Sunday 5 July 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Plenty at stake for Ashes captains

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LONDON (AFP) - Rival skippers Alastair Cook and Michael Clarke both have particular reasons for wanting to win the upcoming Ashes series that begins with the first Test in Cardiff starting on Wednesday.For England skipper Cook, an Ashes series win would be the ideal reward for several difficult years which included a 5-0 whitewash reversal Down Under in 2013/14, the fall-out from the international exile of Kevin Pietersen and a personal loss of form.Meanwhile an Ashes series win in England is one of the few outstanding achievements left for Clarke to fulfil in the course of a brilliant career, with the star batsmans three previous Test series in Britain ending in defeat.Clarke has a reputation for being a bolder and more aggressive leader in the field than Cook and Australia great Shane Warne, himself a renowned cricket tactician, said he always detected the makings of a future skipper in his compatriot when they played together at English county side Hampshire in 2004.We stood alongside each other in the slips and chatted all day about captaincy, Warne told the Sunday Times.He showed a great cricket brain for one with so little big-match experience under his belt.Clarke, however, has not always had the support of his players as was shown by the fall-out from the homework-gate affair in India, although there appears to be far greater harmony within the Australia camp since Darren Lehmann replaced Mickey Arthur as coach on the eve of the 2013 Ashes in England.Cook, by contrast, has been a less divisive figure within his own side and even the exiled Pietersen, in the midst of his controversial autobiography, said his criticisms of Cook were not personal.This Ashes campaign will be Cooks first as Test skipper since the appointment of Australian Trevor Bayliss as England coach.Bayliss has said England must fight fire with fire if they are to regain the Ashes from Australia.This has led to speculation that Cook may find it difficult to work on a tactical level with Bayliss.Im not sure if thats exactly in Alastair Cooks DNA to be really able to put a game on the line, said Australia all-rounder Shane Watson.Cook has shown a return to form this year with a hundred against the West Indies in the Caribbean and a fine century against New Zealand at Lords.This has been heartening for England, as so much of Cooks leadership style is based upon his own run-scoring.Often differences in captaincy style are simply a reflection of the resources available to a skipper and Clarke, certainly in respect of fast bowlers, has had the stronger hand in recent years.But the fact that Clarke eventually set a defensive field when off-spinner Nathan Lyon came under fire during Australias final warm-up match against Essex, was a reminder that even the most innovative captaincy strategies have their limits.As late Australia great Richie Benaud, one of Test crickets most celebrated skippers, once famously observed: Captaincy is 90 percent luck and 10 percent skill, but dont try it without the 10 percent.

Tennis: Big four star on 'manic Monday'

