Friday 16 September 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

UN Security Council cancels meeting on Syria

Posted:

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) - The UN Security Council on Friday canceled an urgent meeting on Syria over disagreements between Russia and the United States over disclosing details of a ceasefire deal.During the scheduled meeting, US and Russian envoys were to present details of the joint agreement that calls for a ceasefire, the delivery of aid and joint targeting of Islamist rebels in Syria.Since we could not agree on an approach to briefing the council that would not compromise the operational security of the arrangement, the meeting was canceled, a spokesman for the US mission said.The Russian mission did not respond to AFP requests for a comment.Russia, Syrias key ally, is pushing for the Security Council to endorse the agreement, but France and other council members have said they must first learn more details about the deal.The United States has been reluctant to release the details of the agreement, citing security concerns for some US-backed groups fighting in Syria.Under the deal, all sides were due to allow deliveries of food and other basic supplies to the battleground city of Aleppo after a ceasefire went into effect on Monday.But on Friday, aid convoys positioned at the border with Turkey had yet to receive the all-clear to begin their journey to Aleppo.Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Thursday that the council could adopt a resolution backing the agreement during a high-level meeting on Syria to be held on Wednesday.US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are due to attend the council talks, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting.We believe the Security Council can play an important role in the resolution of the crisis in Syria, the US spokesman said.However, right now we are focused on the implementation of the agreement brokered by Secretary Kerry and Foreign Minister Lavrov, particularly the urgent need for humanitarian aid to reach Syrians in need.Diplomats said the International Syria Support Group backing the peace process could meet on Tuesday in New York, on the eve of the council meeting.

Haseeb Hameed ready to be targetted by the bowlers

Posted:

NOTTINGHAM, United Kingdom (AFP) - Teenage batsman Haseeb Hameed is relishing the prospect of being a target for Test bowlers after his inclusion in Englands squad for their tour of Bangladesh.The 19-year-old Lancashire opener could become just the sixth teenager ever to play Test cricket for England if he is selected for next months first Test in Chittagong.By contrast recalled off-spinner Gareth Batty will be 39 when he has the chance to add to his seven Test caps, having last played for England 11 years ago.Age has been no barrier to either players success in the current English season.Hameed has scored 1,154 runs for Lancashire, including four hundreds, at an average of 52.45 in 15 First Division matches in the County Championship.With Alex Hales missing the tour on security grounds, Hameed now has a chance to partner England captain Alastair Cook at the top of the order.I am sure Test bowlers might target me, Hameed said Friday.But the same principles apply. I have to control what I can and give myself the best chance to go out there and succeed and that means preparing well, added Hameed, the son of an Indian-born cricket fan who settled in the Lancashire town of Bolton, northwest England.- Bolton Boycott -==================Hameeds painstaking, almost old-fashioned, batting style has been compared to of Yorkshire and England opening great Geoffrey BoycottIts funny because Boycott was one of my dads role models growing up so maybe it has something to do with that, said Hameed.But if you look at me Im not as physically developed as other guys so I rely a lot on timing and patience and spending time at the crease.Growing up in the north -- with wet and slow wickets -- Ive had to wait for the ball and play late so Im sure that has helped me develop that sort of technique.Hameed, left out of the England Under-19 squad for last years junior World Cup in Bangladesh, paid tribute to his father Ismails influence by adding: My dad has been the one who has taught me everything I know and even to this day we work together; it is as much about the mental side as the cricketing side.Surrey captain Batty has taken 41 County Championship wickets so far this season.He is one of four spinners in Englands squad, with Bangladeshi pitches usually offering plenty of turn.Battys first stint in Test cricket saw him take 11 wickets at an expensive average of more than 66 apiece.He was also the bowler off whom Brian Lara scored the single that saw the West Indies great become the first batsman to make 400 in a Test, at St Johns, Antigua, in 2004.Batty, however, said Friday he was now better-equipped to play Test cricket.I feel in a good place, said Batty, one of county crickets most aggressive competitors.Maybe in the younger part of my career I didnt feel as confident about things or know exactly what it was going to do, so fingers crossed that stands me in good stead if I get an opportunity.Englands tour of Bangladesh -- which begins on September 30 and will include two Tests and three ODIs -- was under threat after an attack on a cafe in Dhaka in July that saw 20 hostages killed, including 18 foreigners.Following the attack, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sent a fact-finding delegation to Bangladesh led by Reg Dickason, their security officer, which concluded it was safe to tour, although that did not stop Hales and England one-day captain Eoin Morgan from pulling out.But Batty, the father of a baby daughter, had no such concerns.As soon as the security guys said it was ok, that was good enough -- I am not somebody who is going to second-guess somebody whos doing their job, he said.

