Li Keqiang in Athens
19 06 2014
Posted on June 19, 2014
Li Keqiang in Athens Thursday for an official visit, his first trip to Greece since taking office in 2013.
Li is scheduled to meet with top Greek leaders, including President Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Parliament Speaker Evangelos Vasileios Meimarakis.
During the visit, both countries are expected to sign more than 20 cooperation agreements and business contracts on trade, investment, finance, shipping, technology, culture and quality inspection, according to Chinese Ambassador to Greece Zou Xiaoli.
As a highlight of Li’s visit, the two prime ministers will jointly inspect the Piraeus Container Terminal (PCT) near Athens, part of which is operated China’s state-owned shipping giant COSCO under a 35-year lease signed in 2009.
The premier will also address a forum on maritime cooperation between China and Greece, and deliver a speech to expound China’s views on maritime issues.
Li’s visit will further consolidate bilateral traditional friendship, deepen political trust and expand win-win cooperation in diversified fields, said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao.
Greece is the second leg of Li’s two-nation Europe trip, which has taken him to Britain, where he witnessed the signing of a set of cooperation deals worth over 30 billion U.S. dollars.
Li will conclude his visit on Saturday.
Li is scheduled to meet with top Greek leaders, including President Karolos Papoulias, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Parliament Speaker Evangelos Vasileios Meimarakis.
During the visit, both countries are expected to sign more than 20 cooperation agreements and business contracts on trade, investment, finance, shipping, technology, culture and quality inspection, according to Chinese Ambassador to Greece Zou Xiaoli.
As a highlight of Li’s visit, the two prime ministers will jointly inspect the Piraeus Container Terminal (PCT) near Athens, part of which is operated China’s state-owned shipping giant COSCO under a 35-year lease signed in 2009.
The premier will also address a forum on maritime cooperation between China and Greece, and deliver a speech to expound China’s views on maritime issues.
Li’s visit will further consolidate bilateral traditional friendship, deepen political trust and expand win-win cooperation in diversified fields, said Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao.
Greece is the second leg of Li’s two-nation Europe trip, which has taken him to Britain, where he witnessed the signing of a set of cooperation deals worth over 30 billion U.S. dollars.
Li will conclude his visit on Saturday.
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Iraq requests US strikes
19 06 2014
Posted on June 19, 2014
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told reporters in Saudi Arabia
that Baghdad had asked Washington “to conduct air strikes against
terrorist groups”.Zebari acknowledged “the need for drastic political
solutions.”Washington has deployed an aircraft carrier to the Gulf and
sent military personnel to bolster security at its Baghdad embassy, but
Obama insists a return to combat in Iraq is not in the cards. The United
States spent billions of dollars over several years training and arming
Iraqi security forces after disbanding the Sunni-led army following the
2003 invasion that ousted dictator Saddam Hussein.
But the security forces wilted when faced with the militant offensive on June 9 which saw insurgents quickly capture Mosul, a city of some two million people, and then parts of Salaheddin, Kirkuk and Diyala provinces.
Some abandoned their vehicles and uniforms when faced with the insurgents, which are led by ISIL fighters but also include Saddam loyalists. The Sunni fighters have been led by the powerful Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, but also include a wide coalition of other Sunni Arab militant groups, as well as loyalists of executed dictator Saddam Hussein. Though the alliance has made significant territorial gains, the wildly divergent ideologies of its constituent groups means it may struggle to survive over time, analysts say.
And while they struggled in the early part of the offensive, Iraq´s security forces appear to be performing better in recent days, managing to make advances in certain areas, though militants have made their own gains elsewhere.
US officials turned on Iraq´s leader, blaming his “sectarian” policies for the country´s crisis as Washington Thursday weighed calls for air strikes on Sunni militants bearing down on Baghdad.
The sharp criticism of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki came as he scrambled to repel an insurgent onslaught that has seen an entire province and parts of three others fall out of government control in an offensive that could threaten Iraq´s very existence.
