Sunday 19 April 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

UN appeals for safe havens after Mediterranean tragedy

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday appealed to world governments to share the burden of taking in refugees after more than 700 migrants were feared dead in the latest Mediterranean boat tragedy.Ban said he was shocked and deeply saddened by reports of the shipwreck off the coast of Libya and noted that it was the latest in a line of incidents in the last week.He appeals to the international community for solidarity and burden-sharing in the face of this crisis, said a statement from his spokesman.At least 1,600 people have died this year by attempting to cross the Mediterranean, making it the worlds deadliest route used by asylum seekers and migrants, he said.Governments must not only improve rescue at sea but also ensure the right to asylum of the growing number of people worldwide fleeing war who need refuge and safe haven, he added.Europe has been facing massive flows of migrants arriving from the Middle East and Africa, fleeing poverty and war.

Yemen rebel leader vows resistance against Saudi-led air war

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ADEN (AFP) - A defiant Huthi rebel leader vowed Sunday never to submit to aggression as weekend Saudi-led air strikes and clashes between his men and pro-government forces in Yemen killed 85 people.Abdulmalik al-Huthis televised pledge came on the 25th day of the Saudi-led campaign, which the UN says has left hundreds of people dead and forced thousands of families to flee their homes.It also came as the military commander of the vast southern province of Hadramawt bordering Saudi Arabia pledged support for embattled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.The air war began on March 26 at Hadis request, as the Huthi rebels advanced on the main southern port of Aden after sweeping into Sanaa.Our Yemeni people will never give in -- it will resist in the face of the savage aggression, Huthi said, vowing to put up a tough resistance using all means and options available.Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia accuses Shiite majority Iran of backing the rebels.Despite being a key ally of the Huthis, Iran denies it is arming the rebels and has petitioned the United Nations with a four-point peace plan to end the violence.Huthi said Sunday that Saudi Arabia has no right to interfere in its neighbour, also insisting that Iran has no influence in the Arabian Peninsula country.The political problem is an internal affair and it is up to us to define our future, he said.He also dismissed as unfair Tuesdays UN Security Council resolution, which imposed an arms embargo on the rebels and demanded that they return to their highland stronghold.Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former president who still holds sway over army units who have allied with the Huthis, in a statement on Sunday welcomed the resolution to stop bloodshed in Yemen.General Abdelrahman Al-Halili said in a statement: The officers, non-commissioned officers and the soldiers of the First Military Region based in Hadramawt back President Hadi, who represents constitutional legitimacy. The move is a severe blow to the Huthis and Saleh who relied on the army for support.Huthis speech was broadcast after two days of clashes between his men and pro-Hadi forces and Saudi-led air strikes, and a day after Riyadh pledged to cover the entire $274 million (253 million euros) in humanitarian aid sought by the United Nations.The deadliest clashes were in the city of Daleh, with 31 Huthis and 17 pro-Hadi forces killed on Sunday, a local official said, also reporting a series of air strikes on rebel positions.Pre-dawn clashes in the southwestern city of Taez left 10 Huthi rebels and four pro-Hadi militiamen dead, medics and local sources said.Taez, Yemens third largest city after the Sanaa and Aden, has seen fierce clashes over the past week, after having been largely spared in fighting that has spread across several provinces.On Sunday, coalition warplanes pounded Huthi positions in Taez, an AFP correspondent said, adding that the streets were empty.Seven Huthis were also killed in an attack by tribesmen in the southern province of Shabwa, and in Aden fighting since Saturday left 11 Huthis and five pro-Hadi fighters dead, military sources said.Pro-Hadi fighters in the city recaptured the Russian consulate and a Hadi residence the Huthis had overrun, they added.The UN this week called the humanitarian crisis in Yemen one of the largest and most complex in the world.Ordinary families are struggling to access healthcare, water, food and fuel -- basic requirements for their survival, said UN Humanitarian Coordinator Johannes Van Der Klaauw.Aid has only trickled in, largely because of Saudi-led coalition restrictions on Yemens airspace and ports.Coalition spokesman,Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri said work was under way to set up a sea bridge to bring aid to Yemen.The UN agency for refugees says up to 150,000 people have been displaced over the past three weeks, while more than 300,000 have already fled their homes because of previous unrest.The coalition has launched more than 2,000 air strikes on Yemen since its campaign began, Assiri said.But none appear to have struck Al-Qaeda, which has exploited the conflict to seize an army camp in Hadramawt, an airport and provincial capital Mukalla.Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was formed in 2009 as a merger of the Yemeni and Saudi branches of Al-Qaeda.Washington considers AQAP to be the jihadist networks most dangerous branch and has targeted it over the years with scores of drone attacks.One such attack late Saturday killed three Al-Qaeda suspects in Shabwa, a tribal chief said.