Antonio Conte suffers first defeat as Chelsea manager

Posted:

LONDON (AFP) - Captain Jordan Henderson scored a stunning winning goal as Liverpool ended Antonio Contes unbeaten record as Chelsea manager with an impressive 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge on Friday.In a dominant first-half display, Liverpool took the lead through Dejan Lovren before England midfielder Henderson curled home a superb effort from distance in the 36th minute.Diego Costa reduced the arrears in the second half with his fifth goal of the campaign, but Jurgen Klopps men held out to register another eye-catching Premier League win.We played football like hell, Klopp told Sky Sports. It was really nice to watch. In the second half it was a bit more difficult. After their goal, we managed it well.Liverpool have also beaten Arsenal and champions Leicester City this season, the only blot on their league record being a surprise 2-0 defeat at promoted Burnley.They moved level on points with Chelsea and Merseyside rivals Everton in the early-season standings, two points below leaders Manchester City.It had been with a 3-1 victory on this ground that Klopp recorded his first win as Liverpool manager 11 months ago. On Fridays evidence, his team are title contenders.Chelsea would have gone top with victory, but instead Conte tasted defeat for the first time in his fledgling tenure as his side dropped points again following last weekends 2-2 draw at Swansea City.We must feel the danger and today, we didnt, said Conte.We have to reflect a lot on this game because it is important to understand the situation if we dont want to repeat another bad season like last season.It was Contes first home league defeat since a 2-1 loss to Sampdoria with Juventus in January 2013.David Luiz, meanwhile, lost to Liverpool on his second Chelsea debut, following his return to the club from Paris Saint-Germain -- just as he had in his first appearance in February 2011.- Chelsea switch off -======================Liverpool were without Roberto Firmino due to what the club said was a minor groin strain, but any fears they might miss the hard-working Brazilian forward were banished immediately.The away side registered two shots on target inside the first two minutes, Thibaut Courtois saving from Georginio Wijnaldum and Daniel Sturridge, and they took the lead in the 17th minute.Chelsea were punished for twice switching off at a free-kick on the Liverpool left.First they allowed Philippe Coutinho to take the set-piece quickly, giving the Brazilian time to measure an in-swinging cross towards the back post.Slack marking left Sadio Mane and Lovren unmarked and it was the Croatian -- back in the team after an eye injury -- who seized the chance, beating Courtois with an adroit side-foot volley.After Sturridge had thrashed a cross-shot across goal, Chelsea created their first real chance when Luizs looping header from Willians free-kick was fielded by Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.But within two minutes the hosts were 2-0 down as Henderson gathered a hurried clearance from Gary Cahill, steadied himself and arced a sublime 25-yard shot right into Courtoiss top-left corner.It was nice, really nice, was Klopps verdict on the goal. Hes such a hard worker. It was well deserved.Chelseas players were being bypassed by the match, but they managed to plug some of the holes in their defence in the second half and in the 61st minute, Costa gave them a lifeline.Joel Matips unnecessary decision to go to ground enabled Nemanja Matic to reach the byline on the left and the Chelsea midfielder cut the ball back for Costa to volley home at the near post.The Brazil-born Spain international scored a late equaliser at Swansea and he threatened to do the same here, brilliantly gathering Oscars headed knock-down and lashing a shot at Mignolet.But despite Conte sending on Cesc Fabregas, Victor Moses and Pedro, it was Liverpool who came closest to scoring again, substitute Divock Origis header drawing a fine goal-line stop from Courtois.