The militants´ swift advance has sparked international alarm and the United Nations has warned that the crisis was “life-threatening for Iraq”.
Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been displaced in the nine days of fighting and an unknown number killed, while dozens of Indians and Turks have been kidnapped.
With President Barack Obama mulling a request by Baghdad for air strikes on the advancing militants, US officials castigated Maliki, publicly echoing long-held criticisms among his domestic opponents of sectarianism.
US Vice President Joe Biden urged greater political inclusion in Iraq in phone calls with Maliki and other Iraqi officials, the White House said.
Biden “stressed the need for national unity in responding to the ISIL threat against all Iraqi communities,” in calls with Maliki, Iraqi Council of Representatives Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, and President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani, it said.
The top-ranking military officer, General Martin Dempsey, and former US commander David Petraeus both also rounded on the premier.
“There is very little that could have been done to overcome the degree to which the government of Iraq had failed its people,” Dempsey said.
Petraeus warned at a conference in London that Washington risked becoming an “air force for Shiite militias” and supporting “one side of what could be a sectarian civil war” if political reconciliation were not agreed.
But the security forces wilted when faced with the militant offensive on June 9 which saw insurgents quickly capture Mosul, a city of some two million people, and then parts of Salaheddin, Kirkuk and Diyala provinces.
Some abandoned their vehicles and uniforms when faced with the insurgents, which are led by ISIL fighters but also include Saddam loyalists. The Sunni fighters have been led by the powerful Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, but also include a wide coalition of other Sunni Arab militant groups, as well as loyalists of executed dictator Saddam Hussein. Though the alliance has made significant territorial gains, the wildly divergent ideologies of its constituent groups means it may struggle to survive over time, analysts say.
And while they struggled in the early part of the offensive, Iraq´s security forces appear to be performing better in recent days, managing to make advances in certain areas, though militants have made their own gains elsewhere.
US officials turned on Iraq´s leader, blaming his “sectarian” policies for the country´s crisis as Washington Thursday weighed calls for air strikes on Sunni militants bearing down on Baghdad.
The sharp criticism of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki came as he scrambled to repel an insurgent onslaught that has seen an entire province and parts of three others fall out of government control in an offensive that could threaten Iraq´s very existence.
The militants´ swift advance has sparked international alarm and the United Nations has warned that the crisis was “life-threatening for Iraq”.
Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been displaced in the nine days of fighting and an unknown number killed, while dozens of Indians and Turks have been kidnapped.
With President Barack Obama mulling a request by Baghdad for air strikes on the advancing militants, US officials castigated Maliki, publicly echoing long-held criticisms among his domestic opponents of sectarianism.
US Vice President Joe Biden urged greater political inclusion in Iraq in phone calls with Maliki and other Iraqi officials, the White House said.
Biden “stressed the need for national unity in responding to the ISIL threat against all Iraqi communities,” in calls with Maliki, Iraqi Council of Representatives Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, and President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani, it said.
The top-ranking military officer, General Martin Dempsey, and former US commander David Petraeus both also rounded on the premier.
“There is very little that could have been done to overcome the degree to which the government of Iraq had failed its people,” Dempsey said.
Petraeus warned at a conference in London that Washington risked becoming an “air force for Shiite militias” and supporting “one side of what could be a sectarian civil war” if political reconciliation were not agreed.
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Felipe VI proclaimed King of Spain
19 06 2014
OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUÉ | The @rfef expresses its best wishes to HRM King Felipe VI
MADRID, June 19 – Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbon y Grecia proclaimed King of Spain on Thursday at the Spanish parliament in a solemn ceremony. Felipe VI, who became King since midnight after his father sanctioned on Wednesday evening the law on his abdication, received the royal sash from his father, Juan Carlos, at 9:30 local time (0730 GMT) at the Palace of Zarzuela. Just Half an hour later, Felipe VI and Letizia, the new Queen, drove to the Spanish Congress along with their daughters, the Princess of Asturias, Leonor, and her sister Infanta Sofia.
