Germany will definitely reach World Cup final: Cafu

MARACANA, Brazil: The two-time champion is a huge admirer of Joachim Low's side and feels they will be the hosts' opposition at the Maracana on July 13.

Cafu is in no doubt that Brazil will meet Germany in the finalof this summer's World Cup. The former Selecao skipper has the utmost respect for Joachim Low'smen, who reached the semi-finals in South Africa in 2010 with ayoung side that drew praise for their attacking endeavour.

Cafu now believes that the Germans, with a further four years ofexperience under their belts, are now host nation Brazil's mostlikely opponents in Rio on July 13.

'Germany are a very strong team,' the two-time World Cup winnertold Sportinformations-Dienst.'

They are very highly rated here [in Brazil]. Germany have developed very well.'We all believe in a final against Germany. They will definitely reach the final.'

Cafu, who represented the likes of Roma and AC Milan during astellar playing career, led Brazil to a 2-0 victory over Germany inthe final of the 2002 World Cup.

Djokovic beats Cilic to reach French Open 4th rd

PARIS: Second-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia beat Marin Cilic for the ninth straight time Friday to reach the fourth round of the French Open, laboring to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-4 win.

Djokovic has never lost to the Croat since they first played each other six years ago. But he dropped serve early to trail 3-1, made sloppy unforced errors in the tiebreaker, and was broken back in the fourth set after leading 4-2. He won when Cilic double faulted.

The six-time Grand Slam champion next plays either 13th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France or No. 22 Jerzy Janowicz of Poland, who played later Thursday.

Djokovic is looking to win the French Open for the first time and lost to eight-time champion Rafael Nadal in the semifinals last year. (AP)

Dilshan helps Sri Lanka reach 256-8 against England

Dilshan helps Sri Lanka reach 256-8 against EnglandCHESTER-LE-STREET, United Kingdom: Tillakaratne Dilshan made a crucial contribution of 88 runs as Sri Lanka finished on 256-8 after being put in to bat for the second successive one-day international against England on Sunday.

Dilshan was involved in an intriguing battle at the start of the innings with James Anderson, who took two wickets, including his 250th in ODI cricket.

Ashan Priyanjan added an important 43 runs for the tourists and there were three wickets for Harry Gurney near the end of the innings.
James Anderson posed problems for the opening batsmen Dilshan and Lahiru Thirimanne and the latter faced 18 balls before finally getting off the mark.

Anderson claimed the wicket his excellent opening burst deserved when Thirimanne was caught at slip by James Tredwell after scoring only ten in nine overs.

Dilshan was in fine form, however, and after almost being run out in the 16th over went on to score his 35th half-century in ODI cricket. It was invaluable for Sri Lanka, however, and his partnership with Kumar Sangakkara provided a solid foundation. The partnership added 96 runs before Sangakkara, who hit only two boundaries in his 40, hoisted a Tredwell delivery high into the air and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler took the catch.
The new batsman, Mahela Jayawardene, survived only eight deliveries before he was run out for two by an excellent throw from Gary Ballance.
Dilshan was 12 short of a deserved century when Chris Jordan, the star of England´s success in the opening encounter at The Oval, found movement off the pitch to hit the top of his off-stump. It was a delivery that could only enhance his prospects of a Test call-up this summer.
Ashan Priyanjan now emerged as the main threat to England. He struck two sixes from Tredwell´s final over after being dropped by Harry Gurney at third man in the previous over.
His partnership with Angelo Mathews reached 50 in 44 deliveries before Mathews again benefited from poor fielding when Ravi Bopara failed to take an easy catch at deep midwicket.
Bopara did succeed when Mathews offered another chance off the bowling of Harry Gurney, ending a fifth-wicket partnership of 66 at better than a run a ball.
Priyanjan soon followed him for 43 as a catch by Eoin Morgan gave Anderson is 250th wicket in ODI cricket, while Dinesh Chandimal and Nuwan Kulasekara soon followed.
(AFP)

Forex reserves to reach $15 bn by Sept 30, says Dar

 

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Saturday said that forex reserves have increased to $12 billion and will reach $15 billion by September 30.
He was talking to prominent UK fund managers, including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) London Stock Exchange Xavier Rolet, who called on the minister, says a statement of the Finance Ministry.