India go 2-0 down against Spain in Davis Cup tie

Posted:

NEW DELHI (AFP) - Spain took a commanding 2-0 lead over India in the Davis Cup World Group playoff despite the last-minute pullout of star player Rafael Nadal in New Delhi on Friday.Feliciano Lopez, who took court in place of Nadal in the first match, and David Ferrer claimed contrasting victories in their respective singles matches.The left-handed Lopez served past Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 while the 13th-ranked Ferrer outplayed Saketh Myneni 6-1, 6-2, 6-1.Nadals absence proved to be an anti-climax for the packed crowd at Delhis RK Khanna Tennis Stadium, but Lopez and Ferrer made up for it with some quality tennis.Although the Indian organisers reported that Nadal was down with a stomach bug, his Spanish teammates insisted that a wrist niggle made the 14-time Grand Slam winner sit out.Rafa is OK. Nothing with his stomach. He had some problems with the wrist and hopefully he will play in the weekend, Lopez told reporters.In the first match, Lopez broke in the fifth game to go 3-2 up in the first set, setting the pace against an opponent who played his heart out in front of a raucous home crowd.The 34-year-old Lopez kept the momentum going in the second set with his excellent range of shots, seemingly unfazed by the hot and humid conditions.The 21-year-old Ramanathan, placed 203rd in the ATP rankings, broke Lopez in the eighth game of the third set to pull one back and get the home fans behind him.But Lopez soon gained ground and showcased his superiority in the final set of the match.Ferrer came out all guns blazing in the second match of the day to take the first set in just 21 minutes and unsettle Indias Myneni, who is ranked 137th.The 2013 French Open finalist was broken just once in the sixth game of the second set to stamp his class on the match.Ferrer, who stunned Myneni with his speed and baseline play, kept up the pace through the course of the match to wrap up things in just one hour and 28 minutes.Spain will stay in the premier World Group next year if they win one further match in the best-of-five rubber at Delhis RK Khanna Tennis Stadium.

Real Madrid youths allowed to play despite FIFA ban

Posted:

MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid youth players who were suspended by FIFA after the club broke rules on the signing of foreign minors have been allowed to return to action following a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling.Earlier this month Real, like their city rivals Atletico, had an appeal dismissed by FIFA against a ban on registering new players in the next two transfer windows for irregularities in the signing of foreign players under the age of 18.The clubs, last seasons Champions League finalists, were also fined 360,000 ($358,000) and 900,000 Swiss Francs respectively.In addition, youngsters who FIFA said were brought to the club against the rules, including the two youngest sons of French coach Zinedine Zidane, were unable to represent the club.According to sports daily AS, the ban affected eight players in the Real youth system.But Madrid have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), who on Friday granted a stay of the execution of the FIFA ruling, albeit only in reference to the fielding of the young players.The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has granted the precautionary measures that Real Madrid C. F. appealed for following the sanction issued by FIFA. Therefore, the minors affected by said sanction may now play for their respective clubs, the Spanish giants said in a statement.All of Zidanes four sons are in the Madrid set-up. The eldest two, 21-year-old Enzo and Luca, 18, were born in France, while Theo (14) and Elyaz (10) were born in Spain.The CAS ruling means the latter two can start playing again, according to AS.The other aspects of the ban remain in place. A final CAS ruling on the FIFA-imposed ban is expected in the coming days.

Former captain Thiago Silva recalled to Brazilian squad

Posted:

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 16, 2016 (AFP) - After a year in the international wilderness, Brazil named their former captain Thiago Silva in their squad Friday for two October World Cup qualifiers with Bolivia and Venezuela.The Paris Saint-Germain captain, who skippered the Selecao in the 2014 finals on home soil, was dropped by former Brazil coach Dunga after a quarter-final elimination by Paraguay in the 2015 Copa America.The central defender, who came to prominence at AC Milan, was reportedly unhappy his current club held him back from going to the Olympics in Rio last month.But new coach Tite named a 24-man squad including the 31-year-old to contest the ninth and tenth games of their 2018 World Cup qualifiers, with the resurgent five-time winners sitting second in the South American group just a point behind leaders Uruguay.Brazil play Bolivia on October 7 in Natal and Venezuela away three days later having won 3-0 in Ecuador and 2-1 at home to Colombia since Tite was appointed.Squad:Goalkeepers: Alisson (Roma/ITA), Muralha (Flamengo), Weverton (Atletico Paranaense)Defenders: Miranda (Inter Milan/ITA), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Gil (Shandong Luneng/CHN), Daniel Alves (Juventus/ITA), Fagner (Corinthians), Marcelo (Real Madrid/ESP), Filipe Lus (Atletico Madrid/ESP).Midfielders: Casemiro (Real Madrid/ESP), Renato Augusto (Beijing Guoan/CHN), Paulinho (Guangzhou Evergrande/CHN), Oscar (Chelsea/ENG), Willian (Chelsea/ENG), Fernandinho (Manchester City/ENG), Lucas Lima (Santos), Giuliano (Zenit/RUS), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool/ENG)Strikers: Neymar (Barcelona/ESP), Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich/GER), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool/ENG), Gabriel Jesus (Palmeiras)

Mourinho believes United will bounce back at Watford

Posted:

WATFORD, United Kingdom (AFP) - Jose Mourinho insists Manchester United will get back on track at Watford in the Premier League on Sunday after successive defeats ruined a promising start to his reign.United won the Community Shield and reeled off three consecutive Premier League wins to raise hopes Mourinhos influence had quickly revitalised a team that stumbled to a fifth-place finish under Louis van Gaal last season.But the size of the rebuilding job facing Mourinho has been laid bare over the last week as his arch rival Pep Guardiola led Manchester City to a 2-1 win over United at Old Trafford before Feyenoord clinched a shock 1-0 victory in the Europa League on Thursday.United were well below their best against Feyenoord and another loss at Vicarage Road this weekend would leave Mourinho with some awkward questions to answer for the first time since he took charge.The United manager conceded the mood in the squad was no longer quite so buoyant, but he is confident his players will put their recent struggles behind them this weekend.I think the game on Sunday will be an independent game. It is a new event, Mourinho said.It starts minute zero at 0-0 so I think it has nothing to do with the previous two matches.But obviously when you lose matches the mood, the feeling, is not the same. Thats normal.But I think we are experienced players and the players are very good guys and I know they want to win and work, so thats what we have to do.With the critics sharpening their knives, Mourinho insists losing to a strong City side and suffering a narrow loss with a much-changed team against Feyenoord is no reason for panic among the United faithful.To be honest, I think we didnt play phenomenal matches in these two defeats, but in both I think it is a punishment for the team because we deserved more than the results we got, said Mourinho, who should recall Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the forwards were left out of the starting line-up against Feyenoord.When we won the Community Shield and the three Premier League matches, I was not on the moon.I was not saying that we are a phenomenal team and we are going to destroy every opponent.I always said it was a very good start but I was never on the moon. I know that the situation is not click your fingers and everybody is perfect.- Provocateur -===============Even so, he could do with an influential performance from France midfielder Paul Pogba against Watford after the world record signings latest underwhelming performance in midweek.I dont like to individualise too much. I think he was like the team. In the first half they were in control but were playing half pace, Mourinho said.The second half was when they increased intensity and that was when they conceded the goal.After locking horns with Guardiola last weekend, Mourinho comes up against another manager he has antagonised in the past in Watfords Walter Mazzarri.Mazzarri coached Sampdoria and Napoli during Mourinhos reign at Inter Milan and the Italian got hot under the collar when the Portuguese provocateur said of him that a donkey can work hard but will never become a thoroughbred.At the time, Mazzarri dismissed him for talking rubbish, so much rubbish, but now he says he doesnt hold a grudge and plans to offer Mourinho a post-match drink on Sunday.I have a very good relationship with Mourinho. Sometimes the press look at what happens in Italy; the same with Antonio Conte and Mourinho, Mazzarri said.Its normal when you fight for top positions that it happens but I have a very good relationship; a strong relationship with him.There is professional respect. Of course Ill invite him for a drink. No problem.

