Sunday 6 July 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Hyderabad: Firing on police mobile leaves 3 cops dead

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HYDERABAD (Dunya News) – According to details, some unidentified gunmen riding on motorcycles opened fire at a police mobile which was parked at a check post at Latifabad No Ponay Saat on Sunday night, wounding four policemen and one passerby.The injured were shifted to Civil Hospital and Bhitai Hospital where three policemen succumbed to their wounds. The deceased were identified as Ishtiaq, Rashid and Maqsood.Heavy contingent of police reached the spot after the incident and cordoned off the area.

Seven Palestinians killed by Israel drones: medics

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GAZA CITY (AFP) - Seven Palestinians were killed by Israeli drone strikes on Gaza, medics said Monday, after militants fired dozens of rockets at southern Israel.Gaza Strip health services spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said two Palestinians were killed and two others wounded in the drone attack east of Rafah, in southern Gaza. He later pronounced a third Palestinian who had been wounded in the attack dead.Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, said meanwhile that six of their men were killed by the Israeli strike on Rafah.Qudra did not confirm the Qassam statement. Witnesses said Qassam members were killed when a tunnel collapsed on them following the Israeli strike. The Israeli army said it had targeted nine terror sites and concealed rocket launchers across the Gaza Strip, noting in a statement its attacks came after militants fired over 25 mortars and rockets at Israel on Sunday.Late Sunday two other Palestinian militants were killed in an Israeli drone strike east of Bureij refugee camp, near central Gaza's border with the Jewish state, emergency services said.The Israeli army said it targeted terrorists involved in rocket launching.Qudra also said five civilians were injured in Beit Hanun after a rocket fired by Gaza militants fell short of Israel.The strikes come after the brutal murder of 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khder on July 2 triggered four days of violent clashes that broke out in east Jerusalem and have spread throughout Arab towns in Israel.

More than 60 women, girls escape Islamist abductors in Nigeria

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MAIDUGURI (AFP) - More than 60 women and girls abducted last month by suspected Boko Haram militants in northeast Nigeria have escaped their captors, sources said Sunday.Local vigilante Abbas Gava said he had received an alert from my colleagues ... that about 63 of the abducted women and girls had made it back home late Friday. A high-level security source in the Borno state capital Maiduguri, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, confirmed the escape.Gava, a senior official of the local vigilantes in Borno State who are working closely with security officials, told journalists the women escaped when their captors went out to fight.They took the bold step when their abductors moved out to carry out an operation, he said.Clashes took place between the Islamists and the army late Friday after an attack by the insurgents in the town of Damboa, where more than 50 of them were killed, the army had said.Spokesmen for the armed forces or the government could not be reached Sunday for comment.It's 83 days today that the girls have been abducted, activist Aisha Yesufu told the press after about 50 members of the Bring Back Our Girls movement tried Sunday to march to the presidential palace in Abuja but were asked by security forces to turn back. We have been coming out for 68 days and nobody has really listened to us, Yesufu told reporters after the march.That is why the group decided that we should just take the protest back to the President so that he will know that we are still out there after the 68 days that we have been coming out daily.Security experts say the overstretched and under-resourced military is incapable of fighting an effective counterinsurgency against the Boko Haram militants, who have killed thousands in their five-year campaign for an independent Islamic state in the north.