Tennis: Djokovic beats Berdych in Monte Carlo to set ATP record

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MONTE CARLO (AFP) - Novak Djokovic set another career record on Sunday with his second Monte Carlo title, as the Serb became the first man to win the opening three Masters 1000 events in a season through a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 defeat of Tomas Berdych.The top seed, who lives just a few hundred metres away from the centre court, had to survive a comeback from his Czech rival as well as a 70-minute rain interruption which came as he led by a set and 3-2 on serve in the second.Djokovics victory was his 17th straight win of the season and also marked a fourth straight Masters 1000 title after also winning at Paris Bercy last November.I won this match with my heart and with battle, said Djokovic. I dont think I played on the level that I wish to play and that I have played throughout the whole week. But credit to Tomas because he has played very aggressively, staying close to the line, pushing me back. So I had to defend a lot of times. It was a battle, said the 2013 Monte Carlo winner, who was frustrated as he comitted 38 unforced errors and lost his first set of the week while converting on only five of 14 break points.Djokovic now owns 52 career titles and 23 at the elite Masters level. He stands 19-2 over Berdych and 30-2 this season.Berdych missed a chance to move up to a career-best number four in the world.By the result, Im very disappointed. But by feeling, its quite good. Im fit. There is no issues with that, said Berdych.Im on the right track, I still need to keep working on it and keep improving myself.We are three or four months into the new things that Ive been working on. Its very clear on the results on the matches that they are there, they are the right things. I just need to keep doing that and keep pushing myself, being better and better.Djokovic won the opening set comfortably but was unable to come back after the rain break and close it out in straight sets.Instead, Berdych got the early momentum upon the return and levelled at a set each.In the third, Djokovic again seized the initiative, going up two breaks only to lose one of them.Berdych saved a match point, holding for 3-5 with an overhead winner. But Djokovic prevailed a game later as the Czechs service return sailed just long over the baseline.I came on the court today hoping and wanting, of course, to play as well as I played throughout the whole week, said Djokovic. I played my best match and best tennis in the week against Nadal yesterday. Maybe I was a little bit also mentally exhausted coming into this match.

