I did, however, have issues with him criticising me to the opposition.That felt like talking out of school, not to mention giving the opposition a way to drive a wedge between Pietersen and myself and the team.And if he really had given information about how to get me out, well that amounted to treachery and I would never forgive him.I am confident, in retrospect, that he did not give the South Africans information on how to get me out.The nagging frustration I still have is that all of that time, effort and commitment from our players over a three-year period to make our environment special and different was undermined in one episode.Pietersen was subsequently restored to the England team.But following Englands recent 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board effectively ended the 34-year-old Pietersens international career -- even though he is Englands all-time leading run-scorer across all formats -- in what they said was a move designed to support current captain Alastair Cook.Pietersen said Friday he still harboured hopes of an England return but playing for the Rest of the World against an equally star-studded MCC side on Saturday he did little to advance his cause by being stumped for 10 off Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.In Pietersens absence, England were beaten 1-0 at home to Sri Lanka in a two-Test series last month.England begin a five-Test series at home to India at Nottinghams Trent Bridge ground on Wednesday.

Football: Argentina advances to World Cup semis

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BRASILIA (AFP) - Gonzalo Higuain smashed home an early goal as Argentina dashed the World Cup dreams of much-fancied Belgium with a 1-0 win in the quarter-finals in Brasilia on Saturday.Higuain struck in the eighth minute at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium to send Argentina into the last four for the first time since 1990 and thwart Belgian hopes of avenging their defeat in the 1986 semi-finals.Alejandro Sabellas side will play either the Netherlands or Costa Rica, who face off in the fourth and final quarter-final later on Saturday.The only black mark for Argentina was an injury to influential midfielder Angel Di Maria that forced him off in the first half and may yet deny him a chance to play in the semi-final.Hours after Neymar was ruled out of the tournament due to injury and James Rodriguez was eliminated with Colombia, Lionel Messi gave further evidence to suggest the World Cup may yet belong to him.He illuminated Argentinas play with his trickery and incisive passing and although he failed to score, Higuains goal was enough to see off Belgiums golden generation, for whom the occasion proved a step too far.A symbol of Belgiums travails, star player Eden Hazard was booked for a crude challenge on Lucas Biglia and then replaced by Nacer Chadli with 15 minutes remaining.Showing three changes to the team that had laboured to beat Switzerland in the last 16 -- Jose Maria Basanta, Martin Demichelis and Biglia coming in -- Argentina were quick to put Belgium on the back foot.Messi was at the forefront, freeing Ezequiel Lavezzi for a low cross that Vincent Kompany hacked clear and then playing a central role in Argentinas opener with a pirouette and pass to Di Maria.Di Marias subsequent pass was intended for the overlapping Pablo Zabaleta, but it flicked off Jan Vertonghens right foot and into the path of Higuain, who lashed in his first goal of the tournament.- Di Maria trudges off -========================Messi then produced a cleverly weighted pass to Di Maria, who shifted the ball onto his left foot, only for Kompany to block.Though seemingly anodyne, it was a moment that could have lasting repercussions for Argentina.Di Maria injured himself while shooting and had to trudge off in the 33rd minute, with Benficas Enzo Perez coming on.Belgium seemed slightly inhibited, but after Kevin De Bruyne saw a 25-yard shot boxed away by Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero, Kevin Mirallas headed narrowly wide from a Vertonghen cross.Belgium coach Marc Wilmots pushed Marouane Fellaini further forward in the second half, but Argentina continued to threaten.Higuain twice came close to claiming a second goal, first seeing a shot deflected wide by Daniel Van Buyten and then neatly nutmegging Kompany, only for his shot to clip the bar.Wilmots reacted by introducing Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens, before hooking the ineffective Hazard.Belgium began to apply pressure, with Fellaini heading a Vertonghen cross over the bar and De Bruyne having a shot deflected wide.Messi should have made it 2-0 on the counter-attack in stoppage time, only for Thibaut Courtois to rush out and save, but Argentina held on nonetheless to join Germany and eternal rivals Brazil in the last four.

