Sunday 31 May 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Election celebrations: 12 killed in firing, grenade attack

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PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – At least 12 people were killed in firing incidents and grenade attack on rallies taken out by supporters of various candidates to celebrate their victory in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa local bodies election on Sunday.According to details, firing and grenade attack on rally taken out to celebrate victory of an independent candidate in Kary Hayder area of Tank killed at least six people and injured 12 others. Police and rescue teams shifted the dead and injured to District Hospital Tank.In another incident, firing on supporters of newly-elected councilor Zabih Ullah in Gambit Barati area of Kohat killed at least three people while four other sustained injuries. Police conducted a search operation in the area after the incident and arrested two suspects.In Nowshera, some unidentified persons opened firing on councilor Shaukat, killing three passersby including two minor children.

Abbottabad: Three killed as van plunges into ravine

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ABBOTTABAD (Dunya News) – According to details, a police mobile carrying three arrested persons fell into a ravine in Ghaldok area near Muzaffarabad on Sunday, killing three arrested persons and injuring two police officials.Police had arrested three persons from Union Council Bagnotar and were taking them to police station. The dead and injured were shifted the District Headquarters Hospital.

Blast in Neelum Jhelum Hydro-Power Project tunnel kills three

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MUZAFFARABAD (Dunya News) – According to details, three labourers were killed and 16 other were injured in blast in a Neelum Jhelum Hydro-Power Project tunnel on early Monday morning. Police sources said that the blast was caused by the leakage of gas. Those who were injured also included three Chinese workers.

Tennis: Federer-Monfils match suspended

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PARIS (AFP) - The French Open fourth round tie between Roger Federer and Gael Monfils was suspended due to poor light late Sunday with the contest level at one set all.It will resume on Monday with the winner set to take on Stan Wawrinka in the quarter-finals.Federer had beaten Monfils three times previously at Roland Garros and each time he went on to reach the final.But he had lost their last two matches, both on clay, in the Davis Cup final last November and in Monte Carlo in April.Both men looked up anxiously at the dark clouds overheard as they came out for their 13th career matchup and it was Federer who looked the sharper as the tie got underway, Monfils clearly perturbed by the cold, windy conditions.The second seed, whose only title at Roland Garros came in 2009, took the first set on a single break of serve in 29 minutes.Monfils though started to settle in the second and he broke serve to take a 4-1 lead.Federer broke back with some superb shot-making but he was unable to draw level as Monfils staggered him with a series of haymakers.The match referee then called both men to the net and they all agreed that the light was too poor to continue.

Tennis: Ivanovic, Svitolina into last-eight, Sharapova rained off

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PARIS (AFP) - Ana Ivanovic made the French Open quarter-finals for the first time since her 2008 title run Sunday where shell face Elina Svitolina, the first Ukrainian to make the last eight.But defending champion Maria Sharapovas scheduled last-16 clash against Lucie Safarova was pushed back until Monday after rain caused a lengthy stoppage at a chilly Roland Garros.The Russian second seed now faces the prospect of playing matches on two successive days with the first two womens quarter-finals already programmed for Tuesday.Seventh-seeded Serb Ivanovic defeated Russian ninth seed Ekaterina Makarova, a semi-finalist at the Australian Open in January, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 to book her eighth career Grand Slam quarter-final.Watched again by German World Cup winning football star Bastian Schweinsteiger, the 27-year-old Ivanovic shrugged off a two and a half hour rain stoppage to secure her third three-set win in four rounds in Paris.The 20-year-old Svitolina beat fellow former Roland Garros junior champion Alize Cornet on a windy, chilly Court Philippe Chatrier 6-2, 7-6 (11/9).Its amazing to be in the quarter-finals again. To be honest, coming into the tournament I didnt really expect that at all, said Ivanovic.But I really worked hard for each match. I worked hard even before the tournament to reach the quarter-final again.Svitolina, seeded 19, is only the second Ukrainian woman to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final after Kateryna Bondarenko made the last eight at the 2009 US Open.It was Svitolinas first win over Cornet in three meetings and the result ended French hopes in the womens singles for another year.She displayed nerves of steel to achieve victory, failing to serve out the tie in the 10th game of the second set and then allowing five match points to slip through her fingers.However, she secured victory on her sixth match point when Cornet went long with a backhand, her 42nd unforced error of the windswept tie.Svitolina will take a 6-0 losing record into her clash with Ivanovic, a run that includes a second round loss in Paris last year and again on clay in Madrid earlier this month.I hope I can serve better, of course, because I was serving not so good against her in Madrid, said Svitolina.With four mens last-16 ties still to be played on Court Philippe Chatrier and Court Suzanne Lenglen, it was decided that Sharapova and Safarova will play their fourth round on Monday instead.Sundays other fourth round clash between 33-year-old Italian Flavia Pennetta, who has never played in the French Open quarter-finals, and Garbine Muguruza, the Spanish 21st seed, was also shelved.Muguruza, the 2010 junior champion, had a breakthrough Roland Garros in 2014 when she defeated Serena Williams on her way to the last-eight.The scheduled 4R matches between Sharapova-Safarova & Muguruza-Pennetta have been cancelled for today, tweeted the organisers.

Tennis: Tsonga shines on gloomy day at French Open

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PARIS (AFP) - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat fourth seed Tomas Berdych at a weather-hit Roland Garros on Sunday, winning their fourth round tie 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 on a day of mixed fortunes for French hopes.The 14th seeds emphatic win was followed by a loss for Gilles Simon, who went down 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 to eighth seeded Swiss Stan Wawrinka.Then Gael Monfils saw his contest with Roger Federer suspended due to poor light with the score level at one set all. It will resume Monday afternoon with the winner going up against Wawrinka.In the other match completed, Japans fifth-seeded Kei Nishikori comfortably saw off the challenge of Russias Teymuraz Gabashvili and he will be the next opponent for Tsonga.Berdych looked out of sorts from the start against Tsonga in the cold, damp conditions that marked the tournaments second Sunday, allowing the French favourite to dominate rally after rally with his powerful serve and shot-making.The Czech player rallied briefly in the third set as Tsongas level dropped, but after a brief scare at the start of the fourth set, Tsonga won five games in a row to move through.The 14th seeded Frenchman will take on Nishikori with the prospect of reaching what would be just his second appearance in a French Open semi-final.It was not easy because I played really well during three sets. And when it was time to finish I played a little bit differently and because hes a good player, he came back in the match, Tsonga said.Then I started to miss a little bit more. But I had a good reaction in the fourth, and finally I won it. So its good for me. Im happy to beat a guy like this -- one of the best at the moment.Tsonga was one of five French players into the last 16, equalling the best home showing at Roland Garros in the Open-era since 1968. But on the two previous occasions that happened, only one man reached the quarter-finals.His win briefly raised French hopes, but they were soon let down when current French number one Simon was thrashed by Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open winner who is perfectly at home on clay, having grown up playing on the surface in Lausanne.It was perfect and I am happy to have won the match. I had been expecting a tough match against Gilles, but I played very well, aggressive, as the conditions were slow, Wawrinka said.The Monfils-Federer match always looked likely to be unfinished at the end of the day as darkness started to fall to add to the gloomy conditions as they took to the court.Second seed and 2009 champion Federer dominated the opening set, with Monfils looking exasperated at times with the wind and the cold.But as ever, the French showman dug deep and found some fresh reserves to level the set scores before the match referee called both men to the net and they all agreed to sleep on it.The two other Frenchmen into the last 16 -- Richard Gasquet and Jeremy Chardy -- were down to play their ties on Monday with Gasquet against top see Novak Djokovic and Chardy facing third seed Andy Murray.No Frenchman has won at Roland Garros since Yannick Noah in 1983 and prior to that it was Marcel Bernard in 1946.Nishikoris win made him the first Japanese man in 82 years to reach the French Open quarter-finals.Jiro Satoh was the last Japanese man to enjoy such a run in Paris when he went on to the semi-finals in 1931 and 1933.Nishikori hadnt played since Wednesday after scheduled third round opponent Benjamin Becker withdrew with an injury.Asked about his thoughts about taking on Tsonga in the last eight, Asias top player, who reached the final of the US Open last September, said he expected it to be a fun match.We havent played for a long time, maybe couple of years, he said.But, you know, he was injured and he came back now and hes coming back very strong. You know, he has a big serve, big forehand. Hes always a dangerous player.

