Saturday 18 July 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Yemen ministers back from Saudi exile in 'liberated' Aden

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ADEN (AFP) - Yemeni ministers have arrived back in Aden from Saudi exile after the government announced the liberation of the countrys second city from Iran-backed rebels, the interior minister said on Saturday. It is the first time members of the internationally recognised government have returned to their homeland since the Huthi Shiite rebels entered the southern port city in March, forcing President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and his ministers to flee their last refuge.We arrived last night, Abdo al-Huzeifi told AFP, adding that he was accompanied by Transport Minister Badr Basalma and several security officials.Huzeifi did not say how the delegation reached Aden.But Saudi-owned daily Asharq al-Awsat quoted a Saudi security official as saying that they had flown from Riyadh to Eritrea and then travelled on by boat.The minister said that the rebels had been pushed out of the city, except for few besieged groups that are refusing to surrender. The Riyadh-based government said on Friday that its loyalists had freed the city after four months of ferocious fighting with rebels and renegade troops loyal to Hadis ousted predecessor, veteran strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh.The government announces the liberation of the province of Aden, Vice President Khaled Bahah said on Facebook.A spokesman for the rebel forces dismissed the boast as psychological warfare and an attempt to improve the crushed morale of loyalist fighters.The advance that they are boasting about does not exceed a few kilometres (couple of miles) here and there over front lines where they incurred heavy losses, the spokesman said in a statement carried by the rebel-controlled news agency.Witnesses said the rebels remained in control of the citys Al-Tawahi district on Saturday and that heavy fighting was continuing there.Southern militiamen of the Popular Resistance launched Operation Golden Arrow against the rebels on Tuesday, boosted by reinforcements freshly trained and equipped in Saudi Arabia.A Saudi-led coalition has also kept up the air campaign it launched in March.At dawn on Saturday, coalition aircraft bombed a rebel reinforcement convoy east of Aden, killing 25 fighters, a military official said.AFP could not independently verify the toll.Popular Resistance fighters also went on the offensive elsewhere in the south, militia spokesman Qaed Nasser said.In an assault on the rebel-held Al-Anad air base, north of Aden -- Yemens largest -- they captured 47 fighters, including officers of the Republican Guard which has remained loyal to Saleh, he said.Witnesses said that the attack was backed by Saudi-led air strikes on the base.Further east, in Shabwa province, the loyalists recaptured the town of Bayhan, Nasser added.Aden was Hadis last refuge after he fled the capital Sanaa earlier this year as the rebels took over the government and launched an offensive in which they seized much of the country.Swathes of the city have been reduced to rubble by the four months of ferocious fighting.The United Nations has declared Yemen a level-3 humanitarian emergency, the highest on its scale.After weeks of shuttle diplomacy between the two sides, it announced a humanitarian truce last weekend to allow the delivery of desperately needed relief supplies, but the ceasefire failed to take hold.More than 21.1 million people -- over 80 percent of Yemens population -- need aid, with 13 million facing food shortages.More than 3,200 people have been killed in the fighting -- many of them civilians, the UN says.

Hamas leader in rare talks with Saudi king

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JEDDAH (AFP) - The head of Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, met Saudi King Salman during a pilgrimage to Mecca, in a rare encounter since a two-year rift, state news agency SPA reported Saturday.It said Meshaal headed a delegation of Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip, on a two-day visit for the mini-pilgrimage to the Muslim holy city of Mecca in the west of the kingdom.The delegation offered Eid greetings to King Salman during prayers at the Grand Mosque, SPA said, referring to the feast which started Friday following the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.It said they also praised the positive stance of the kingdoms leadership towards the Palestinian cause. A Hamas statement said the delegation, including Meshaals deputy Mussa Abu Marzuk, also met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman , the kings son and defence minister.Ties between Hamas and Riyadh deteriorated after the kingdom threw its support behind the Egyptian armys 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and its crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood.The exiled Meshaal has been based in Doha since he abandoned his base in Damascus in 2012 after the group sided with Syrian rebels against President Bashar al-Assad.Hamas, a rival of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, is engaged in indirect contacts with Israel over a long-term truce in exchange for an easing of the Jewish states blockade of Gaza.

