Tuesday 16 August 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Karachi: Two accused arrested after encounter

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Police have arrested at least two accused in injured condition after an encounter near Maskan Chorangi area of Mubina Town in Karachi on Tuesday, Dunya News reported.Police sources said that the accused, Javed and Babar, were looting the residents of the area. Police have also recovered stolen money, mobile phones and a motorcycle from them. Two of their accomplices managed to escape from the scene.On the other hand, some unidentified persons opened fire in Jamshaid Quarters area and injured a man named Arshad.

Rocket kills 7 civilians in Saudi as Yemen probe begins

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RIYADH (AFP) - Saudi Arabia suffered its worst civilian death toll Tuesday in cross-border shelling from Yemen as an anti-rebel coalition it leads launched an investigation into a deadly strike on a hospital.A rocket fired by rebels in Yemen killed seven civilians in Najran city in the highest reported number of non-combattant casualties in the kingdoms south since the Arab coalition intervened in Yemen 17 months ago.It killed four citizens and three residents, the civil defence spokesman in Najran city said of the rocket strike, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.The attack came after the coalition launched an investigation Tuesday following international condemnation of an air raid on Monday that Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said killed 14 people at a hospital it supports.Another 24 people were wounded in the strike that hit the hospital on Monday in Abs in the rebel-held northern province of Hajja, the Paris-based aid agency said.An MSF staffer was among the dead, it said.The hospital strike was the latest in a series of coalition raids that allegedly hit civilian facilities -- including a school on Saturday where 10 children were killed.The coalition began its bombing campaign in March last year after Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels seized large parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa.It stepped up air strikes this month after UN-mediated peace talks between the rebels and Yemens internationally backed government were suspended.The coalitions spokesman accused the Huthis of using the three months of negotiations to rearm.They were deceiving people by this negotiation, to re-organise their force, re-supplying their forces and getting back to fighting, Brigadier General Ahmed Assiri said.He said the coalition would do whatever it takes to restore security in Yemen.MSF said Mondays attack was the fourth on one of its facilities in less than a year.At the time of the strike, the hospital was full of patients recovering from surgery, in maternity, newborns and children in paediatrics, it said.MSF said the hospitals GPS coordinates were repeatedly shared with all parties to the conflict, including the Saudi-led coalition, and its location was well-known.Teresa Sancristoval of MSFs emergency unit in Yemen said: What we need to see is proof of intent and a commitment that there will be no more air strikes on medical facilities, staff, and patients.A US State Department spokeswoman said: Strikes on humanitarian facilities, including hospitals, are particularly concerning.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was deeply disturbed by the intensification of air raids in Yemen.Hospitals and medical personnel are explicitly protected under international humanitarian law and any attack directed against them, or against any civilian persons or infrastructure, is a serious violation of international humanitarian law, Ban said.Amnesty International said the bombardment appears to be the latest in a string of unlawful attacks targeting hospitals, highlighting an alarming pattern of disregard for civilian life.A Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT), composed of members of the coalition, said it has urgently launched an independent investigation into the strike and promised to announce its findings.The JIAT was set up following mounting criticism of the civilian death toll from the bombing campaign.Earlier this month, it acknowledged shortcomings in two of eight cases it investigated of strikes on civilian targets in Yemen.In one case, the team held the coalition responsible for hitting an MSF-run hospital but accused the rebels of having used the facility as a hideout.The team is also investigating Saturdays strikes in the rebels northern stronghold of Saada, which MSF said hit a school but the coalition claimed targeted a rebel training camp with child soldiers.A rebel council in Sanaa condemned the hospital strike and called on the UN to form an independent committee to investigate coalition crimes.Coalition strikes on Tuesday struck Abs, Saada and areas surrounding Sanaa, military sources and residents said.The coalition resumed raids on Sanaa on August 9, almost three days after the talks were suspended, with one strike reportedly hitting a food factory, killing 14 people.That forced the closure of Sanaa airport, but its director said three flights -- carrying World Food Programme (WFP) and Red Cross employees as well as humanitarian aid -- landed on Tuesday. The Sanaa-based civil aviation authority Tuesday said passenger flights to the airport remained suspended.The UN says more than 6,500 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since last March and more than 80 percent of the population needs humanitarian aid.

