Dunya TV
Dunya TV |
- Iranians go to polls today to elect new President
- Turkish PM meets with protesters after warning
- US says Assad used chemical weapons
- 1 dead, dozens hurt in Louisiana plant explosion
- South Africa president: Mandela is improving
- Haas, Gasquet reach Halle quarterfinals
- Jankovic to play Petkovic in Nuremberg semifinals
- Bolt runs track record 19.79 over 200 at Bislett
- FIFA urges fans to come pick up Confed Cup tickets
- Golf: Mickelson grabs lead at US Open
- Oil back above $96 on US steady hiring
- Man paid in hugs for haircuts kicked out of park
- Sri Lanka beat England to stay alive in Trophy
- Bravo ramps up pressure on South Africa 'chokers'
- CNG prices surge after increase in ST
| Iranians go to polls today to elect new President Posted: TEHRAN (Agencies) - Iranians go to the polls today to elect a new President as Mahmoud Ahmadinajad is replaced after serving his maximum eight years in charge.There are six candidates but Irans Guardian Council has restricted those who can stand, banning women or other candidates with an agenda considered to be reformist or liberal.There are no political parties in the conventional sense - just a contest between candidates who prefess absolute loyalty to the Supreme Leader the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and others who are considered slighting more reformist but by no means moderate.On the campaign trail, Irans nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili is seen as one of the front-runners.He has positioned himself as the most hardline of the candidates but there is speculation he may be viewed by Irans Supreme Leader as too much of a wild card because of his implaccable attitude to the west.His election would signal a no-change President in Irans posture to the outside world.Another favourite is Mohammad Ghalibaf, the current Mayor of Tehran, who is a conservative with strong ties to the security forces.If there is such a thing as a moderate voice amongst the conservative candidates it is Hassan Rouhani, a British-educated cleric.On the streets of Tehran people who might count themselves amongst the opposition have been gathering to support him, because in the absense of a more reformist figure he may get their vote.But whoever wins will have a limited mandate on nuclear policy and relations with the West.In Iran it is the hardline Supreme Leader who has the say, not the President.The Supreme Leader spectacularly fell out with Mahmoud Ahmadinajad in spite of backing him in 2009 during elections which critics said were rigged and led to wide-spread protests.Sky News spoke to a participant in the demonstrations dubbed the Green Revolution.He didnt want to be identified for fear of reprisals but told us he he was held for six months and tortured.He said: I was like an empty person, an animal. I was like a piece of meat.If there are demonstratons during this election - and I hope there will be - and people take to the streets in Tehran they must stay out day and night.And if people get killed, injured, arrested and tortured they must persist and stay out on the streets for the government to fall. They cannot go back to the roof tops and just shout slogans.One of the biggest issues domestically is the economy, which is in its worst state for decades with high inflation, soaring unemployment and negative growth.The value of Irans currency, the rial, has more than halved in a year, after a collapse blamed on government mismanagement and sancitons against Irans energy and banking sectors imposed by the US and EU.The fall of the rial has led to sharp cuts in imports and raised Irans inflation to its highest level in 18 years.  |
| Turkish PM meets with protesters after warning Posted: ISTANBUL (AP) - Turkeys prime minister was meeting with anti-government protesters early Friday, hours after giving them his final warning to end their occupation of a central Istanbul park that has become a flashpoint for the largest political crisis of his 10-year rule.If the talks break down, an eventual police intervention to clear Taksim Squares Gezi Park of the thousands of protesters who have been camping there for two weeks seemed increasingly likely.As Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks in the capital, Ankara, Istanbuls governor hosted a midnight meeting with any protesters who cared to join him at a cafe near Taksim Square vowing to consult with them until the morning if necessary on finding a solution to the Gezi Park sit-in.I hope this meeting will be a message to youngsters from different ages in Gezi Park ... we are trying to end this issue without (police) having to intervene, Huseyin Avni Mutlu told reporters on the way in.Even if a deal is reached, however, it does not guarantee the sit-in will end. Although the Taksim Solidarity group, two of whose members were meeting with Erdogan, has emerged as the most high-profile from the