Golf: Wedding bells turn to victory bell for Bowditch

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IRVING (AFP) - Steven Bowditch cruised to a four-shot win at the Byron Nelson Championship Sunday by closing with a 64 at Las Colinas, the same resort where he celebrated his wedding in 2011.The 31-year-old Aussie distanced himself from the rest of the field by posting four birdies on the back nine in the final round to go wire-to-wire and finish at 18-under 259 overall.This was his second win on the USPGA Tour, and his second victory in the state of Texas after claiming the Texas Open in San Antonio in 2014.We took some wedding pictures here at TPC so it is a special place and I get to take some more pictures here, said Bowditch, who was married at the Dallas area golf resort in 2011.Americans Charley Hoffman (65), Jimmy Walker (66) and Scott Pinckney (66) shared second place at 14-under. Both Hoffman and Walker tried to catch Bowditch but Walker posted two bogeys early on the back nine and Hoffman simply ran out of steam.Bowditch started the day with a two-stroke lead. He birdied the first hole and parred the last to seal the win.It was great to be patient out there and wait for my time. I had to go shot-for-shot, he said.Bowditchs struggles over the years with severe depression has been well documented. The Newcastle native is an avid spokesman for beyondblue, an Australian non-profit group that promotes awareness of mental illness and depression.But two of his happiest moments have taken place on the TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas grounds where he posed for wedding pictures with his wife, Amanda, in September 2011.Its such a special place to me and I just wanted to stay patient out there, Bowditch said.Zach Johnson fired a six-under 63 to seize fifth place at 13-under-par 264. Brandt Snedeker (64) and Jon Curran (68) tied for sixth at 12-under.Dustin Johnson grabbed a share of the lead with a pair of early birdies, but he stumbled to a quadruple-bogey at the sixth which dropped him four back.Johnson closed with an even-par 69 to end in a share of eighth at 11-under-par 266. He was joined there by 2012 champion Jason Dufner (66).

Motorcycling: Jorge Lorenzo wins Italian MotoGP

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MUGELLO (AFP) - Spains Jorge Lorenzo won his third successive MotoGP on Sunday as he coasted home to take the Italian race on a Yamaha at Mugello.The 28-year-old two-time world champion -- who was winning three in a row for the fourth time in his career -- beat home pole sitter Andrea Iannone of Italy on a Ducati with Italian legend Valentino Rossi third on another Yamaha claiming his 10th successive podium finish.Rossi leads the world championship standings, but by only six points from Lorenzo.Two-time defending world champion Marc Marquez failed to finish, crashing out on his Honda with six laps remaining.Lorenzo, world champion in 2010 and 2012, said that it was hard to judge if he was in the best form of his life.Ive been in this sort of form in the past, said Lorenzo puffing out his cheeks.But the bike is in great shape.I took control of the race with a brave overtaking of Dovizioso and even though I lacked some pace I had enough to win.Ive won three races in a row before but now I want to make it four (Catalunya in a fortnight), added Lorenzo, who was winning his fourth Italian MotoGP in the last five editions.Iannone -- who adopted the nickname maniac Joe -- was delighted to have secured second spot especially as he is recovering still from a dislocated shoulder, although the first win in this category still eludes him.My head is strong, that is why I can ride like I do, said Iannone.Victory was too difficult because Jorge was so strong but I never give up and I pushed a lot.For Rossi, who is seeking his 10th world title in all categories, it was a better than expected result as he had started from eighth place on the grid.Im happy because I made the podium which is a good result, said the 36-year-old, who won two of the first three races this season.During the race I suffered and it has been a difficult weekend but ultimately I am satisfied with retaining the lead in the title race. The race got off to a blistering start as Iannone looked to have got a jump start but he was overtaken by team-mate Dovizioso and then Lorenzo, who then assumed the lead on the first lap while Marquez scorched through the field from 13th to be fourth.Rossi, though, had an awful start dropping to 11th though he repaired the damage slightly by finishing the first lap in ninth.Marquez moved into third on the opening half of the second lap of the 23 lap race passing Iannone with nonchalant ease and then ate up Dovizioso to go second.The Italian fought back to regain second spot with 17 laps remaining while Marquez team-mate Dani Pedrosa started to creep up on the leading quartet.It developed into a thrilling battle between the Ducatis and the Yamahas with Marquez being demoted to fourth by Iannone to rapturous cheers from the 80,000 spectators packing the stands before the Spaniard struck back and regained second.As they exchanged positions regularly it was Rossi who edged closer to joining their party and going out into the country with 11 laps to go The Doctor was on the shoulder of Dovizioso whom he took care of soon afterwards to stupendous roars from his devoted following.Doviziosos race seemed to be run and two laps later he steered his bike into the pits with mechanical trouble.Disaster was to strike for Marquez with six laps remaining as he went low on the ground to try and overtake Iannone only to come to grief and slide into the sand -- the Spaniard walking away shaking his head in frustration while cheers rang out from the stands.The decibel level went even higher if that was imaginable later on the lap as Rossi got the better of Pedrosa to move into third.