Tennis: Vesnina and Pavlyuchenkova put Russia into Fed Cup final

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SOCHI (AFP) - Elena Vesnina and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Sabine Lisicki and Andrea Petkovic in the deciding rubber of the Fed Cup World Group semi-final against Germany on Sunday to put Russia into the final.Vesnina and Pavlyuchenkova won 6-2, 6-3 in one hour 24 minutes to earn a pass into the title match against the Czech Republic, who beat France in the other semi-final.I was a bit nervous at the start but I knew that together with Nastia (Pavlyuchenkova) were a good team, Vesnina said.I watched Lisicki and Petkovic playing at Indian Wells last month and was ready for some of their moves.Besides, Nastia also played well even though she came on court right after her singles match.The Russian duo looked confident from the start, using more accuracy and mutual understanding in the opening set, which was over in 38 minutes.In the second, the Russians still performed with more precision with Vesnina playing very aggressively at the net to set up an early 3-1 lead. The German pair had a chance to change the course of the events as they broke back to level at 3-3 but the Russians moved up a gear to take three consecuitive games and the second set sealing their victory with an ace by Pavlyuchenkova.Earlier Sunday, Germanys Angelique Kerber beat Pavlyuchenkova 6-1, 6-0 to level the match at 2-2.I was obliged to win. Therefore I was nervous at first. But then I started winning my points, Kerber said.The title which I won last week allowed me to feel confidence. That victory came at the right time.The 27-year-old Kerber, winner of the Charleston WTA event last week, behind aggressive tennis, while Pavlyuchenkova looked a bit tired after her Saturdays three-setter being and was often out of position to defend her rivals powerful drives from the base line.Kerber, who broke twice to take the opening set in just 25 minutes, dominated play completely in the second taking it at love to send the tie into the decisive fifth rubber.In Sundays opening match Petkovic reduced the arrears with a straight-sets victory 6-2, 6-1 over Svetlana Kuznetsova.Yesterdays rest really played a big role for me, Petkovic said.I dont know how I would have played yesterday, but I know that two (successive) days of play for me is not possible.The score tells nothing about this match. Some games in the first set were very close. Both of us showed very good clay court tennis during the first set.Petkovic, who is 11th in the WTA rankings, started confidently, alternating powerful drives from the base line with accurate drop shots, while Kuznetsova failed to match her solid performance.Petkovic forced three breaks to take the opening set in 41 minutes.In the second Petkovic underlined her supremacy on the red clay court of Sochis Adler Arena allowing her rival to take just one game in the set.I failed to adjust myself completely for the clay courts, thats the main reason for my defeat today, Kuznetsova said.On Saturday Kuznetsova beat Goerges 6-4, 6-4 to put Russia into the lead, while Pavlyuchenkova battled back from a set down to defeat Sabine Lisicki to give her country a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Aston Villa beat Liverpool 2-1 to reach FA Cup final

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LONDON (AP) - Aston Villa came from behind to beat Liverpool 2-1 in the semifinals of the FA Cup on Sunday to set up a final next month against Arsenal.Though fighting to stay up in the Premier League, Villa was superior for most of the game at Wembley Stadium against a team that still has slim aspirations of qualifying for the Champions League.Yet, it was Liverpool that took the lead in the 30th minute following a lackluster opening to the game.Following a deft pass from Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho poked the ball past diving Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given from close range.Villa responded well to going behind with Jack Grealish impressive on the left flank. In-form striker Christian Benteke put Villa level in the 36th minute after an incisive cutback from captain Fabian Delph. Benteke met Delphs pass with a low first-time strike that went past outstretching Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who managed to get his fingertips to the shot.Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers responded to Villas growing superiority toward the end of the first half by bringing on striker Mario Balotelli for midfielder Lazar Markovic. But the substitution did little to alter the game and Villa started the second half in the same attacking vein it had ended the first.Following a sustained period of pressure, Villa took the lead in the 54th minute when Delph started and finished a swift move that involved smart passes from Benteke and Grealish. Put through on goal by Grealish, Delph cut past Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren and then fired in the winner past Mignolet from 10 yards.Liverpool struggled to impose itself on the game but did come close twice to forcing extra time. A header from Steven Gerrard was cleared off the line by Kieran Richardson in the 86th minute. Two minutes later, a goal from Mario Balotelli was ruled offside, although replays suggested he was well on.Aston Villa will meet defending champion Arsenal, which beat Reading 2-1 Saturday in the other semifinal, on May 30.The team from Birmingham has won the FA Cup on seven occasions but not since 1957. The last time it contested the final was in 2000 when it lost 1-0 to Chelsea.Villa coach Tim Sherwood, who only joined the club in February after the sacking of Paul Lambert, conceded that his team will be the underdog at the final against what he considers to be the best footballing side in the league.The priority now, said Sherwood, is to ensure Premier League survival. Villa lies in 15th place and is four points above the relegation zone with five games to go.We need to secure our safety and then come back here and take the game to Arsenal, he said.For Liverpool, defeat at the semifinal stage for the second time this season the team also lost to Chelsea in the League Cup means it has now gone three seasons without any silverware.Though acknowledging that Liverpool was denied a legitimate goal, Rodgers said his team just wasnt good enough and appeared to be fazed by the occasion.I felt we were too passive, Rodgers said. Weve come up short in a few games. Its something we need to improve.Defeat also means that captain Steven Gerrard wont end his 16-year Liverpool career with another trophy. Gerrard is leaving Liverpool at the end of this season to join the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Football: Inter denied, Lopez heroic in derby stalemate