occupation that began last month, it does not speak for all the thousands of people camping in the park. Many say they have no affiliation to any group or party.In Gezi and on Taksim Square, thousands gathered in a peaceful, festive show of defiance, many dancing to tunes played on a grand piano delivered to the square on a truck. But in the capital, Ankara, a demonstration by hundreds of protesters rallying in sympathy with the Gezi Park activists turned violent, with police firing tear gas and rubber bullets.Erdogan has maintained a hard line against the demonstrations since they began two weeks ago and spread across the country, angrily denouncing the protesters as looters and vandals. He has said the unrest was instigated by a variety of interests, including foreign media and interest rate lobbies intent on destroying Turkeys international reputation and halting its economic growth.Five people, including a police officer, have died and over 5,000 protesters and 600 police have been reported injured in clashes.On Thursday, Erdogan gave his starkest warning yet that the protests, which have trained an unflattering spotlight on his Islamic-rooted government, must end.We have arrived at the end of our patience, Erdogan said in Ankara.I am giving you my final warning.  |
| US says Assad used chemical weapons Posted: WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States has conclusive evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assads regime has used chemical weapons against opposition forces seeking to overthrow the government, crossing what President Barack Obama has called a red line that would trigger greater American involvement in the crisis, the White House said Thursday.Officials said Obama was considering both political and military options, but it was unclear how quickly new actions would be taken and what they would involve.Weve prepared for many contingencies in Syria, said Ben Rhodes, Obamas deputy national security adviser. We are going to make decisions on further actions on our own timeline.The White House said the Assad regime had used chemical weapons, including the nerve agent sarin, on a small scale multiple times in the last year. Up to 150 people have been killed in those attacks, the White House said, constituting a small percentage of the 93,000 people killed in Syria over the last two years.The Obama administration announced in April that it had varying degrees of confidence that sarin had been used in Syria. But they said at the time that they had not been able to determine who was responsible for deploying the gas.The more conclusive findings announced Thursday were aided by evidence sent to the United States by France, which along with Britain, announced it had determined that Assads government had used chemical weapons in the two-year conflict.Obama has said repeatedly that the use of chemical weapons would cross a red line and constitute a game changer for U.S. policy on Syria, which until now has focused entirely on providing the opposition with nonlethal assistance and humanitarian aid.The White House said Congress has been notified of the new U.S. chemical weapons determination, as have international allies. Obama will discuss the assessments, along with broader problems in Syria, next week during the G-8 summit in Northern Ireland.Obama is also expected to press Russian President Vladimir Putin, Assads most powerful backers, to drop his political and military support for the Syrian government.We believe that Russia and all members of the international community should be concerned about the use of chemical weapons, Rhodes said.  |
| 1 dead, dozens hurt in Louisiana plant explosion Posted: GEISMAR (AP) - State police say at least one person has been killed and dozens more injured in an explosion and fire at a chemical plant in Louisiana.State police Capt. Doug Cain said a hazardous material crew going through the plant in Geismar after the Thursday morning explosion found one person dead.Thirty-seven people were taken to area hospitals by helicopter or ambulance.The cause of the blast, reported around 8:30 a.m., was not immediately known. The fire was out by late morning.Eight of the injured were taken to Baton Rouge Medical Center, where one was listed in critical condition and two others were in serious condition.Early tests did not indicate dangerous levels of any chemicals around the plant southeast of Baton Rouge.  |