Cycling: Contador wins Giro to keep double dream alive

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MILAN (AFP) - Spains Alberto Contador kept his hopes of a rare cycling double alive by securing his seventh Grand Tour title with overall victory in the Giro dItalia on Sunday.Former track rider Iljo Keisse, a Belgian who rides for Etixx-QuickStep, won the final stage from Torino to Milan after outsprinting fellow breakaway rider Luke Durbridge of Australia.Its the biggest win of my career Its amazing, said a visibly shaken Keisse after finishing a tough 98th edition in the best way possible.But all eyes were on Tinkoff team leader Contador as he maintained his bid to achieve the rare feat of emulating deceased Italian Marco Pantani, the last cyclist to win the Giro and Tour de France in the same year, in 1998.After three dramatic weeks of racing which saw the retirement of Australian contender Richie Porte (Team Sky), Contador deflected challenges late in the race from Astana pair Fabio Aru and Mikel Landra to finish with a comfortable winning margin.I knew it would be a very demanding Giro, but I didnt think it would be so complicated, said Contador, who took the race leaders jersey on stage five before suffering a crash and a dislocated shoulder.After holding up three fingers on the podium on Saturday, Contador admitted he considers still to be the 2011 champion - a title he was stripped of, along with his 2010 Tour de France crown, after testing positive for clenbuterol.People watching on TV, the riders, the fans... everyone knows its my third victory, said Contador.The Spaniard may have failed to win a stage throughout, but the former two-time Tour de France winner and three-time Tour of Spain champion finished comfortably ahead of Aru to clinched his second pink jersey after his maiden Giro win in 2008.Astana team leader Aru, the winner of two key mountain stages, was second overall at 1min 53sec while teammate Landa, also a two-time stage winner, was third at 3:05Astanas stage successes and podium places will help soothe the pain of the intense doping scrutiny, following a string of positive results last year, that threatened their existance at the top echelons of the sport.But despite a strong performance in the second half of the race, Astana ultimately failed to deflect Contador from his goal of emulating Pantani, the man he called earlier in the race his childhood inspiration.Nevertheless, Contador can count himself lucky to finish the race at all given mid-race drama which almost derailed his dream of a rare double.Contador first took the race lead on stage fives summit finish to Abetone, where Jan Polanc took the win, but dislocated his shoulder the next day after crashing on the home straight.Remarkably, Contador finished the stage but dislocated his shoulder again before the podium presentation, forcing the Spaniard into a painful defence of his lead over the following days before giving it up to Aru in the wake of another spill.On what appeared an easy day of racing, Contador was involved in a crash outside the 3km safety zone at each race finish on stage 13, finishing sufficiently in arrears to give the lead to Aru.Contador took the pink jersey back in defiant fashion the following day with a solid, third-place finish in the stage 14 time-trial to leave Aru trailing by several minutes.It would prove a key performance ahead of ensuing mountain stages in which Contador, at times, was left isolated and under threat from Astana pair Aru and Landa as they set out to destabilise the Spaniard.Despite a few shaky moments, Contador affirmed his superiority with a stunning performance on the climb to the Passol del Mortirolo on stage 16 when Aru lost another two minutes and Landa, momentarily, became Contadors biggest danger.Arus wins on stages 19 and 20 made slight amends for his lack of bite at key moments, notably the time-trial, but the Italians efforts were too little too late.

Tennis: Nishikori ends Japan's 82-year French Open wait

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PARIS (AFP) - Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese man in 82 years to reach the French Open quarter-finals on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Russias Teymuraz Gabashvili.Fifth seed Nishikori goes on to face either Czech fourth seed Tomas Berdych or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 14th seeded Czech, for a place in the semi-finals.Jiro Satoh was the last Japanese man to enjoy such a run in Paris when he went on to the semi-finals in 1931 and 1933.Nishikori hadnt played since Wednesday after scheduled third round opponent Benjamin Becker withdrew with an injury.The 25-year-old looked the fresher of the two out on a damp, chilly Court Suzanne Lenglen dominating the first set and racing to a 5-1 lead in the second before 74th-ranked Gabashvili briefly rallied with a face-saving break in the eighth game.The third set followed a similar path of domination with Nishikori again stretching to a 5-1 lead.Gabashvili saved two match points but the Japanese, who had beaten the Russian in Barcelona in April on his way to a successful defence of his claycourt title, won through.Nishikori finished with 40 winners, more than three times his opponents and took his clay record this year to 13-2.

Watling century leaves England with record chase for victory

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LEEDS (AFP) - BJ Watling became the first New Zealand batsman to score a Test century at Headingley as the tourists eyed a series-levelling victory over England on Sunday.Watlings 100 not out took New Zealand to 338 for six in their second innings at stumps on the third day, with their lead also 338 after both sides made first innings totals of exactly 350.It meant England would have to rewrite the record books were they to win this match and take the series 2-0 after their 124-run victory in the first Test at Lords.The most any England side have made to win in the fourth innings of a Test is the 332 for seven they posted against Australia at Melbourne back in 1928/29.And only two sides have scored more than 300 to win in the fourth innings of a Test at Headingley.Australia, thanks to brilliant centuries by Arthur Morris (182) and Don Bradman (173 not out) made 404 for three for a celebrated seven-wicket victory over England at Yorkshires headquarters in 1948.And England themselves scored 315 for four, with Mark Butcher making an unbeaten 173, to beat Australia by six wickets in 2001.Stuart Broad proved a thorn in the side of New Zealand with both bat and ball early on the third day.Broad ensured first innings parity and then reduced New Zealand to 23 for two in their second innings.But in what is now typical New Zealand style, Martin Guptill (70) and Ross Taylor (48) added 99 in 87 balls for the third wicket.That was the first of several fine stands in the innings, with Watling adding 121 with New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum (55) and 53 with Luke Ronchi (31).South Africa-born Watling, playing as a batsman only in this match after he injured his knee keeping wicket at Lords, went to his hundred in just under three hours off 136 balls, including 13 fours and a six, when he hooked James Anderson down to long leg for a single.It was the 29-year-old Watlings fifth hundred in just 31 Tests and his first against England. Guptill paid tribute to Watling by telling Sky Sports: He is a gritty little character, he can bat anywhere in the order.When Watling gets going he can really get big scores.Looking ahead, Guptill said New Zealand were already well-placed with two days left in the match.There is still a bit of up and down movement. It can only be a good sign for us as we have to bowl last.Broads 46 helped England make 350.He then took two wickets for four runs in 12 balls, with Tom Latham and Kane Williamson both caught behind.England bowling coach Ottis Gibson said New Zealand had hit the home sides attack of their length. The New Zealand batsmen have been attacking...They havent allowed us to control our lengths, Gibson explained.You cant have six slips if you arent bowling enough balls in the right area, the former West Indies paceman added. Guptill and Ross Taylor (48) got New Zealand going again after Broads early double strike. But the pendulum swung back in Englands favour when Taylor chipped Durham quick Mark Wood to Ben Stokes at extra-cover.Wood was again rewarded for pitching the ball up when Guptills intended drive flew quickly to Joe Root, who held a sharp catch at third slip.But runs continued to come quickly as both Watling and McCullum made 79-ball fifties.England needed to hold every chance but wicket-keeper Jos Buttler dropped a tough, rising catch when Watling gloved Ali on 50.Next ball, Watling slog-swept Ali for six.McCullum became only the second New Zealand player, after retired former captain Stephen Fleming, to score 6,000 Test runs when a drive off Root beat the diving Wood at mid-off and went for four.He was eventually lbw to Wood.England resumed on Sunday on 253 for five only to see their middle order collapse as Tim Southee took three wickets for six runs in 17 balls.But Broad led a revival that saw Englands final two wickets add 83 runs before he was last man out.

