Sunday 8 February 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

22 die as Egypt police clash with football fans

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CAIRO (AFP) - Twenty-two people were killed Sunday in clashes between Egyptian police and Zamalek football club fans at a Cairo stadium, the state prosecutor said, in the countrys deadliest sports violence since dozens died at a match in 2012.According to the health ministry, at least another 25 people were wounded in the clashes that erupted when fans tried to force their way into the venue to watch a game.The violence prompted the government to postpone the Egyptian Premier League indefinitely, the prime ministers office said in a statement.The match between Zamalek and Enbi was open to the public, unlike most other games between Egyptian football clubs since deadly stadium riots in Port Said in 2012.We were inside the stadium when the clashes began outside. There was a police car on fire and they were shooting birdshot and tear gas, a witness told AFP.The people fled into the desert to escape the clashes in the northeastern Cairo stadium, he said.The interior ministry had restricted to 10,000 the number of spectators allowed into the stadium, and tickets quickly ran out.Thousands of fans without tickets scaled the stadium walls before police dispersed them, the ministry said.Zamalek supporters aimed fireworks at the police who fired tear gas and birdshot, police and witnesses said.A health ministry official told AFP some of the dead had suffered broken necks.An AFP correspondent outside the morgue saw coroner reports handed out saying two of those killed died of extreme pressure to the chest.Many of those injured suffered broken bones and bruising, the health ministry said according to state news agency MENA.The match continued despite the violence, provoking further outrage among the fans.Zamalek defence player Omar Gaber was later suspended for refusing to play in the match in protest at the violence, a statement from his club said.The government accused the football fans of starting the clashes with police, leading to the deaths.Because of these sad events it has been decided to postpone the league to a time that will be decided later, it said in a statement.Outside a Cairo morgue where the bodies were taken, dozens of relatives wept and wailed while others pored over a list of the dead trying to identify loved-ones.The youths are supposed to be building this country and the police are killing them, one man shouted.Others scuffled with morgue security men who were blocking their access.Morgue officials later placed a computer outside showing pictures of the dead men for relatives to identify.The state prosecutor ordered an investigation into the clashes, a statement from his office said.The statement said the fans had blocked a road leading to the stadium and torched three police vehicles.Sundays deaths could inflame football fans who have repeatedly clashed with police over the past few years and can mobilise thousands of youths.In February 2012, more than 70 people were killed and hundreds injured in post-match violence following a game in Port Said between Cairos Al-Ahly and Al-Masry.The riots were the deadliest in Egypts sports history.A court handed out death sentences to 21 people over that violence before an appeals court ordered a retrial that is yet to conclude.The 2012 riots took place under a military regime that had taken charge after a popular uprising, in which football fans played a key role, ousted veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak.The fans have continued to be a volatile force in the troubled country.Following the Port Said stadium riots in 2012, hundreds of Cairo Al-Ahly football fans confronted police in deadly clashes in the capital.