US, European stocks weighed down by banking woes

Posted:

NEW YORK (AFP) - US and European stock markets retreated on Friday, as banking shares led by Deutsche Bank slumped on news US authorities were hunting down Germanys biggest lender over a record fine.Frankfurts DAX 30 was the hardest hit, closing down 1.5 percent, while the Paris CAC 40 shed nearly 1.0 percent from Thursday.Londons benchmark FTSE 100 index lost 0.3 percent, while the S&P 500 in the US shed 0.4 percent.The US Justice Department is seeking up to $14 billion (12.5 billion euros) from Deutsche Bank to resolve allegations stemming from the sale of mortgage securities in the 2008 crisis, the German financial giant confirmed.It added that the DoJ had invited the bank to submit a counter offer, and said it expected to reach a materially lower figure in negotiations.But the news hammered Deutsche Bank shares, which sank 8.5 percent to close at 11.99 euros in Frankfurt.The US action was also felt across Europes banking sector, with shares in Royal Bank of Scotland in London shedding 4.4 percent, and in Paris, French lender Societe Generale slid 2.7 percent.The Deutsche enforcement comes as European banks already faced a tough profit outlook due to ultra-low and negative interest rates.Banking shares were also among the weak points on Wall Street. Wells Fargo dropped 1.6 percent after the House Financial Services Committee became the latest entity to announce an investigation into allegations that the huge US bank fraudulently opened millions of unauthorized customer accounts. The panel plans hearings this month.Citigroup lost 1.4 percent following a downgrade by Goldman Sachs.- Fed to keep rate unchanged-=============================Asian stock markets meanwhile rallied Friday on doused expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate hike next week after another round of below-par US data.Equities globally have suffered during a volatile week as top Fed officials gave conflicting views on the need for tighter monetary policy, fueling uncertainty across trading floors.But the chances of a move at the Fed policy meeting have fallen late this week with lackluster US data on retail sales and consumer prices.In Asia, where trade was thin due to public holidays, Tokyo ended 0.7 percent higher, while Sydney jumped one percent, Singapore also added 0.7 percent and Wellington climbed 0.8 percent.Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur and Taipei were shut.With nothing in the economic numbers to say US rates should be moving up, and growing signs of losing momentum, expectations have largely diminished toward the Fed doing anything in September, said ANZ Bank New Zealand chief economist Cameron Bagrie.The market is drifting back toward the view they might do nothing for quite a while, he wrote in a note.Also on traders radar next week will be the Bank of Japans own policy meeting amid reports that it is planning to cut interest rates further into negative territory.- Key figures around 2100 GMT -===============================New York - DOW: DOWN 0.5 percent at 18,123.80 (close)New York - S&P 500: DOWN 0.4 percent at 2,139.16 (close)New York - Nasdaq Composite Index: DOWN 0.1 percent at 5,244.57 (close)London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.3 percent at 6,710.28 (close)Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 1.5 percent at 10,276.17 (close)Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.9 percent at 4,332.45 (close)EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 1.4 percent at 2,933.75 (close)Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 0.7 percent at 16,519.29 (close)Shanghai - Composite: Closed for public holidayEuro/dollar: DOWN at $1.1156 from $1.1244 late ThursdayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.3004 from $1.3240Dollar/yen: UP at 102.27 yen from 102.10 yen