Militants kill three Egypt soldiers in Sinai attack

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CAIRO (AFP) - Three Egyptian soldiers were killed in a rocket attack on a checkpoint by Islamist militants in the Sinai Peninsula on Saturday, the military said in a statement.The Islamic State groups affiliate in Egypt claimed the attack in a statement posted on social media. The official MENA news agency had earlier reported five soldiers killed, quoting security officials.The discrepancy could not immediately be explained as journalists have limited access to the restive peninsula where jihadists are waging a deadly insurgency.The military said it killed 20 militants on Saturday in an assault on a jihadist hide-out, posting video of air strikes on a building and two trucks on its spokesmans Facebook page.Militants loyal to the Islamic State group have killed hundreds of soldiers and policemen in attacks since the military overthrow of president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, which unleashed a deadly crackdown on his Islamists supporters.On Thursday, the militants claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a navy vessel off North Sinai. The army said no navy men were killed in the attack.

US condemns car bombing that killed at least 90 in Iraq

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The White House on Saturday condemned a car bombing in Iraq by the Islamic State group that killed at least 90 people.The attack, one of the deadliest in Iraqs turbulent history, was carried out Friday as the country marked Eid al-Fitr -- the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.The car bombing purposefully and viciously targeted Iraqi civilians celebrating the holiday, said National Security Council spokesman Ned Price.This latest attack is yet another painful example of the atrocities that the terrorist group ISIL continues to perpetrate against the people of Iraq, he added in a statement, using an acronym by which the group is known.The United States will continue to support the government of Iraq and its security forces to degrade and ultimately destroy this terrorist organization.The attack came in a busy market north of Baghdad. The Islamic State claimed responsibility and said the suicide attacker had three tonnes of explosives in his vehicle.

Tennis: Britain on verge of semis, Belgium, Argentina cruise through

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PARIS (AFP) - Great Britain edged closer to their first Davis Cup semi-finals in 34 years on Saturday while 28-time champions Australia stayed alive in their quest to make the last four.Belgium wrapped up a first semi-final spot since 1999 by seeing off Canada 3-0.They will tackle Argentina, who beat Serbia and were playing without Novak Djokovic, in September for a place in the final.At Queens Club in London, world number three Andy Murray teamed up with brother Jamie to beat Frances Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Nicolas Mahut to move 2-1 ahead in the tie.The Murrays secured a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 victory in the doubles rubber that left Britain needing one win from Sundays two remaining singles to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1981.Andy can secure a last-four showdown against Australia or Kazakhstan if he defeats scheduled opponent Gilles Simon.If he loses, British world number 89 James Ward is due to face world number 12 Tsonga in what would be the decisive second singles.Andy Murray, the only member of the world top 10 in action in the quarter-finals, insisted he would be fit to play on Sunday despite suffering a third set injury.It was not so much my groin as my hip. Its sore but theres only one more match then I can rest after that, said the 28-year-old.Ill get patched-up and hopefully put on another good performance.Nine-time winners France finished as runners-up to Switzerland last year, but now they are teetering on the brink of a first defeat against Britain since 1978.On Friday, Simon beat Ward 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 before Murray got the better of Tsonga 7-5, 7-6 (12/10), 6-2 in the opening singles.Argentina reached their 10th semi-final in 13 years when they defeated Serbia 3-0 in Buenos Aires.Carlos Berlocq and Leonardo Mayer sealed the crucial point with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 win over Viktor Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic in the doubles.Serbia were playing without world number one and recently-crowned Wimbledon champion Djokovic who opted to rest rather than make the trip to Buenos Aires.On Friday, Mayer defeated Filip Krajinovic 6-4, 6-2, 6-1 while Federico Delbonis saw off Troicki 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 for a 2-0 lead.In Ostend, Ruben Bemelmans and Kimmer Coppejans gave Belgium victory over Canada with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 triumph in the doubles against Daniel Nestor and Adil Shamasdin.Canada, without injured world number eight Milos Raonic and Wimbledon quarter-finalist Vasek Pospisil, had lost both of Fridays singles.Steve Darcis saw off Frank Dancevic 3-6, 6-1, 7-5, 6-3 while world number 14 David Goffin beat Filip Peliwo 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.To play against Nestor and Shamasdin, who were favourites before the match...I think we played amazing, said Bemelmans.The emotions of going to the semi-final with a country like Belgium are unbelievable. To do it with this team is something great.In Darwin, Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Groth kept Australia alive against Kazakhstan with a fighting 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 win over Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov.Hewitt is Australias most successful player in the Davis Cup and took his total win-loss record to 57-19 in his 40th tie over 17 years.Its up there, Hewitt said when asked what the doubles victory meant to him.I havent played too many doubles matches at 2-0 down when the pressures on.On Friday, Mikhail Kukushkin beat Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 while Nedovyesov saw off Nick Kyrgios 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.