Palestinian killed in clashes with Israeli forces: ministry

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - A Palestinian teenager was shot dead on Tuesday during clashes with Israeli forces at a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said.Mohammed Abu Hashash, 17, died after he was shot in the chest during clashes with (Israeli forces) in the Fawwar camp, a statement from the Palestinian health ministry said.At least 25 Palestinians were wounded in the clashes, Red Crescent medics said earlier.The violence erupted when a large convoy of Israeli military vehicles entered the camp, near the flashpoint city of Hebron, witnesses said.The Israeli military did not confirm or deny casualties during the operation, which a spokeswoman said aimed to uncover weaponry in the camp.The army closed off the Fawwar camp for 26 days last month after a gunman fired on an Israeli car on a nearby road, causing a crash that killed the driver.A wave of violence since October has killed 220 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese, according to an AFP tally. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, Israeli authorities say.Some 10,000 people live in the Fawwar camp, established by the United Nations in 1949 a year after the creation of the state of Israel and the flight or expulsion of nearly 800,000 Palestinians.Like all refugee camps in the occupied territories, it is now a separate town with proper buildings and public services provided by UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.Fawwar is near the Jewish settlement of Beit Hagai and a military base, and the Israeli military has built a watchtower at the camps entrance.

Eight dead, 40,000 homes flooded in Louisiana

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BATON ROUGE (AFP) - The death toll from historic flooding in the US state of Louisiana went up to eight on Tuesday, as the expanding flood zone prompted authorities to declare disasters in a dozen parishes.While waters were receding in parts of southern Louisiana, other areas were seeing rising waters. The National Weather Service issued renewed flood warnings. Were seeing unprecedented flood levels as the waters move south, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said at a news conference. Officials said 40,000 homes have been impacted by the floods, and more than 8,000 people were in shelters. More than 20,000 have been rescued or evacuated, they said. A dozen parishes -- similar to counties in other states -- have now been declared emergency disaster areas, up from four on Monday.The designation frees up federal money to aid with rescue operations and emergency housing, among other things. Waters were receding in some northern and western areas of the flood zone, while other areas were still in an active emergency, the governor said. There are still a lot of people who are suffering, including the 34 thousand customers who remain without electricity in summer heat and humidity -- raising concerns of mold, he said. Rescue crews were searching flooded homes and automobiles for more victims, with officials uncertain how many people remain missing. We are going door to door, said Baton Rouge Fire Department Chief Ed Smith, describing a search and rescue process that he said could take another five to seven days. The National Weather Service issued 29 new flood warnings Tuesday for parts of southern Louisiana, as the levels of certain waterways continued to climb. Many rivers had begun to recede, though, after a weekend storm deluged the region with rain -- more than 20 inches (50 centimeters) in some areas -- causing waterways to overflow their banks. The governor had initially asked the federal government to declare disasters in 21 parishes, and he said more parts of southern Louisiana could still get that designation.

Pakistan, India dialogue beneficial for region: US

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WASHINGTON (Dunya News) – US State Department Deputy Spokesperson, Mark Toner, while briefing the newsmen in Washington on Tuesday said that the dialogue between Pakistan and India not only good for the both countries but also beneficial for region, Dunya News reported.US would encourage greater dialogue and counterterrorism cooperation between both Pakistan and India, Mark Toner said. “We’ve said that many times. It’s for the good of both countries; it’s for the good of the region. Frankly, it’s for the benefit of the United States,” he said.Mark Toner further said that it is important that Pakistan do the utmost to prevent terrorists from carrying out acts of terror – not just in Pakistan, but elsewhere in the region. So it is important that there’s greater collaboration, greater dialogue. And we would encourage any effort in that regard.