Spanish citizens gathered in the road to greet the new monarch on their way to the parliament and many more were awaiting the arrival of them at the Spanish parliament. All the operation was carried out under tight security measures as around 7,000 members of the country’s security forces watched over the proclamation.
The monarch arrived at the Congress at 10:30 local time (0830 GMT), where the King received military honors and the national anthem was played before the King, the Queen, the Princess of Asturias, her sister and Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy got inside the parliament.
Former king of Spain, Juan Carlos, did not assist to the ceremony as according to the Royal House, the spotlight should rest on the new King on Thursday and on the former King on Wednesday, when Juan Carlos sanctioned the law on his abdication.
The ceremony was attended by lawmakers, high-level politicians and also some members of the King’s family. No foreign leaders have been invited to the ceremony.
After swearing loyalty to Spain’s constitution, the new King began his speech paying tribute to his father, former King Juan Carlos I, for his “exceptional reign” that was already part of Spain’s history, and also to his mother, former Queen Sofia for “her dignity and hard work”.
Felipe VI highlighted the fact that the parliamentary monarchy must continue to serve Spain, defending general interests and representing stability and neutrality.
He defended the idea of “a new monarchy for a new era” and the unity of Spain.
After the proclamation, the new King and his wife drove through some of the most emblematic streets in the heart of Madrid to the Palacio de Oriente.The streets were lined with people to greet the new King and Queen, while around 8,000 people were at the square of the Palacio de Oriente.Felipe VI, his wife Letizia, their children, and former King Juan Carlos and Sofia saluted the crowds from the palace’s balcony.Afterwards, there was a reception at the Palace with around 2,000 guests from all walks of society. Media agencies
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NDMA, VC M Shashidhar Reddy has resigned
19 06 2014Vice Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), M Shashidhar Reddy has resigned from his post. Mr. Reddy told reporters in New Delhi that he has sent his resignation to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi three day before. Mr. Modi is also the chairman of NDMA. Mr. Reddy said some NDMA members have also resigned. He was appointed NDMA Vice Chairman during the UPA government.
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PMO Secy R Ramanujam gets 3-month extension
19 06 2014
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Chhattisgarh Governor Shekhar Dutt resign,
19 06 2014
Chhattisgarh Governor Shekhar Dutt has tendered his resignation last night.
Mr Dutt put in his papers at a time when the NDA government at the Centre is pressing for the resignation of Governors appointed during previous UPA regime.His tenure as the Governor of Chhattisgarh was supposed to end in January next year.
Mr Dutt put in his papers at a time when the NDA government at the Centre is pressing for the resignation of Governors appointed during previous UPA regime.His tenure as the Governor of Chhattisgarh was supposed to end in January next year.
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MEA: Info about location of abducted Indians provided by Iraq govt
19 06 2014|
|
 The External Affairs Ministry has said Iraqi government has provided information about the location of the abducted 40 Indian workers. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi this evening, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said, Indian Embassy in Baghdad has been persistently following the matter with the Iraqi authorities. Mr Akbaruddin said, the government is giving highest priority to the safety and security of the Indians there. Yesterday, India had confirmed that 40 Indians were kidnapped in violence-hit Iraq city of Mosul. Replying to a question, Mr Akbaruddin said, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has also talked to Chief Minister of Punjab as most of the abducted workers are from Punjab. The Spokesman reiterated that New Delhi is ready to work with any organisation or individual who is willing to assist in this difficult situation. Earlier, in the day, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said all efforts are underway to rescue Indian nationals kidnapped in Iraq. She told reporters in New Delhi that she is personally supervising the rescue efforts. Ms Swaraj assured the relatives of the kidnapped people that the government will leave no stone unturned to rescue them. Meanwhile, in Punjab, more than 50 families have approached the state government and provided details of their relatives stuck in Iraq. Punjab Government has set up a control room at Chandigarh with telephone numbers 0172-2740397 and 0172-2740035 besides a fax number 0172-2740936. A Punjab Government spokesman said in Chandigarh that the moment control room numbers were flashed on the TV channels, the two telephone lines of the civil control room were flooded with calls from anxious relatives. Deputy Commissioners of various districts are approaching the families of those who are in Iraq. Haryana Government has also set up a control room in Chandigarh with telephone number 0172-5059197 to get any information from people about their relatives in Iraq. A senior officer of Haryana Government said in Chandigarh that government has got details of 20 persons of Haryana who are in Iraq but none of them is in the list of those who have been abducted. |