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MILAN (AFP) - Inter Milan were denied a second-half penalty and AC Milan goalkeeper Diego Lopez performed heroics as an entertaining Derby della Madonnina finished scoreless on Sunday.Inter, sitting a point behind Milan in 10th place as both teams continue their battle for a place in Europe, completely dominated an entertaining second half at a packed San Siro.But despite a strong penalty shout after the ball came off the hand of Milan defender Luca Antonelli in the box, Roberto Mancinis men were forced to settle for a share of the points.Inter are now eight points behind Sampdoria in the last Europa League spot with seven games remaining and although he was quick to praise Lopez, coach Roberto Mancini said the hosts were robbed.Diego Lopez had a really good game... but the penalty was a penalty, theres no question about it, said Mancini.Maybe the referee didnt really see the incident well but the goalline official had a clear view and failed to rule in our favour.Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi admitted Inter shaded the match but refused to be drawn on the penalty incident.We should have taken the chances we created in the opening half, because Inter had us pegged back in our own end for most of the second, said Inzaghi.I dont want to talk about incidents in the game. The referee had a good game tonight.A derby is always complicated, especially when both sides are desperate for the win, but for me it was a fair result.Mancini left both Lukas Podolski and Xherdan Shaqiri on the bench, with Ivory Coast teenager Assane Gnoukouri making his first derby start on the right of a three-man midfield alongside Gary Medel and Mateo Kovacic.Milan started without Japan international Keisuke Honda with striker Mattia Destro also on the bench following an injury worry last week that meant Suso started up front alongside Jeremy Menez and Giacomo Bonaventura.Inter started at breakneck speed and Gnoukouri did well to set up Rodrigo Palacio for a drive that was blocked while moments later Hernanes unleashed a stunner from 35 yards that required a two-handed flying save from Lopez.At the other end, Menez swept the ball across to Suso for the Spaniard to unleash a drive that forced Samir Handanovic into a diving save.Milan had the ball in the net on the half hour when Alex bundled home amid a goalmouth melee but an offside flag was up.Inter started the second half as they had the first as Palacio fired the ball past Lopez following a great move involving Kovacic and Mauro Icardi, but it was ruled offside.The hosts were in total command and Palacio did a great job rounding his marker but with Lopez beaten, the Argentinians strike was kept out by Antonelli.Inter were then denied a stonewall penalty after Hernaness first-time shot from 10 yards came off the hand of Antonelli.The San Siro erupted again minutes later when an angled drive by Hernanes came off Philippe Mexes and landed in the back of the net, but joy turned to anger after the referee ruled that Palacio had in the meantime fouled Marco Van Ginkel.Inter made light of those decisions and when Giacomo Bonaventura fell as Milan tried to clear, Juan Jesus fired an angled strike that Lopez parried at his far post.Inter should have broken the deadlock from the resulting corner but Lopez somehow managed to block a close-range Joel Obi shot that had deflected off Palacio.Mancini added: Milan played for most of the second half in their own half, but to score we need more precision in our shooting.In the dying minutes Milan substitute Destro saw a drive easily collected down low by Handanovic, while Icardi should have done better after controlling a high ball on the edge of the area only to fire wide.