Ex-street hawker wins Brazil's first gold medal in Boxing

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 17, 2016 (AFP) - Robson Conceicao said he felt like he was still in a dream after he became the first Brazilian to win Olympic boxing gold on Tuesday in front of an exhilarated Rio crowd.The man who sold vegetables and popsicles on the streets as an impoverished child is now a national hero after he defeated Frenchman Sofiane Oumiha on unanimous points in a thrilling lightweight final showdown.The 27-year-old, who previously said that growing up he once feigned an arm injury so he could get hospital treatment and then used the bandages to tape his hands for boxing training, was a deserved winner after another day of judging controversy in Rio.My life has changed with this, this is an incredible moment in my life, he told reporters.I had a very difficult upbringing so this medal is not only a success for myself but a success for my family and all those people who took me to training, ever since I was a young boy.I am an Olympic champion so my life has changed for ever. It was an amazing crowd... an amazing day.Brazil had only ever won one silver and three bronze medals before Conceicaos heroics.- Incredible feeling -========================Each Conceicao punch had been greeted with a cacophony of noise, against a backdrop of chants aimed at the Frenchman, 21, of youre gonna dieIt was the first time at the Games that the 9,000 capacity RioCentro Pavilion 6 had been packed to the brim and they nearly took the roof off.The first round was a cracker, as the pair went for it from the first bell, with the home fighter the busier of the two men as they traded heavy hits.The electric atmosphere was closer to a football match -- thunderous chants of Brazil Brazil -- and the crowd were on their feet from the off, dancing, jumping and thirsting for Oumihas blood.Round two was closer, with the young Frenchman forcing Conceicao on the backfoot, before he would swiftly snap back.Oumiha held the centre of the ring in the third and final round and held firm when the Brazilian invaded his space.But the Frenchman was having trouble getting clean hits behind Conceicaos steady guard and the crowd reached a deafening crescendo as the bout reached its conclusion, and they counted down the seconds on the clock, convinced Conceicao had made history.Conceicao grew up fast hawking his meagre wares with his grandmother in the city of Salvador, in Brazils north, knocking on car windows of drivers to sell them melting popsicles.He paid tribute to the raucous crowd that filled the arena with a blaze of noise and yellow and blue colour, and to the people back in his home state who raised him in the most trying of circumstances.It was an incredible feeling to represent the whole of Brazil, said Conceicao.Now I need to relax and wake up from this dream that I am experiencing and carry on boxing for the Brazilian national team and head to the next Olympics.Bronze went to Cubas Lazaro Alvarez -- a semi-final victim of Conceicaos -- and Otgondalai Dorjnyambuu of Mongolia.Oumiha was largely an unknown quantity heading into Rio and admitted the Brazilian was the better man on the day.Asked whether he felt more pride or disappointment at taking home silver, he replied: A bit of both. But obviously as the time goes on Ill realise my good fortune and Im really proud of my silver medal and winning it for France.

Iran's Olympic champion weightlifter disqualified

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 17, 2016 (AFP) - Georgias Lasha Talakhadze grabbed Olympic gold in the mens 105kg weightlifting competition with a world record at Rio after Iranian favourite Behdad Salimikordasiabi sensationally crashed out without registering a total.Talakhadze lifted a combined total of 473kg -- a world record -- to beat silver medallist Gor Minasyan of Armenia by a massive 22kg. Georgia also took bronze through Irakli Turmanidze.Defending champion Salimikordasiabi, often referred to as Salimi, set a new world record of 216kg in the snatch to lead Talakhadze by 1kg going into the clean and jerk.However, the 26-year-old Iranian superheavyweight who won gold at London 2012, was unable to successfully complete a clean and jerk, meaning he did not finish a final score.Salimi was left furious with the jury after it over-ruled the judges decision that his second lift had been legitimate.Salimi thought he had successfully raised 245kg above his head but the jury ruled there had been too much movement and he and his coach left the podium gesticulating at the judges.The pair then re-entered the arena to remonstrate with them. Salimi wagged his finger and shouted at jury members while his coach was even seen arguing with International Weightlifting Federation President Tamas Ajan.Angry Iranian fans the booed every lift thereafter.Both Talakhadze and Minasyan have previously served doping bans.