Djokovic ends Federer record dream in epic Wimbledon final

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LONDON (AFP) - Novak Djokovic won his second Wimbledon title and seventh major with a 6-7 (7/9), 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-4 victory over Roger Federer Sunday, shattering the Swiss star's dream of a record eighth triumph in an epic struggle.Victory allowed the top seeded Serb, who was also the 2011 champion and runner-up last year, to end a run of three successive defeats in Grand Slam finals, but the 27-year-old struggled to get across the finish line, surrendering a 5-2 lead in the fourth set and then a match point.Djokovic celebrated victory in typically eccentric style, kneeling on the Centre Court turf and munching on a few blades of grass just as he had done three years ago.Defeat for 32-year-old Federer, who won the most recent of his 17 Grand Slam titles at the All England Club in 2012, ended his bid to become the oldest Wimbledon champion in the Open Era and of breaking the tie of seven titles he shares with Pete Sampras.First of all I want to congratulate Roger it was a great match to be a part of he is a magnificent champion and a great example of a great athlete and a role model. I respect everything you have done and thanks for letting me win today, smiled Djokovic.That's why he has 17 Grand Slams because at important times he comes up with those shots. After losing the fourth set it wasn't easy to go on and win the fifth set, I don't know how I did it.Djokovic has the added bonus of reclaiming the world number one spot from Rafael Nadal.Federer said he was surpised to have got to a deciding set.It was a great final. I can't believe I made it to five, it wasn't looking good for a while, said Federer.Going into a match with Novak, you know it's going to be tough. I can only say congratulations to him. It was an amazing match and an amazing tournament. It's well-deserved.In front of a Royal Box containing Prince William and wife Catherine, the opening set was a fascinating contrast between Federer's mix and match of serve and volley and Djokovic's renowned baseline flair in the pair's 35th meeting.Two rallies featured 21 strokes apiece but neither player could fashion a break point.In a rollercoaster of a tiebreaker, Federer saw a 3/0 lead gobbled up and then had to save two set points.But the Swiss rallied when it mattered, taking the opener when Djokovic dumped a backhand return into the net.The Serb took a nasty tumble on the bone-dry grassless baseline and saw two break points disappear in the first game of the second set.But he did break in the third for 2-1 -- just Federer's second loss of serve of the tournament -- before calling the trainer to treat the left ankle he hurt in the fall.Federer had his first break point of the tie in the 10th game but Djokovic saved it and levelled the final with a brutal overhead.Federer saved two break points in the 11th game of the third set, moving to 6-5 with a 20th ace.But it was Djokovic who was on top in the tiebreaker charging to two set points and the third set when Federer pushed a drive wide.In a thrilling fourth set, Djokovic broke for 3-1, Federer hit back for 2-3 but the Serb regained the initiative for 4-2 and held a nervy seventh game for 5-2.Astonishingly, back came the veteran Swiss to go to 4-5, breaking his opponent when he served for the title.He saved a match point in the 10th game on a successful challenge to take the final into a decider.Djokovic led 2-1 in the fifth and called the trainer for the second time for treatment to his right calf.The man from Belgrade fought off a break point to lead 4-3 and then wasted three of his own as the rivals went to 4-4.Djokovic held for 5-4 and from nowhere he seized the initiative, moving to two championship points and clinched the trophy when Federer netted a return.

Zimonjic, Stosur win Wimbledon mixed doubles

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LONDON (AP) - Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia and 2011 U.S. Open singles champion Samantha Stosur of Australia won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title Sunday with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Max Mirnyi of Belarus and Taiwan's Chan Hao-ching.Zimonjic and Stosur broke their opponents' service in the third game of the second set to put them on the way to their first Grand Slam title together.Stosur, who won the U.S. Open women's singles in 2011, won a Grand Slam mixed doubles title for the third time, including with Bob Bryan at Wimbledon in 2008.Zimonjic has won four other major mixed titles and also captured three men's doubles titles with Daniel Nestor, including 2008 and 2009 at Wimbledon.Stosur said they had played together at Wimbledon before, but couldn't remember the year.It didn't quite work out as well as this time, Stosur said. We had a great week together. It was a lot of fun. Very thankful that Nenad asked me to play.Zimonjic said he and Stosur had plenty of confidence.I think it doesn't matter who is on the other side, if we are playing good, we can win against anyone on that day, he said.

Nigeria heading for FIFA ban over interference

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Nigerian officials are not backing down after sacking the entire national football federation leadership, ignoring a FIFA directive and risking an international ban for the reigning African champion.A weekend meeting of football and government officials endorsed the earlier sacking of Nigeria Football Federation President Aminu Maigari and his executive committee.The meeting which FIFA said it would not recognize also decided to plan new elections. The NFF is being led by an official appointed by the sports minister.FIFA does not allow governments to interfere in football affairs and has given Nigeria until Tuesday to reinstate Maigari or face sanctions.Delegates at the meeting said Maigari was responsible for embarrassing Nigeria at the World Cup by not resolving a player payment dispute. He was arrested on his return from Brazil.