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LONDON (AFP) - Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray remain on course for the Wimbledon semi-finals ahead of manic Monday when the last-16 takes place.Six of the top 10 seeds are safely into the business end of the tournament after a first week which saw seventh seed Milos Raonic and 10th-seeded Rafael Nadal defeated on court.Fifth seed Kei Nishikori withdrew before the second round with a calf injury while eighth-seeded David Ferrer pulled out before the first round.Defending Djokovic will face South African 14th seed Kevin Anderson in the fourth round, defending a 4-1 career lead.Anderson won their first meeting in 2008 but since then its been the world number one who has been on top winning the next four without dropping a set, including a straight sets win at Wimbledon in the second round four years ago.I think he is probably playing the tennis of his life, said Djokovic who hasnt dropped a set so far at the tournament so far and also captured the 2011 title.Hes reached the highest ranking now in his career. He keeps on going forward.It will be a match of very small margins that will be decided by a few points. So I need to be able to get as many returns back in play.Federer, 33, chasing a record eighth Wimbledon and 18th major, has dropped just one set so far, in his third round win over Sam Groth.The Swiss, playing his 17th successive Wimbledon, faces Spanish 20th seed Roberto Bautista Agut who was voted the most improved player of 2014. He is in the fourth round for the first time.However, he has lost both of his matches against Federer without winning a set including a fourth round loss to the Swiss at the 2014 US Open.Murray, the 2013 champion tackles 36-year-old Ivo Karlovic, the oldest man to make the fourth round at the All England Club since compatriot Niki Pilic in 1976.The 23rd seed is also the oldest to reach the last-16 of any of the four Grand Slams since 39-year-old Jimmy Connors at the 1991 US Open.Its a great feeling. I really like what I do. Im just having fun. So if Im able to do this at my age, it is unbelievable still, said Karlovic who has rained down 136 aces in three matches.Murray needed treatment on his right shoulder in his four-set win over Andreas Seppi on Saturday but then reeled off the last six games of the match.He will takes a 5-0 career lead into Mondays clash with Karlovic.It will be a very different match from Seppi. Ivo is going to be coming to the net a lot, said Murray.Hes served very well, so the returns will have to be on if I want to get through that one.Fourth seed and French Open champion Wawrinka faces Belgian 16th seed David Goffin who has made the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time, equalling his previous best at a major when he came out of qualifying to reach the French Open last 16 in 2012.Wawrinka has a 2-0 lead over Goffin with both wins coming on the hard courts of Chennai in 2011 and 2015.American wildcard Denis Kudla is the lowest ranked player left in the tournament.The world number 105 was winning a second-tier Challenger tournament at Ilkley in Yorkshire, northern England on the eve of Wimbledon.Kudla is also the lone American standing but faces a stiff test against US Open champion Marin Cilic if he is to get to the quarter-finals.The other last 16 matches feature Australias Nick Kyrgios, who knocked out Nadal in the fourth round last year on his way to a maiden quarter-final, up against Frances 2007 semi-finalist Richard Gasquet.Vasek Pospisil, the world number 56, is only the fourth Canadian man to reach the last 16 and he faces Serbias 22nd seed Viktor Troicki.Troicki has reached the fourth round of a Slam for the first time since returning from a one-year doping ban in July 2014.Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych, the 2010 runner-up, takes on Gilles Simon, the French 12th seed who saw off compatriot Gael Monfils on Saturday in a match which began on Court One but was played to a conclusion under the lights of the Centre Court roof as darkness fell.

Tennis: Williams sisters clash, Sharapova, Wozniacki sitting pretty

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LONDON (AFP) - Tennis titans Serena and Venus Williams clash in the Wimbledon last 16 on Monday, while Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki will fancy their title chances as two of the four top 10 players still standing.The 26th clash between the Williams sisters, who have won the Wimbledon title five times each over the last 15 years, will be the first at the All England Club since the 2009 final.And with either world number one Serena or 16th-seeded Venus certain to fall, the second week at Wimbledon is looking appetising for the other silverware contenders in southwest London.Serena, Sharapova, Wozniacki and Lucie Safarova are the only top 10 seeds remaining in the draw after defending champion Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, Ana Ivanovic, Ekaterina Makarova, Carla Suarez Navarro and Angelique Kerber all failed to get past the first week.While one of the Williams sisters could face Sharapova or Safarova in the semi-finals -- both face unseeded opposition on Monday -- Wozniacki cannot meet any of them before the final and only has lower-ranked players in her way.Venus said she and her 33-year-old sister knew each others game inside out.Theres no easy points against Serena, the 35-year-old said.Competing with each other has nothing to do with whether were close or not.Just knowing what the other one goes through. If I see her in a match in a tight spot, I know exactly what that feels like. I think thats a unique relationship, that is pretty rare in sport, that she and I share.Serena holds the US, Australian and French Open titles but reckons Venus is in better form.It will be a really good match. Im practicing next to her every day and Im in awe of how shes doing, she said.Fourth seed Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion, faces Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan for a spot in the quarter-finals.The Russian won Wimbledon in 2004 but since has only made it past the fourth round once since 2006.Ill definitely go out there and try to change that result around, the worlds highest-earning sportswoman said.Danish fifth seed Wozniacki is the biggest name remaining in her half of the draw and the former world number one faces Spanish 20th seed Garbine Muguruza in the fourth round.With the mens and womens last 16 all taking place Monday, Wozniacki, chasing a maiden Grand Slam title, is looking forward to a bumper day of tennis.Its unique because you get the top players playing tough matches, she said.For sure, some of them are going to be on outside courts. Also people who come here and watch it live will have a field day. Its going to be great.The dearth of remaining top 10 players means sixth seed Lucie Safarova, who ghosted through the first week, is now also looking like a serious contender.Last months French Open runner-up, the Czech reached the Wimbledon semi-finals last year and faces Coco Vandeweghe, the US world number 47.Another former world number one, Jelena Jankovic, is hungry for more after knocking out Kvitova.I want to get to where I think I belong, the Serbian 28th seed said.She faces Agnieszka Radwanska, the 2012 beaten Wimbledon finalist.Right now, tennis is very on a high level. Every match is really tight, said the Polish 13th seed.Victoria Azarenka, the 2012 and 2013 Australian Open champion, has made the Wimbledon semi-finals twice but the Belarusian 24th seed could face a rough ride against in-form Belinda Bencic.Bencic, the 2013 girls champion, reckons she is still so long away from winning a Grand Slam, but the Swiss is on a career-high ranking of 22 after winning the Wimbledon warm-up tournament at Eastbourne.Fellow Swiss Timea Bacsinszky reached her first Grand Slam semi-final at the French Open last month and the 15th seed is favourite to beat world number 48 Monica Niculescu of Romania.Olga Govortsova is the only qualifier to reach the last 16. The Belarusian faces US 21st seed Madison Keys.