Pakistan to switch to ODI mode against Ireland

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MALAHIDE, Ireland, Aug 17, 2016 (AFP) - Its all change for Pakistan as they return to white-ball cricket for two one-day internationals against Ireland in Malahide near Dublin, starting on Thursday, ahead of their five-match series with England.Only six of the players who took part in the exciting Test series in England -- which they drew 2-2 with a four-day victory at The Oval on Sunday -- stay on for the ODIs, in a 15-man squad captained by Azhar Ali.Sami Aslam, Mohammad Hafeez and Azhar are the only specialist batsmen who keep their places along with Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Yasir Shah, but it is the return of pace bowler Umar Gul which has been the major talking point.Gul, 32, who played against Ireland in Pakistans shock World Cup defeat back in 2007, has not played 50-over cricket for 16 months but his experience of English conditions has seen him replace the giant Mohammad Irfan.The only uncapped player in the squad is also a seam bowler, 22-year-old Hasan Ali who impressed in England in the recently completed Pakistan A tour from which slow left arm all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has also been promoted, hoping to add to his two T20 internationals.Ireland were dealt a huge blow on Tuesday with the news that former England pace bowler Boyd Rankin has not only been ruled out of the series but the rest of the season, including the ODIs in Benoni at the end of next month against South Africa and Australia.Rankin suffered a fracture of his left leg, when training for Warwickshires ongoing English County Championship game against Surrey, which has ruled him out of action for at least eight weeks.Ireland have decided not to replace Rankin in their 14-man squad, happy with the return of Craig Young, following elbow surgery and the impressive ODI debut of Durhams Barry McCarthy in the recent series against Sri Lanka.Thursdays game will be the seventh ODI between the teams and the side batting second has never lost.Pakistan have won four, most recently in the final World Cup group game at Adelaide last year by seven wickets when both Ireland captain William Porterfield and Sarfraz Ahmed scored centuries.Ireland, famously, knocked Pakistan out of the 2007 World Cup at Sabina Park, Jamaica, winning by three wickets.The teams tied the first game in the last series in Ireland in 2013, the only other time Pakistan have batted first.

Oil continues to rise as Russia talks, dollar slides

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices were again bolstered on Tuesday as the US dollar weakened and Russia continued to hint at efforts to end the global supply glut.A barrel of West Texas Intermediate for September delivery rose 84 cents on the New York Mercantile Exchange to close at $46.58 in New York.In London, North Sea Brent crude for October delivery settled up 88 cents at $49.23 a barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange.A Russian delegation on Tuesday visited the headquarters of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. In a statement put out later, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said his country was planning a possible meeting with OPEC in October. Russia is not an OPEC member.Novaks remarks followed word in recent days out of Saudi Arabia that an OPEC meeting next month could produce an agreement on stabilizing prices and that Russia would cooperate.Oil prices also got a boost as the dollar weakened on foreign exchange markets, with the euro rising to $1.1279 from $1.1183 between Monday and Tuesday.According to Robert Yawger of Mizuho Securities, the flow of recent publicity from Moscow and Riyadh on perhaps reining in production has cheered investors through a week of trading.Overall, since August 8th theres been an endless supply of headlines by OPEC talking about this late September meeting, said Yawger, who noted that the remarks came during a period of record short-selling.And today the Russian came out and start talking about even going to a meeting in October. That helped support the market today too.