| South Africa president: Mandela is improving Posted: JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Nelson Mandelas health is improving but the 94-year-old beloved anti-apartheid hero remains in serious condition, South Africas president said Thursday.Jacob Zuma paid a visit to Mandela in a Pretoria hospital, where the former president has been treated for six days, according to a statement released by the presidency.We continue to appeal to people to keep Madiba in their prayers and wish him a speedy recovery, Zuma said, referring to Mandela by his clan name.Mandela is being treated for a recurring lung infection, and it is his fourth hospitalization since December.Earlier in the day, Zuma told members of parliament that Mandela should be remembered not only for his years as the nations first black president, but also for his time as a revolutionary.Zuma said South Africans shouldnt create a superficial image of Mandela, but remember his lifetime of work.And Zuma also spoke of the need to improve the lives of the countrys black majority, many of whom live in poverty nearly two decades after the end of racist white rule.The leader of South Africas anti-apartheid movement, Mandela spent 27 years in prison during white racist rule. He was freed in 1990 and became South Africas first black president in 1994.Mandelas official Twitter feed noted that Thursday was the 49th anniversary of the former presidents arrival at Robben Island, the prison off the coast of Cape Town where he spent the majority of his incarceration.  |
| Haas, Gasquet reach Halle quarterfinals Posted: HALLE (AP) - Defending champion Tommy Haas advanced to the quarterfinals of the Gerry Weber Open on Thursday by outlasting Ernests Gulbis 7-6 (5), 6-4.Second-seeded Richard Gasquet swept past Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-1 and sixth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber joined Gasquet in the last eight by beating German compatriot Tobias Kamke 6-4, 6-3. Kohlschreiber won the Halle event in 2011. The tournament is a grass-court tune-up for Wimbledon.Gasquet fired an ace to close out the first set and dominated the second. Down 15-40 in the final game, he won the next four points to close it out.Haas, who won the Halle event in 2009, is enjoying a second spring at age 35 and is coming off a quarterfinal appearance at the French Open.After losing the first set to a forehand winner by Haas, Gulbis broke his racket in anger and decided to change his shoes and shirt as well.He lost the first three points of the second set but managed to hold. Haas must have felt frustrated, since he had failed to convert 16 straight break points until then.The break came on the 17th and Haas finally went up 3-2 and stayed ahead for good. The German never faced a break point and overcame 15 aces by his Latvian opponent.Overall, I played a good match. But I would have been very upset if at the end Id lost because I couldnt take all those chances, said Haas, who also had a first-round bye.Haas is the oldest player in the top 100 and is looking for his second title of the year. He is now ranked No. 11. He won last years title in Halle by beating Roger Federer.Kohlschreibers next opponent will be Mikhail Youzhny. Gasquet will play eighth-seeded Florian Mayer, who beat another Mayer, Leonardo of Argentina, 6-2, 6-3.Florian Mayer is a German who beat Gasquet in Wimbledon last year.He returns very well, he doesnt give you much space to maneuver him around the court, Gasquet said of his next opponent.Gasquet had a bye into the second round and said he had used the time since Sunday to practice and adjust to grass.Its good to practice with good players, I really like playing on grass and its important to prepare for Wimbledon, the Frenchman said. But this is also a big tournament in itself and I want to do well.Gasquet is playing in Halle for the first time in six years and said he was glad to be back.I have great memories, I beat Tommy Haas here in a Davis Cup match over five sets (in 2006) one of the best matches of my career, Gasquet said.Gasquet was pleased with his opener.I played very well. I served big and I returned well, said Gasquet, who landed 88 percent of first serves. The grass here is faster than in England. I am glad I played that well.Haas next plays Gael Monfils, while the top-seeded Federer meets Mischa Zverev in Fridays quarterfinals.  |
| Jankovic to play Petkovic in Nuremberg semifinals Posted: NUREMBERG (AP) - Top-seeded Jelena Jankovic cruised past sixth-seeded Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-4, 6-0 on Thursday to set up a semifinal against Andrea Petkovic in the inaugural WTA Nurnberger Versicherungscup.Petkovic is coming back from a series of injuries and got a wild card into the tournament, like Jankovic. Petkovic came from a set down to beat eighth-seeded Annika Beck 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.In the other semifinal Friday, fifth-seeded Lucie Safarova will play No. 7 Simona Halep.Safarova needed three sets to edge Polona Hercog 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-4, while Halep defeated Galina Voskoboeva 6-4, 6-1.  |