Zimbabwe happy to contribute to Pakistan revival

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LAHORE (AFP) - A top Zimbabwe cricket official Sunday expressed delight in contributing to the revival of international cricket in Pakistan after a six-year hiatus, hoping it will open more doors for their hosts.Zimbabwe became the first Test team to tour Pakistan since terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009, suspending all international cricket in the country. Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) managing director Alistair Campbell said his country decided to play two Twenty20 and three one-day internationals after their intelligence work. I am glad that we have been able to make a small part in trying to get Pakistan cricket back on track, Campbell told media on the sidelines of third and final one-day international in Lahore.We did our due intelligence work, there were guys who said that how can you go? and that you are putting lives of the players at risk but we assessed the security and we were sure it will be a successful and safe tour. Pakistan deployed 6,000 policemen, beefed up to 10,000 after Tuesdays explosion of a gas cylinder, with thorough check-ups of the fans at various points. Campbell, 42, said perceptions about Pakistan will change after the successful series.I am sure this tour will open more doors and change the perceptions about Pakistan, said Campbell who played 60 Tests and 188 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe besides leading them.Campbell admitted it was a tough decision to travel to Pakistan after a deadly bus attack which left 45 people killed a week before the teams arrival. It was a tough and topsy turvy thing. Pakistan invited us in good faith and they have done and taken all the necessary security precautions, beefed up the security better than they provided before. We were told that this is better than given to a state head and I think when there was a bus shooting in Karachi then it put a spanner in the work because it wasnt an ideal situation to tour, said Campbell.After the Karachi killings, ZC initially suspended the tour before rescinding their decision.At that time we were in discussions on whether to tour or not but obviously credit to the ZC president Wilson Manase and Shaharyar Khan of Pakistan Cricket Board who took the matter to the highest level and made sure that we tour and security given is perfect.The players were also in an ebb and flow, whether to go or not but in the end we made a commitment and were happy with the security plan and that we will be well looked after.Campbell said the excitement of fans in Pakistan was exemplary as they packed the 27,000 capacity Gaddafi Stadium in the two Twenty20 and one-day matches.Its heart warming and more than anybody expected, to be honest. People embraced the Zimbabwean players and the hospitality is outstanding and its the first time that in the sub-continent that people were chanting for the opposition.The players have felt welcome and the hospitality is outstanding. From the moment the Zimbabweans touched down to when they leave tonight there were utmost precaution taken without compromising too much on their freedom.Campbell said the series will strengthen relations between Pakistan and Zimbabwe.This series will strengthen our bilateral relations with Pakistan and they are due to tour us in August this year and this tour will go a long way in our relationship.

Rain denies Pakistan chance of Zimbabwe whitewash

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LAHORE (AFP) - The third and final day-night international between Pakistan and Zimbabwe ended as a no result in Lahore on Sunday after play was ended by a sandstorm followed by rain.Zimbabwe, chasing a target of 297 to win, were 60-0 before a power failure in a floodlight tower and a heavy sandstorm forced the players to walk off the field at Gaddafi Stadium.The teams came back for one over during which Zimbabwe, chasing a revised target of 281 in 46 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis formula, added eight more runs without losing a wicket.A heavy downpour then forced the players off once more before the umpires called off the match as rain continued to fall. Pakistan took the three-match series 2-0 having won the first game by 41 runs and the second by six wickets -- both in Lahore.Mohammad Hafeez scored a run-a-ball 80 with eight fours and a six while Babar Azam notched a 60-ball 54 to lift the home team to 296-9 after Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat on another flat Gaddafi Stadium pitch.Zimbabwe had got off to a sound start with Vusi Sibanda not out on 28 and fellow opener Chamu Chibhabha on an unbeaten 39.Security was enhanced around the stadium and team hotel after a blast on Friday night which police said was a cylinder explosion but federal information minister Pervez Rasheed described as a failed suicide attack which killed two people.Despite that, Zimbabwe, the first Test-playing nation to come to Pakistan since a terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore six years ago, decided to continue with the tour.Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali regretted rain spoiled the whitewash chance.You cant control rain but it would have ben nice had we won this match, said Ali. We were some 20-30 runs short but still it was a decent total and we could have won.Zimbabwes stand-in captain Hamilton Masakadza believed his team was in a good position when rain came.We were in a good position to win, said Masakadza. Our bowlers did well to restrict them and we got a very good start but it was unfortunate that we didnt have a complete game.Earlier, Hafeez gave Pakistan a sound start with a partnership of 115 with Ali, who made 46, before Babar and Anwer (38 not out) gave the score a significant boost in the final overs with some sublime batting.Ali was run out in the 20th over as he failed to complete a single. He hit four boundaries and a six during his 59-ball knock.Raza then came into his own, trapping Hafeez with a sharp delivery before dismissing Asad Shafiq (16) and Sarfraz Ahmed (25) to improve on his 2-25 against Afghanistan at Bulawayo last year.In between Shoaib Malik, who scored a hundred in the first match, was run out while taking a second run for three.Babar kept his cool, reaching his maiden fifty off 54 balls with four boundaries before being bowled but he and Anwar helped Pakistan add 54 in the last five overs.SCORECARDPakistanMohammad Hafeez lbw b Raza 80Azhar Ali run out 46Asad Shafiq c Williams b Raza 16 Babar Azam b Mpofu 54Shoaib Malik run out 3 Sarfraz Ahmed c Williams b Raza 25Hammad Azam b Cremer 4Anwer Ali not out 38Wahab Riaz c Mutumbami b Mpofu 13Yasir Shah run out 0Junaid Khan not out 5Extras: (lb4, nb 1, w7) 12Total: (for nine wkts; 50 overs) 296Fall of wickets: 1-115 (Ali), 2-134 (Hafeez), 3-151 (Shafiq), 4-158 (Malik), 5-196 (Ahmed), 6-211 (Azam), 7-256 (Babar), 8-284 (Riaz), 9-288 (Shah)Bowling: Mpofu 6-0-50-2 (1w), Panyangara 8-0-47-0 (1nb), Chibhabha 4-0-23-0 (1w), Cremer 10-0-56-1, Masakadza 2-0-15-0, Williams 10-0-42-0 (1w), Raza 10-0-59-3 (4w)ZimbabweC. Chibhabha not out 39V. Sibanda not out 28Extras: (lb1) 1Total: (for no wkt; 9 overs) 68Bowling: Junaid 3-0-23-0, Anwer 2-0-21-0, Riaz 2-0-13-0, Hafeez 2-0-10-0 Result: No result after rain stopped play.Toss: PakistanUmpires: Ahsan Raza (PAK) and Russell Tiffin (ZIM).Tv umpire: Ahmed Shahab (PAK).Match referee: Azhar Khan (PAK).

Gayle century not enough for Somerset

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LONDON (AFP) - Chris Gayle ended up on the losing side despite marking his home debut for county side Somerset with a remarkable hundred in their Twenty20 Blast match against Kent on Sunday.The 35-year-old West Indies left-hander, renowned as one of the most dynamic batsmen in world cricket today, struck 10 fours and 15 sixes as he made a stunning 151 not out off just 62 balls at Tauntons County Ground.Yet Kent still came away with a three-run win after they defended a total of 227 for seven that featured Sam Northeasts 114.Gayle could only watch as Somerset slumped to 22 for two before the powerful Jamaican smashed three sixes in eight balls.The big hits kept coming, three balls disappearing out of the ground landing in the nearby River Tone.But Australian seamer Mitchell Claydon starred with the ball, the seamer doing well at both ends of the innings on his way to two for 23 in his maximum four overs.Somerset coach Matthew Maynard, an aggressive batsman in his playing days, said: I thought Sam Northeast played a sensational innings, but then the world boss came in and its different gravy.Words cant explain exactly what we have seen today. He makes it looks so easy and strikes the ball so cleanly. His knock almost brought off an incredible win today, but it just wasnt to be, former England international Maynard added.Gayle kept Somerset in sight of victory until the penultimate ball and disbelieving Kent skipper Northeast said: I dont know where to start. It was an incredible game and Chriss innings was one of the best things I have ever seen. But special credit has to go to our bowlers, who stuck to their plan and kept believing.We were trying to get the other batters on strike, but you miss your length against him and it goes out of the park.He added: When the opposition needs 15 an over, you kind of think its game over. But when Chris is out there and it went up to 20 needed off each over, you still know that he can do it. He is an incredible player.