The minister apprised them that the country’s macro-economic indicators have shown steady improvement as a result of the stabilisation and structural reforms undertaken by the government.

He also informed the delegation that the capital market in Pakistan grew by over 40% since the government took over and apprised them that the country was open to business and offered attractive investment opportunities with high returns.

Dar said the response of international investors was overwhelming and the subscription was 14 times over the amount originally intended.

He mentioned that with the launch of the Euro bond Pakistan has returned to the international bond market after seven years of absence.

He said Pakistan’s recent dollar bond received bids totalling $7 billion, reflecting the strong demand for Pakistan’s sovereign paper.

The minister also informed that Pakistan will issue an Islamic bond denominated in dollars for Islamic banking institutions and funds.

He informed the group that after initiating home grown economic reforms with successful implementation, Pakistan’s standing in the international markets has improved considerably.

While talking about the energy crisis, the minister told the delegation that the government was launching various energy projects and taking necessary steps to add around 10,000 megawatts generation to the national grid which

will eliminate the energy shortfall in the next four years.

He said the government has already managed to clear the circular debt of Rs500 billion within 45 days of taking oath. He added that the World Bank has approved two concessionary loans to Pakistan after a period of five years and will provide $1 billion for energy and development reforms.

He said the government has secured the necessary financing for the construction of the Dasu Hydropower Project. The financing of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam is in progress and the government has already started acquisition of land from its own resources for this project.

The minister also highlighted the opportunities in the telecommunication sector and informed the group about the recent auction of 3G and 4G licences which has fetched over $1.1 billion recently in a transparent manner.

Speaking about the privatisation agenda of the government, Dar informed the delegation that financial advisers have already been appointed through due process for the disinvestment of shares of United Bank Limited, OGDCL and PPL through London as well as Pakistan’s stock exchanges.

On the occasion, the UK fund managers appreciated the positive steps taken by the Pakistani government to put the economy back on track.

Rolet informed the minister about the institutional appetite of British companies towards Pakistan after the phenomenal growth in its capital market.

While praising the reform initiatives of the present government, he said Pakistan’s economic success story is gaining momentum and now needs to be told in a right way to the right people. He mentioned the ongoing collaboration between the London and Karachi stock exchanges with praiseworthy results.

He added that the London Stock Exchange is looking at ways to maximise partnership opportunities with Pakistan’s corporate sector.

Rolet congratulated Dar on the impressive success of Pakistan’s Euro bond issue in the international market.

US, Philippines reach deal on troops

 

Filipino activists burn a mock U.S. flag as they hold a short protest in Manila, Philippines on Sunday. The group is opposing the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama and a looming pact that will increase the American military presence in the Philippines. Photo: AP

The United States and the Philippines have reached a 10-year pact that would allow a larger U.S. military presence in this Southeast Asian nation as it grapples with increasingly tense territorial disputes with China, according to two Philippine officials and a confidential government primer seen by The Associated Press on Sunday.

The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which would give American forces temporary access to selected military camps and allow them to preposition fighter jets and ships, is due to be signed on Monday at the Department of Defense in the Philippine capital, Manila, shortly before the arrival of President Barack Obama, the officials said. Mr. Obama’s visit is the last leg of a four-country Asian tour that also took him to Japan, South Korea and Malaysia.

The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss details of the pact ahead of its signing.

A Philippine government primer on the defence accord did not indicate how many additional U.S. troops would be deployed “on temporary and rotational basis,” but it said that the number would depend on the scale of joint military activities to be held in Philippine camps.

The Philippine Constitution bars permanent U.S. military bases. Under the agreement, a Filipino base commander would have access to entire areas to be shared with American forces, according to the primer.