Tennis: Tomic dumped from Davis Cup squad after rant - reports

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SYDNEY (AFP) - Tennis Australia have reacted to Bernard Tomics extraordinary tirade at the organisation by dumping him from this months Davis Cup home quarter-final against Kazakhstan, reports said Sunday.Tomic was knocked out of Wimbledon by defending champion Novak Djokovic on Friday but most of his post-match news conference was consumed by a lengthy rant which accused Tennis Australia of penny-pinching and claimed he had been charged for practising on their courts.The 22-year-old also insulted former Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter, one of the countrys sports icons.Pat is a nice guy. If the Australian public dont know Pat, hes a good actor, hes well?spoken, always prepared and knows what to say, Tomic said at the media conference.Hes prepped by Tennis Australia to know what to say.Reports said Tomic was called into a meeting with Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley and president Stephen Healy at Wimbledon on Saturday.During that meeting Tomic was informed of his punishment for what Tennis Australia described as disparaging and disrespectful comments.His behaviour was unacceptable, Healy told reporters after the meeting, Fairfax Media and other Australian outlets said.Playing for our country is an absolute privilege, and with that privilege comes an obligation to behave appropriately. He didnt.The allegations are misinformed and untrue and he publicly derided some outstanding people.We are trying to build a strong culture underpinned by a philosophy of opportunity, not entitlement. This behaviour is just not on.Tomic also complained about a lack of financial support from Tennis Australia, but his latest antics may have cost him any chance of future funding.Hes enjoyed great support from the organisation from the age of 11-12, Tiley told reporters.The organisation, through its support and funding, really helped him get to where he is today.He himself has got himself there but we, as an organisation, have been a really key partner in all of that.Its a simple decision off the back of the comments Bernie made last night... It will really be up to Bernard.If he chooses one path that is destructive, thatll be unfortunate and its not going to benefit him. If he chooses another path of taking it on the chin and accept what hes done is in error and not acceptable, we can move on.Australia play Kazakhstan in Darwin beginning on July 17.