Pak Vs Zim: Actress Meera entered Gaddafi Stadium without ticket

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – Prominent Lollywood celebrity Meera arrived at Gaddafi Stadium to watch the final One Day International (ODI) match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe without ticket but was admitted on a special pass, Dunya News reported.Meera said she has arrived to support the revival of international cricket in Pakistan and that she has come to support Zimbabwe while her brother accompanying her supported Pakistan.Meera was wearing Zimbabwean flag themed bangles and makeup.“I’m very happy over revival of international cricket in Pakistan”, she said while talking exclusively to Dunya News.According to details, Meera reached the stadium and realized she had forgotten the ticket at home. Expecting to be greeted with glitters, she met with disappointment as security guards stopped them.After a heated argument with security staff, Meera was about to go back when Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials came to know about her arrival and they issued a special pass.
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Saturday 30 May 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tennis: Federer leads over-30s into record French Open show

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PARIS (AFP) - Roger Federer bids to reach the French Open quarter-finals for the 11th time on Sunday when he faces home favourite Gael Monfils.Second seed Federer, the 2009 champion in Paris, is one of six men over the age of 30 to make the last-16 -- the most since 1969, when there were eight.Monfils, seeded 13, has defeated Federer in each of their last two meetings on clay -- at the 2014 Davis Cup final and this year in Monte Carlo.But 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer has won all three of their previous clashes at Roland Garros and went on to reach the final after each meeting -- in 2008, 2009 and 2011.Monfils is one of three Frenchmen in action Sunday -- 14th seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga tackles fourth seed Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic while Gilles Simon, seeded 12, faces eighth-seeded Swiss Stan Wawrinka.Japans fifth seed Kei Nishikori, who benefitted from a walkover in his third round match, faces world number 74 Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia.Defending womens champion Maria Sharapova, also the winner in 2012 and runner-up in 2013, faces Czech 13th seed Lucie Safarova for a place in the quarter-finals.Sharapova, who has been battling a cold throughout the first week, has a 4-1 record over the 28-year-old Czech whose only win came in the pairs first meeting in Madrid five years ago.Seventh-seeded Serb Ana Ivanovic, the 2008 champion, faces Russian ninth seed Ekaterina Makarova who has reached the last-16 for the first time.Sundays other fourth round ties see Ukraine 19th seed facing the last Frenchwoman in the draw, Alize Cornet.Italian veteran Flavia Pennetta plays Spains Garbine Muguruza who beat Serena Williams last year on her way to the quarter-finals.French Open order of play on showcourts on Sunday, the eighth day of the 2015 tournament at Roland Garros (x denotes seeded player; 0900 GMT start):Court Philippe ChatrierElina Svitolina (UKR x19) v Alize Cornet (FRA x29)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x14) v Tomas Berdych (CZE x4)Gael Monfils (FRA x13) v Roger Federer (SUI x2)Flavia Pennetta (ITA x28) v Garbine Muguruzu (ESP x21)Court Suzanne LenglenAna Ivanovic (SRB x7) v Ekaterina Makarova (RUS x9)Kei Nishikori (JPN x5) v Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS)Stan Wawrinka (SUI x8) v Gilles Simon (FRA x12)Lucie Safarova (CZE x13) v Maria Sharapova (RUS x2)

Blatter shocked by US anti-corruption tactics campaign

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ZURICH (AFP) - FIFA president Sepp Blatter expressed shock Saturday at the tactics used by the US anti-corruption investigators but insisted he was not a target.The 79-year-old Swiss official, on the offensive after being re-elected to a new term on Friday, also slammed what he called a hate campaign by European football leadersBlatter said he suspected the arrest of seven FIFA officials in Zurich on Wednesday under a US anti-corruption warrant was an attempt to interfere with the congress that returned him to power.There are signs which cannot be mistaken: the Americans were candidates for the 2022 World Cup and they lost, he told Swiss television channel RTS.I am not certain, but it doesnt smell good.He described the US as the number one sponsor of Jordan, home country of his challenger for the FIFA presidency, Prince Ali bin al Hussein.The Jordanian prince, who had the backing of European football body UEFA, withdrew from Fridays race after the first round of voting.The seven arrested officials were all detained for corruption cases in North and South America and Blatter said they could have been arrested on their home territory or at a FIFA executive committee six weeks ago.He also condemned comments about FIFA made by senior members of the US judiciary, including Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who lamented the rampant, systemic and deep-rooted corruption in football. Another official spoke of a World Cup of fraud.Of course I am shocked, Blatter responded. I would never as FIFA president make comments about another organisation without being certain of what has happened.More chargesUS authorities have so far indicted 14 people, including the seven held in Zurich, on charges of involvement in $150 million of bribes for sports media contracts. They include two FIFA vice presidents.A senior US legal official has said more indictments are likely in the case.Blatter said he had been affected by the scandal that has hit world footballs governing body but denied he was the FIFA official that US investigators say authorised a $10 million payment to disgraced former FIFA vice president Jack Warner.I have been affected by what has happened and I have been hurt by the attacks, he said.The US indictment says in 2008 a high ranking FIFA official authorised a $10 million payment to Warner, a former head of the North and Central American confederation, which was money intended as a bribe.Blatter said: I dont go into these allegations. If such a thing is under investigation let it go (on) and definitely thats not me.Britains Sunday Times newspaper reported that Blatter would be quizzed by Swiss prosecutors along with nine other serving FIFA officials as part of a separate criminal investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids.The report refers to an inquiry launched by team of prosecutors based in Bern two months ago, codenamed Operation Darwin, but the source of the information was not made clear.Forgive but not forgetIt is a hate that comes not just from one person at UEFA, it comes from the UEFA organisation that cannot understand that in 1998 I became president, Blatter added in the interview.Asked whether he would forgive UEFA chief Michel Platini, Blatter said I forgive everyone but I do not forget.European football leaders expressed concern at Blatters win and have hinted they could take new action against FIFA.Platini has said UEFA will review relations with FIFA on June 6.English Football Association Greg Dyke indicated England could be ready to back a European boycott of the World Cup.An English vice president of FIFA, David Gill, refused to take up his place on the executive committee on Saturday because of Blatters victory.But German football legend Franz Beckenbauer, a former FIFA executive member, called for urgent dialogue between UEFA and FIFA.I think that they are currently poles apart. The only thing that can help is to communicate, Beckenbauer told German sports news agency SID, an AFP subsidiary.They need to talk fast. Because what is happening is detrimental not only to the federations but also for football, Beckenbauer added.But even Prince William, second in line to the British throne and president of the English FA, waded into the controversy calling on FIFA to show that it can represent the interests of fair play and put the sport first.He called on sponsors and other backers to apply pressure on footballs governing body.Sponsors and government leaders have hammered FIFA over the corruption scandal.FIFA sponsors Coca-Cola, Budweiser and McDonalds called after the election result for quick moves to transparency.Credit card giant Visa has threatened to reassess its sponsorship if FIFA does not clean up its act.Blatter said he was organising a personal visit with sponsors in a bid to reassure them.