| Bolt runs track record 19.79 over 200 at Bislett Posted: OSLO (AP) - Usain Bolt bounced back from a rare defeat with a track record at the Bislett Games on Thursday in his debut 200 metres of the season.Im not in as bad shape as I thought I was, Bolt said.Bolt, who lost the 100 metres by one hundredth of a second in Rome the week before, answered concerns about his condition by finishing in 19.79 seconds, the fastest long sprint run by anyone this season.Overall it was a good run, I cant complain. Its sub 20, said the Jamaican, who holds the world record at the distance in 19.19. I could have done better.Norways Jaysuma Saidy Ndure finished second with a season best 20.36 seconds, with James Ellington of Britain third in 20.55.Bolt finished three hundredths of a second quicker than Frank Fredericks of Namibia did in 1996 to set the new Bislett record.The Jamaican is the only athlete to break the 20 second mark over 200 meters this season.After losing to American Justin Gatlin in Rome last week, Bolt didnt even let a false start from European 200 champion Churandy Martina of the Netherlands put him off.Martina was disqualified and Bolt powered on regardless at the second attempt, finishing strongly in lane six to leave the crowd on its feet.  |
| FIFA urges fans to come pick up Confed Cup tickets Posted: RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - FIFA and the local organizing committee are issuing a strong appeal to Brazilian fans to pick up their tickets ahead of the Confederations Cup to avoid the prospect of people lining up by the thousands on match days.While workers are still putting the finishing touches on stadiums two days before the World Cup warm-up tournament begins, it now appears that handing out tickets is also a big concern.There are thousands of people who have paid for their tickets and not collected them, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said Thursday. They need to do so now. ... At the World Cup it will be even worse so we need people to understand that.Valcke, who is French, noted that in Europe fans like to get their hands on their tickets as soon as they purchase them, while in Brazil people are content to pick them up at the last minute immediately before the match begins.That cannot happen here mainly for security reasons, Valcke said. We dont want to have thousands of people collecting their tickets on match day.Three times the number of tickets have been sold for this event compared to the last Confederations Cup in South Africa four years ago. Attention has been raised by the Brazilian league being put on hold during the tournament.All three group matches featuring Brazil are already sold out, highlighted by the opener against Japan in Brasilia on Saturday.I urge all fans that will go Brasilia to arrive early to avoid standing in lines, said Jose Maria Marin, president of the local organizing committee and the Brazilian football confederation. This is extremely important.Tickets for other matches not involving Brazil are still available.Spread over six cities, the tournament is divided into two groups. Also in Group A with Brazil and Japan are Italy and Mexico, while Group B features world and European champion Spain, Tahiti, Uruguay and Nigeria.It will be the largest championship here since the 1950 World Cup, Marin said.As for the last-minute construction work, FIFA President Sepp Blatter was not surprised.In all the facilities we are going to use now there have been test competitions and it has shown that it has worked, Blatter said. I have been in competitions where (for) the opening match of the real competition one hour before they are still working. ... So to me it is not a surprise that they are still working two days before it begins.Only two of the stadiums were completed by the original deadline in December. At the venues in Brasilia and in Rio de Janeiro, home of the final at the renovated Maracana Stadium on June 30, there was time for only one test event.Let us see, let us hope, Blatter said.This tournament will also mark the first time goal-line technology is used in a major FIFA tournament, and Blatter is convinced it will work well.Its not one solution, it is THE solution, he said. It will assist the referees in cases of conflict. ... (The system is) completely reliable.The tournament features the champions of each continental confederation, plus the hosts and World Cup holder. Italy qualified as the European runner-up since Spain already had a spot as world champion.They are all champions so if they win they will become the champion of the champions, Valcke said.  |