Disagreements over Philippine access to designated U.S. areas within local camps had hampered the negotiations for the agreement last year.

The agreement would promote better coordination between U.S. and Filipino forces, boost the 120,000-strong Philippine military’s capability to monitor and secure the country’s territory and respond to natural disasters and other emergencies. “Pre-positioned materiel will allow for timely responses in the event of disasters natural or otherwise,” the primer said.

The presence of foreign troops is a sensitive issue in the Philippines, a former American colony.

The Philippine Senate voted in 1991 to close down major U.S. bases at Subic and Clark, northwest of Manila. However, in 1999, it ratified a pact with the United States allowing temporary visits by American forces. That paved the way for hundreds of U.S. forces to hold counterterrorism combat exercises with Filipino troops dealing with insurgents in the country’s south.

This time, the focus of the Philippines and its underfunded military has increasingly turned to external threats as territorial spats with China in the potentially oil-and gas-rich South China Sea heated up in recent years. The Philippines has turned to Washington, its longtime defense treaty ally, for help modernize its navy and air force, among Asia’s weakest.

Chinese paramilitary ships took effective control of the disputed Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground off the northwestern Philippines, in 2012. Last year, Chinese coast guard ships were deployed to another contested offshore South China Sea territory, the Second Thomas Shoal, where they have been trying to block food supplies and rotation of Filipino marines aboard a grounded Philippine navy ship in the shallow waters of the remote coral outcrops.

The Philippines’ desire to bolster its territorial defense has dovetailed with Washington’s intention to pivot away from years of heavy military engagement in the Middle East to Asia, partly as a counterweight to China’s rising clout.

Such convergence would work to deter China’s increasingly assertive stance in disputed territories, Philippine analyst Ramon Casiple said. But it could also further antagonize Beijing, which sees such tactical alliance as a U.S. strategy to contain its rise, and encourage China to intensify its massive military buildup.

Arsenal beats holder Wigan to reach FA up final

LONDON: Arsenal avoided FA Cup embarrassment against second-tier club Wigan on Saturday, coming from behind against the holder and winning a penalty shootout to reach the final where the London club will be looking to end a nine-year trophy drought.

After extra time ended 1-1, Arsenal´s players scored all of their penalties and Lukasz Fabianski made two vital saves in a 4-2 shootout victory over Wigan in this meeting of the fifth-place teams in the Premier League and League Championship.

Wigan went in front in regular time from the penalty spot at Wembley Stadium. Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker conceded the spot kick that Jordi Gomez converted but the German made amends by heading in the equalizer that sent the game into extra time. "In the first half we were a bit timid," Mertesacker said. "A lot of people questioned (our character) recently but how we came back today we proved a lot."

A year after winning its first major trophy by beating Manchester City and then again in this year´s semifinals, Wigan couldn´t produce another upset against a Premier League power — much to Arsene Wenger´s relief. "It was important mentally," the Arsenal manger said. "If you imagine the consequences of going out tonight, it would have been quite worrying."

With the second half of his 18-year reign defined by the lack of silverware, Wenger desperately needs to collect a first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup success when Arsenal returns to Wembley for the final.

It could be a bittersweet end to the season, though, with Arsenal at risk of missing out on the Champions League after 16 successive years. Just before kickoff at Wembley, Arsenal was dislodged from the fourth Champions League place by Everton, which beat Sunderland 1-0.What a slump it has been for Wenger´s side, having spent so much of the opening months of the season on top of the league.

The failure to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window has come back to bite Wenger. How differently things could have turned out if he had brought in an additional striker.

Instead, Wenger on Saturday was relying for goals on 21-year-old striker Yaya Sanogo, who was starting just his fourth game since joining on a free transfer before this season. Olivier Giroud was on the bench.

Sanogo´s lack of cutting edge and pace in front of goal quickly became apparent. The Frenchman was denied by Scott Carson from close range after five minutes and again just before halftime when his unconvincing first touch to control the ball allowed the goalkeeper to thwart the attempt.