Obama hosts Merkel amid deepening Ukraine crisis

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President Barack Obama hosts Angela Merkel at the White House on Monday, as worsening violence in Ukraine confronts them with a choice between throwing more weapons into the war and risky peace talks.The German chancellor will visit the Oval Office for a tete-a-tete as divisions grow over how to stop bloody fighting between Kiev and Russian-backed rebels.At home Obama is facing increasing calls to supply the outmatched Ukrainian army with more weapons to shore up its faltering defenses.Merkel and many European nations believe weapons could not overturn the military mismatch between Ukraine and the might of the Russian army and would simply escalate a conflict that has left 5,400 people dead in less than a year.Merkel has instead sought to negotiate a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, jetting in to Moscow last week with French President Francois Hollande for crisis talks.A summit of leaders of Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia is tentatively planned for later this week, after Merkel leaves Washington.She is likely to leave the US capital with Obamas tone of skepticism ringing in her ears.Many in the Obama administration believe that Putin will use the talks as a stalling tactic, after failing to live up to a previous peace deal agreed in the Belarusian capital Minsk in September.US Vice President Joe Biden gave a hint of the White Houses stance on a recent visit to Germany.Given Russias recent history, we need to judge its deeds not its words. Dont tell us, show us, President Putin, Biden told a global security conference in Munich.Too many times president Putin has promised peace and delivered tanks and troops and weapons. While he did not directly say that Washington would provide arms to Kiev, Biden insisted Ukraine had the right to defend itself from pro-Russian separatists.Any decision to arm the Ukrainians is likely to come after it becomes clear talks are not working.Washington has also indicated that further sanctions against Russia could be on the way.But there too the United States seems at odds with its European allies, with Washington looking for more robust measures.European foreign ministers recently agreed to extend existing sanctions and increase the number of people on the sanctions list by 19, modest measures that are unlikely to alter Putins calculus.But the White House is keen to play down talk of a split, which is certain to be exploited by Putin.The president values the chancellors judgement and appreciates her strong efforts in marshalling European support and maintaining transatlantic unity throughout the Ukraine crisis, a senior administration official told AFP. She has been tireless in her pursuit of a diplomatic solution to the crisis and the president anticipates a useful and informative discussion about this and other issues.After their meeting Obama and Merkel are expected to hold a press conference.

Australian PM Abbott survives bid to unseat him

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SYDNEY (AFP) - Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Monday survived a confidence vote on his leadership after just 17 months in power, despite a disastrous new poll showing his popularity plunging.Abbott has been fighting for his job after poor ratings and a series of policy backflips spurred some MPs from his conservative Liberal Party openly to attack him, calling for a leadership spill last week.The motion aimed to declare vacant the positions of party leader and deputy leader -- currently occupied by Abbott and Deputy Prime Minister Julie Bishop.If it had succeeded, the party room, or Liberal Party members of both houses of parliament, could vote for new candidates for the jobs.But the 101 Liberal parliamentarians -- one was absent -- rejected the proposal by 61 to 39 in a secret ballot.The Liberal Party has met, we have had a ballot, it was properly conducted. The result is very clear. No 61. Yes 39, said chief whip Philip Ruddock. That seems to me to resolve the matter.Abbott, who has vowed to change the way he conducts himself, addressed the party room after the vote and then walked out surrounded by colleagues before federal parliament sits for the first time this year.He made no immediate comment.The 57-year-old survived despite a dire Newspoll in The Australian broadsheet and the vote outcome is unlikely to end speculation about his future.The poll showed the ruling Liberal-National coalition now trails the Labor opposition on a two-party basis 43 percent to 57 percent while 68 percent of the 1,178 people interviewed were dissatisfied with Abbotts performance.Abbotts popularity lags far behind Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Bishop, both touted as potential leadership contenders, but who had not formally stated they would put their hand up as an alternative leader.Ahead of the vote, Abbott said he was determined to get back to the business of running the country.As of 9:30 the important thing is to put the internals behind us and get on with being the government that we were elected to be, he said.To clean up Labors mess and to deliver for the Australian people the economic security, the national security that they deserve, that means a focus on jobs, families and economic growth.In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation late Sunday, Abbott described having the motion brought against him as a very chastening experience.I am determined that my government, if it continues, will learn from this experience, will be different and better this year than we were in every respect last year, he said.Since being elected in September 2013, the government has sealed free trade deals with China, South Korea and Japan. It also killed off controversial carbon and mining taxes and sharply reduced the number of asylum-seeker boats arriving in Australia.The government announced savings across the board to rein in a growing budget deficit, but critics have slammed measures to cut health and education spending while tightening welfare as too harsh.Abbotts leadership has also been criticised for changed positions on several issues and for awarding Britains Prince Philip a knighthood last month.One of the backbenchers who initiated the confidence vote, Luke Simpkins, said ahead of the vote that Abbott had created the situation.No one started this apart from, unfortunately, the prime minister himself, he told reporters late Sunday.