Dollar lower as US economic data fails to excite

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar fell Tuesday against the euro, the yen and the British pound as fresh data out of Washington drew an uneven picture of the US economy.Toward 2100 GMT on Tuesday, the euro at $1.1276, up from $1.1183 on Monday. The dollar fell to 100.30 yen, down from 101.25 and the pound rose to $1.3044, up from $1.2883.The softening of the dollar largely preceded disclosures on Tuesday from the Federal Reserve as well as the Commerce and Labor Departments offering a mixed view of economic activity.Industrial production was up 0.7 percent in July and housing starts rose 2.1 percent but inflation was flat.The major event from the overnight session was a fairly pronounced bout of US dollar weakness, James Stanley of DailyFX said in a research note. Some sources were calling this a crash but in actuality the move had tallied around a -0.8 percent decline on the day peak-to-trough, which should not fit any definition of a crash.The dollars position was also largely unaffected by televised remarks from New York Fed Chairman William Dudley, who suggested that an increase in interest rates in September was not impossible.

Weightlifting: Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus to be banned

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 16, 2016 (AFP) - The International Weightlifting Federation will ban Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus from competing for one year after the Rio Olympics finish because of doping, its chief told AFP in an interview.IWF president Tamas Ajan said the governing body would announce the bans at the end of September or beginning of October, adding that he expected to punish several other nations as well.After the Games we will suspend these countries. I give a guarantee about this... (It) will be Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, Ajan told AFP at the Rio Games.Weightlifting has long been afflicted by doping scandals and the IWF has undertaken a major crackdown on athletes using performance-enhancing drugs, often from former Soviet Union or Eastern Bloc countries.It prevented Russia and Bulgaria, both traditional powerhouses, from competing in weightlifting at the Rio Olympics for repeated and high-profile doping offences.The IWF had also wanted to bar Kazakhstan and Belarus but the International Olympic Committee was unable to complete retesting of samples from the Beijing and London Games in time.The weightlifting body adopted a resolution in June that said any country who returns three or more positive drugs tests from the reanalysis of samples from the last two Olympics would be suspended for a year.The reanalysing is not finished. I am awaiting more information but I expect there will be some more countries that we will suspend, said the 77-year-old Ajan.We wish weightlifting to be a clean sport and theres only one way. We have to ban all the countries which violate our rules.I think at end of September, October we will announce which countries will be suspended, Ajan added, saying it would be a very painful decision for him.Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova and Turkey are the countries most at threat of being suspended, according to public disclosures showing failed tests posted on the IWF website.- Cleaner Tokyo -=================Ajans comments cast some doubt on the legitimacy of the seven medals won by Kazakhstan and Belarus in Brazil, before the weightlifting competition, which ends later Tuesday, has even finished.Kazakhs have won five medals at the 2016 Games -- one gold, a silver, and three bronze -- while Belarusians have claimed two second-place podium finishes.Theres absolutely no evidence of any wrongdoing amongst these athletes, however, with the imminent bans stemming from cheating at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.Retesting of samples from those Games recently unearthed at least 20 positive results in weightlifting, including Kazakhstans double Olympic champion Ilya Ilyin.Several lifters are waiting to be upgraded to medal status after those who failed drugs tests are stripped of their podium finishes from London and Beijing.The IWF banned Russian weightlifters from competing in Rio following the explosive McLaren report which detailed state-sponsored doping in the country.It banned Bulgaria after multiple positive tests during qualification.The IWF also punished North Korea, Romania, Uzbekistan and Moldova by reducing their allocation of lifters. Azerbaijan was effectively banned when its quota of weightlifters was stripped to zero.Nine weightlifters who previously served doping bans, including three gold medallists, have won medals at Rio, while four others were sent home for failed tests before they were due to compete.Ajan hopes that the IWFs crackdown means that when the next Olympics rolls around in four years time in Tokyo, weightlifting will have shed its image as a sport of dopers.I dont say that we will be in an absolutely doping free situation. But Im an optimist that for 2020 we will be in a completely new situation, he said.