Golf: Cabrera wins first event since 2009 Masters

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WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS (AFP) - Former Masters champion Angel Cabrera won his first non-major tournament on US soil Sunday by capturing the Greenbrier Classic by two strokes.The 44-year-old Argentinian tapped in on 18 for his second-straight six-under 64 to finish at 16-under 264 and beat runner-up George McNeill in the $6.5 million USPGA Tour tournament. The two-time major championship winner Cabrera won his first event since claiming the 2009 Masters. His first major championship was the 2007 US Open. Cabrera entered the final round just two shots adrift of third round leader Billy Hurley. But Cabrera had history on his side, as the previous two winners had rallied from four shots back.His round included an eagle on the par-four 13th and six birdies at The Old White Course.Cabrera has a reputation of doing well in majors but not regular PGA Tour events. He came agonizingly close to victory at last year's Masters, losing in a sudden death playoff to Australia's Adam Scott.He has just three wins on the European Tour with his most recent being the 2005 BMW Championship.McNeill fired the low round of the day with his nine-under 61 to finish at minus-14. On his front nine, McNeill birdied four in a row and followed that with a hole-in-one at No. 8.Webb Simpson shot a seven-under 63 and he ended alone in third at 10-under 270.Bud Cauley also had a hole-in-one on the 18th en route to a six-under 64. He ended in a share of fourth place at minus-nine. Cauley was joined by Chris Stroud (69), Hurley (73), Brendon Todd (66), Keegan Bradley (66), Cameron Tringale (69) and Will Wilcox (69).

Cycling: Nibali wins Tour de France 2nd stage

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SHEFFIELD (AFP) - Italian champion Vincenzo Nibali took the leader's yellow jersey as Mark Cavendish was forced to abandon the Tour de France on Sunday with a dislocated collarbone.Astana team leader Nibali took the attention away from British sprint king Cavendish at the end of a 201km slog from York to Sheffield in northern England.The former Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana winner finished two seconds clear of an elite chasing pack of 20 riders to win the stage and snatch the yellow jersey.It's emotional to be wearing this jersey on my back. I don't know what to say but the joy is from my home to the stars, said the 29-year-old Sicilian.Slovakian Peter Sagan started the day as favourite for the stage but came home in fourth, although that was enough to move him into second overall and give him the sprinters' green jersey.Belgian Greg Van Avermaet, a specialist of the spring cobbled classics, came home in second to move up to third overall while young Polish rider Michal Kwiatkowski was third on the stage.Sagan, who maintained his lead in the white jersey young rider's competition, complained that his chances of victory were hampered by others marking him.Today was a very hard stage, everyone was watching me and how I moved, said the 24-year-old.The stage was a little bit crazy but it was OK. I took the green jersey, which is good.German Marcel Kittel had started the day in yellow after winning Saturday's 190.5km opening stage from Leeds to Harrogate, in which Cavendish had crashed and injured himself.Kittel, who was also leading the green jersey category at the beginning of the day, trailed home almost 20 minutes behind Nibali.The Italian said the victory had given him a confidence boost in his battle to beat reigning champion Chris Froome and twice former winner Alberto Contador, both of whom had stretched the field with accelerations on the tough final 800m climb, 5km from the finish.We all know that Froome and Contador are the big favourites, added Nibali. Contador has lots of experience while Froome has been at the top these last three years. I'm here in great condition and I hope to perform well.He added: The Tour is long, there are still important stages to come and there's some tough competition in Froome and Contador.Spaniard Contaodr, 31, said that the truly decisive stages would come later, particularly given there are five summit finishes in the Alps and Pyrenees.Today was a day when you had to be careful, you had to manage and control things but also test your strength, he said.The most important thing was to have a good finishing position, there are still many stages to come.Before the start in York, Cavendish, whose arm was in a sling, admitted he was devastated after being forced to pull out of the Tour.The 29-year-old crashed on Saturday's opening stage after colliding with Australian champion Simon Gerrans in a high octane sprint finish in Harrogate, the town where his mother was born.When I was on the floor yesterday I knew something was wrong. It's the first time in my career I knew something was wrong, he said.I saw there was something wrong with my shoulder, it was sticking out a bit so we went to get it checked out. I was in a lot of pain, I can't move my shoulder. I held a bit of optimism that maybe it was just a bit of swelling and would go down this morning, but it's actually worse this morning. I'm gutted, I'm major disappointed but I guess it could be worse.Cavendish said he expected to face a lengthy spell on the sidelines and maybe even an operation.Ive got to go and get an MRI (scan) and see if it needs surgery, the chances are it probably does and unfortunately I'm likely to be out for a few weeks now.