Tennis: Karlovic to face Ram in Newport ATP final

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NEWPORT (AFP) - Second-seeded Croatian Ivo Karlovic reached the final of the ATP grass court tournament at Newport for the second straight year on Saturday with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 win over Jack Sock.Karlovic, who has battled pain in his right arm this week, shook off a slow start that saw him broken at love by his American foe in his second service game.He quickly regained the break and took control, finishing with 14 aces in the one-hour, 23-minute match.Karlovic will face American Rajeev Ram, who defeated Australian John-Patrick Smith 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) to book a return to the Newport final six years after claiming his lone ATP title to date at the same venue.It was tough today, Ram said. The wind was really swirly. I had a lot of trouble with my serve at the start, but I did everything else well.Ram nabbed the first set with a break in the third game.In the opening game of the second set he surged back from 40-love deficit on Smiths serve to break the Aussie,only to drop his serve in the next.Although Smiths aggressive play at the net kept Ram under pressure, the American was able to pull out the tiebreaker and book a return to the final.J.P. did a really good job rushing the net and forcing me to pass him, Ram said. Fortunately I was pretty locked in today.Karlovic, who fell to Lleyton Hewitt in last years final, kept Sock under pressure throughout the second set, the American saving one match point in the 10th game with a stinging forehand before netting a forehand two points later to surrender the contest.Rajeev will be tough to play against in the final, Karlovic said. He hits a very good volley and its hard to pass on this court.Hopefully my arm will feel good and Ill be able to produce some aces.

Arsenal trounce Everton in Asia Trophy final

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SINGAPORE (AFP) - FA Cup holders Arsenal claimed more silverware and sent out a message of intent for the new Premier League season as they overpowered Everton 3-1 to win the Barclays Asia Trophy on Saturday.Theo Walcott opened the scoring for the Gunners midway through the first half and Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil struck in a four-minute spell after the interval before Ross Barkley pulled back a late consolation goal for Everton in front of a crowd of more than 52,000 at the National Stadium.I am pleased with this performance because the focus in pre-season is to get the quality of our game back and for long periods we played in a convincing way, said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.I believe the game tonight was a great advert for the Premier League in Asia and for us it was a perfect trip because we had tremendous conditions, fantastic fans and we had two convincing games with no injuries so thats fantastic.Playing his first game for Arsenal following his transfer from Chelsea last month, goalkeeper Petr Cech was called into action after eight minutes to smother Gerard Deulofeus dangerous cut-back from the right by-line.However, the Gunners dominated possession and they took the lead in the 22nd minute when Cazorla chipped the ball forward from the centre-circle for Walcott who beat goalkeeper Joe Robless in a race for the ball and fired home from the edge of the Everton box.Everton had the ball in the net in the 41st minute when Arouna Kones shot was deflected in after Cech had tipped a Steven Naismith header against the crossbar but the offside flag had already gone up.Cech made a fine save to turn away an angled drive by Luke Garbutt early in the second half but Arsenal then turned up the pressure with Walcott shooting narrowly wide and Robless making good saves to deny Cazorla and Hector Bellerin.But the Arsenal pressure finally told in the 58th minute when Cazorla received the ball from Ozil on the right of the Everton box and cut inside before firing a low shot past Robless at his near post.Kone missed a glorious opportunity to cut the deficit when he headed over an inviting cross by Phil Jagielka on the hour and Arsenal took full advantage of the let-off as Ozil played a one-two with Cazorla before bursting into the box to fire past Robless.Barkley got a consolation goal for Everton with 15 minutes left, firing a rasping left-footed drive past Cech from 20 metres after the Arsenal defence had been caught in possession in their own half.Despite the defeat, Everton manager Roberto Martinez was pleased with the benefits that his side had gained from taking part in the competition.In pre-season, you dont get many opportunities to get a competitive game like that against the quality of Arsenal and from that point of view, it was a great workout, said the Spaniard.Obviously we wanted to win and probably it showed that we are in pre-season because the lapses of concentration were very poor by our standard. But all in all, I thought it was the perfect way to stretch the squad and test it, and I think that the benefits from this tournament will be immense.Stoke City had earlier secured third place in the competition after goals in either half by Steve Sidwell and Marko Arnautovic gave them a 2-0 win over a Singapore Select XI.