England's Finn out for a month

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LONDON (AFP) - England fast bowler Steven Finn is set to be out of action for at least a month after suffering a hamstring injury, it was announced Tuesday.The Middlesex quick suffered the left hamstring tear just two balls into his second-innings spell against Pakistan in the fourth Test at The Oval on Sunday and has been let out of Englands squad for the upcoming five-match one-day international series.Finn, 27, is not expected to play international cricket again this season.But the 6ft 7in veteran of 35 Tests and 65 ODIs, is aiming to be involved in County Championship action in September.Middlesex and England bowler Steven Finn has sustained a left hamstring tear, said an England and Wales Cricket Board statement issued Tuesday.He is anticipated to be available in approximately four weeks.The 27-year-old will start a rehabilitation programme with Middlesex and England, and is aiming to play a part in Middlesexs Championship campaign in September.

Silva ton dims Aussie hopes of win in Colombo

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COLOMBO (AFP) - A gritty century from Kaushal Silva gave Sri Lanka a commanding 288-run second innings lead Tuesday, dimming Australias hopes of a consolation win in the third and final Test in Colombo.Sri Lanka, who are pushing for a rare series whitewash after winning the first two Tests, were 312 for eight at stumps on the fourth day at the Sinhalese Sports Club.First innings centurion Dhananjaya de Silva was unbeaten on 44 with Suranga Lakmal yet to get off the mark at close of play. But the day belonged to Silva, who batted with six stitches on the webbing of his little finger after injuring himself while fielding on Monday to make a composed 115.The 30-year-old, mixing dogged defence and controlled aggression, put together a crucial 90-run partnership with first innings centurion Dinesh Chandimal to thwart the Australian attack.Silva, who regularly received treatment for his injured left finger during breaks, reached his century with a boundary off Adam Voges as he burst into a celebration.Off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who claimed four wickets, trapped Chandimal lbw for 43 in the final session to break the stand.Silva, who survived an lbw appeal against Lyon after a successful umpire review in the first session, finally fell to the left-arm spin of Jon Holland in the 87th over.Australia made further inroads into the Sri Lankan line-up late in the day, but de Silva ensured that the hosts maintained their domination of the match heading into day five.Earlier Australia benefited from a review after Holland had Kusal Perera caught off a top edge which took the pads and went into the gloves of the wicketkeeper.Perera, who scored 24, was undone by a side angle replay after a front-on view had been inconclusive and the third umpire overturned the decision.Kusal Mendis hit a quickfire 18 off 14 balls with two sixes and a four. But his counter-attack was halted when he was trapped lbw by Mitchell Starc, who has taken two wickets.Sri Lanka, who resumed Tuesday on 22 for one, quickly scored two runs to erase the 24-run first innings deficit.Centuries from skipper Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh had given Australia hope of a big first-innings lead on Monday, but their departure saw the visitors lose their last seven wickets for 104 runs.Veteran spinner Rangana Herath led the Sri Lankan attack, snaring six wickets, with Australia all out for 379 in response to Sri Lankas 355.Sri Lanka now have the chance to register their first whitewash against a major team since gaining Test status in 1981.

Tennis: Kerber plays down World No.1 ranking chances

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CINCINNATI, Aug 16, 2016 (AFP) - Olympic silver medalist Angelique Kerber on Tuesday turned her attention to pressing ranking matters at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters and the chance to pass Serena Williams in the number one spot.Number two Kerber could seize command of the top ranking from the injured American after Williams handed back her Cincinnati wild card entry due to a shoulder injury.Kerber is coming off a defeat to Monica Puig in the Rio gold medal match, but the German looks on her Games showing as a positive point in her career.I think my goals are still the same: to be playing my best tennis. That was my goal also when I played the Rio final. I didnt lose a gold medal, I won my silver one because she played a great match.The 28-year-old, who beat Williams for the Australian Open title in January but lost to the American for the Wimbledon crown last month, said she is not thinking of the ranking possibilities with the US Open start approaching in 13 days.Its still a long way to go to this (number one). Im trying to not listen about that because I am here to play every single match.When the day will come and really I can be the number one its amazing, but I have still a long, tough way to go there.Every player is dreaming about grand slams, being number one. I will give everything to reach maybe this goal but its still step by step and lets see.On another rainy day, only a few matches were completed, with Frances Alize Cornet beating Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 while Tsvetana Pironkova defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-1.In the mens draw, Russian veteran Mikhail Youzhny schooled US teen Taylor Fritz 6-1, 6-3 and Belgian 11th seed David Goffin beat Nicoloz Basilashvili 7-5, 6-3.