Golf: Woods goes bogey free for first time since 2013

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WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS (AFP) - Tiger Woods fired his first bogey free round since 2013 on Sunday, closing with a three-under par 67 in the final round of The Greenbrier Classic.The former world number one snapped a string of 55 straight rounds with a bogey or worse -- a stretch dating back to his last bogey free round at The Barclays in August of 2013.That is the best I have hit in a very long time, said Woods, who has plunged to 220th in the world. I had full control over all of my clubs.I hit it great. I had shapes both ways right and left drive. I had it all on call today, added Woods, who will next tee it up in the British Open at St. Andrews.Woods rolled in three birdies and had 15 pars Sunday to finish the tournament at seven-under 273.Woods, who entered the final round seven shots back of the leaders, said if his putting was better he would have been in contention for a title.If I had just made a couple of putts this week it could have been completely different, he said.Woods said the turning point in his game wasnt this week but at The Memorial last month where he closed with rounds of 85 and 74 on the weekend after shooting 70-73 in the first two rounds.Woods followed that up by missing the cut at the US Open with rounds of 80 and 76.But the 14-time major champion said the way he played this week proves he is making progress with the swing changes he is trying to implement.I made a big giant step at The Memorial, Woods said. Even though I shot those numbers the pattern was set. I just had to refine it. This week I definitely did that. It is a completely different motion. It is not a short term fix. People are looking for the one quick fix and very next day go out and play great golf. It doesnt work that way.Woods said he has tried to ignore what his critics say, especially on social media.I dont go on line. I stay away from that, Woods said. Social media has certainly changed the world the way we know it. I understand everyone has an opinion. It has changed the landscape for all athletes.I remember talking to (Wayne) Gretzky one time. He grew up in an era when he first played hockey and was winning the Cups, there was no 24 hour news cycle. And now here we are with instant news with the click of a button.That has changed the landscape again.

Golf: Wiesberger wins French Open

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VERSAILLES (AFP) - Bernd Wiesberger won the biggest title of his career at the French Open on Sunday, producing a mid-round birdie barrage that blew apart a top-class field.The 29-year-old Austrian started the last 18 at Le Golf National alone in third, three shots adrift of leader Jaco van Zyl.A quiet start by him was followed by an hours suspension of play due to thunderstorm activity and when Wiesberger resumed, sparks began to fly.Five birdies in six holes from the fourth propelled him into a four-hole lead over the field going around the turn and he never looked like being caught after that.He punched the air in triumph when a 15-foot birdie putt went in at the last to give him a 13-under total of 271, three strokes clear of Englands James Morrison, who took second after a 67.It was the third European Tour title of his career, the two others both coming in 2012, and it sets him up nicely for a crack at the British Open in St Andrews in two weeks time.Two shots further back in third came South African van Zyl, who had taken a two-stroke lead into the final round but could only manage a 73.Former world number one Martin Kaymer of Germany placed fourth after a 70 left him six shots adrift of Wiesberger, with Spains Rafa Cabrera-Bello in fifth two further shots back.Wiesbergers win came as no huge surprise to many on the circuit as he has been one of the most consistent performers on the European Tour over the last year and had four top-five finishes this season to his name.He played in the Masters earlier this year and tied for 22nd, but failed to make the cut at last months US Open.Well, I just hit a great shot down the fourth before the (thunderstorm suspension) horns were blowing and they took us off the course, he said.I liked my yardage and had a good shot in there and had some momentum building, chipped in, held a long putt.I felt really comfortable out there. Had a great weekend, only one bogey, 66, 65, thats not a bad score.Morrison, who won the Spanish Open earlier this year, said that all credit was due to Wiesberger for not allowing any of the chasing pack to really challenge him down the closing stretch.Bernd played too perfect today. He won the golf tournament today, simple as that. He played fantastic, he said.Kaymer, the 2009 French Open champion, got to within three shots of Wiesberger going down the back nine, but he left himself with too much to do over the tough four-hole closing stretch and ended with a double-bogey six.My plan was really not to play (the tournament) at the beginning because I thought I needed to practise a little bit more to get ready for The Open, but that was the best preparation I could have had, especially playing in the last few groups today, the two-time major winner said.It was a disappointing day for Victor Dubuisson, seeking to become the first home winner of the French Open since Thomas Levet in 2011.Starting the day level with Kaymer at four shots off the pace, he had stressed the need for a strong start, but got just the opposite by dropping a shot at the first and then taking a triple-bogey seven at the seventh which ended his hopes.He eventually had a 75 to place in a tie for 12th.