Football: Roma beat Real Madrid on penalties in ICC

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - Italys AS Roma beat Spanish giants Real Madrid in a penalty shootout after the International Champions Cup opener failed to produce a goal in regulation time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday.The first 12 penalty attempts found the net before Italian goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis kept out Lucas Vazquezs attempt.Seydou Keita stepped up and converted his attempt to secure the shootout 7-6 for Roma.Los Blancos, ranked as the worlds most valuable sport team, paraded their superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, but there was no end product as the Serie A team matched them before 80,746 fans at the famous arena.There were some boos at the full-time whistle with the match going to penalties to decide a winner under the tournament rules.It was a frustrating first match in charge of Real Madrid for Rafael Benitez, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabeu in June.I thought it was a good game and you can see the draw, but I felt we had chances, they had some chances too at the beginning of the game, Benitez said.You cant expect after five days to play with a high tempo, the last pass wasnt the best but for me it was to just keep working, especially with the defensive part of the game and try to be compact. I thought we were doing that. Ronaldo, the worlds third highest paid athlete this year after boxers Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, was withdrawn at half-time while Welshman Bale came off in the 55th minute.The ten-time European champions, who finished runners-up in La Liga last season behind rivals Barcelona, had few genuine scoring chances with Bale coming close before his substitution.Roma, who finished runners-up in last seasons Serie A, had two shots cleared off the line in the frantic opening minutes raising the prospect of more to come, but the goals never materialised.Brazilian Marcelo hacked clear from under his own bar as Real Madrid defence dithered.In the technical talk before the game I didnt need to motivate my players when you play against such big teams, Roma coach Rudi Garcia said.I liked very much the defensive organisation, with a very good attitude and our goalkeeper De Sanctis made a couple of good saves at the end of the second period and in the penalty shootout.Its always important to win, even after a shootout.Lively Ivory Coast forward Gervinho, who was official man-of-the-match, proved a handful and earned a free kick on the right edge of the penalty area when Asier Illarra tugged at his shorts, but the Spanish defence muddled it clear.Bale found Ronaldo with a lovely pass but 107-capped England international left-back Ashley Cole scrambled clear midway through the half.Goalkeeper Keilor Navas then had to dive full length to prevent a well struck own goal from Illarra before Roma skipper Francesco Totti called it a night after 33 minutes and was substituted by Seydou Doumbia.World Player of the Year Ronaldo was substituted at half-time as Benitez brought on French striker Karim Benzema and German midfielder Toni Kroos for the second half.A Bale header flashed just wide of the right post early in the second term and the Welshman was withdrawn after 55 minutes for Lucas Vazquez.Vazquez forced Roma keeper Morgan De Sanctis to save with his feet with Reals best scoring chance when he eluded his marker inside the box with six minutes left of regulation time before the game went to penalties.Roma face Englands Manchester City in the next match in the three-team tournament on Tuesday.