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(ID-NBFCS) to Issue Secured Debentures
19 06 2014
Infrastructure Finance Companies and Infrastructure Debt Fund
Non-Banking Financial Companies (ID-NBFCS) to Issue Secured Debentures
The Ministry has decided to allow Infrastructure Finance companies and Infrastructure Debt Fund Non-Banking Financial Companies (ID-NBFCs) to issue secured debentures for a period up to thirty years. Similarly, Housing Finance companies have been allowed relaxed terms for maintaining Debenture Redemption Reserve on lines similar to NBFCs registered with RBIs. Necessary amendments in Rules have been notified.It has also been clarified that an independent Merchant Banker who is registered with SEBI or an independent Chartered Accountant in practice having a minimum experience of ten years may be engaged by companies for preparing valuation reports required before making preferential allotment of shares.
The relevant notification is available on the Ministry’s website at http://www.mca.gov.in
The Ministry has decided to allow Infrastructure Finance companies and Infrastructure Debt Fund Non-Banking Financial Companies (ID-NBFCs) to issue secured debentures for a period up to thirty years. Similarly, Housing Finance companies have been allowed relaxed terms for maintaining Debenture Redemption Reserve on lines similar to NBFCs registered with RBIs. Necessary amendments in Rules have been notified.It has also been clarified that an independent Merchant Banker who is registered with SEBI or an independent Chartered Accountant in practice having a minimum experience of ten years may be engaged by companies for preparing valuation reports required before making preferential allotment of shares.
The relevant notification is available on the Ministry’s website at http://www.mca.gov.in
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FAO India Head Calls on Agriculture Minister,
19 06 2014
Peter Kenmore, FAO Representative in India called on the
Agriculture Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh here today to apprise him of
the work done by FAO globally, and in India towards ensuring food
security, price stability, family farming and responsible agriculture
especially in the context of challenges on account of climate change.Mr
Kenmore also discussed the international programmes and interventions of
FAO, especially in locust control, management of diseases like avian
flu, mapping of resources of oceans, forests and global Commons. He
lauded the efforts of India in extending support to global partnership
sin agriculture and food security.
Agriculture Minster discussed India`s new agriculture development policy with renewed focus on marginal and small farmers, micro irrigation, soil health cards and access to credit. He was happy to note that FAO was marking the current year as the International Year of Family Farming. This was specially relevant in the context of production system in India, which was predominantly based on family farms. Drawing upon his personal experiences as a farmer, he expressed his appreciation of FAO`s micro level interventions like the Ajeevika project. He expressed the hope that India and FAO will work together for the food security, not just of India, but also of the entire region, and the world.
Peter Kenmore presented FAO publications and a poster on INM/IPM practices to the Agriculture Minister.
Agriculture Minster discussed India`s new agriculture development policy with renewed focus on marginal and small farmers, micro irrigation, soil health cards and access to credit. He was happy to note that FAO was marking the current year as the International Year of Family Farming. This was specially relevant in the context of production system in India, which was predominantly based on family farms. Drawing upon his personal experiences as a farmer, he expressed his appreciation of FAO`s micro level interventions like the Ajeevika project. He expressed the hope that India and FAO will work together for the food security, not just of India, but also of the entire region, and the world.
Peter Kenmore presented FAO publications and a poster on INM/IPM practices to the Agriculture Minister.
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Reconstitution of Cabinet Committees
19 06 2014
Reconstitution of Cabinet Committees
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The Government has reconstituted six Committees of the Cabinet i.e. Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Cabinet Committee on Accommodation, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs and Cabinet Committee on Security. The members are as follows:-
Composition Prime Minister. Minister of Home Affairs.