Eight members of one family killed in Syria raid: NGO

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BEIRUT (AFP) - Eight members of a single family were killed on Saturday when Syrian aircraft dropped explosive-packed barrel bombs on a town in the southern Syrian province of Daraa, a monitor said.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a man, his wife and their six children were killed in the raid on the town of Dael.Another man was killed in barrel bomb raids elsewhere in the southern province, the Britain-based group said.A video from Dael showed men carrying the remains of bodies after the attack.This is all that remains of the family, one man says.Where is Arab pride in the holy month of Ramadan? This is what is happening to children.Syrian regime forces control Daraa city, but the province is divided between rebel and government control.Elsewhere, the Observatory said 15 Syrian Kurdish fighters had been killed since Friday in clashes with the jihadist Islamic State (IS) group in the Zur Maghar area of Aleppo province in north Syria.The IS seized Zur Maghar and nearby Bayada on Friday as it continues to battle rebel forces elsewhere in northern Syria.Alongside that front, regime troops have made new advances on the outskirts of eastern Aleppo.The city, once Syria's economic hub, has been divided between rebel control in the east and government control in the west since shortly after fighting erupted there in summer 2012.But regime forces have in recent days begun to encircle the eastern outskirts of the city, seizing the Sheikh Najjar industrial sector to the northeast and threatening rebel supply routes.In addition to battling the regime, rebels have been fighting the IS, previously known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, since January.The group has become infamous for abuses against civilians and opposition forces, and last week announced the establishment of an Islamic caliphate -- a state straddling the border between Syria and Iraq.

Malawi's new president pardons 403 prisoners to mark Independence Day

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BLANTYRE (AFP) - Malawis new President Peter Mutharika pardoned 403 prisoners on Saturday ahead of celebrations to mark 50 years since the country gained independence from Britain.The pardon of the prisoners is a symbol of forgiveness as the country commemorates its golden jubilee of independence on Sunday, the home affairs ministry said in a statement.The ministry said those pardoned have served at least half of their prison sentences, with good behaviour and were not convicted of serious offences.The pardoning of prisoners is common in Malawi during independence celebrations, as well as at Easter and Christmas.In 2008, former president Joyce Banda released 377 prisoners to mark the 48th anniversary of independence.Mutharika defeated Banda in May elections, and has vowed to root out corruption in Malawi, which is among the worlds poorest countries.The countrys 23 prisons are notorious for the poor conditions in which inmates are kept. They currently hold some 12,000 inmates - double their capacity - and a former top judge has described them as hell on earth.

Every segment of society must stand firm with the Army - Altaf Hussain

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KARACHI: (Dunya News) MQM Chief Altaf Hussain has said that everyone must stand firm with the Armed Forces of the country against the terrorists. He requested people from all walks of life to join hands with MQM in order to show solidarity with the Army on 6th July. He also said that unity among various sects of the society was the need of the hour and inter-faith harmony was a must for the nation. This Operation Zarb-e-Azb is a being conducted against elements that pose an existential threat to Pakistan and therefore, we must all set aside our differences at the moment and stand firm with our Army, said Altaf. He said that Pakistan Army is not alone in this war and that every kid of the country stands firm with it.MQM head addressed notable personalities belonging to various fields of life at MQMs Central Office (Nine Zero) on phone. He asked everyone to join MQMs rally tomorrow. The soldiers of Pakistan Army are laying their lives for the sake of the country, said Altaf Hussain. He also said that religious terrorism was a threat to the existence of Pakistan and therefore, Army is fighting the war of Pakistans existence. It is our duty as Pakistanis that we give complete moral support to our military in this War on Terrorism, said Altaf. We shall not stop at anything less than complete elimination of the terrorists and extortionists from the face of the country, he said. Altaf Hussain vowed to make Karachi a City of Peace.Earlier, in a press briefing at the Jinnah Gardens, MQMs Deputy Convener Dr. Farooq Sattar said that the biggest threat that faces Pakistan today came from the religious extremism and it is this threat that the brave Armed Forces of the country are fighting with. “It is the duty of people belonging to various segments of the society to express solidarity with the armed forces and display exemplary unity between them”, said Farooq Sattar.He said that MQM was going to stage a massive public gathering to show solidarity with the Pak Army on 6th of July. He seemed very confident about the success of tomorrows gathering. He said, “The gathering on 6th July will prove to be one of the biggest gatherings Pakistan would have ever seen.”Dr. Farooq Sattar also mentioned that the security arrangements will be fool proof and the stage of this public meeting will also be the largest stage of Pakistans history. MQM leader said that arrangements for Iftari have also been made for the gathering and that this will be the biggest Iftari in the history of Pakistan.A few days ago MQM Chief Altaf Hussain had announced that the party was planning to conduct the meeting on 6th of July. He had also mentioned that even a bigger gathering is being planned by MQM. The other public meeting will take place after Eid.