If there was anything to reassure a dreary Arsenal side failing to produce the fluid football Wenger champions, it was Wigan´s inability to provide much attacking menace. So Arsenal gifted Wigan the opening to go in front.Mertesacker slid in with a lunge to cut out Callum McManaman´s run and the forward went to ground in the penalty area. After a delay while Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal received treatment elsewhere on the pitch, Gomez, a product of Barcelona´s youth system, sent the spot kick beyond the reach of Lukasz Fabianski.The anger among Arsenal fans who have grown accustomed to failure was clear: Jeers greeted Wenger´s decision to bring Giroud on, not for Sanogo but Lukas Podolski in the 68th.

The equalizer proved elusive. After Carson´s save from Kieran Gibbs´ header sent the ball drifting toward the goal, Wigan defender Stephen Crainey scooped the ball off the line.

Wigan´s goal was finally breached in the 82nd when it couldn´t fully clear a corner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain raised the ball over the defense and Mertesacker headed in at the far post.

It was a lucky escape for Arsenal, which was denied a winner in extra time when Oxlade-Chamberlain hit the crossbar but had better luck in the shootout.

Fabianski saved Wigan´s first two penalties by Gary Caldwell and Jack Collison, while Arteta, Kim Kallstrom, Giroud and Cazorla all netted for the Gunners. "We are walking out of Wembley on paper as losers but in our own mind as winners," said Wigan manager Uwe Rosler, whose focus returns to gaining promotion back to the Premier League. (AP)

Sri Lanka crush Windies to reach World T20 final

DHAKA: Sri Lanka reached the final of the World Twenty20 with a 27-run win over West Indies, the defending champions, after the first semi-final was ended by rain on Thursday.

Set a challenging 161-run target, the West Indies were well short on the Duckworth-Lewis method when a thunderstorm stopped play after 13.5 overs at the Shere Bangla stadium in Dhaka.

West Indies, who would have needed 108 to win on the D/L method, were 80-4 when play was halted.

The win was sweet revenge for Sri Lanka who lost the 2012 final in Colombo to the West Indies. Sri Lanka will face the winners of the second semi-final between 2007 champions India and South Africa, also in Dhaka on Friday. The final will be played in Dhaka on Sunday.

Dwayne Bravo hit a 19-ball 30 studded with three boundaries and a six to take the fight to the Sri Lankan bowlers who took three wickets in the space of nine runs after the West Indies had reached 25-0 in the fifth over.

Spearhead Lasith Malinga, who was leading Sri Lanka after their regular captain Dinesh Chandimal opted out due to lack of form, dismissed dangerman Chris Gayle (three) and Dwayne Smith (17) in his second over.

Malinga had figures of 2-5 in his two overs. Leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna had Lendl Simmons lbw (four) to leave the West Indies struggling at 34-3 before Bravo and Marlon Samuels (18 not out) added 43 for the fourth wicket.

Bravo was smartly caught in the deep by Mahela Jayawardene off paceman Nuwan Kulasekara and three balls later the rain arrived in the aftermath of strong winds. When Sri Lanka batted after winning the toss, Lahiru Thirimanne top-scored with a career best 35-ball 44, Tillakaratne Dilshan made a run-a-ball 39 and Angelo Mathews a fiery 23-ball 40.Mathews hit two sixes and three boundaries to give the innings much-needed impetus before he fell off the last delivery.

Paceman Krishmar Santokie finished with two for 46 runs.

Thirimanne hit three boundaries and two sixes.Sri Lanka had raced to 41 in the fourth over thanks to Dilshan and Kusal Perera (26), before they lost three wickets in the space of 15 balls.Perera, who hit two fours and as many sixes off 12 balls, was bowled by Santokie before Jayawardene was run out without facing a delivery.Kumar Sangakkara miscued a drive and was caught and bowled by leg-spinner Samuel Badree for one.

Dilshan and Thirimanne added 42 for the fourth wicket before Dilshan became the second batsman to be run out. He hit two boundaries and a six.