| Golf: Mickelson grabs lead at US Open Posted: ARDMORE (AFP) - Phil Mickelson shrugged off an overnight flight scramble and an early morning thunderstorm to grab the early clubhouse lead in the 113th US Open at Merion Golf Club on Thursday.Mickelson skipped practice rounds at the course on Tuesday and Wednesday to fly back to California and attend his daughter Amandas eighth-grade graduation ceremony, then flew back in time to start the Open on Thursday.The airplane landed at Philadelphia at 4:15 in the morning and the 42-year-old left-hander reached the course 87 minutes later, well ahead of his 7:11 a.m. tee time.Seeking a first US Open title after finishing runner-up a record five times, Mickelson then set about tackling Merions East course, hosting the US Open for the first time in 32 years.He opened with a bogey at the 11th, but was back on level par before a storm system dumped torrential rain on the course and sent the morning starters scurrying for cover after just 111 minutes of play.When the round resumed 3 hours 32 minutes later, Mickelson, a four-time major champion, used his supreme short-game skills to added birdies at the first (his ninth), seventh and ninth holes, the last where his putt went in from 30 feet.His three-under 67 was his lowest opening round in the US Open since 1999.It also gave him the clubhouse lead and the luxury of putting his feet up and watching the afternoon starters try to match him, knowing that due to the delay they would be unable to complete their rounds by nightfall.I loved having an early tee time, Mickelson said.I wish we didnt have the rain delay because it made for a little bit longer day, but the golf course is playing about as easy as it could and yet Merion is really fighting hard.We were having a hard time scoring low here. Its so demanding. Its such a great track. Its one of the best Ive seen for a US Open.Big-hitting Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts was closest to Mickelson, two strokes back after a 69 and he expected to stay near the top of the leaderboard.I would be surprised if someone goes crazy today, really, he said.At level par 70 were were South Afrian pair Charl Schwartzel and Tim Clark along with Americans Rickie Fowler and Jerry Kelly who had a double-bogey six at the tough 18th, and Australias Jason Day.Justin Rose, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and Steve Stricker were among those handily placed on 71.There were early struggles for Sergio Garcia and Padraig Harrington, both of whom had 73s, while world number four Matt Kuchar disappointed with a 74.Tournament favorite Tiger Woods saw his afternoon start time delayed by three and a half hours as he set off in the company of the two players after him in the world rankings - Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott.The delay meant that they and the 25 other afternoon groupings in the 156-strong field would not be able to complete their opening rounds, even if a secondary belt of bad weather, forecast for late in the afternoon, failed to materialize.Woods, whose last major win came at the US Open at Torrey Pines in 2008 when he won an 18-hole playoff against Rocco Mediate on what turned out to be a broken leg, is back near his best with four tournament wins this year already.But to seal his comeback he needs to win a 15th major title and move to within three of the all-time record of 18 set by Jack Nicklaus when he won the 1986 Masters.Playing partner McIlroy is still waiting for his 2013 season to catch fire after an equipment change that has proved more problematic than he expected.  |
| Oil back above $96 on US steady hiring Posted: NEW YORK (AP) - The price of oil rose above $96 a barrel Thursday on signs of steady hiring and resilient consumer spending in the U.S.U.S. benchmark oil for July delivery gained 81 cents to close at $96.69 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.A pair of economic reports in the U.S. boosted oil.The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell to 334,000 last week, below what economists had expected, the government said. Another report showed that U.S. retail sales increased 0.6 percent in May from April. That's the fastest pace since February.Elsewhere the economic news didn't bode as well for energy demand.The World Bank now expects the economy of the eurozone, the 17 countries sharing the euro currency, to contract by 0.6 percent this year. Its previous forecast was for a 0.1 percent contraction.Brent crude, a benchmark for many international oil varieties, was up 76 cents to end at $104.25 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.  |
| Man paid in hugs for haircuts kicked out of park Posted: HARTFORD (AP) - A man who has been giving free haircuts to the homeless in exchange for hugs for 25 years has been kicked out of a park by city health officials.Anthony Joe the Barber Cymerys has been a fixture every Wednesday for years at Bushnell Park, where he cuts hair and his friends hand out food to the needy.But shortly after the 82-year-old Cymerys set up shop this week, he said, health officials and police confronted him and his friends and told them they had to leave because they didnt have permits.I thought it was a drug raid, honest to God, Cymerys said. It was the peanut gallery on TV where everyone was watching.City officials had no immediate comment. A spokeswoman for Mayor Pedro Segarra said she expected to release a statement about Cymerys by the citys