China rejects US criticism of sea reclamations

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SINGAPORE (AFP) - China on Sunday rejected US demands to stop its intensifying reclamation works in the South China Sea, saying it was exercising its sovereignty while helping the rest of the world.Admiral Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the general staff department in the Peoples Liberation Army, told a security summit in Singapore that the situation in the South China Sea is on the whole peaceful and stable, and there has never been an issue with the freedom of navigation.China has carried out construction on some islands and reefs in the South China Sea mainly for the purpose of improving the functions of the relevant islands and reefs, and the working and living conditions of personnel stationed there.Apart from meeting the necessary defence needs, it is more geared to better perform Chinas international responsibilities and obligations regarding maritime search and rescue, disaster prevention and relief, maritime scientific research, meteorological observation, environmental protection, safety of navigation, fishery production, services, he added.Sun was speaking one day after US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter demanded an immediate end to Chinas reclamation works and said Beijing was out of step with international norms with its behaviour in disputed waters.

Vice President Biden's son Beau dies of cancer: White House

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Beau Biden, 46, the oldest son of Vice President Joe Biden, has died of cancer, a White House statement said late Saturday.The vice president, in the statement on behalf of the Biden family, announced with broken hearts that Beau had died after a battle with brain cancer.The entire Biden family is saddened beyond words. We know that Beaus spirit will live on in all of us -- especially through his brave wife, Hallie, and two remarkable children, Natalie and Hunter, the statement read.It added that Beau battled brain cancer with the same integrity, courage and strength he demonstrated every day of his life.President Barack Obama, in a separate statement, expressed his condolences late Saturday.Michelle and I are grieving tonight, Obama said.Beau took after Joe. He studied the law, like his dad, even choosing the same law school. He chased a life of public service, like his dad, serving in Iraq and as Delawares attorney general, the president said.Like his dad, Beau was a good, big-hearted, devoutly Catholic and deeply faithful man, who made a difference in the lives of all he touched -- and he lives on in their hearts.Beau Biden, an attorney, briefly considered running for the US Senate to take the seat vacated when his father became vice president, but ultimately opted instead to practice law after leaving the post as Delawares attorney general.

Provincial Minister Ali Amin picks ballot boxes, crowd surrounds his car

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DERA ISMAIL KHAN (Dunya News) – Provincial Minister Ali Amin on Sunday picked up ballot boxes filled with votes from Himut polling station in Dera Ismail Khan. However, Amin’s car was surrounded by a crowd when he was about to leave.Amin is present in his vehicle as the crowd encircles him. Top police officials including the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) have reached the scene of the incidence.The crowd gathered around Amin’s car has refused to negotiate with the police and has requested the army to intervene.

Firing kills 16 year old, PTI says shot dead by ANP workers

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PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – An incidence of firing by unknown individuals killed a 16 year old boy late Saturday night in Pabbi. Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) has accused that the boy was shot dead by Awami National Party (ANP) workers. PTI workers surrounded the house of ANP’s former Information Minister Mian Iftikhar’s home after the incidence.According to the details, PTI workers were celebrating their success in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa’s (KP) local body elections when unknown assailants opened fire on the celebrating workers.The army was called in as the situation became serious which provided safe passage for Iftikhar to leave his home.Police has taken 10 workers of ANP into custody and began their investigation into the shooting incidence.

Suriname president's party protests election results

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PARAMARIBO (AFP) - Surinames ruling party National Democratic Party (NDP), led by president Desi Bouterse, has disputed results in several districts of the capital, which now will be recounted Sunday, authorities said.The NDP alleged there were problems with polling at 20 stations, its spokesman Winston Lackin told reporters Saturday.Unofficial results from Mondays general parliamentary elections give the NDP 26 seats, a small margin of the majority in the 51-seat National Assembly. Of those 26 seats nine are likely to be awarded in the capital, which is the largest electoral district.Bouterse, 69, will have to muster another eight votes to guarantee his own re-election, since the president is chosen by a two-thirds majority of parliament.Though the NDP wants to rule alone with its small majority, it needs more support in case a lawmaker drops out and they need 34 votes to re-elect Bouterse.A two-time coup leader and former international fugitive, Bouterse has long loomed large over Suriname, whether in his military fatigues and sunglasses, his sharp presidential suits or the Che Guevara T-shirts he favors as leisurewear.He seized power in 1980 as a 34-year-old sergeant major.His regime put down two counter-coups and rounded up and executed 15 opponents in 1982, an event known as the December killings.He stepped down in 1987 under international pressure, but returned to power in 1990 in a second, bloodless coup.After leaving power a second time, he was indicted and court-martialed for the December killings, but his coalition passed a controversial amnesty law in 2012 that aborted the trial.His top rival for the presidency is Chan Santokhi, a former police commissioner who led the investigation of the December killings and has vowed to repeal the amnesty law if elected.The new parliament should have its first meeting within 30 days after being elected and the new president should be sworn-in before August 12, 2015.The Netherlands convicted Bouterse in absentia of cocaine smuggling in 1999, but he remained free because Suriname does not extradite its citizens.Earlier this year, a Dutch court rejected his third bid to have the conviction overturned.

Italian PM says 800 victims of trawler will be given burial

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TRENTO (AFP) - Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Saturday repeated his commitment to refloat the wreck of the trawler which sank in April with the deaths of around 800 migrants and lay to rest the victims.The Italian navy located the wreck in early May lying 85 nautical miles north of the Libyan coast.Investigators say pictures of the wreck show bodies lying nearby, on the bridge of the ship and inside the hull.When this boat capsized and sank, we committed ourselves to go and check if there really were as many bodies as the survivors said, Renzi said after talks with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls in the northern Italian town of Trento.I made this commitment and I would like to confirm it once again, Renzi said.We will bring this boat to the surface and we will give a grave to these men and to these women, to these sisters and these brothers.If there is anyone in Europe or in the world who thinks ones own conscience can be buried at a depth of 387 metres, France and Italy will go and tell them that this is not possible, Renzi said.Just 28 survivors were rescued and taken to Italy and 24 bodies were picked up and buried in Malta. The survivors included a Tunisian and a Syrian who are suspected of being the captain of the trawler and his second-in-command.The tragedy on the night of April 18 sparked calls for more to be done to tackle human trafficking by sea and to ease the pressure on frontline states like Italy, Greece and Malta by having other countries take in asylum seekers.Despite the dangers, the migrants keep coming. The Italian coastguard said it had coordinated the rescue of about 4,200 migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean on Friday, but also found 17 corpses on several of the rickety boats.