Golf: Veteran Furyk snaps long winless drought

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND (AFP) - American Jim Furyk birdied the par-three 17th hole to beat Kevin Kisner in a playoff and win the PGA Tours Heritage tournament on Sunday.Furyk, who played in the third to last group, made birdie on both playoff holes after firing a closing round eight under 63 to finish at 18-under-par 266.Though he trailed entering the final round, Furyk had blown nine 54-hole leads since his last win on the PGA Tour at the 2010 Tour Championship.Ive let so many slide by, I really kind of dug deep today and happy I got it done, said Furyk.Kisner closed with a seven-under 64 as he birdied the final hole of regulation to force the playoff at the Harbour Town golf course. The pair returned to the 18th for the first extra hole. Both players found the fairway off the tee and Furyk landed his approach just inside eight feet.Kisner knocked his second shot to 17 feet, then drained a birdie putt to put the pressure on. Furyk also sank his birdie chance to extend the extra session.They headed to the 17th, and both players found the green with their tee shots. Kisners 22-footer for birdie failed to find the cup and he tapped in for par.Furyk converted his 12-foot birdie putt for his 17th PGA Tour title.Troy Merritt, who led after the second and third rounds, posted a two-under 69 and ended alone in third at 16-under-par 268. Brendon Todd carded a four-under 67 to grab fourth place at minus-15.Last years winner, Matt Kuchar, was one shot back at 14-under-par 270 after a three-under 68. Masters champion Jordan Spieth closed with a one-under 70 and ended in a tie for 11th at 10-under-par 274.The final round was played early to beat storms that were forecast for late afternoon. Part of the final round was played through rain, but there were no stoppages.

Formula One: Hamilton wins, Raikkonen steals second from Rosberg

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MANAMA (AFP) - Defending world champion Lewis Hamilton made light of brake problems and a seamless switch from champagne to rose water on Sunday after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix to extend his lead in this years title race.The 30-year-old Briton, who was embroiled in controversy after squirting champagne on the victors podium in China a week earlier, this time celebrated in a more muted style, but still soaked himself and the shirts of a few near bystanders.It was a measure of Hamiltons success that after a flawless drive to his third win in four races this year he remained in control after opening up a 27-points lead ahead of Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.Starting from the 42nd pole position of his career, Hamilton led from lights to flag apart from two spells around the pit-stops to claim the 36th win of his career.Hamilton came home 3.3 seconds clear of Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari who stole second ahead of Nico Rosberg when the second Mercedes driver suffered a braking problem on the penultimate lap.It had seemed that the 29-year-old German would hold off Raikkonens late challenge, but both Mercedes lost their brakes in the final laps, Hamilton just hanging on to win.Im gunning for a third title, a beaming Hamilton said after the race. The Ferraris gave us a run for our money here and it was difficult to look after the tyres out there, but I was able to pull through and we need to keep pushing now, as I know we will.Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff confirmed: We lost the brakes on both our cars... Lewis lost his during his final lap.Hamiltons victory lifted him to 93 points in the championship, giving him a clear lead ahead of Rosberg, on 66 points with Vettel third on 65.Mercedes lead the constructors championship with 159 points ahead of Ferrari on 107 and Williams on 61.A disappointed Rosberg, who has won only once in 13 races, said: It was ok... I enjoyed overtaking the red cars a lot. We were pretty similar with Lewis, but he pulled away a little bit towards the end and then I lost my brakes -- so that cost me my position to Kimi, which was disappointing.Raikkonen, claiming his first podium finish for Ferrari since the 2009 Italian Grand Prix, said: Youre never happy when you finish second, but after a difficult start of the year Im pleased to get a bit better result.We came through in the end but we ran out of laps. We have to be happy with that after where we qualified, but we are looking for better results.Confirming the potency of Ferraris resurgence this year, Hamilton added: Ferrari gave us a really good run for our money and we will need to keep pushing as a team.It was difficult to look after my tyres in the conditions. My brakes got a bit warm when I went behind a few back markers and there was no cool air coming in, but it wasnt a major problem.Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams finished fourth after resisting a late attack from German Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.Australian Daniel Ricciardo finished sixth for Red Bull, his engine blowing up as he crossed the line ahead of Frenchman Romain Grosjean of Lotus and Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India.Russian Daniil Kvyat in the second Red Bull was ninth and Brazilian Felipe Massa, was 10th in the second Williams.It was a bitter-sweet day for the struggling McLaren-Honda team with two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso finishing 11th after 2009 champion Briton Jenson Button had been withdrawn before the start due to electrical problems.