Composition Shri Raj Nath Singh, Minister of Home Affairs. Shri Arun Jaitley, Minister of Finance; Minister of Corporate Affairs; and Minister of Defence. Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Minister of Urban Development; Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation; and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways; Minister of Shipping; Minister of Rural Development; Minister of Panchayati Raj; and Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
Composition Prime Minister. Shri Raj Nath Singh, Minister of Home Affairs. Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs; and Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs. Shri Arun Jaitley, Minister of Finance; Minister of Corporate Affairs; and Minister of Defence. Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Minister of Urban Development; Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation; and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways; Minister of Shipping; Minister of Rural Development; Minister of Panchayati Raj; and Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Shri D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Minister of Railways. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communications and Information Technology; and Minister of Law and Justice. Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, Minister of Civil Aviation. Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister of Food Processing Industries. Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Minister of Agriculture. Special Invitees Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Power; Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Coal and Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Minister of State in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Composition Shri Raj Nath Singh, Minister of Home Affairs. Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs; and Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs. Shri Arun Jaitley, Minister of Finance; Minister of Corporate Affairs and Minister of Defence. Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Minister of Urban Development; Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. Dr. Najma A. Heptulla, Minister of Minority Affairs. Shri Ramvilas Paswan, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Shri Ananthkumar, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communications and Information Technology; and Minister of Law and Justice. Special Invitees Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister of Human Resource Development. Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Textiles; Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State in the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. Shri Prakash Javadekar, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.
Composition Prime Minister. Shri Raj Nath Singh, Minister of Home Affairs. Smt Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs; and Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs. Shri Arun Jaitley, Minister of Finance; Minister of Corporate Affairs; and Minister of Defence. Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Minister of Urban Development; Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation; and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways; Minister of Shipping; Minister of Rural Development; Minister of Panchayati Raj; and Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Shri Ramvilas Paswan, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communications and Information Technology; and Minister of Law and Justice. Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, Minister of Civil Aviation. Shri Anant Geete, Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister of Food Processing Industries.
Composition Prime Minister. Shri Raj Nath Singh, Minister of Home Affairs. Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs; and Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs. Shri Arun Jaitley, Minister of Finance; Minister of Corporate Affairs; and Minister of Defence. |
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TRAI holds Open House Discussion on MWA, MWB RD Carriers”
19 06 2014
TRAI holds Open House Discussion on “Allocation and Pricing of Microwave Access (MWA) and Microwave Backbone (MWB) RD Carriers”
| Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) today held an Open
House Discussion on Allocation and Pricing of Microwave Access(MWA) and
Microwave Backbone (WB) RF Carriers. The meeting was chaired by Shri
R.K.Arnold, Member, TRAI. Some of the stakeholders that have earlier
sent written comments aired their comments and suggestions.
Representatives from Cellullar Association of India (CAI),
BhartiAirtel, Idea Cellular Ltd., Relilance Communications Ltd., Sistema
Shyam Teleservices Ltd., Tata Teleservices Ltd., and Vodafone etc.
amongst others presented their comments during the Open House
Consultations.
The comments and counter-comments received earlier have been placed
on the website of TRAI as part of its Consultation Paper dated 28th
March, 2014, Most of the stakeholders substantiated and furthered
their comments that they have already been submitted in written by them. The consultation process was initiated after Department of Telecommunications requested the Authority in November, 2012 to furnish its recommendations for “Allocation and pricing of Microwave Access (MWA) and Microwave Backbone (MWB) RF carriers” in terms of clause 11(1) of the TRAI Act 1997 as amended. TRAI has prepared this consultation paper raising specific issues for consideration of stakeholders viz. number of microwave carriers need to be assigned to TSPs in case of 2G, 3G and BWA technologies, preferred mechanism of assignment of MWA/MWB carriers to the TSPs, i.e., ‘exclusive basis assignment’ or ‘link-to-link based assignment, administrative assignment or assignment through auction, criteria for allocation of additional carriers, pricing mechanism for carriers exploration of options for assignment of MWA carriers in all the spectrum bands in 6-42 GHz range and assignment of MWA carriers in higher frequency bands viz. E-band and V-band. The paper has been placed on TRAI’s website www.trai.gov.in. |
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Top 8 Ticketing Opportunities In Rail
19 06 2014
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Chile win Spain – Croatia beat Cameroon-Netherlands win OZ
19 06 2014-
Span 0
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Chile 2
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Chile created major upset to put defending champions Spain 2-0 to secure their place in the World Cup second round and eliminate the holders on a memorable night at the Maracana on Wednesday.