Formula One: Hamilton extends lead with impressive British win

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SILVERSTONE (AFP) - Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton won his second successive British Grand Prix on Sunday to extend his lead in the championship standings over Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.Hamilton -- the first British driver since David Coulthard in 1999/2000 to post successive wins in the race -- came home 10 seconds clear of Rosberg in yet another Mercedes 1-2, with Ferraris Sebastian Vettel in third.Hamilton -- whose victory was watched by 140,000 people the largest attendance since 1992 -- took his points tally to 194 and a lead of 17 over Rosberg, who had narrowed the gap to 10 prior to this weekend.Recovering after losing his pole position advantage at the start, Hamilton stormed back into contention and regained the lead with a superbly-executed pit-stop to win by 10.956 seconds.It was his third win in his home race, his fifth win this year and the 38th win of his career.Four-time champion Vettel took full advantage of the changing conditions with an equally well-timed stop to switch to intermediate tyres during the showers to finish third.Thank you everyone for coming out today and making my weekend, said Hamilton, praising the fans.I really wanted to do it for you guys. I am so thankful for all the support. I could see all the fans on every lap in the corner of my eye and they spurred me on.My clutch was good this time But we had quite poor grip at the start -- the same for Nico, but it made the race more exciting. I just kept pushing and, for the first time in my career, I made the perfect choice tyre-wiseHow do I feel? I am so elated you cannot imagine. I felt tears on the last lap, I was just hoping I could do it for all the guys. Thanks for all the support. Now lets party...Rosberg accepted his defeat gracefully.I was pushing hard to try and catch Lewis under difficult conditions, he said.But he made the better call and that is where I lost it. Fair play to him.Vettel admitted the typically English weather conditions had played in his favour.Without the rain, we would not be on the podium. We kept our head down and were patient enough until the rain poured down, said Vettel.That is England for you We made the right choices and the team did a great job.Brazilian Felipe Massa, who had led from the start until lap 20, ended up finishing fourth ahead of his Williams team-mate Finn Valtteri Bottas.The race was punctuated by a Safety Car on the opening lap after a multiple collision that removed both Lotus cars and Fernando Alonsos luckless team-mate Briton Jenson Button.The grid was busy with British royalty and celebrities, including three of former pop sensations The Spice Girls -- one of whom Geri Halliwell is married to Red Bull boss Christian Horner -- before the start.When the lights went out, Massa made an astonishing start from third, his Williams streaking between the two Mercedes men to take the lead. Bottas followed, but Hamilton resisted and, after a scrap through the opening corners, the champion regained second.Behind them, on a tumultuous opening lap, a multiple crash at the Village loop corner saw the two Lotuses collide and the two McLaren Hondas do the same.Of the four, only Alonso survived and, following a lengthy pit stop, he re-joined the fray and eventually finished 10th.There was nothing Fernando could do, he didnt drive into me, said Button.He was taking avoiding action.Hamilton assumed control when the three drivers ahead of him pitted, after laps 20 and 21.The Englishman swiftly opened up a four seconds lead ahead of Massa and took control while Australian Daniel Ricciardo, a frustrated figure this year, completed a miserable weekend by retiring his Red Bull.Hamiltons move meant, too, that he was leading for an 18th race in succession, breaking a 45-year-old record previously held by Jackie Stewart.In masterly fashion, he drew clear by six seconds by lap 34 and was rarely under pressure after that.