Health and Human Services Department or police department later Thursday.Cymerys, who learned how to cut hair growing up and isnt a licensed barber, said he wasnt completely surprised by officials actions because theyve asked him before to leave the park and other areas. He hopes to continue cutting hair for free at the Immaculate Conception Shelter. He said he always takes health precautions including soaking his trimmers in alcohol.Twenty-five years Ive been giving haircuts, and no one died on me, he said.His friends questioned the citys actions, saying officials kicked him out of the park only a year after honoring him for his humanitarian work.Its kind of ironic that a year ago the mayor was giving him a citation for all the good work hes been doing with the homeless there and they kick us out, said George Pfuetzner, who gives out food at the park while Cymerys cuts hair.Pfuetzner said he was trying to get in touch with a city health official Thursday to discuss his and Cymerys options.They want to keep operating in the park because its a central location and people know theyre there.Cymerys began giving free haircuts to the homeless in the city around 1988, when he was volunteering at a shelter.He said he met a heroin addict named Arnold who needed a haircut, so he offered his services.I said, Geez, Arnold. Not only are you a bum, you look like a bum. How about I bring in my clippers? Cymerys recalled.  |
| Sri Lanka beat England to stay alive in Trophy Posted: LONDON (AP) - Sri Lanka made light of an imposing target of 294 by beating England with 17 balls to spare to stay alive in the Champions Trophy on Thursday.England was on course to clinch a semifinal berth after posting 293-7 under The Oval lights, but a century by Kumar Sangakkara and brilliant late fireworks from Nuwan Kulasekara led Sri Lanka to 297-3, the second-best successful run chase in Oval history.The seven-wicket win meant Group A remained an open race for the semifinals, with New Zealand on 3 points, Sri Lanka and England on 2, and defending champion Australia also in contention on 1.The Sri Lankans were all out for 138 last Sunday in a loss to New Zealand, so their prospects were dim when they were asked to score at nearly 6 an over in the dusk. But the old heads spearheaded the chase and were at it almost straight away. Sangakkara was called on after only 14 balls, after opener Kusal Perera was out for 6.He and Tillakaratne Dilshan, the worlds two leading ODI scorers last year, forced England to try six bowlers against them as they combined for 92 before Dilshan was out for 44 with a big heave to long on.Sangakkara was then joined by Mahela Jayawardene. Theyve known each other a long time, and theyre owners of in a seafood restaurant in Colombo called Ministry of Crab. They were as tough as crabs together, putting on 85 for the third wicket before Jayawardene holed out to deep square leg to give James Anderson his second wicket at 187-3.We had to play well at the start, see off Jimmy Anderson, but Mahela played really well and we got on top of it, Sangakkara said. Im pleased to have done well.Sri Lanka surprisingly promoted bowling allrounder Kulasekara, who was the only change in the team after the New Zealand loss. But it was an inspired choice.With Sangakkara unmovable, Kulasekara saw the victory line and raced to it. He whacked an unbeaten 58 off 38 balls, including successive sixes off spinner Graeme Swann and another six off Stuart Broad over fine leg.Sangakkara said of Kulasekara: He took the pressure off, and those two overs, off Swann and Broad, were decisive.Sangakkara brought up his 15th ODI century off 111 balls, and hit the winning runs to begin the 48th over, his 12th four through square leg. He was unbeaten on 134 off 135 balls, and gave Sri Lanka renewed hope of making the semis at Australias expense on Monday.That was an outstanding hundred, England skipper Alastair Cook said. Any time you chase 300 someone has to play well.England will meet the Kiwis on Sunday for the other semis spot.England paced its innings virtually to perfection, after being reluctantly sent in to bat first. Starting with deliberate caution in the lunchtime gloom, the English made the scoreboard tick over with a gradual but dour regularity while protecting wickets. Their gameplan was boosted by five dropped catches.Opener Ian Bell was the recipient of one drop before he was out for 20, bringing in Jonathan Trott, who anchored England for the middle 30 overs.His chanceless knock of 76 included partnerships of 83 with Cook and 87 with Joe Root.Cook was dropped on 23 and 56 and was finally out lbw to spinner Rangana Herath. The captain compounded his missed sweep by wasting the teams sole video review.Trott and Root upped the run-rate. Roots face was at the end of David Warners punch in a pub early Sunday that got the Australian suspended on Thursday, and while the incident embarrassed the England batsman, it had no effect on his growing stage presence.Root was given lives on 37 and 57 off unlucky fast bowler Lasith Malinga. He and Trott had England primed for late frolics by lifting the score to 201-2 with 10 overs to go.Trott was first to depart, Root followed and England went into a mini collapse.But Ravi Bopara, whose no-pressure, late-inning blasts helped England beat New Zealand and Australia in the last eight days, came through again when he took 28 off the last over to help England plunder 92 runs off the last 10 overs.Bopara finished with an unbeaten 33 off 13 balls. A few hours later, he was out-blasted by Kulasekara.  |