Football: Messi lays first stone of 2017 African Cup venue in Gabon

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PORT-GENTIL (AFP) - Four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi linked up with Gabonese president Ali Bongo Ondimba on Saturday to lay the first stone at a future African Cup of Nations venue.The Barcelona star, who won a treble of Spanish title, Copa del Rey and Champions League last season, officially started the building process at the Port-Gentil stadium, which will host Africa Cup of Nations matches in 2017.The ceremony took place on a wide sandy ground where the stadium will be built.It was the Argentine forwards first visit to Gabon and he signed autographs on team jerseys worn by his fans, before proceeding with the laying of the first stone, accompanied by the president.When I was in Barcelona a few years ago, I met Messi who had told me that he would come to visit me in Libreville, said the Gabon president. Its a promise he made me. He is a man of honour who just kept his word..The new stadium will have a capacity of 20,000 and is expected to host matches from November 2016 in the build-up to the tournament.Port Gentil is Gabons second city and the countrys oil capital.

Golf: Johnson in halfway lead at weather-hit Open

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ST ANDREWS (AFP) - Dustin Johnson led the British Open at the halfway stage at St Andrews on Saturday on a day that saw one of the worst wind delays in the tournaments history.The 10 hour 28 minutes stoppage eventually forced organisers to announce that the final round would be held over until Monday for just the second time since it was first held in 1860.Johnson was one of 39 players who played half an hour from 7:00 a.m. (1800GMT) in the morning before they were hauled off because their balls were being blown about by the gusting winds.When he and the others were finally given the green light to get back into action at 6:00 p.m., the American parred 16 and 17 before sinking a four-footer at the last for a round of 69 and the outright lead at 10 under.He will take a one shot advantage into Sundays third round, with Englishman Danny Willett, who concluded his round over 24 hours earlier, solo in second.This morning when we started, it was almost impossible, but managed to hang in there, and then when we just went out and restarted, it was very tough, but managed to make some good pars and then birdie the last hole. So it was a good way to finish the day, he said.Top Scot Paul Lawrie, the 1999 Open champion, gave the home fans who had waited patiently all day something to relish when he completed a second round of 70 to stand alone in third at eight under. Tied on seven under at the start of the day were another Scot, Marc Warren, Australian Adam Scott and Americans Robert Streb and 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson.They were joined on that mark on Saturday evening by 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa, who had a 70, and Australian shotmaker Jason Day with a 71.Dustin Johnsons playing partner Jordan Spieth, on a mission to become just the second man, after Ben Hogan in 1953, to win the British Open in the same year as the Masters and US Open, took a bogey at the tough 17th Road Hole, but birdied the last to stay at five under.It was definitely challenging on that 16th and 17th hole, but 18 with this wind the way it was and a little heavier wind, I was able to smooth a drive out there and hit it on the middle of the green, he said.Tiger Woods, meanwhile, missed the cut in back-to-back majors for the first time in his career after a 75 left him well over the cut mark and near the bottom of the 156-strong field.Also missing the cut were Bubba Watson and Ian Poulter.The tournament, the years third major, had already been badly hit by a rain-storm on Friday morning that caused a delay of over three hours and Saturdays additional long wait for the players meant that a Sunday finish became impossible to envisage.The intention is to complete the second round today with round three to be played on Sunday and the final round to be played on Monday, The R&A said in a statement.The only other time there has been a Monday finish in 143 previous British Opens was in 1988 when Seve Ballesteros won the last of his three crowns at Royal Lytham.It was a momentous decision by golfs ruling body, which has organised the Open Championship since 1860, but it became increasingly inevitable as the day wore on and the winds coming in off the North Sea refused to abate until well into the evening.