Clinton poll lead vanishes in race's final stretch

Posted:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Hillary Clintons lead in the US presidential race against Donald Trump is evaporating with just over 50 days to go until election day, as she stirs ever less enthusiasm in her own camp.The Democrats average lead since late August is just 1.8 points at the national level, a drop of four points in two weeks, and in several key states where the November election is likely to be decided, Trump is ahead.In Ohio the Manhattan mogul now leads the former secretary of state by 46 to 41 percent, and in Florida by 47 to 44 percent, although this falls within the margin of error, according to a CNN-ORC survey.Clinton tried to project an air of calm as she jumped back on the campaign trail after a three-day enforced break due to pneumonia, saying she always said the race would be close.But in a sign of jitters, her campaign announced that her former rival Bernie Sanders, who is popular among young people, and progressive senator Elizabeth Warren would campaign for Clinton this weekend in Ohio.Meanwhile Trump declared: Weve had an incredible month. There is a great enthusiasm.It is not the first time the two candidates have been neck and neck. It happened briefly in May, before Trump lost ground.But with the election less than two months away, Clinton enjoys ever less popularity among Democrats. Only 38 percent say they are very enthusiastic about her candidacy, down from 47 percent in August, according to a New York Times/CBS poll.Trumps supporters appear much more fired-up: 55 percent say they are very keen to vote, against just 36 percent in the Clinton camp.So for the Democrats, getting people out on November 8 will be key.FiveThirtyEight, a website that analyzes polls, historical and economic data, says Clinton still has a 60.1 percent chance of winning, compared to 39.8 percent for Trump.Back on August 8, Clintons chances stood much higher at 79.5 percent, compared to 20.5 percent for the Republican.But since early last month Trump has overhauled his campaign team, tried to become more disciplined and less attack-oriented in his public appearances and has stopped insulting people. His new campaign chief, Kellyanne Conway, appears on television often to plug Trump.- Crucial first debate -========================Trump had a couple of good weeks beginning with his success in Mexico early this month, said Robert Shapiro, a political scientist at Columbia University in New York.Shapiro added that Trump has been rallying his base of support, saying more about policy issues, foreign policy, the economy, and... his proposal in terms of maternity leave and child care.The bar for evaluating him is not very high, but in that context he has been doing better in terms of campaigning and trying to look a little bit more presidential.For Clinton things have not been going so well.She has been dogged for months by the controversy over her use of a private email server while serving as secretary of state and by attacks from her opponents against the Clinton Foundation.Clinton has also taken heat for saying many Trump supporters belong in a basket of deplorables.Shapiro said Clinton did not handle her bout of pneumonia well, either. The campaigns delay of two days in telling the public she was sick boosted a widespread perception that Clinton is not transparent.Democrats have reason to worry -- but Clinton still has many ways to win the electoral college.The presidential election is effectively the sum of 50 state elections, with each candidate gunning for a majority of 538 electoral votes divided among the states, all but two of which award all their votes to one candidate.To reach 270 votes, Trump needs to carry a number of battleground states -- Ohio and Florida but also Iowa, Virginia, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. But he must also lock in all the traditionally Republican states, several of which look as if they might snub his candidacy.With Clinton dropping in the polls however, the looming first presidential debate on September 26 is not necessarily good news for her.Historically in these first debates, the incumbent president or the leading candidate tends to do less well on the first debate than the challenger, said Shapiro.And in this case, the expectations and the bar for Trump may be so low that hell be evaluated differently than she will. The bar is higher for her than for Trump, he added.

Merkel, Hollande vow to work for 'success' of Europe

Posted:

BRATISLAVA (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande pledged at an EU summit in Bratislava Friday to work together to make a success of the bloc after Brexit.Germany and France will very intensively play their part in the coming months in order to make all this a success, Merkel said at a rare joint press conference with Hollande after 27 EU leaders met, without Britain, to discuss the blocs future course.Speaking after Merkel, Hollande said Europe could only move forward after Britains shock vote to leave if it identified clear priorities that meet the expectations of Europeans.France and Germany will continue to work so that we can deliver concrete measures, Hollande said.The pair said the leaders had agreed in Bratislava on a roadmap for measures in defence, security and the economy that would eventually be approved at a meeting in Rome in March to mark the 60th anniversary of the EUs founding treaties.France and Germany produced a joint defence plan in the run-up to the summit.