Amla inspires South Africa to big win in first ODI

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COLOMBO (AFP) - Opener Hashim Amla smashed 109 and Ryan McLaren took two wickets in three balls as South Africa thrashed Sri Lanka by 75 runs in their first one-dayer on Sunday.Amla, 31, hit eight fours in his composed 130-ball knock and shared a 151-run third-wicket stand with skipper AB de Villiers (75), helping the visitors post a formidable 304-5 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.Kumar Sangakkara responded with a fine 88 off just 84 balls but Sri Lanka were still bundled out for 229 off 40.3 overs.The hosts appeared headed towards victory at one point. But paceman McLaren dismissed Lahiru Thirimanne and Sangakkara in the 38th over to trigger a collapse that saw Sri Lanka lose their last five wickets for just 13 runs.We had a bad day at the office. The South Africans played better cricket and we were really rusty, said Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews.After the start we got, the middle order made some poor shot selection and that cost us the game.Spinner Imran Tahir was a tad expensive but emerged as the highest wicket taker for the visitors, finishing with 3-50 from seven overs.The visitors had got off to a steady start after winning the toss, putting on 58 before losing two batsmen in quick succession.Opener Quinton de Kock was bowled by Mathews (1-30) for 27 which included a mighty six over mid-wicket off spinner Sachithra Senanayake (1-49).Just two balls later, unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis (3-61) trapped star all-rounder Jacques Kallis leg before wicket with his trademark carrom ball for a duck, to reduce the Proteas to a shaky 60-2.But Amla and de Villiers made light of the twin setbacks and steered the innings to a position of strength with their 141-ball stand.We fought really well and I am really proud of our first innings here. I thought the guys recovered really well, said de Villiers.We are very motivated to win our first series here, things have started really well and well have to go really hard in the next few games, he said.The victory Sunday was only South Africas third in 17 one-dayers against the hosts in Sri Lanka.Amla, named the new Test skipper last month, was in top form although he was dropped on 49 by Thisara Perera at long-on.The opener also saw an appeal under the Decision Review System go in his favour, with replays remaining inconclusive about whether he had nicked to the wicketkeeper while trying to go for a hook shot.At the other end, de Villiers played a sparkling knock, his 75 coming off just 70 balls with the help of five fours and a six.De Villiers, who was also dropped on 17, was out when he chipped a simple catch to Nuwan Kulasekara off Mendis.David Miller (36 not out) and Ryan McLaren (22 not out) then unleashed some hard hitting in the final overs to take the visitors to their highest ODI total in Sri Lanka against the hosts.Amla, named man of the match, completed his 13th ODI century before being trapped in front of the middle stump by Mendis. He hit eight fours and a six.It was his second ton in two days after he hit a century in a practice game against a Sri Lankan Presidents XI on Friday.The second ODI will be played in Pallekele on Wednesday, followed by the third and final match in Hambantota on Sunday.

WIndies beat Kiwis by 39 runs to level T20

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ROSEAU (AFP) - New Zealands batting collapsed under the pressure of an ever-increasing scoring rate as the West Indies claimed a 39-run victory in the second and final Twenty20 International on Sunday.Replying to the hosts total of 165 for six, the Black Caps lost their last six wickets for 13 runs to be dismissed for 126 off 19.1 overs at Windsor Park in Dominica.The series finished 1-1 after New Zealand had taken the three-matches Test series 2-1.Kane Williamson, New Zealands captain for the match, topscored with 37 at the top of the order, but it was his dismissal to Kieron Pollard and the demise of Ross Taylor (21) off the bowling of the wily Sunil Narine that effectively spelt the end for the tourists.Narine and fellow spinner Samuel Badree kept all the batsmen in check, their combined eight overs costing only 39 runs for three wickets.Left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell, who replaced Krishmar Santokie in the final eleven from the team that lost the rain-affected first match on Saturday, finished with three for 28 as New Zealands lower-order hit and hoped with an increasing level of desperation towards the end.Andre Fletchers second half-century in as many matches put the West Indies on their way towards that competitive total.Picking up from where he left off in the first match, he smashed three sixes and three fours off 49 deliveries in another entertaining innings after the West Indies were put in to bat.Dwayne Smith fell cheaply again at the start of the innings, but Fletcher joined Lendl Simmons (36) in putting on 66 for the second wicket before the opening batsman was caught on the long-on boundary by Corey Anderson.Trent Boult took a much more spectacular boundary catch in the late rush for runs to account for Pollard off Anderson. Despite the success, Anderson proved the most expensive bowler, conceding 51 runs off his four overs.In contrast, Boult was a model of economy, conceding 22 runs and taking the wickets of Fletcher and West Indies captain Darren Sammy.At the end though, his efforts with the ball and in the field made no difference, Darren Bravo running him out at the non-strikers end with a direct hit from cover-point to seal the West Indies win.