Football: Ivory Coast win Africa Cup of Nations

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BATA (AFP) - Goalkeeper Boubacar Barry scored the decisive goal as Ivory Coast ended a 23-year Africa Cup of Nations title drought by winning 9-8 on penalties after the final ended 0-0 following extra time.Before netting, veteran Barry had set up the match-winning chance by diving to his left and pushing away a spot-kick from Ghana goalkeeper Razak Braimah. Ivory Coast triumphed despite making a disastrous start to the 22-penalty climax with the first kick from Wilfried Bony hitting the crossbar and Junior Tallo firing the second spot kick wide. History repeated itself as the only other Ivorian Cup of Nations title came in 1992 when they edged the Ghanaians, also on penalties after a goalless draw.It was a highly tactical and cagey finale to the biennial African football showpiece in Equatorial Guinea city Bata.Billed as a dream final between the west African neighbours, it became the fourth decider in the last eight to finish goalless and be settled by spot-kicks. Ivory Coast and Ghana made one change each from the teams that started in convincing semi-final victories over the Democratic Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea respectively.Ghana captain and star striker Asamoah Gyan passed a late fitness test on his injured hip and returned in place of semi-final scorer Jordan Ayew, a son of Black Stars legend Abedi Pele Ayew.Ivory Coast switched goalkeepers with fit-again veteran Boubacar Barry recalled and Sylvain Gbohouo dropping to the bench after five consecutive appearances.Equatorial Guinea president Teodoro Obiang, FIFA president Sepp Blatter and CAF president Issa Hayatou were introduced to the teams before the national anthems.The pre-kickoff mood was extremely jovial with rival players warmly greeting each other as they went through the traditional shaking of hands.Quicksilver Ivory Coast winger Gervinho appeared particularly relaxed and threatened twice in the early stages as Ivory Coast were quicker out of the blocks.However, Ghana comfortably dealt with both threats and when African Footballer of the Year Yaya Toure had a free-kick opportunity outside the box on 14 minutes, he shot tamely at Razak Braimah.Almost immediately, Ivorian midfield enforcer Serey Die was deservedly yellow-carded by the Gambian referee for a studs-up foul on Mubarak Wakaso.Sloppy Ghanaian passing close to their goalmouth offered Gervinho a chance to present Max-Alain Gradel with a sight of goal, but his powerful shot finished well off target.After soaking up the early pressure, Ghana adopted a more adventurous approach and came tantalisingly close to taking the lead on 25 minutes through Christian Atsu.The pacey winger won possession just outside the box and his swerving shot eluded the diving Barry only to rebound to safety off the post.Ivory Coast were rescued by the woodwork again nine minutes before half-time when Andre Ayew -- an elder brother of Jordan -- hit the other post from an acute angle.The opening half finished goalless with Ghana enjoying 55 percent possession and feeling positive having come closer to scoring than Ivory Coast.An early second-half run by Atsu offered Gyan a half-chance, but the talismanic figure did not come close to troubling Barry with a disappointing off-target effort.Another Ivorian was yellow carded before the hour with Siaka Tiene joining fellow midfielder Die in the book for pulling back Atsu.As the game reached the three-quarter mark, Ivory Coast made the first change with recent Roma signing Seydou Doumbia coming off the bench to replace the ineffective Gradel. While there were moments of anxiety for both defences, clearcut chances remained elusive and the game predictably drifted into extra-time. Ghana finally made a substitution on 99 minutes with Jordan Ayew, whose penalty goal set up the semi-final romp over Equatorial Guinea, taking the place of Kwesi Appiah. The pattern of half-chances continued in extra-time, but despite the presence of star African strikers like Gyan and Ivorian Wilfried Bony, the scoreboard operator remained unemployed until the shootout.