Cycling: Greipel wins stage as Nibali and Quintana lose time

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ZEELAND (AFP) - Andre Greipel won the second stage of the Tour de France on Sunday as reigning champion Vincenzo Nibali and fellow favourite Nairo Quintana lost time.Greipel edged out Peter Sagan by a fraction of a wheel length at the end of the 166km stage from Utrecht to Zeeland in the Netherlands.Fabian Cancellara took third, and four bonus seconds, inches ahead of Mark Cavendish to snare the yellow jersey off Australias Rohan Dennis.Im really happy because thats 29 days now in this jersey, its nice, said Cancellara, whos won eight Tour stages in his career.The high numbers (many days in yellow) are special but also being back in the jersey after 11 years (racing the Tour). I said before the start this is my last Tour.Reaching yellow, everything to come now is a bonus.Tony Martin, who started the day in second, one place and one second ahead of Cancellara, could only finish ninth and now trails the Swiss Trek rider by three seconds, with Tom Dumoulin third overall at 6sec.I think Mark Renshaw (Cavendishs lead-out man) went a bit too early so Cavendish too was forced to launch his sprint early, said Greipel, who won his 10th Tour stage and got the green points jersey.But he also won many stages this way because he can hold his speed for a long time.I was able to stay on his wheel and time the sprint the right way.Its the first time Im wearing the green jersey in the Tour de France and I will enjoy it.But it was crashes and crosswinds in driving rain that made the real difference as Chris Froome, the 2013 champion, and twice winner Alberto Contador put significant time into Nibali and Quintana.After a four-man breakaway of Czech Jan Barta, Stef Clement of the Netherlands and Frenchmen Perrig Quemeneur and Armindo Fonseca was reeled in within the first 100km, the next 10km saw the main drama take place.Already 60km into the race the crosswinds created the first split in the peloton, with former world champion Rui Costa of Portugal and former Vuelta a Espana winner Alejandro Valverde caught out.They got back up to the front group but crashes, a searing pace and the inclement weather from 60km to 50km to go saw first Quintana and then Nibali also left behind.I was held up by Alan Hansens crash. I was a hairs breath away from the lead group but we were disorganised and we didnt manage to close the gap immediately, moaned Nibali.Thats cycling, you have to accept the bad days. Theres still a long way to go in the Tour.Quintanas group quickly lost a minute while Nibali was caught in no-mans land in a small group that, while just 20sec off the front peloton, didnt have enough manpower to close the gap.At the front Etixx-Quick Step were driving the peloton in the hope of setting up Mark Cavendish for a 26th Tour stage win.With around 35km left and clearing skies, Nibalis group was caught by Quintanas and then their Astana and Movistar teams, along with some help from French hope Thibaut Pinots FDJ teammates, led the chase.Dennis was caught in this group and with his BMC team leader Tejay Van Garderen in the lead bunch, he could count on no help to close the gap.But up front there were riders pushing the pace with the stage win in mind while Froome and Contadors teammates helped out from time to time to ensure they profited most from the situation.Italian Nibalis nightmare day continued as he punctured 25km from home but the 30-year-old quickly fought his way back up to the chase group, with a little help from the slipstream of the team cars.It all left Froome in 10th overall, 48sec behind Cancellara and 12sec ahead of Contador in 14th.Nibali, who started the day 7sec up on Froome, is now 33rd 1min 21sec behind with 44th placed Quintana another 18sec further adrift.Pinot and Jean-Christophe Peraud, the other two podium finishers from last year, also lost time, along with another overall contender Romain Bardet.Mondays third stage takes the peloton 157km from Antwerp in Belgium to the brutal uphill finish at the Mur de Huy, where a few seconds could be gained.

Rallying: Ogier consolidates grip on drivers' title with Poland win

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MIKOLAJKI (AFP) - Sebastien Ogier extended his World Rally Championship title lead with his fifth win in seven rallies at the Rally of Poland on Sunday.The 31-year-old Frenchman led the seventh round of the series from Friday afternoon, holding off Volkswagen Polo R teammate Andreas Mikkelsen of Norway to win by 11.9sec after almost 300 kilometres of furious competition in very hot weather in north-east Poland.We have put together seven perfect rallies and, although its a bit early for predictions, I think I have taken a huge step towards a third title, said two-time defending champion Ogier.Ott Tanak prevented a Volkswagen podium clean sweep by claiming third in a Ford Fiesta RS, matching his career-best result and giving his manufacturer only their second podium finish of the campaign.Jari-Matti Latvala crashed in the final stage while attempting to catch the Estonian.It was Ogiers 29th career success and took him to 161 points in the drivers standings, the sole driver in triple digits. Mikkelsen is a distant second on 83 points, with six races of the season remaining.