LPG price increased by Rs 10 per kg

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ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The marketing companies on Sunday increased the price of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) by Rs 10 per kilogram with immediate effect.According to All Pakistan LPG Distributors Association Chairman Irfan Khokar, the price of domestic cylinder has been increased by Rs 120 and commercial cylinder Rs 150.The new price of LPG in Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujraat, Faislabad, Sialkot, Hydrabad and Sheikhopura would be Rs. 110 per kg.New price of LPG in Mirpur, Multan, Bhawalpur, DG Khan, Peshawar, Kohat and Bannu would be Rs 115 per kg and Rs 140 per kg in Muree, Muzafrabad and FATA.Meanwhile, the new price of LPG in Karachi would be Rs 100 per kg while it would be sold at 130 per kg in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.On the other hand, LPG Association has convened a meeting on July 9 to discuss the issue.The association said that the marketing companies ignored directions of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) and increased prices.It has threatened to announce further strategy of protest on July 9 if the increase in the prices of LPG.

Most NSA data from regular Internet users: report

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Nine out of 10 people identified in a large cache of online conversations intercepted by the National Security Agency were ordinary Internet users and not foreign surveillance targets, a news report says.Nearly half of the surveillance files were of United States citizens or residents, The Washington Post said of its four-month investigation of the trove of NSA-intercepted electronic data provided by fugitive NSA contractor Edward Snowden.The revelations are likely to rekindle criticism in the US and abroad of US surveillance techniques and especially the NSAs vast data sweeps, and came after German authorities said they had arrested a suspected double-agent accused of spying for the United States.Ordinary Internet users, American and non-American alike, far outnumber legally targeted foreigners in the communications intercepted by the National Security Agency from US digital networks, the Post said.The study was based on 160,000 emails and instant message conversations, as well as 7,900 documents taken from more than 11,000 online accounts, intercepted during President Barack Obamas first term in office (2009-2012).The Post found that the NSA held on to material that analysts described as useless.These files tell stories of love and heartbreak, illicit sexual liaisons, mental-health crises, political and religious conversions, financial anxieties and disappointed hopes.Some of the files however did include discoveries of considerable intelligence value.That included fresh revelations about a secret overseas nuclear project, double-dealing by an ostensible ally, a military calamity that befell an unfriendly power, and the identities of aggressive intruders into US computer networks.The Post said: The surveillance files highlight a policy dilemma that has been aired only abstractly in public.There are discoveries of considerable intelligence value in the intercepted messages -- and collateral harm to privacy on a scale that the Obama administration has not been willing to address.Snowden, a 30-year-old former NSA contractor, was granted temporary asylum by Russia last August after shaking the US intelligence establishment with a series of devastating leaks on mass surveillance in the United States and around the world.Last week the Post reported that all but four countries - Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand -- were seen as valid spy targets for the NSA.Germany was outraged by revelations last year, again stemming from documents released by Snowden, that the NSA had allegedly eavesdropped on Chancellor Angela Merkels conversations, as well as about wider US surveillance programs of Internet and phone communications.The row strained ties between Washington and Germany, a key European ally, which both countries leaders have been at pains to repair.An independent privacy review board last week defended the NSAs vast foreign intelligence data sweep efforts, despite objections from civil liberties activists.The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, a panel created on the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, formally adopted a report which called the NSAs overseas surveillance a valuable and legal tool in thwarting terrorism.The panel said that the NSAs electronic snooping led to well over 100 arrests and helped smash numerous terrorist plots.

Tips from space give long-range warning of flood risk

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PARIS (AFP) - Satellite monitoring of tiny changes in the gravitational field of river basins may give up to 11 months warning of disastrous floods, a study published on Sunday said.Researchers at the University of California at Irvine drew up a map of the Mississippi River basin combining knowledge about land use and data from a NASA gravity-monitoring satellite called GRACE.Minute increases in the gravitational pull pointed to higher wetness of the land, they found.This is an early pointer to how a river will respond when the basin is suddenly hit by exceptional rain or snowmelt.The drier the land is, the more able it is to soak up and store the water -- but if it is already quite moist, the water will run off quickly into the river and pump its level.The scientists tested their technique retroactively on the May-June 2011 flooding of the Missouri River -- a disaster that statistically occurs only once ever 500 years.The model can give a broad but useful predictor of flood risk from six to 11 months ahead, they said.In contrast, field measurements of snow water and soil moisture are only useful indicators up to two months of a flood event, and weather forecasts are generally accurate only three to 10 days ahead.Saturation-driven events have greater potential for widespread and damaging regional flooding because of the need for the basin to relieve its saturated states by discharging a greater volume of stored waters into the river, warned the study, published in Nature Geoscience.The team sounded a word of caution: their technique depends on having an accurate picture how the basin behaves hydrologically -- knowing how land is used and irrigated and where and how water runs off into the river.