Football: Messi magic moves Barca to within a point of Madrid

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MADRID (AFP) - Lionel Messi scored once and played his part in four more goals as Barcelona closed to within a point of La Liga leaders Real Madrid with a commanding performance to beat Athletic Bilbao 5-2 on Sunday.The four-time World Player of the Year opened the scoring with a deflected free-kick and then teed up Luis Suarez to double the visitors advantage.Mikel Rico briefly gave Athletic hope after half-time, but Messis goalbound header was then turned into his own net by Oscar de Marcos before Neymar rolled home Barcas fourth from another Messi pass.Aritz Aduriz made it four goals in a crazy six minute spell by pulling another goal back for Athletic, but the hosts ended the game with 10 men after Xabier Etxeita was shown a straight red card for a horrible challenge on Suarez before Pedro Rodriguez added a fifth.Barca have now won their last nine games, scoring 34 goals in the process, and will be further boosted by Reals ragged showing in their 4-0 destruction at the hands of Atletico Madrid on Saturday.It is clear the team are all united and pulling in the same direction, Suarez told Barca TV.Players of the class of Messi and Neymar will always make the difference. I just have to enjoy playing with them.Messi took his tally for the season to 33 with the opener on 16 minutes, but there he had a touch of fortune as his free-kick struck Aymeric Laporte in the Athletic wall and wrong-footed goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz.The hosts had a great chance for an instant response as Iker Muniain picked out Aduriz, but Claudio Bravo got down well to turn his effort behind.Moments later Iraizoz made amends for his weak hand in the opener with a stunning save to prevent Suarez heading home a perfectly weighted cross from Messi.Bravo was called into action again to parry Markel Susaetas well-struck free-kick, but Barca tore through the Athletic defence once more on 26 minutes as Messi laid the ball into Suarezs path for the Uruguayan to thump home his first goal in five games.Chances continued to flow at both ends as Laporte blocked Neymars goalbound effort on the line, whilst Aduriz saw a header come back off the inside of the post.Athletic were given a lifeline on the hour mark when Rico swept home the rebound after Bravo had again denied Aduriz.However, Barca responded in supreme fashion as De Marcos could only turn Messis header into his own net before the Argentine teed up Neymar to slot home his 23rd goal of the season.The Basques refused to lie down as Aduriz pulled another goal back thanks to a rare Bravo error when his shot flew in at the near post.There was no excuse for Etxeitas horror challenge on Suarez, though, as he raked his studs down the Uruguayans knee, forcing the former Liverpool man to be replaced by Pedro for the closing stages.And Pedro was on hand to round off the scoring from Sergio Busquets cross after Messi had left a host of Athletic defenders in his wake.Earlier, Valencia moved up to fourth as they took advantage of Sevillas 2-1 defeat at Getafe by winning at Espanyol by the same score.Valencia went in front midway through the second-half when Pablo Piatti prodded home Jose Gayas low cross.The visitors then made the three points safe when Dani Parejos fine free kick struck the post and rebounded in off unfortunate Espanyol goalkeeper Pau Lopez, before Sergio Garcia netted a consolation for the Catalans.Sevilla suffered their second defeat in Madrid in just five days after also going down by the same 2-1 scoreline to Real Madrid on Wednesday.Alvaro Vazquez gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot and Pedro Leon bundled home the winner five minutes from time after Grzegorz Krychowiaks stunning equaliser.