Golf: Woeful Woods misses cut at Open

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ST ANDREWS (AFP) - Tiger Woods missed back-to-back cuts at major tournaments for the first time in his career at the British Open on Saturday, but vowed to keep plugging away at his game.In the latest blow to his flagging fortunes, the games former dominant force, mired in the worst slump of his pro career, carded a 75 in a weather-hit second round that spread over two days.That, combined with the 76 he shot on Thursday, saw him miss the cut by a wide margin, but he at least did manage to play at the weekend due to the rain delay.On Saturday it was gusting winds that held up his departure for home, having finished on Friday evening with six holes to play.The players finally got back out again in the evening and Woods needed a near-miracle to improve from the dire situation he found himself in at five over par for the tournament.He never looked like pulling that off as he took bogeys at 14 and 15 to slip futher back.Woods waved weakly to the crowd as he trudged off the 18th green in front of the iconic St Andrews club house that witnessed two of his greatest triumphs in 2000 and 2005.Well, I think I only made three birdies in two days. Thats not very good. The golf course wasnt playing that hard. I just didnt get much out of any of the two rounds, he said.You know, its kind of funny because I hit the ball solid. Its just that it wasnt getting through the wind.I dont know what was causing that, and its something that were going to have to take a look at.The former world number one missed the cut at last months US Open at Chambers Bay near Seattle after rounds of 80 and 76.He tied for 17th in the Masters in April, but also missed the cut in the final major of last year, the PGA Championship.His last and only missed cut in 19 previous British Opens came at Turnberry in 2009.He won the tournament three times - in 2000, 2005 and 2006, part of his haul of 14 major titles, the second best of all-time behind the 18 of Jack Nicklaus.Coming into St Andrews, Woods said he still felt he could close in on the all-time majors record of 18 held by Jack Nicklaus.But his last win in a Grand Slam event came over seven years ago at the US Open. His last win in a British Open was at Hoylake at 2006.Injuries and changes to his swing pattern have dominated his game for the last two years reaching a nadir this year when he clocked up an 85 at The Memorial, his worst ever score on the PGA Tour.His tie for 17th at the Masters gave him some respite, but the two missed cuts at the Opens are a huge blow which will raise even more question marks over whether, five months shy of his 40th birthday, he is a spent force.There remains the final major of the season, the PGA Championsip at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin next month, for him to salvage something from the wreckage of a year, which also saw him split up in May with longtime girlfriend, champion skier Lindsey Vonn.Asked what his next step would be as he seeks to get revive his fortunes, Woods replied: Keep going. Keep going forward.I play in a couple weeks in (Washington) D.C., so looking forward to playing the Quicken Loans, and hopefully win that event so I can get into a place that I know very well.

Boxing: Cuenca beats Yang to win IBF world title

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MACAU (AFP) - Argentinas Cesar Cuenca moved a step closer to boxing history by beating Chinas IK Yang Lian Hui on points to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior welterweight title in Macau on Saturday.The undefeated Cuenca improved his professional record to 48 wins (2 KOs), just one short of Rocky Marcianos all-time 49-0 record as he won his first world title on his debut outside his home country.He dominated from the start in a pulsating bout, knocking the unorthodox Yang (18-1, 13 KOs) backwards in the first round, which was controversially ruled a knockdown by inexperienced Filipino referee Danrex Tapdasan.But from then on he largely outboxed the man from Dalian despite the Argentine being knocked down himself by a Yang right-hand in the fifth as the Chinese tried to chase down the elusive Cuenca.A furious final-round flurry from brawler Yang proved too little too late, especially when the Chinese boxer was dubiously deducted a point by Tapdasan for intentionally throwing his polished opponent to the floor in a clinch in which it appeared both fighters were at fault.The three judges awarded Cuenca the bout unanimously in his first ever appearance outside Argentina.They scored it 117-108, 115-110 and 116-109 in Cuencas favour, meaning the referees interventions which cost Yang at least two points probably did not affect the outcome.But veteran promoter Bob Arum was scathing in his condemnation of Tapdasan, telling AFP afterwards: That referee ruined the fight.It was one of the worst jobs of refereeing that Ive ever seen, said the 83-year-old Arum, who has been in the fight game for more than half a century.It was just horrible. The first knockdown wasnt a knockdown. He was off balance and he didnt go down. He kept to his feet. It shouldnt have been called a knockdown. The point he deducted at the end was ludicrous. If it should have been deducted from anybody it should have been the other guy.Cuencas corner were vocal throughout the fight, complaining to officials at the end of every round about Yangs tactics and Arum felt the constant badgering had got to the inexperienced referee.He let himself be intimidated by the Argentine corner. I really have to question appointing somebody like that who has never refereed anything more than a six-round fight.A delighted Cuenca revelled in his victory and said he would enjoy the moment before thinking about any boxing records.I think it was my experience that counted, a delighted Cuenca said.We worked so hard to prepare for this fight and he hurt me with some punches, but I was able to be a bit smarter than him.Yangs trainer Justin Fortune was frustrated and said his man had not thrown enough combinations to score heavily enough against a nimble opponent with 13 years of professional experience.He was just throwing one shot at time, and it was never going to be enough, said Fortune.Arum said his Top Rank organisation would continue to promote the sport in Macau and China and keep up their quest to produce a Chinese professional world champion, despite the crushing double disappointment of seeing flyweight double Olympic champion Zou Shiming and now Yang lose world title fights already this year in Macau.With Yang well go back to the drawing board, said Arum. I think hes very talented and hell work his way back up.