Motorcycling: Rossi wins dramatic Grand Prix of Argentina

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TERMAS DE RIO HONDO (AFP) - Valentino Rossi survived a late battle with defending world champion Marc Marquez, who crashed with two laps to go, before the Italian icon went on to win a dramatic Grand Prix of Argentina on Sunday. Marquez led the race from the start and opened up a lead of over four seconds before tyre problems allowed the veteran Rossi to reel him in and finally take the lead on the penultimate lap. Spanish rider Marquez, who won a record 13 races last season, then clipped Rossis back wheel and crashed out as Rossi raced on to victory from eighth on the grid.The decision by Marquez and his Honda team to go with hard tyres backfired badly as Rossi gradually reeled in the Spaniard on his Yamaha. Rossi closed ground over the final stages and finally made his move on the second last lap before Marquez immediately tried to regain the lead which led to his accident. Marquez was on track to move level with Rossi in the world championship standings but now loses ground after the third race of the season. Rossi also won in Qatar while Marquez won the second race of the campaign in Texas where the Italian came third. Im sorry for the accident and sorry for him but I hope hes ok, said Rossi. I had a great race and the bike was fantastic but I could see that he (Marquez) was having problems with his tyres, added the seven-time world champion. The bike was great, thats two victories already and I think we can fight to the end of the season. added Rossi. We had great pace and this was an important race because I struggled in practice. I knew he was on hard tyres but I just took it step by step and slowly I could smell the victory. Im disappointed by his crash and it would have been a great fight to the end but Im very happy. said Rossi. Italian Andrea Dovizioso on a Ducati came home second more than five seconds back with British rider Carl Crutchlow on a Honda third. He (Rossi) was faster than me and I was losing time in the corners, said Dovizioso, who led the Qatar race for long stages before losing out to Rossi in a bid for his first career win at this level. Earlier, Frenchman Johann Zarco won the Moto2 race to move to the top of the world championship standings.Leading home Spains Alex Rins and Britains Sam Lowes, Zarco started from pole but this was his first GP win at this level. The 24-year-old was second in Austin last week while at Qatar in the season opener he had appeared to have victory wrapped up before an engine blip saw him drop to eighth.I came here to win and Im so happy. I took over the lead in the championship too, said the thrilled Frenchman.Zarco has 53 points, Alex Rins has 49 and Sam Lowes has 41.Earlier, British biker Danny Kent rampaged to a second straight Moto3 world championship win and extended his lead at the top of the standings.Crossing the line a full ten seconds ahead of the Spaniards Efren Vazquez and Isaac Vinales, the 21-year-old Kent added to his win last Sunday at the Grand Prix of the Americas in Austin Texas.He was third in the season opening Qatar Grand Prix last month.

Athletics: Bolt clocks 10.12sec in Rio 100m exhibition

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt clocked 10.12 seconds to win an exhibition 100m race in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.The six-time Olympic champion, world record holder in both the 100 and 200m events, suffered from a sluggish start in rainy conditions in the host city of next years Olympic Games where he will be bidding for an unprecedented third golden treble.My start wasnt very good and that made me pay, the 28-year-old said after outstripping Dutchman Churandy Martina and American Ryan Bailey in the latter stages of the race.But Im happy to have won and I cant complain.

Eight Corinthians football fans shot dead in Brazil

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SAO PAULO (AFP) - Eight football fans were gunned down ahead of a semi-final match at the Corinthians fan club headquarters in Sao Paulo, police and local media reported Sunday.A Sao Paulo military police spokesman told AFP seven people were shot dead at the Corinthians fan headquarters Saturday night and another later died in hospital.The shooting was confirmed by a Corinthians club official to AFP. The source noted the fan club is not affiliated with the official Corinthians football squad. Ahead of the teams semi-final game Sunday the team tweeted Mourning in white letters on a black background, the teams colors.According to the news site G1, at least two armed men stormed the headquarters and executed seven people. Victims were forced to lie together and then were shot, witnesses told G1.The team was playing Sao Paulo rival Palmeiras Sunday afternoon.Brazil football matches have been tainted by violence in the past. In February, police shot and killed a teenager when clashes erupted between rival football hooligans near Porto Alegre in the south of Brazil.About 30 people died in soccer violence in the country in 2013, reports say.