Football: Wenger wants Arsenal to use Cup as platform for title bid

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LONDON (AFP) - Arsene Wenger has challenged his Arsenal stars to use their FA Cup final masterclass as inspiration to mount a serious bid for the Premier League title next season.Wengers side made history at Wembley on Saturday with a 4-0 rout of Aston Villa that underlined their renaissance in the second half of the campaign and served as a warning to English champions Chelsea.Goals from Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez, Per Mertesacker and Olivier Giroud ensured Wenger became the first post-War manager to win the FA Cup six times, while the Gunners are now the most successful club in the history of the famous old competition after lifting the trophy for the 12th time.It was also the biggest FA Cup final margin of victory since 1994, but even those gaudy statistics dont do justice to the potential impact of Arsenals stylish display.After a spluttering start to the season that raised renewed questions about Wengers future, the Frenchman and his team have got their groove back over the last few months, rattling off a long winning streak to climb to a third place finish in the league before winning the Cup.Now, 11 years after they were last crowned kings of England, Wenger is willing to talk bullishly about a sustained assault on the title and even invoked the memory of his famous Invincibles, who went undefeated en route to winning the league in 2004.I feel we have made progress since the start of the season for sure, in the way we play, the way we manage games and our togetherness as well, Wenger said.We finished third and won the Cup. Its a good platform to do well next season.Its about consistency at the top level. We have shown signs of consistency.Remember we are the only ones who didnt lose for 49 games. Nobody else has done it.When we have that kind of strong consistency we can challenge.Guile and graceArsenals revival has been helped by the loosening of the purse strings at the Emirates Stadium, with the big-money acquisitions of Sanchez and Mesut Ozil over the last two years adding guile, grace and big-game know-how to a team of notoriously brittle confidence.And the assured way they dealt with Villa, highlighted by Sanchezs brilliant long-range strike, gave Wenger confidence he doesnt need to invest in many more new signings over the close-season.We will see what is going on in the transfer market, but we already have a good basis and a good confidence level, he said.Lets be intelligent in the summer. Of course we can push on. We have won the league before when we had the potential to do it. Lets do it again.Even a football obsessive like Wenger wanted to focus on enjoying the fruits of a hard season for a few hours at least however and he dodged any further questions on potential transfer targets.Im not in a buying (players) mood tonight. I will just buy a drink for my players he said.How will I celebrate? The players have organised it all. I have organised the whole year so I will follow them for a changeGrim-faced Villa manager Tim Sherwood was more forthcoming about his plans for next season as he surveyed the wreckage of his teams failed bid to win the Cup for the first time since 1957.Sherwood earned plaudits for helping Villa avoid relegation following his arrival in February, but the way his players meekly accepted defeat on Saturday only emphasised how much rebuilding still needs to be done to a squad grown used to underachievement.The group needs to get better, they need to change their mentality because quite a few of them are too used to losing matches, Sherwood said.The job was to come and keep the team in the division which I managed to achieve, but I have to improve this team.The process starts immediately. Some of the boys have already been told they wont be here next season. I had to be honest with them.

Football: Flashy Neymar won't change despite final controversy

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BARCELONA (AFP) - Brazilian star Neymar has insisted he wont be bullied into curbing his repertoire of skills after a host of Athletic Bilbao players reacted angrily to his show-boating towards the end of Barcelonas 3-1 Copa del Rey final win on Saturday.Neymar flicked the ball over Unai Bustinza with both feet with two minutes to go and Barca well on their way to sealing a 27th Copa del Rey to go with the La Liga title they won two weeks ago.Bilbaos outraged players immediately surrounded the 22-year-old with Barcas veteran captain Xavi Hernandez having to lead his teammate away from the fracas.They can be angry, but it is my way of playing and I have done so for years. Just because others get angry doesnt mean I am going to change my style of play, said Neymar.However, Barca boss Luis Enrique had strong words for his star, who had scored his sides second goal of the evening either side of Lionel Messis stunning opener and a second from the Argentine.In Spain this is looked on very badly. If I was an Athletic player I would have reacted the same, or even worse, said Enrique.In Brazil this is normal, so we have to understand the context. He didnt do it to humiliate his opponent, it is difficult to explain it when someone is losing but we will try to control it with time.Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde also claimed Neymar, who is coming towards the end of his second season with the Catalan giants, needs to learn that such gestures will not be tolerated in Spain.It is not even looked upon well by his own fans, he said.When the game is won we are very well aware to maintain certain respect for the opponent. There are things that he will learn with time.The incident took the shine off another brilliant display for Barca, and in particular Messi, that leaves them just one game away from sealing a treble.Enriques men face Juventus in the Champions League final next Saturday and will be strong favourites with the four-time World Player of the Year in such form.Messi beat four Athletic players before firing in at the near post to open the scoring before taking his tally for the campaign to 58 in the second-half.It is difficult to get used to seeing things like that, but he does things in training that are even more incredible, added Enrique.When he is surrounded by teammates of such great quality and with a common goal it is a joy to watch.And Athletic captain Andoni Iraola believes Neymar could also learn from the attitude shown by Messi.For me it didnt seem elegant or sporting at all, said the 32-year-old, who was playing his final game for the Basques after more than 500 appearances.He has examples in his own team that he should pay attention to because he has much to learn from them.

Football: Messi-inspired Barcelona win 27th Copa del Rey

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BARCELONA (AFP) - A Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona sealed a league and Cup double as they swept aside Athletic Bilbao 3-1 to win the Copa del Rey for a 27th time on Saturday.Messi opened the scoring in spectacular fashion by dribbling past four Athletic players and lashing home a low finish before Neymar added a second before half-time.The Argentine grabbed his second of the game to kill the tie as a contest 17 minutes from time before Inaki Williams grabbed a consolation for the Basques.Despite Athletic fans dominating two-thirds of the 99,000 capacity Camp Nou, there was nothing their players could do to stop a rampant Barca that is now just one game away from just the second treble in the clubs history.Luis Enriques men face Italian champions Juventus in the Champions League final in Berlin on June 6.From the start we saw a great Barca with all the players at a high level, said Barcelona boss Luis Enrique.It is a shame for Athletic to have played these finals in the last few years against a Barca playing so well.They deserve a Cup and I hope they soon get it because the behaviour of their fans was spectacular.The game began in controversy after the Spanish national anthem was drowned by the fans of two clubs with strong separatist identities.Heavily involved MessiOn the field there was little to argue about as Messi tore Bilbao apart to continue their 31-year drought without winning a major trophy.He is a player that we always say appears in the most decisive moments and obviously he wasnt going to miss out in a final, said Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde.His first goal was incredible.The four-time World Player of the Year teed up Neymar for what should have been the opening goal just nine minutes in, but the Brazilians effort was wrongly disallowed for offside.Luis Suarez then forced Iago Herrerin into the first of many fine saves with a low drive.Herrerin was left as helpless as the rest of his teammates 11 minutes later when Messi danced past Mikel Balenziaga, Mikel Rico and Benat Etxebarria tight on the touchline before turning inside Aymeric Laporte and smashing in at the near post.Even by the Argentines incredibly high standards the move and finish was as good as any of his previous 410 Barca goals.Messi wasnt finished as he then turned provider for Suarez whose low cross was met by Neymar and brilliantly blocked by Herrerin.The Athletic stopper continued to frustrate Barca as he then stretched to turn Gerard Piques effort from Messis free-kick over.Barcelona did finally double their advantage nine minutes before half-time with Messi again heavily involved as he fed Ivan Rakitic who released Suarez and this time the Uruguayans pass was rolled into an unguarded net by Neymar for his seventh goal of the competition.Athletic starlet Inaki Williams came closest to a reply before the break with a dipping volley that clipped the top of the crossbar.However, Herrerin had to be alive moments later to turn a free-kick from Messi behind.Perhaps with one eye on next weekends Champions League final, Barca eased up slightly in the second period.Xavi Hernandez was brought on to savour his final appearance at the Camp Nou after a 17-year career.Messi added his 58th goal of the season as he pounced on some lackadaisical Athletic defending to prod home Dani Alvess cross.The Bilbao faithful did at least get something to cheer 11 minutes from time as the 20-year-old Williams notched just his third senior goal from Ibai Gomezs cross.