Cavani scores 4 as PSG thrash Caen in French League

Posted:

PARIS (AFP) - Edinson Cavani shrugged off his Champions League woes to score four goals in the first half as Paris Saint-Germain romped to a one-sided 6-0 win at Caen in Ligue 1 on Friday.The Uruguayan, charged with filling Zlatan Ibrahimovics sizeable boots this season, was criticised for missing several gilt-edged chances in PSGs 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Tuesday, despite scoring the opener against the Premier League club inside 42 seconds.But he hit back by scoring four times in the space of 35 first-half minutes at the Stade Michel-dOrnano as PSG claimed their most convincing win so far under new coach Unai Emery.Lucas Moura and Jean-Kevin Augustin added further goals after the break as PSG ended a run of three games without a win in all competitions and went top of the table on goal difference from Monaco and Nice ahead of the rest of the weekends games.We have confidence in Edinson. When he has five chances and only scores one, like on Tuesday, I tell him to be calm, said Emery.For me, the most important thing is that he creates chances. On Tuesday they didnt go in, today they did, but he played the same game.With this game coming just 72 hours after Paris faced Arsenal in their Champions League opener, Emery opted to leave Thiago Silva and Marco Verratti on the bench at kick-off.Thomas Meunier replaced Serge Aurier at right-back but Alphonse Areola kept his place in goal at the expense of Kevin Trapp while Hatem Ben Arfa was again left out of the visitors squad in Normandy.Damien Da Silva headed narrowly wide for Caen before PSG opened the scoring in the 12th minute, Cavani turning the ball in at the back post after Lucas had dummied a low Maxwell cross from the left.The champions then won a penalty midway through the first half when Lucas was brought down in the box by Syam Ben Youssef and Cavani stepped up to beat Remy Vercoutre from 12 yards.Vercoutre saved from a powerful Lucas strike but Cavani got in front of Ben Youssef to convert another low Maxwell cross and complete his hat-trick -- his third in Ligue 1 -- on 38 minutes.His and PSGs fourth came in stoppage time at the end of the first period as he once again applied a first-time finish after being set up by Meunier.That was Cavanis eighth goal for club and country this season but it was also his last act of the evening, a slight thigh strain meaning he was replaced by Jese Rodriguez for the second half.Augustin, another substitute, set up Lucas to smash in the fifth goal and then found the target himself with 12 minutes remaining as Paris recorded their biggest victory since beating the same opponents by the same score in April.Monaco, fresh from winning at Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on Wednesday, can reclaim top spot when they host Rennes on Saturday.Nice visit Montpellier on Sunday before Marseille host Lyon in the game of the weekend.

French teenager Dodin reaches her first WTA semifinal in Canada

Posted:

QUEBEC CITY (AFP) - French teen Oceane Dodin advanced to her first WTA semi-final on Friday by defeating Belgiums Alison Van Uytvanck 6-2, 6-4 in Quebec City.The 19-year-old from Lille, who is ranked 132nd in the world, took only 76 minutes to win her quarter-final and will now play for a place in Sundays final against 125th-ranked Julia Boserup.Boserup eliminated fellow American Catherine Bellis 7-6 (7/0), 6-4 in an all-Californian quarter-final.US qualifier Lauren Davis, the highest-ranked player remaining in the field at 104th, ousted Russias Alla Kudryavtseva 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).Davis will next play the winner of a later quarter-final between Czech Tereza Martincova and American Jessica Pegula.Kudryavtseva had been the only remaining player in the field with a WTA title, having captured the 2010 Tashkent Open.

Tim Southee ruled out of test series against India

Posted:

WELLINGTON (AFP) - New Zealand strike bowler Tim Southee has been ruled out of the Test series against India after injuring an ankle in training, New Zealand Cricket said Saturday.Matt Henry has been rushed into the squad as a replacement.Southee is to return home for rehabilitation and will return to India for the ODI leg of the tour beginning next month.Tim has been working hard in preparation for this tour, so hes understandably very disappointed to be ruled out of all three Tests, coach Mike Hesson said.The focus now is for Tim to give his ankle 7-10 days rest, before slowly building his bowling loads back up ahead of the ODI series.The first Test starts in Kanpur on Thursday.