Egypt's Sisi slashes fuel subsidies in risky move

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CAIRO (AFP) - Egypt drastically raised fuel prices overnight to tackle a bloated subsidy system, in a potentially unpopular move that could blow back on newly elected President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.With the economy battered by three years of unrest, successive governments have said the subsidies that allowed Egyptians to buy petrol at some of the world's cheapest prices must be lifted.The cuts appeared to shock taxi drivers and other transport workers. Police fired tear gas to disperse taxi drivers who blocked roads in the Suez Canal city of Ismailiya after the hikes came into effect overnight Friday.Ex-army chief Sisi, elected by a landslide in May, has advocated austerity to narrow the budget deficit, and a severe law and order platform to rein in Islamist supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.Morsi himself had balked at implementing the cuts to avoid stoking unrest, but the military ousted the divisive leader anyway after millions took to the streets demanding his resignation.With the main Islamist opposition decimated, Sisi appears set on leveraging his popularity to ram through politically risky measures that foreign donors say are crucial to reforming a decrepit subsidy system.The government raised the price of 92 octane gasoline from 1.85 Egyptian pounds ($0.36/27 euro cents) a litre to 2.60 pounds, and 80 octane gas from 0.90 pounds to 1.6 pounds a litre, the official MENA news agency reported. The price of diesel was raised from 1.1 pounds to 1.8 pounds.The government had factored in a cut of about 44 billion pounds in fuel subsidies in a recently approved budget for the current fiscal year, bringing spending on fuel to 100 billion pounds, Egyptian media reported.The state spends more than 30 percent of its budget on fuel and food subsidies, in a country were nearly 40 percent of the population of 86 million hovers around the poverty line.In Cairo, enraged taxi drivers queued at petrol stations after the prices went up.I wanted Sisi to lift subsidies for businessmen and factory owners, before the poor, said one, Mostafa Ibrahim.Taxis, which have cheap fares compared with other countries, are commonly used in Egypt for everyday transport.- Subsidies for the needy -Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab said the cuts would help those in need, rather than wasting state money on the well off.How can we have social justice as I spend on the rich at the expense of the poor? he said at a news conference.Mahlab said the state would inject 51 billion pounds in services -- almost half on health and education -- and to cushion a minimum wage.Sisi has preached a message of self-sacrifice to restore the economy.He has launched a donation drive and announced he would give away part of his salary and personal wealth, while urging Egyptians to bike and walk more.The economy has been propped up by billions of dollars in Gulf Arab state aid since the overthrow of the Morsi, who was viewed with suspicion by regional powerhouses such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.The government has also signed off on a capital gains tax and said it would gradually raise electricity prices over the next five years.Sisi won the May election by about 97 percent of the vote against a weak leftist candidate, and many view him as a strong leader who can kickstart a recovery.But Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement still holds near daily protests it hopes will grow with increasing economic discontent.The group has been battered by a crackdown that killed at least 1,400 people, mostly Islamists, in street clashes and imprisoned more than 16,000.More than 200 Islamists and alleged supporters have been sentenced to death in mass trials.On Saturday, a court sentenced Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie to life and confirmed 10 death sentences, nine of them in absentia. The unrest, and militant attacks that have killed scores of policemen and soldiers, have roiled the economy.The 2011 uprising that ousted veteran dictator Hosni Mubarak sent the economy into a downward spiral, with the tumult scaring away tourists and foreign investors.The country had just began to recover when the military, prompted by huge protests, overthrew Morsi in July last year.
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