Cycling: Cummings wins Tour de France 14th stage

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MENDE (AFP) - Stephen Cummings celebrated Nelson Mandela Day in style for his South African team MTN-Qhubeka by taking a historic first Tour de France stage victory on Saturday.Qhubeka became the first ever African team to take part in the Tour this year and Briton Cummings gave them a historic victory on the 178.5km 14th stage from Rodez to Mende -- and that on the international day to honour Mandela.And on a day in which Britains Davis Cup tennis team took a 2-1 lead over France, Briton Cummings stole a march on a pair of Frenchmen to win the stage as compatriot Chris Froome retained the overall leaders yellow jersey.The stage victory looked to have come down to a battle between Frenchmen as Romain Bardet attacked on the brutal final climb -- 3km long at an average 10.1 percent gradient -- ahead of the finish.Thibaut Pinot emerged from the remainder of a 20-man breakaway group to chase down his countryman but once he caught Bardet, the two started playing cat-and-mouse in the final kilometre.Cummings arrived like a freight train and blasted straight past the Frenchmen before taking off for the line.The Frenchman hesitated a second too long before deciding to chase and Cummings won by 2sec from Pinot, with Bardet another second further back.Five minutes further down the climb, the peloton and overall favourites arrived, where hostilities were launched by Nairo Quintana.Twice he accelerated clear with first reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali chasing him down.However, the second time only Froome could match the Colombians pace and the Britain even snatched a second off Quintana in the sprint to the line.The Colombian did at least move up to second overall at 3min 10sec as Tejay Van Garderen had been dropped further down the climb and lost 40sec to sit third at 3min 32sec.Spaniards Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde, as well as Nibali, all lost time to the lead pair as well.Valverde is fourth at 4min 02sec with Contador up a place to fifth at 4min 23sec and Nibali also up a place to eighth at 8min 17sec.

French F1 driver Jules Bianchi dies, nine months after crash

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PARIS (AFP) - French Formula One driver Jules Bianchi died Friday night from head injuries he suffered in a crash at last seasons Japanese Grand Prix, after spending nine months in a coma.Bianchi, 25, had been fighting for his life under controlled medical conditions in the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire hospital in his home city of Nice, southern France.He is the first Formula One driver to die from a racing accident since triple world champion Aryton Senna lost his life in San Marino in 1994.Jules fought right to the very end, as he always did, but today his battle came to an end, the Bianchi family said in a statement posted on Facebook in the early hours of Saturday.The pain we feel is immense and indescribable.French President Francois Hollande paid tribute to the gifted Marussia driver.French motorsport has lost one of its greatest hopes, Hollande commented in a statement.Formula One supremo and the sports chief executive Bernie Ecclestone stated: It was so sad to hear the news about Jules.We are now going to miss a very talented driver and a really nice person. We must not let this ever happen again.Bianchi joined Marussia in 2013 and competed in 34 grands prix, notching two world championship points -- still the teams best score. John Booth, team principal of Marussia, now called Manor F1, said: Words cannot describe the enormous sadness within our team this morning, as we come to terms with losing Jules.He has left an indelible mark on all our lives, and will forever be part of everything we have achieved, and everything we will strive for going forward.Bianchi suffered a traumatic brain injury when his car careered off the rain-drenched Suzuka circuit during the Japanese Grand Prix on October 5 and smashed into a recovery truck at around 200 kilometres (125 miles) an hour.Bianchis death ended a promising career that he hoped would see him join the elite ranks of Ferrari, something the young driver said he felt ready to do three days before the race in Japan.Hopes for his recovery had been fading and on Monday, his father Philippe said he was less optimistic that Jules would make a full recovery after spending nine months in hospital with no signs of significant progress.Bianchis crash, which came as Formula One legend Michael Schumacher was battling back from a horrific ski accident, added to anxiety surrounding the high-octane motor racing circus.While yellow warning flags were up, racing was still intense when Bianchi spun off and experts said the wet track, his tyres and his speed could all have been to blame for the accident.Questions have also been raised about whether the marshals should have halted the race after Adrian Sutils Sauber came off the track on the previous lap.Bianchis accident led to new safety measures to ensure drivers slowed down for on-track incidents, including the implementation of a virtual safety car.Born in Nice in 1989 to Italian parents, Bianchi had racing in his genes. His grandfather Mauro had been a well known Formula Three and endurance driver in the 1960s.His father Philippe for years managed a karting track near the Paul Ricard circuit near Marseille, in southern France, where Jules made his debut as a race car driver.But his death also recalled another tragic piece of family history: his grand-uncle Lucien, who competed in 17 grands prix, was also killed in a crash while racing in 1969 at the age of 34.The Bianchi family in their Saturday statement thanked everyone who has demonstrated their affection for him over these past months, which gave us great strength and helped us deal with such difficult times and asked for privacy.Bianchi is the fourth leading French sports figure to perish in 2015, following the deaths of sailor Florence Arthaud, boxer Alexis Vastine and Olympic swimming champion Camille Muffat.