China's Xi heads to Islamabad to unveil $46 billion investment

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ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Chinese President Xi Jinping heads to Islamabad Monday for a rare visit to unveil a $46 billion investment plan that Pakistan hopes will end its chronic energy crisis and transform the country into a regional economic hub.With the plan, known as the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Beijing hopes to ramp up investments in Pakistan as part of its ambitions to expand its trade and transport footprint across Central and South Asia, while countering US and Indian influence.Pakistan, a Muslim majority country of 200 million that has been battling an Islamist insurgency for over a decade, hope the investments will spur its long-underperforming economy, which the IMF projects is set to grow 4.3 percent this year.The two allies have enjoyed close diplomatic and military relations for decades, though economic ties have only grown more recently. Bilateral trade crossed $12 billion dollars last year, compared to only $2 billion a decade earlier.The real opportunity of this China Pakistan Economic Corridor is that it changes the scope of the relationship from geopolitics to geoeconomics, Ahsan Iqbal, the minister overseeing the projects, told AFP.The two countries are set to cooperate in natural gas, coal, and solar energy projects that will provide 16,400 megawatts of electricity -- roughly equivalent to the countrys entire current capacity, said Iqbal. Pakistan has wrestled with chronic power shortages in recent years that have scrubbed several points off GDP growth and inflicted misery on the everyday lives of its citizens.These are very substantial and tangible projects which will have a significant transformative effect on Pakistans economy, Iqbal said.The project also foresees the creation of road, rail and pipeline links that will cut several thousand kilometres off the route to transport oil from the Middle East to China, while bypassing mutual rival India.The upgrade stretches 3,000 kilometres from the Pakistani port of Gwadar on the Arabia Sea to Chinas western city of Kashgar. Pakistan transferred control of the port to a Chinese public company in 2013. Iqbal said $11 billion has been set aside for the purpose.The projected investments, $28 billion of which are ready to sign during Xis visit, dwarf a US assistance package to Pakistan of $5 billion that was begun in 2010, but has not made as great an impact as hoped.Referring to the US aid, signed under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Act (KLB), Iqbal said: KLB was $1.5 billion per year, out of which only $600-700 million went to government. Most of it went to non-government sectors and the bulk went to American companies. That is a problem with assistance that comes through the aid mode.Iqbal was more optimistic when it came to Chinas investment. The roads and rail links will help us integrate the three engines of growth in Asia: South Asia, Central Asia, and China. Pakistan will become the economic hub of the region.Some analysts, however, have cautioned that the eye-watering figures being trumpeted look too good to be true and the government will have its work cut out turning the infrastructure projects into reality -- particularly in the restive Baluchistan province, where a separatist insurgency has raged since 2004.I just hope that Beijings big-ticket projects are matched by Islamabads clear commitment and action on the ground, said Sherry Rehman, an opposition lawmaker and director of the Jinnah Institute think tank.Executive stalemate in Islamabad can kill off the best projects from an ally like Beijing. So basically the Economic Corridor needs to be paved with more than good intentions from Islamabad, she added.Beyond economic matters, questions of regional security will be high on the list during discussions between the two leaders. China is wary of of the infiltration of militant Islamists from Pakistan to its western Xinjiang province which is frequently hit by unrest, and may be looking from greater assurances from Islamabad on the matter.In February, China expressed its willingness to support the Afghan government in reconciling with the Taliban, another issue that could be discussed during the visit.Xis two-day trip, the first by a Chinese president in nine years, was initially scheduled for September but was later postponed because of anti-government protests in the capital aimed at toppling the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Sangakkara stars as Pietersen misses out