Chile never beat Spain in their ten previous meetings but always looked the more enterprising, taking the lead with a brilliantly-worked Eduardo Vargas goal after twenty minutes and doubling their lead just before halftime when Charles Aranguiz banged in the rebound from a meek punch by keeper Iker Casillas.
Spain, beaten 5-1 by the Netherlands in their opening Group B match, looked a shadow of the team that triumphed four years ago and won back-to-back European titles, with Sergio Busquets missing the best of their few chances early in the second half.
Spain now become the third holders in the last four tournaments to go out at the group stage following France in 2002 and Italy in 2010.
Croatia beat Cameroon
MANAUS: Striker Mario Mandzukic scored two second-half goals as
Croatia knocked 10-man Cameroon out of the World Cup with a 4-0 rout in
Manaus on Wednesday.
Croatia bounced back from their opening defeat to hosts Brazil to keep alive their hopes of progressing from Group A with an emphatic display.
But Cameroon were largely the architects of their own downfall after playing the last 50 minutes with 10 men after Alexandre Song´s dismissal for a reckless punch to Mandzukic´s back.
The Indomitable Lions seemed anything but as they imploded with full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto even trying to headbutt team-mate Benjamin Moukandjo in the dying moments following an argument.
“I apologise for the result, it really hurts,” said Cameroon´s German coach Volker Finke.
“We had no control on the game and I didn´t like the behaviour of my team.”We have to look forward, this team has players for the future.
“Croatia, for their part, could have doubled their score but at least did what they needed to. Veteran striker Ivica Olic gave them a 1-0 half-time lead before his Wolfsburg team-mate Ivan Perisic added a second ahead of Mandzukic´s brace.
The result leaves Niko Kovac´s Croatia third in the table, just one point behind joint leaders Brazil and Mexico.
Cameroon are bottom with no points.Croatia now face Mexico in Recife on Monday for a place in the last 16.”We have to rest up well, the boys used up a lot of strength today,” said Kovac. “Then we´ll go into what is effectively a final for us and will do everything we can to progress.Croatia bounced back from their opening defeat to hosts Brazil to keep alive their hopes of progressing from Group A with an emphatic display.
The Indomitable Lions seemed anything but as they imploded with full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto even trying to headbutt team-mate Benjamin Moukandjo in the dying moments following an argument.
Croatia, for their part, could have doubled their score but at least did what they needed to. Veteran striker Ivica Olic gave them a 1-0 half-time lead before his Wolfsburg team-mate Ivan Perisic added a second ahead of Mandzukic’s brace.
The result leaves Niko Kovac’s Croatia third in the table, just one point behind joint leaders Brazil and Mexico. Cameroon are bottom with no points.
Croatia now face Mexico in Recife on Monday for a place in the last 16. Cameroon were hamstrung before kick-off when captain Samuel Eto’o lost his battle to make the starting line-up having failed to recover from a knee injury.
Mandzukic returned for Croatia in style having missed their opening defeat to hosts Brazil through suspension, breathing life into their last 16 hopes.
They needed just eleven minutes to take the lead as Cameroon failed to bounce back in tropical Manaus after their opening 1-0 defeat to Mexico.
Netherlands win against Australia
Netherlands
beat Australia 3-2 in an incredible match
PORTO ALEGRE: Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie scored as Netherlands came from behind to beat brave Australia 3-2 at the World Cup on Wednesday.