Greece 'No' in referendum sends euro into tailspin

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ATHENS (AFP) - Greeces government on Sunday looked to have won a No it had been seeking in a referendum on bailout terms, but the euro immediately plummeted on fears the result could splinter the eurozone.An official tally of over half the ballots cast showed a resounding 61 percent of Greek voters had backed the governments No in the plebiscite. Senior eurozone officials were to hold talks on Monday to discuss the result, a European source told AFP.Frances President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were to meet in Paris the same day to assess the result, the French presidency said. Hollande also spoke with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras by telephone late Sunday.Merkels deputy chancellor, German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel, said Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had torn down bridges between his country and Europe with the vote.New negotiations on a bailout were now difficult to imagine, he told the Tagesspiegel newspaper.The euro crashed 1.6 percent in the wake of the referendum, to $1.0963, in electronic trading before Asian markets opened.Several EU leaders had said a No vote could see an end to further bailout negotiations, forcing Greece to leave the 19-nation eurozone -- and possibly even the European Union -- in a Grexit.But Athens insisted the result meant it was better placed now to demand its international creditors -- the European Commission, European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) -- drop harsh austerity demands and accept a restructuring of its debt.With this result, the prime minister has a clear mandate from the Greek people, government spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis said on television.Initiatives will intensify from this evening (Sunday) onward so that there can be a deal on a new bailout, he said. He added that the Bank of Greece was immediately asking the European Central Bank to inject emergency euro cash for Greeces depleted banks, which have been shuttered all week because of capital controls.Defence Minister Panos Kammenos, who also leads the junior coalition party in Prime Minister Alexis Tsiprass leftwing government, said in a tweet that the Greeks proved they dont bow to blackmail, to threats.A growing crowd of 6,000 gathered in central Athens late Sunday to celebrate the No vote. The scene was festive, with cheering and smiling Greeks shouting Oxi (No) and hugging each other.I believe in Tsipras and in this government, said George Stasinopoulos, 25. The governments in Europe dont support us but their people do and this gives us courage.He said he believed the result would secure a better future for me and my children.Tsipras, who had staked his political career on the outcome, had said as he cast his own ballot in Athens that no one can ignore the will of the people to live, to live with determination, to take its destiny into its own hands.However, in other streets in the capital, some voters who had cast No ballots said they had been confronted with an impossible choice.One of them, Nika Spenzes, 33 and unemployed, said: Im not happy -- we cannot be happy as a nation with this unemployment and poverty. And a No victory doesnt mean theres any more hope for Greece than before.Even Yes voters were ambivalent about their camps apparent defeat.Paris, a 41-year-old dentist who had voted Yes, said: I cannot honestly say Im sad if the Nos have won because theres no real hope either way.Greeces most pressing problem, was to ease capital controls Tsiprass government ordered to stem a bank run that had been rapidly draining bank deposits.The measure, implemented after his announcement a week ago that he had suspended bailout talks to hold the referendum, has limited ATM card holders to daily withdrawals of just 60 euros ($67) a day.Panic at that step, and at fears of Grexit, also prompted citizens to stock up on non-perishable food, medicine and imported goods, clearing out supermarket shelves.The Greek banks liquidity was expected to dry up entirely within a day or two unless the ECB -- a major creditor -- injected funds quickly through the Emergency Liquidity Assistance (ELA) mechanism.The Euro Working Group, which comprises top treasury officials who prepare meetings for the Eurogroup of finance ministers from the 19-country currency union, will hold a meeting Monday to discuss the referendum.Martin Schulz, the head of the European Parliament, though scathing of Tsiprass actions, told Germanys Welt am Sonntag newspaper that Europe could give short-term emergency loans to Greece so that public service can be maintained and needy people get the money they need to survive.Greece was officially declared in default on Friday by the European Financial Stability Facility, which holds 144.6 billion euros ($160 billion) of Greek loans, after Athens missed an IMF repayment.Tsipras has called for the ECB, IMF and European Commission forgive 30 percent of the 240 billion euros ($267 billion) they have loaned Greece over the past five years, and allow it a 20-year grace period before it starts repaying the rest.