Argentina 2-0 up against Great Britain in Davis Cup tie

Posted:

GLASGOW (AFP) - Argentina moved a step closer to the Davis Cup final after Guido Pella beat Great Britains Kyle Edmund to give them a commanding 2-0 lead in their World Group semi-final tie on Friday.The pressure had been on Edmund after Juan Martin Del Potro defeated world number two Andy Murray in five sets to get Argentina off to a winning start following an epic battle on the hard-court of the Emirates Arena earlier in the day in Glasgow.However, despite taking the first set on a tie break the 21-year-old had no answer to Pellas power play as the Argentine claimed victory in just over three hours, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.With a final place against either Croatia or France in November at stake, Pellas win leaves Argentina needing just one more victory from either Saturdays doubles or the two remaining singles on Sunday to eliminate the holders and secure a fourth final spot in the past 10 years.I am very happy to get the second point for Argentina and the team, Pella said.Juan Martin played an amazing match and I knew this was my chance.Edmund couldnt hide his disappointment after the match.It is tough to reflect on it right now, the 21-year-old said.I know where I went wrong. I felt fine out there and felt I was hitting the ball right but there were errors at key moments and need to get the balance a lot better to win.World number ones Great Britain havent defeated Argentina since 1928 and their hopes of ending that run took a blow before Edmund took to the court following Del Potros defeat of home crowd favourite Murray.Edmund stepped up in Murrays absence to claim two singles victories in the quarter-final defeat of Serbia in July, and he raced into an early 3-0 lead in the first set thanks to his impressive forehand before Pella recovered to take it to a tie-break.The Brits hopes looked dashed as Pella took a 3-0 advantage but he fought back to win 7-5.The second set went with serve until Pella, who had claimed victory in the pairs only other meeting at Indian Wells earlier in the season, struck at the perfect time as he capitalised on Edmunds unforced errors to break serve in the tenth game to seal a 6-4 victory.Edmund broke the Argentines serve to take a 3-2 lead in the third set but Pella immediately broke back and won the next four games in a row to seal the set.The world number 55 continued to cause his higher-ranked rival problems in the fourth but, with the finishing line in sight, Pella raised his game to serve a love game to seal the match.- Longest match -=================Earlier, Del Potro had helped Argentina get off to a flying start with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4 victory over Murray in an epic encounter that, at five hours and seven minutes, was the longest match of both players careers.It was an important victory for us. I feel so tired. Ive got cramps everywhere, a delighted Del Potro said.I think we both played at a very high level for five hours. The crowd enjoyed that and when you win these kind of matches it is great.I still remember the Olympics but this is important for me and the team and we are looking forward to reaching another final in the Davis Cup.It was Murrays first home defeat in the competition and he thought there had been nothing to separate the pair in the rubber.It was very fine margins. That happens in tennis and sport sometimes when it could go either way and there wasnt much difference in the match, Murray said.I thought I did great today. I fought for every point and tried the best that I could and thats all that you can do.Murray will have little time to recover and is expected to partner big brother Jamie in the doubles on Saturday but wont make a decision until the morning.I dont know how I will recover. Ive never played a match that long. Ill have to see how I pull up tomorrow when I wake up and probably make a decision then, the Scot said on Friday evening.

Dollar gains as US posts modest uptick in inflation

Posted:

NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar gained on international currency markets Friday as an inflation indicator showed strength and investors anticipated next weeks decisions on US and Japanese monetary policy.The British pound dropped sharply in relation to the dollar, coinciding with reports on Friday that Britain expected to begin formal talks to secede from the European Union by early next year.The US consumer price index rose 0.2 percent for the month of August and was up 1.1 percent over 12 months.Around 2100 GMT, the euro was worth $1.1156, down from $1.1244 the day before while the dollar bought 102.27 yen, down from 102.10. The pound fell to $1.3004 from $1.3240 on Thursday.Central bankers in Washington and Tokyo are due to begin two-day meetings beginning Tuesday to review monetary policy, issuing decisions to which markets are keenly attuned.The CPI numbers helped the dollar, said Vassili Serebriakov of Credit Agricole. I dont think they are really rethinking the Fed.2100 GMT Friday ThursdayEUR/USD 1.1156 1.1244EUR/JPY 114.09 114.81EUR/CHF 1.0937 1.0926EUR/GBP 0.8579 0.8492USD/JPY 102.27 102.10USD/CHF 0.9804 0.9717GBP/USD 1.3004 1.3240
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)