| Bravo ramps up pressure on South Africa 'chokers' Posted: CARDIFF (AFP) - West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo hopes that South Africas habit of choking at major tournaments will work in his sides favour when they meet in a winner-takes-all Champions Trophy clash on Friday.Whichever team comes out on top in Cardiff will join already qualified India as one of the two semi-finalists out of Group B in a competition featuring the worlds top eight one-day nations.Despite having had several fine limited overs sides since re-admission, the Proteas havent lifted a major one-day trophy since winning the 1998 edition of this tournament.Especially at World Cups, theyve found some remarkable ways to bow out, be it a dramatic 1999 tie with Australia at Edgbaston when they had the match all but won or failing to read correctly the Duckworth/Lewis sheet for rain-affected fixtures on home soil four years later.Hence the tag of chokers, one Bravo had no hesitation in using despite the fact the West Indies have not beaten South Africa in a one-day international since 2006.I think in tournaments, it doesnt really matter whether you win previous games against opposition or not, Bravo told reporters in Cardiff on Thursday.I think the South Africans will feel the pressure also. They know if they lose, they are going back home. They have a tag of being chokers that do not do well in big tournaments, so that would be added pressure on them.For us, were going to enjoy the occasion and forget about what happens in previous games, added Bravo of a West Indies side who won last years World Twenty20 event.Its a tournament. Its a knockout game. Weve been in this situation before, do well and go beyond. So, no pressure is on us, the all-rounder added.Im really excited and looking forward to this game tomorrow (Friday).South Africa, however, are set to field Dale Steyn for the first time this tournament on Friday.Widely regarded as the best fast bowler currently in world cricket, Steyn has yet to feature in this Champions Trophy after suffering a side-strain in a warm-up defeat by Pakistan.However, Proteas captain AB de Villuers was confident of unleashing Steyn against the West Indies.He bowled at a 100 percent intensity yesterday (Wednesday), and it was sort of the first part of his fitness assessment and today hes doing a bit more, de Villiers said.Hes 99.9 percent ready, but were just going to make sure this (Thursday) afternoon that hell be ready to go.Both teams have won one and lost one of their two pool matches thus far.If the forecast rain does descend on Sophia Gardens to such an extent no result is possible, South Africa would go through to the last four courtesy of their superior net run-rate.However, a reduced overs match could favour the West Indies, given their status as World Twenty20 champions.But de Villiers said South Africa would have no problems adapting, if required, to a shortened fixture.Whether we play a shortened game or a normal game, its all about focus and team intensity off the field, he said.I mention this so often, but its really true, the guys that can adapt the quickest can really walk on the field and switch on straight away.We still rate ourselves as a serious cricket team in whatever format we play and however many overs we play in, said wicketkeeper-batsman de Villiers, also a key figure in the South Africa side now on top of the world Test rankings.Whatever happens tomorrow well go out and make sure we play better than the opposition.  |
| CNG prices surge after increase in ST Posted: ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - In the wake of increase in Sales tax, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources has also increased prices of CNG.In region 1 including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Potohar price of CNG has been increased by 46 paisa and new price in region 1 will be Rs 74.90 per kg. In Sindh and Punjab excluding Pothohar new price of CNG will be Rs 74.90 per kg with increase of 39 paisa.It is pertinent to mention here that prices of petroleum products and compressed natural Gas (CNG) have been increased after imposition of GST by 1 percent in the federal budget 2013-14.  |
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