Tennis: Sharapova leads Russia into semis as France stun Italy

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PARIS (AFP) - Maria Sharapova made a rare but decisive Fed Cup appearance on Sunday to help Russia reach the semi-finals, where they will face Germany.Champions Czech Republic stormed into the last four with a whitewash in Canada and will next face surprise package France, who stunned Italy in Genoa.Former world number one Sharapova defeated Polands Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 7-5 to give her country an unassailable 3-0 lead in Krakow. French Open champion Sharapova was playing just her fourth Fed Cup tie since her 2008 debut, but in order to make the Olympics next year all players have to make themselves available for the annual womens team tournament.It is a very important win for me, said Sharapova, who has often been criticised for not playing enough Fed Cup matches.Playing for the national team there is always added pressure.Sharapova had already beaten Urszula Radwanska in straight sets on Saturday, while veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova surprised Urszulas sister Agnieszka in three sets.Doubles pairing Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Vitaliya Diachenko made it 4-0 later on Sunday as they beat Klaudia Jans-Ignacik and Alicja Rosolska 6-4, 6-4.Germany qualified for a last four trip to Russia on April 18-19 after Andrea Petkovic won her second successive gruelling three-set marathon.Petkovic dug deep to seal a 6-3, 3-6, 8-6 win over Jarmila Gajdosova as Australia were overcome 3-1 in Stuttgart.Just 24 hours earlier Petkovic defeated Samantha Stosur 12-10 in the third set after three hours, 13 minutes on court.I was a bit tired from yesterday, but I always just played it one point at a time, said a jaded Petkovic.I hope there is Champagne, but beer is also okay.Well mix in with the fans anyway, the atmosphere was incredible. Angelique Kerber had earlier put Germany on the brink of the semi-finals with a 6-2, 6-4 win over 2011 US Open winner Stosur.In Genoa, Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia stunned the worlds top doubles pairing to give France a shock win over Italy.The French pair, ranked 20 and 30 respectively in doubles, defeated reigning Wimbledon and Australian Open champions Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-2.The two 21-year-olds had only played together once before, in a Fed Cup clash with Kazakhstan two years ago, but inspired their country to a dramatic comeback victory.France had started the day 2-0 down in the tie having never before recovered from such a deficit.And in front of them were the 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2013 Fed Cup champions who had not lost on home soil since 2008.Earlier, Mladenovic defeated Errani 6-4, 6-3 before Garcia beat Camila Giorgi 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 to set up the deciding rubber. The Czechs stormed into the last four after taking an unassailable 3-0 lead over Canada in Quebec City when Karolina Pliskova defeated Gabriela Dabrowski 6-4, 6-2.In Fridays opening matches, 22nd-ranked Pliskova made her Fed Cup debut with a 6-2, 6-4 triumph over Canadian teenager Francoise Abanda while Dabrowski, ranked 185th, fell to Tereza Smitkova 6-1, 6-2.

Tennis: Petkovic fires Germany into Fed Cup semis

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STUTTGART (AFP) - Andrea Petkovic endured another gruelling three-set marathon to seal Germanys 3-1 win over Australia on Sunday and put the hosts in the Fed Cup semi-finals.Germany, the 2014 finalists, will face Russia away in the semi-finals on April 18-19 after Petkovic again dug deep to seal a 6-3, 3-6, 8-6 win over Jarmila Gajdosova, with the third set of their fourth singles rubber taking nearly an hour.We want to win the cup, even if its unfortunate to have an away match next, said Germanys heroine-of-the-day Petkovic.It was the second time in 24 hours Petkovic was carried to victory by the vocal 4,000-strong crowd in a gruelling tie after Saturdays victory over Samantha Stosur came down to a 12-10 battle in the third set after three hours, 13 minutes of tennis.Having been 4-2 down in the crucial third, Petkovic showed her composure by converting her second match point to seal Germanys win and keep them bidding for a second straight final appearance.I was a bit tired from yesterday, but I always just played it one point at a time, said a jaded Petkovic at Stuttgarts Porsche Arena.I hope there is Champagne, but beer is also okay.Well mix in with the fans anyway, the atmosphere was incredible. Angelique Kerber had earlier put Germany on the brink of the semi-finals with a straight-sets win over Stosur, who lost both of her singles rubbers in Stuttgart.Kerber needed just one hour 27 minutes to see off 2011 US Open winner Stosur and seal a 6-2, 6-4 victory in the third singles rubber.Having suffered a shock three-set defeat to Gajdosova in Saturdays opening rubber, Kerber, ranked 10th in the world, had no such problems against Stosur.Australia captain Alicia Molik said she was proud of her teams performance over the weekend, but admitted Petkovics composure in her two marathon games had made the difference. I think a single point was the difference, Molik told AFP.One point and it would have 2-2, we have a stronger doubles team than the Germans, I think we could have potentially had the win.But that shows the great level of tennis, the worlds best players arent worried about occasions, or whether they are a match-point up or down.They go about their business, just like Andrea did, they narrow their focus, stick to their strengths and thats why they won.