Football: Hughes praises Inverness spirit in Scottish Cup win

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GLASGOW (AFP) - Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager John Hughes praised the spirit of his side as they battled to a historic 2-1 win over Falkirk to lift the Scottish Cup on Saturday.The Premiership side took a first half lead at Hampden through Marley Watkins before they were reduced to ten men when Carl Tremarco was shown a straight red for hauling down Blair Alston in the 75th minute.The pendulum appeared to swing in Championship side Falkirks favour when Peter Grant headed home a deserved equaliser in the 80th minute. But, with extra time looming, substitute James Vincent fired in an 86th minute winner to land Inverness their first major piece of silverware since their formation in 1994.It caps off a remarkable season for the Highland club who also claimed their highest ever league finish of third to seal a Europa League spot next season.Over the course of the season weve been a right good team and to finish off Scottish Cup final winners against a good Falkirk side means I am absolutely delighted, the Inverness manager said.Im absolutely elated to win the cup, but we didnt half make it hard for ourselves. I think the spirit to dig it out was absolutely exceptional.I am just delighted we got the goal. If it had gone to extra-time I dont know if we would have had enough in the tank to see it out.I am delighted for the boys and its not the first time this year weve been down to ten men and weve shown a spirit to turn it round.But while Hughes was delighted with his sides determination, he slammed their unacceptable second half performance, evoking memories of Sir Alex Fergusons famous post-match rant at his Aberdeen side after they needed extra time to win 1-0 against Rangers in the 1983 Scottish Cup final.I felt we started a little bit nervous in the first ten minutes but then we got going and I felt we were the better team in the first half and got a good goal, Hughes said.I dont want to sound like Sir Alex Ferguson back in his Aberdeen days but in the second half we never showed up and it wasnt good enough.I was frustrated as we never played in the second half. We never got on the ball, we never passed it and it wasnt acceptable.We just kept giving it away and we couldnt hold it up and thats not a standard that we set ourselves.Falkirk manager Peter Houston said his players were reduced to tears by the defeat as the club missed the chance to lift the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1957.We changed it about at half-time and it looked like we believed in ourselves a bit more in the second half and I thought we dominated and put them under a lot of pressure, Houston said.We got the equaliser and, if Im being honest, I thought there was only one team going on to win it.There are a couple of guys in tears in there. Human nature is that you make mistakes sometimes and David McCracken and Jamie MacDonald are disappointed in their particular parts in the second goal. But I thought these guys were superb and have been absolutely brilliant for us this season.I have got nothing but praise for the players and Im absolutely gutted for them and the supporters.They took the game brilliantly to Inverness in the second half and I think we deserved more.

Golf: Pressel remains on top in bid to end title drought

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GALLOWAY (AFP) - American Morgan Pressel, seeking her first LPGA title since 2008, fired a two-under par 69 to maintain her lead after Saturdays second round of the Shoprite Classic.The 27-year-old US standout stood on seven-under 135 through 36 holes at the 54-hole event, one stroke ahead of Swedens Anna Nordqvist as she pressed for her first victory since the 2008 Kapalua Classic.Pressels only other triumph came in 2007 when she won her first major title at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.But Pressel has improved this season, settling for second at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic last month at San Francisco, losing to New Zealand teen star Lydia Ko in a playoff.Pressel birdied the par-5 third and par-4 sixth, took her lone bogey of the day at 13 but answered with a birdie at 16.Nordqvist also shot 69 to stay one stroke off the pace. She also birdied the third, but endured back-to-back bogeys at 11 and 12 before closing with birdies at 16, the par-3 17th and the par-5 18th to stay on Pressels heels.It was another two strokes back to a third-place pack on 138 that included Dutchwoman Christel Boeljon, Scotlands Catriona Matthew, Swedens Pernilla Lindberg and Americans Gerina Piller and Kelly Shon.South Korean Yoo Sun-Young and Americans Kim Kaufman and Marissa Steen shared eighth on 139.

Tennis: US legend Hart, career Slam winner, dead at 89

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NEWPORT (AFP) - Doris Hart, a 1950s tennis star who became the second woman to complete a career Grand Slam, has died at age 89, the International Tennis Hall of Fame announced Saturday.Hart, rated the worlds top womens tennis player in 1951, died at her home in Coral Gables, Florida. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969.Hart became the first player in tennis history to complete a career boxed set, triumphs in all four Grand Slam events in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.The only other players to achieve the feat, men or women, are Margaret Court Smith and Martina Navratilova.Hart won six Grand Slam singles titles, including the 1949 Australian crown, the 1950 and 1952 French championships and the 1954 and 1955 US titles as well as enjoying one of the greatest single days in Wimbledon history in taking the 1951 title.Because of rain delays, Hart won the womens singles and doubles and mixed 1951 doubles crowns all on the same day, dropping only one set in the effort. She also swept three trophies in France in 1952 and the US in 1954.Hart also lost in 12 Grand Slam singles finals between 1946 and 1953.From 1946 to 1955 she was never lower than fourth in the world rankings of the era as she won 325 career tournament titles, 35 of them Grand Slams.Hart captured 14 womens doubles Grand Slam titles, five in France and four each at the US and Wimbledon, and 15 mixed doubles Grand Slam trophies, including five in a row from 1951-1955 at the US and Wimbledon.Hart won 11 major doubles crowns with Hall of Famer Shirley Fry-Irvin, including four in a row at Roland Garros from 1950-1953 in a run in which they dropped only one set.Eight of her mixed doubles titles were won alongside Australian Frank Sedgman and seven were won with fellow American Vic Seixas.

KP Local Body Elections' successful candidates rejoice over results

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PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – As results of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) local body elections were announced on Friday, successful candidates rejoiced on their victories These candidates came out on the streets as soon as the results were announced. Some distributed sweets while rallies were also held. Fireworks charged up the environment even more.Even the supporters of victorious candidates rejoiced completely on the success of their nominated candidate. They danced to the beat of the drums, showered their candidate with petals and chanted slogans.Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) candidates win in Dera Ismail Khan was celebrated while supporters of both Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) held motorcycle rallies to celebrate victories of their candidates.
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