Army chief, spymaster reach PM House

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief Director General Lt. Gen Zaheerul Islam flew into the Prime Minister house after a meeting of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) discussed much debated issue of Pervez Musharraf’s exit from the country.

The powerful military leaders arrived in a helicopter after the Prime Minister postponed a meeting on national security where both the army chief and the spymaster were invited.

Gen Sharif and Islam were informed about the postponement of the meeting by the prime minister house.

Pakistani crew of MT Morning Glory to reach home soon: Ansar Burney

KARACHI: Ansar Burney, Chairman Ansar Burney Trust, Tuesday confirmed that the 6 hijacked Pakistani crew members of the cargo vessel MT Morning Glory released from Libyan custody today will reach home soon.

The spokesman of Pakistan Foreign Office has confirmed the handing over of Pakistani crew to the embassy in Tripoli, Libya. He said flight arrangements were being made to take them back home.

The Pakistani crew is expected to return by Wednesday evening.

The released crew members of MT Morning Glory include 6 Pakistanis, 6 Indians, 3 Sri Lankans, 2 Syrians, 2 Sudanis and 2 Eritreans.

The Pakistan crew members are: Mirza Noman Baig (Captain), Ghufran Marghoob Ahmed (Cheif Officer), Syed Muhammad Mehdi Shamsi (2nd Officer), Syed Asif Hassan (3rd Officer), Naik Zada (Crew Member), Muhammad Irshad (Crew Member).

Ansar Burney said after the successful rescue effort by the American forces from Cyprian sea water, the cargo vessel along with 21 crew members had reached Libya, where they remained in government custody till earlier today.

He said all the crew members on Board remained safe and expressed gratitude to the Pakistan's Ambassador in Libya, Lt Gen (Retd) Javed Zia who visited and met the Pakistani crew.

Ansar Burney also thanked US President, Barrack Obama, US Pentagon, US Forces, Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen, US Embassy at Islamabad and Pakistan Embassy in Libya for saving 21 human lives including 6 Pakistanis.

He had requested Libyan authorities for an early release of all crew members citing the hardship they had already faced as a result of the hijacking of the vessel by Libyan rebels belonging to Port Es Sider.

Earlier, Ansar Burney had also urged Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Syria, Sudan and Eritrian governments to assist Ansar Burney Trust to ensure an early release of the 21 crew members.

‘Pistorius smashed toilet door with bat to reach wounded Reeva’

Oscar Pistorius was on his stumps when he smashed down a locked toilet door to reach his shot girlfriend, a South African police forensic expert said on Wednesday, countering the Paralympic star’s assertion he was wearing his prosthetic legs at the time.
Wielding the cricket bat in his hands, police colonel Johannes Vermuelen knelt down before swinging it at the wooden door in a court reconstruction to show the angle of the marks and to suggest they could only have been made by someone much shorter than him.
The 27-year-old double amputee is charged with the murder of model and law graduate Reeva Steenkamp, whom he shot through the locked toilet door on Valentine’s Day last year.
Prosecutors want to prove that it was premeditated killing, but Pistorius says he was defending himself from what he thought was an intruder who had broken into his gated-community home in the capital of the crime-ridden country.
At his bail hearing last year, Pistorius justified shooting because of the extreme vulnerability he felt because of his disability. However, in his affidavit he stated that he had put on his prostheses before smashing down the door.
Vermuelen disagreed. “The marks on the door are actually consistent with him not having his legs on and I suspect they must be similar to the height that he was when he fired the shots,” he told the court.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh to reach Asia Cup final

DHAKA: Pakistan beat Bangladesh by three wickets on Tuesday to reach the Asia Cup final.
Bangladesh's highest-ever one-day international score of 326-3 was built around a brilliant 132-ball 100 by opener Anamul Haque before Pakistan chased down the target in 49.5 overs with a fighting 103 by Ahmed Shehzad and a firey 25-ball 59 by Shahid Afridi. Fawad Alam made 74.

Pakistan will meet Sri Lanka in Saturday's final.