Golf: Kim wins Bahamas LPGA title as Ko keeps top spot

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PARADISE ISLAND (AFP) - South Korean rookie Kim Sei-Young won a playoff Sunday to capture the Bahamas LPGA Classic while teen Lydia Ko kept the worlds top ranking, foiling a number-one bid by Park In-Bee.Kim sank a five-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to reach the playoff, then followed with a six-foot birdie putt on the same 18th green on the first extra hole to defeat Thai teen Ariya Jutanugarn and compatriot Yoo Sun-Young and win the crown in only her second US tour appearance.I feel really great, Kim said. I was really nervous. I just focused on my game. I cant find the words. Just crying.Kim, 22 and a three-time winner on the Korean Tour, fired a five-under par 68 in the final round to join Jutanugarn and Yoo on 14-under 278 and force a playoff on the par-5 18th hole.Yoo, who won a major title at the 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship, found a greenside bunker with her playoff approach while 19-year-old Jutanugarn put her approach in the left rough. Kim then blasted her second shot to the back edge of the green.Jutanugarn and Yoo chipped onto the green to set up birdie putts while Kim left a 30-foot eagle bid six feet short. Yoo and Jutanugarn settled for pars and Kim followed by sinking her pressure-packed putt for the victory, raising her right arm in celebration.Kim opened her round with a birdie and had three in her first five holes. She answered a bogey at the eighth by starting the back nine with a birdie and a birdie at 14 set the stage for the one at 18 that put her in the playoff.American Brittany Lincicome was fourth on 279 with South Koreas Park and American Danielle Kang on 280 and New Zealands Ko joined by Spains Azahara Munoz and Americans Gerina Piller and Lexi Thompson on 281.That was good enough for Ko to keep the top ranking she took last week, the 17-year-old Kiwi becoming the youngest golf number one in history by overtaking Park.For a while, it appeared Park would regain the top spot. Park birdied the second and fourth holes and was in contention down the final holes.But a three-putt bogey at the par-3 12th set her back and at 16, Parks approach found a difficult lie near a water hazard and she took another bogey. A closing birdie put her one stroke ahead of Ko at the finish, but not high enough to dethrone the teen.Ko fired a five-under 68 in Sundays final round, a charge that featured six birdies against a lone bogey.I wasnt really thinking about it all week, Ko said of the ranking. All I could do was try to play my best.Ko ignored the estimates of where Park might have to finish to overtake her.I saw the projections on how it would change but I just kept trying to make my putts and make some birdies, Ko said.

Veterans set for key role at World Cup

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SYDNEY (AFP) - The belief that old is gold will once again be put to the test in this World Cup, with several players bolstering teams with their experience and guile.Sri Lankas Mahela Jayawardene, Pakistans Shahid Afridi and New Zealands Daniel Vettori are the most experienced players as each of the trio will be featuring in their fifth World Cup.Jayawardene, 37, retired from Test cricket last year after a glittering career and he will hang up his one-day international kit after the World Cup.With a 33-match tally in the tournament, Jayawardene will be the most experienced player when it comes to World Cups.After a miserable first round exit as defending champions in 1999 the next three editions were memorable, with Sri Lanka the losing semi-finalists in 2003 and runners-up in the next two World Cups.He led the team from the front with a scintillating century in the 2007 semi-final against New Zealand and then notched another ton in the final of 2011 World Cup, albeit in a losing cause as hosts India won in Mumbai.Jayawardene still holds a key position in Sri Lankas batting order, along with Kumar Sangakkara who will be featuring in his fourth World Cup.Sangakkara has played 30 World Cup matches and just like old wine has embellished his batting, with the left-hander the highest run-getter in one-day internationals last year. Afridi was a relative newcomer when Pakistan finished runners-up to Australia in the 1999 World Cup but the next two World Cups werent memorable for the aggressive all-rounder.Pakistan crashed out in the first round in 2003 and 2007. Afridi played just one game in the 2007 event after being suspended for the first two.He was Pakistans captain in the 2011 World Cup and led them to the semi-finals, where they were beaten by India.Pakistan will rely heavily on Afridis late-over slogs to give their innings much-needed impetus. Moreover, Afridi, also a handy leg-spinner, will want to shine at this World Cup after announcing he will quit one-day cricket following the tournament.Matching Afridi in the spin department will be New Zealands Daniel Vettori, with the 36-year-old left-armer having featured in the 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 editions of the World Cup.A skilled spinner, Vettori still holds the trump card when it comes to slow bowling, being able to put a brake on batsmens run-scoring besides taking wickets at crucial stages.Vettoris captain, Brendon McCullum, will also be featuring in his fourth World Cup.McCullum will be the key to co-hosts New Zealands hopes of posting big totals in the World Cup. His blistering form in all three formats of the game augurs well for the Black Caps, who for the first time are amongst the top three favourites. Like McCullum, Chris Gayle is a danger for bowlers.Gayle can hit any bowler on his day, hitting big shots at will and has performed well for the West Indies in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 World Cups.Trading his best swing bowling against the best batsmen of the world will be Englands James Anderson, playing his fourth World Cup.Besides Steven Finn and Stuart Broad, Anderson will form a solid pace attack for England, who can be the dark horses of the event.Also playing in his fourth World Cup will be Pakistans Younis Khan. At 37, Younis will be the second-oldest Pakistani in the World Cup behind 40-year-old captain Misbah-ul Haq.Despite his age, it will be only a second World Cup for Misbah, who featured in the 2011 edition.