Greek banks to reopen as revamped cabinet gets to work

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ATHENS (AFP) - Greece said Saturday its banks will reopen after a three-week shutdown, as a revamped government took up the task of enacting unpopular fiscal reforms amid doubts over the viability of the countrys planned bailout.Scenes of desperate Greeks queueing for hours at ATMs in the sweltering heat looked set to end on Monday when the banks will again open their doors, the government announced after receiving a crucial short-term loan from the EU.But capital controls remain in place, including a block on capital transfers abroad which has hit businesses hard.Fresh-faced cabinet members were sworn in Saturday, after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras reshuffled to fill the vacancies left by rebellious ministers who were axed for voting against the reforms demanded by international creditors.Tsipras faced down a mutiny from his party in parliament last week, with over 30 of his 149 Syriza lawmakers refusing to approve the package of tax hikes, pension reform and privatisations demanded by lenders.The leftist premier had to move fast to get his house in order. Greece must approve a second batch of banking and justice-related reforms on Wednesday to qualify for the three-year bailout of up to 86 billion euros ($94 billion).The 40-year-old decided not to replace the cabinet rebels with technocrats, sticking instead with members of his own coalition, including a TV soap opera comedian as junior labour minister -- a decision which raised some eyebrows.Despite signing up to the agreement with creditors, Tsipras and other members of his government have publicly admitted they do not believe the draconian austerity reforms will benefit the debt-laden country with its soaring unemployment rate.Tsiprass outspoken former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has cast doubt on the governments ability to enforce the unpopular reforms, telling the BBC that the programme is going to fail whoever undertakes its implementation.European leaders have said they expect negotiations on the countrys third bailout since 2010 to be fraught and take weeks to hammer out.In a hint of how difficult they may be, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said in an interview Saturday that he was prepared to resign rather than go against his convictions in negotiations on the Greek debt crisis.Some German officials have suggested it might be better for Greece to take a five-year time-out from the euro.And the International Monetary Fund has left a question mark over its participation in another rescue package, saying it will not join unless there is dramatic debt relief to make the countrys finances more sustainable.The three-week shutdown of Greek banks has cost the countrys struggling economy some 3.0 billion euros ($3.3 billion), the Kathimerini daily said Saturday citing commerce groups.The figure did not take into account lost tourism revenue following cancellations from foreign holidaymakers worried about being trapped on the countrys idyllic islands with empty bank cash machines.A limit on ATM withdraws will remain at 60 euros a day, but from Monday Greeks will be able to withdraw their weekly quota all at once, thanks to a new cumulative weekly withdrawal limit of 420 euros ($458).The banks were closed on June 29 to stop people spooked by a possible Grexit -- Greece exiting the eurozone -- from emptying their accounts or moving their money to safehavens abroad.
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