Golf: McDowell wins second French Open after Stadler heartbreak

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VERSAILLES (AFP) - Graeme McDowell became the first player since 2005 to win back-to-back French Opens following a drama-filled final round at Le Golf National on Sunday.The 34-year-old, who became the first Northern Irishman to win the tournament last year, overturned an eight-stroke deficit as overnight leader Kevin Stadler of the United States missed a two-foot putt on the 18th green which would have sent the two players to a playoff.I have to say halfway through my second glass of red wine last night I was very disappointed with my back nine on Saturday and I really didnt think A. Id be standing here with a chance to be in a playoff and B. with a trophy in my hand.I feel very fortunate, Kevin Stadler is a great, great player, I literally gave him that putt on the last green. I really didnt think hed miss that, its not really the way youd like to win and I was ready for the playoff but Ill take it and run. I really needed this victory and its very timely, Its a real kickstart to my summer.McDowell is the first player since Frenchman Jean-Francois Remesy in 2004 and 2005 to successfully defend his crown and the 11th in the history of the tournament which was founded in 1906.This is one of the most difficult golf courses in the world. Its a tough golf course to finish a tournament on but its one of my favourite tournaments and I love coming here, continued McDowell.Im very proud to defend my first title ever, my bodys never been in such good shape, coming into two majors, the FedEx playoffs and of course the Ryder Cup, this is the boost I needed on many, many fronts and especially the Ryder Cup.McDowell stroked in five birdies in the days outstanding round but his only bogey at the 18th left him tied with Stadler on five under.The American then reached the par-four 18th in two shots before three putting from 25 feet to see the tournament slip from his grasp after leading from day one.Earlier, a bad day for Stadler just got worse and his sixth bogey of the round at 12 left him on three-under as McDowell produced a masterclass in consistency to pull three shots clear of the field.However, Stadler, the son of former Masters champion Craig Stadler, birdied 14 and 16 to pull level again with McDowell before the disaster at 18.Thailands Thongchai Jaidee overcame a terrible start of his own which left him five over for the day after just four holes to bounce back with four birdies and finish joint second on four under with Stadler.Swedens Robert Karlsson was alone in third on three under, one better than Englishman Matthew Baldwin and Jamie Donaldson of Wales.Northern Irelands Michael Hoey qualified for the British Open as he finished eighth to claim the top 10 finish necessary to reach the next major and will be on his way to the Royal Liverpool Golf Club for the July 17 tee-off.I was trying not to think about it too much today, one shot at a time but its a major, said Hoey on his ticket to Hoylake.Ive played it two years ago and wanted to do better than I did at Lytham. Its a great course, Hoylake, and I played the British Amateur there.Frenchman Victor Riu, who began the day in second place and four shots behind Stadler enjoyed a career highlight and his biggest payday with an eighth place finish.Despite a three-over-par 74, the player from nearby Saint-Nom-la-Breteche qualified for his first ever major, the Open championship, in 10 days time.

Italian engineer kidnapped in Libya: official

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ROME (AFP) - An Italian engineer working in Libya was kidnapped at the weekend, the foreign ministry in Rome said Sunday, while two other Europeans were reported missing in the same attack.We can confirm that one of our citizens has been kidnapped, a spokesperson at the Italian foreign ministry said.According to Italian media Marco Vallisa and two co-workers from Bosnia and Macedonia disappeared from a coastal town in the west of Libya on Saturday.Bosnias foreign ministry said one of its citizens was missing without being able to confirm immediately if he was kidnapped, while Macedonian officials had no information on the reports.The trio were working for Italian construction company Piacentini Costruzioni on the modernisation of the port at Zuwara, a project worth some 37 million euros ($50 million).Libya has been awash with weapons since the end of the uprising against Moamer Kadhafi and has been gripped by increasing lawlessness.Diplomats in Tripoli say militias who took part in the uprising now often carry out kidnappings to blackmail other countries into releasing Libyans they hold.Previous abductions this year saw a Tunisian diplomat and fellow embassy staffer and the Jordanian ambassador to the country kidnapped in separate attacks.The Tunisians were released only after months in captivity, while the ambassador, seized by masked gunmen in April, was freed after a month in exchange for a Libyan jihadist who was sent to serve the rest of his prison sentence at home.Another Italian engineer, Gianluca Salviato, who disappeared in Libya last March, remains missing.
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