Malinga says he will be fit for World Cup opener

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WELLINGTON (AP) - Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Maliga has declared himself fit to play against New Zealand in the opening match of the Cricket World Cup on Saturday.An ankle injury prevented Maliga from playing in Sri Lankas seven-match one-day series against New Zealand in the lead-up to the world tournament but he told reporters Sunday he is ready to return.Malinga is likely to play in Sri Lankas World Cup warm-up matches against South Africa in Christchurch on Monday and Zimbabwe on Wednesday.Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said Malinga was back to full fitness. Hes doing everything 100 percent, hell be 100 percent for the games.Maliga was less emphatic, saying Im getting used to the pain because I really want to play in this World Cup. If theres pain, it doesnt matter. I want to play. ... Im not sure of the pace and how thats going, but Ive got good rhythm and a good run up.Malinga has been described as the best death bowler in world cricket and his return substantially strengthens Sri Lanka, who were beaten 4-2 in the series against New Zealand.Mathews said Lasith has the X-factor which could swing the World Cup opener in Sri Lankas favor.Malinga said he wasnt concerned that Sri Lanka was investing so much hope in his return.Honestly, I dont know what the pressure means, he said. Im used to all the pressure situations. I have a free mindset and I just want to do what I can do.

Scotland look to make their mark in World Cup

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SYDNEY (AFP) - Scotland skipper Preston Mommsen said Sunday he was confident his team would make their mark in the upcoming World Cup, calling them the best-prepared Scottish team ever at the mega-event.The International Cricket Councils Associate team have not won a single match in their two previous World Cup appearance in 1999 and 2007. But Durban-born Mommsen, 27, said they would try to win every game. I think we are the best prepared Scotland team thats left the country, theres no doubt about that, and were looking to make a mark on this world stage, said Mommsen, whose team will play in Group A of the 14-team event.They face a daunting opening game against co-hosts New Zealand at Dunedin on February 17 before meeting England in Christchurch on February 23.Mommsen believes his team is under pressure to do well. Obviously for us there is the next stage: coming to a world tournament and being put under a lot of pressure to perform. We view it as a crossroads. We are very excited about the next few years. Theres some real quality in the 15 and hopefully well deliver, he said.Irelands performance has shown that associate teams deserve a place in the big league, he said.Theres been a lot of talk about associate teams (playing in the World Cup) and whether or not they deserve a place. My view is its a World Cup and of course they deserve a place.At the same time, we have to put performances in. Were not here to fill in the numbers. We take a lot of inspiration from what Ireland have done at previous World Cups. They found a way to stand up to the big teams and well be looking to do the same thing.Ireland shocked Pakistan to enter the second round of the 2007 event in the West Indies and then beat England in the World Cup four years later in the subcontinent.Mommsen said smaller teams like Scotland need more exposure. Theres no question that we need to be exposed to more one-day cricket. If you compare our build-up to this tournament with the likes of South Africa, New Zealand, Australia or England, the number of one day internationals theyve played compared to the number weve played against full-member nations, you cant compare it.So in terms of a level playing field, Im not sure that was quite level in the preparation weve been given. But we have to deal with that and were doing our best to be best prepared for that first game against New Zealand.Mommsen said Scotland fancy their chances against fellow associates Afghanistan as well as full-member minnows Bangladesh in the first round of the tournament, which starts on February 14.