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LONDON (AFP) - Kumar Sangakkara ensured the crowd at Cardiffs Sophia Gardens on Sunday witnessed a hundred from a world-class batsman as Surrey team-mate Kevin Pietersen missed out on the first day against Glamorgan.Pietersen, biding for an England recall after being axed last year following the teams 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia, fell for 19 in his first County Championship match since June 2013 having made 170 against Oxford students last weekend.But Sri Lanka great Sangakkara made an unbeaten 112 and, together with fellow wicket-keeper Steven Davies (109 not out) shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 213 in the Welsh capital as visitors Surrey finished the first day of this four-day Second Division County Championship match on 363 for three.The 37-year-old Sangakkara, making his Surrey debut, carried on from where he left off at the World Cup where his last five innings yielded scores of 105, 117, 104, 124 and 45.Top of the International Cricket Council Test batting rankings left-hander Sangakkara, set to retire from all international cricket later this year, was in sublime form in the Welsh capital. He reached the 51st hundred of his first-class career from 162 balls with 14 fours and a six.Davies, who has played limited overs international cricket for England, said it had been an honour to bat alongside Sangakkara and forecast an international recall for Pietersen despite his low score Sunday on the ground where the first Ashes Test against Australia starts on July 8.Kevin missed out here but Ive no doubt in my mind he will get the runs he needs to play for England again, Davies said.Hes been great at Surrey, Ive never had any problems with him, and he looked great last week on a tough wicket at Oxford.Sangakkara was unbelievable. Hes a hero of mine and to play alongside him is a great honour.So to get that partnership with him was a special day for me.In the First Division, New Zealands Jesse Ryder -- best known as a batsman -- took five for 43 for as Essex dismissed Kent for 193 at Chelmsford only for the hosts to collapse to 67 for six by stumps.Meanwhile England one-day batsman Alex Hales made 222 not out, his maiden first-class double century, as Nottinghamshire reached 393 for seven at stumps against county champions Yorkshire at Trent Bridge.Hales has so far faced 250 balls including 37 fours and a six as Yorkshire failed to give coach Jason Gillespie, who turned 40 on Saturday, the kind of on-field birthday present the former Australia paceman would have wanted.In the Second Division, South Africas Alviro Petersen made 115 in a Lancashire total of 292 for eight away to Derbyshire.

English batsman makes 350 in one-day club match

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LONDON (AFP) - A 21-year-old English batsman on Lancashires books made history on Sunday by scoring 350 in a club match.Liam Livingstones stunning innings was the centrepiece of Nantwichs mammoth 579 for seven in just 45 overs during their National Club Championship clash at home to fellow north-west side Caldy.Livingstones runs came from just 138 balls, including 34 fours and 27 sixes.Had worse days Thanks for all the messages, Livingstone said on Twitter.His astonishing assault is believed to be the the highest recorded individual in any form of one-day match, surpassing the 334 not out made by the then 15-year-old Nikhilesh Surendran in an Indian school fixture in Hyderabad in 2008.Three of Caldys bowlers, who play in the Liverpool and District competition, long regarded as one of Englands leading club leagues, conceded in excess of 100 runs.Overwhelmed by what had happened to them in the field, Caldy collapsed to 79 all out as Nantwich won by a scarcely credible 500 runs.Livingstone, yet to make his first-class debut, endeared himself to Lancashire fans by finishing last season with 204 in the Roses 2nd XI clash against arch-rivals Yorkshire.

MQM kept Karachi hostage for 30 years: PTI leaders

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on Sunday alleged that Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has held Karachi hostage for over thirty years but did not do anything for the people.Addressing the campaign rally in NA246 for the by-election, PTI candidate Imran Ismail asked whether quota system has been abolished, whether land mafia and china cutting has been abolished as promised by the MQM. “Did Biharis return to the country? Did Karachi become peaceful”, he asked.PTI vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that MQM has held Karachi hostage and that his ‘political sight’ is seeing victory in the by-election.PTI’s Secretary General Jehangir Tareen said that Imran Khan is a ray of light, urging people to vote for bat which is PTI’s electoral symbol.Faisal Wada said that the politics of terrorism has to be eliminated from Karachi, adding that the NA 246 by-poll is against the unrest.
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