MQM does not take any money from any country: Altaf Hussain

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KARACHI (Dunya News): Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Sunday said MQM does not take any money from any country, adding that their workers are being subjected to ‘state torture’ in the name of Karachi operation.Addressing women and elder workers of party at Lal Qila ground, MQM chief said that they are being accused of having a relation with and taking money from India. He said they are among those who made Pakistan and that they want to see Pakistan secure.MQM chief said that any leader who raised voice for rights of people was accused of treason. Quoting examples, he said Bacha Khan and Baloch leaders were termed ‘traitor’, and that Benazir Bhutto was labeled as security risk.He said MQM is being termed traitor the same way as other leaders of Sindh were in the past.Altaf Hussain said that Rangers’ accusation is absolutely wrong and ‘baseless’ that MQM’s organizational committee provides militant training to Unit and Sector.“They say Imran Khan’s sit-ins cost Rs 30 billion, if donations were amounted to a total of Rs 6 billion then where did the rest of Rs 24 billion come from?” he asked.Altaf Hussain said party officials’ lives are being made difficult and therefore the elders and women workers should step forward and take the charge.

World Hockey League: Australia beat Belgium 1-0 in title decider

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LAHORE (Web Desk) – World Champions Australia defeated Belgium 1-0 in the World Hockey League final on Sunday.Australia, who beat Great Britain very convincingly in the semi final of the league, was considered as favorites for the match as they had already scored 33 goals in the league.Despite losing the match, Belgium has secured their place in Olympics 2016.Earlier, Pakistan was defeated by France 2-1 for seventh position.National team seemed completely out of sorts throughout the four quarters of the game. Martin scored the first goal for France in the 13th minute while the second one was scored in the 30th minute by Hugo to ensure France’s victory.Tauseeq Ahmad scored the only goal for Pakistan but it certainly wasn’t enough. After this defeat, national team remained at 8th position in the tournament.

3 labourers gunned down in Pasni

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PASNI (Dunya News) – At least three labourers were gunned down by unknown militants on Sunday, Dunya News reported.The militants also yanked weapons from the officials of Balochistan Constabulary.According to details, the labourers were working on the main power transmission line near Zero Point when they were fired at by unknown militants who then ran away.The slain labourers were identified as Muhammad Zeeshan, Muhammad Ishfaq and Muhammad Azhar.The police and security forces surrounded the area and started a search operation soon after.

Indian aggression on Working Boundary, Rangers silence enemy guns

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SIALKOT: (Dunya News) – Indian aggression was once again countered on Sunday by Pakistan Rangers and the enemy guns were silenced in Charwah Sector near Sialkot Working Boundary. India, however, seems bent over continuing its policy of showing aggression with its actions despite portraying itself as an ambassador of peace as it opened unprovoked firing at Charwah Sector today, yet again violating the Working Boundary, reported Dunya News.Indian army violated the international laws and every level of morality by opening unprovoked firing on the Working Boundary on Sunday evening. Pakistan Rangers gave befitting response to silence the Indian guns on this occasion.This is not the first time India has violated the Working Boundary. Such incidents, in fact, have become a routine during the recent months. The same sector was attacked previously and the villagers living in the adjacent villages had to relocate as a result since innocent citizens had lost their lives to unprovoked Indian aggression.

Pakistan Sweet Homes' kids suffer from food poisoning, rushed to hospital

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ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) – Pakistan Sweet Homes’ kids on Sunday suffered from food poisoning and several of them had to be rushed to hospitals as substandard meal was served to them in breakfast. Pakistan Sweet Homes’ Patron-in-chief Zamarrud Khan said that laboratory tests of the meal will be conducted, reported Dunya News.Pakistan Sweet Homes’ kids had the breakfast on Sunday morning and most of them immediately started to feel unwell. They were rushed to PIMS, Polyclinic and Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi as the matters went worse. Kids told that they just had bread and milk in breakfast.Zamarrud Khan told that the kids are now feeling better. He said, however, that the food will not be served to the kids from here on before proper check.On the other hand, PIMS spokesperson Dr. Ayesha Esaani told that some of the kids will have to be admitted in the hospital.Sweet Homes administration said that they try their best to provide the finest quality of food to the children but extreme weather and humidity may have caused the children to suffer from food poisoning.
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