Unprovoked firing at Working Boundary, India violates ceasefire again

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SIALKOT: (Dunya News) – War-crazy India continues to violate the ceasefire as unprovoked bombing in Charwah, Harpal and Chapraar sectors of Sialkot frightened the people living in the areas near the frontier on Sunday. Punjab Rangers silenced the Indian guns with their strong response, reported Dunya News.India has been continually violating the ceasefire on the Line of Control (LOC) and the Working Boundary for the last several months. In the latest event, Indian army started unprovoked bombing in the Charwah, Harpal and Chaprar sectors of Sialkot and targeted the bordering villages of Dhamala, Jamal Jhund and Umraanwali.Chenab Rangers met the Indian aggression with a befitting response to silence the guns on the other side of the border.

Egypt set to retry Al Jazeera journalists from Feb 12: official

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CAIRO (AFP) - An Egyptian court will retry Al-Jazeera journalists from February 12, a judicial official said Sunday, after an Australian reporter was deported and a Canadian awaits his own deportation.Australias Peter Greste, Canadian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohamed, all journalists with the Qatari-owned channel, were originally sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for allegedly aiding the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood.However, an appeals court overturned that verdict in January and ordered a retrial.Greste was deported on February 1 under a presidential decree that allows the authorities to expel foreigners charged in Egypt and see them instead face trial in their home countries.Lawyers said the court will likely drop proceedings against Greste after the opening session.In a bid to secure his own deportation, Fahmy has renounced his Egyptian nationality and is awaiting a return to Canada.However, the third journalist, producer Mohamed, remains in jail as he has only Egyptian nationality.The three employees of the Qatari-owned Al-Jazeera English broadcaster were arrested in December 2013 and tried for allegedly supporting the Brotherhood.In June last year Greste and Fahmy were jailed for seven years, while Mohamed was sentenced to 10 years in prison before a retrial was ordered.The journalists initial trial came against the backdrop of a cold war between Egypt and Qatar, which supported the Islamist movement of president Mohamed Morsi, whom then army chief and now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi deposed in July 2013.

Man United salvages point with late goal on day of draws

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LONDON: (Dunya News) -Manchester United required an injury-time equalizer by Daley Blind to escape with a point from a 1-1 draw against West Ham in one of three stalemates in the Premier League on Sunday.Trailing to a superbly improvised goal by West Hams makeshift defender Cheikhou Kouyate, United persevered at Upton Park and got its reward when Blind pounced on a weak headed clearance to volley into the corner two minutes into added time.With Arsenal losing and Manchester City and Liverpool drawing, United missed a chance to gain ground in the frenzied fight for Champions League qualification. United has dropped to fourth behind Southampton, and is only a point clear of Tottenham.Burnley squandered another two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with West Bromwich Albion, while Newcastle and Stoke drew 1-1.

Fontana, Migunov win at short track speedskating World Cup

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DRESDEN, Germany: (AP) - Italys Arianna Fontana and Russias Dmitry Migunov won 500-meter races Sunday at a short track speedskating World Cup meet.Fontana led from start to finish to beat European champion Elise Christie of Britain and Fan Kexin of China. Fans third place was enough to secure the overall 500 title.Migunov finished ahead of Canadas Francois Hamelin for his third win of the season. South Koreas Kwak Yoon-gy was third.South Koreans dominated the womens 1,500, with Shim Suk-hee finishing ahead of compatriot Kim A-lang. Tao Jiaying of China was third, ahead of American Jessica Smith.Russias Semen Elistratov won the mens 1,500.Canada won the womens 3,000 relay final for its first relay victory of the season, while the Netherlands won the mens race.
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