Olympics: Sweden beat Brazil to reach final in Women's Football

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug 16, 2016 (AFP) - Sweden ended a disconsolate Martas dreams of guiding Brazils women to a first Olympic football gold medal Tuesday with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win to book their place in the gold medal match.Cristiane, the Olympics all-time top scorer, and Andressa saw spot-kicks saved by Hedvig Lindahl after neither side could score a goal in 120 minutes.Lisa Dahlkvist converted the winning penalty to secure a place in the final and Swedens first womens football Olympic medal.Germany face Canada later in Belo Horizonte in the other semi-final.Brazil had thrashed the Swedes 5-1 in the group stages just 10 days ago, but were held to a third consecutive 0-0 draw and, just like in their quarter-final win over Australia, forced to go through the agony of penalties.Unlike against the Aussies, five-time World Player of the Year Marta did convert from the spot, but was reduced to tears as her ambition of finally winning a major international title fell short of the final.Marta, who has played her club football in Sweden for the past four years, was consoled by the Swedish players, whilst a huge crowd in excess of 70,000 gave their defeated team a huge ovation.Sweden coach Pia Sundhage now has the chance to win a third straight gold medal after leading the USA to victory in 2008 and 2012.Swedens hero Lindahl described the baking sun in Salvador during the Scandinavians shock quarter-final win over three-time defending gold medallists the United States as her enemy.Lindahl suffers from vitiligo, a condition that causes patches of skin to lose their pigment, making the skin particularly sensitive in the sun.And she was under fire in the Rio heat as a flurry of early Brazilian attacks peppered the Sweden goal.Debinha fired a volley just over and forced Lindahl to tip over a header, whilst the Chelsea goalkeeper also nearly turned a dipping Marta corner into her own net.Lindahl even had to endure chants of Zika from the home fans, which had been previously reserved for outspoken USA keeper Hope Solo.Marta had inspired the 5-1 thrashing of Sweden with two goals in the group stage, but despite their dominance the ball wouldnt go in for the hosts as Marta prodded wide and Beatriz -- who also scored twice in the early win over Sweden -- forced Lindahl into another routine save.Solo had castigated Sweden as cowards for their defensive display in the last eight, but that seemed to only strengthen the resolve of Sundhages women as they barely threatened the Brazilian goal.Brazilian stopper Barbara -- the hero of an agonising 7-6 shootout win over Australia -- was only forced into action when her own poor clearance allowed Stina Blackstenius a shot on target which was easily mopped up.Veteran midfielder Formiga, the only woman to play in all six Games since womens football was introduced to the Olympics, came close to a fairytale end when her low header was just kept out by Lindahl in the fourth minute of stoppage time.Brazil coach Vadao introduced Cristiane for extra-time despite doubts over her fitness after missing the quarter-final through injury.But it was Sweden who came closest in the extra 30 minutes when captain Lotta Schelin headed inches wide from a corner and then shot into the side-netting at the end of a sweeping counter-attack.Marta saw a low free-kick held by Lindahl, but a rare flap by the keeper caused a flurry of blocked shots inside the Sweden area moments later as they held on for penalties.Lindahl came up trumps in the shootout, though, and Dahlkvists cool finish plunged a stunned Maracana into silence.
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