A second-half strike from Memphis Depay settled an electrifying Group B encounter at Porto Alegre´s Beira-Rio Stadium after a stunning Tim Cahill volley and a Mile Jedinak penalty helped the Socceroos take a 2-1 lead.
Netherlands — who thrashed reigning champions Spain 5-1 in their opening match — are now in pole position to finish top of the group with six points from two games.
Van Persie will miss the next game against Chile though after picking up a second yellow card. And Louis Van Gaal´s side were given an almighty fright by their fired up Australian opponents, who now face almost certain elimination.
If Spain fail to beat Chile in Group B´s other game in Rio later Tuesday, Australia will become the first team to be eliminated from the 2014 finals. But the Australians have enhanced their reputation with a gutsy performance in their 3-1 opening defeat to Chile and the heroic display against one of football´s established nations.
After soaking up early pressure, Bayern Munich star Robben settled Dutch nerves with a superb solo effort on 20 minutes. But Cahill equalised moments later with a stunning volley which crashed off the underside of the crossbar and into the net.
Australia then took a shock lead nine minutes after half-time, Jedinak drilling the spot-kick after Daryl Janmaat was adjudged to have handled.
Van Persie pounced four minutes later to make it 2-2 before Depay lashed in his 68th-minute winner for the Dutch, who were watched by Holland´s King Willem-Alexander and his wife Maxima.
Spain were to fight for their World Cup place against the Chileans in Rio´s Maracana Stadium.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque dropped a bombshell with his team line-up shortly before the 4pm (1900 GMT) kick-off, announcing that long-serving stalwarts Xavi and Gerard Pique had been dropped.
Following their traumatic drubbing by the Netherlands last Friday, Spain will be eliminated if they lose.
Brazil 2014′s scintillating show of attacking football continued with the much fancied Netherlands defeating World Cup minnows Australia 3-2 in an incredible group match to virtually book a second round berth at Porto Alegre on Wednesday.The way the Netherlands overran Spain the other day, it looked like the Australians would be blowned away by the Dutch in the first World Cup match between the two sides.
But the Group B match at Estadio Beira-Rio saw none of it and fortunes fluctuated between the two sides throughout the gripping 90 minutes with the Australians producing a gutsy performance belying the expectations from them.
Australia, the lowest FIFA ranking team among the 32 participants, refused to be cowed down by the reputation of the Dutch, who were the last edition losing finalists and who had just ripped to shreds defending champions Spain 5-1.
Instead, the Socceroos hold their own and at one stage took the lead around the hour mark. For a moment, it looked like Australia will tear apart the form book and pre-tournament predictions by upsetting the Dutch.
It ultimately boiled down to the difference in class between the two sides that decided the outcome of the match with the Dutch far ahead in that aspect.
With today’s loss, their second after the 1-3 defeat at the hands of Chile, Australia are now virtually out of the tournament.
The Dutch, on the other hand, are virtually through to the round of 16 after their 5-1 humiliation of Spain.
Arjen Robben, who scored two goals against Spain and mesmerised the defending champions’ defence, put the Netherlands ahead in the 20th minute only to be restored parity by a stunning Tim Cahill goal next minute with perhaps the best goal of the tournament so far.
Australia stunningly took the lead in the 54th minute with captain Mile Jedinak converting from the spot after Daryl Janmaat handled the ball inside the box.
But within four minutes, Robin van Persie (58th) put the match on level terms with a left-footed finish after he was set in the clear by Robben inside the Australian box.
Second half substitute Memphis Depay then ended the Australian dreams by scoring the winner in the 68th minute.
There was nothing to separate the two sides at the end of the first half and they matched each other in every aspect, shot by shot and in ball possession.
It was again the indefatigable Robben who put the Dutch ahead in the 20th minute by tearing apart the Australian defence with his pacy run, just like he had done against the likes of Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique of Spain.
The 30-year-old Bayern Munich player outran two defenders after collecting the ball from the centre of the field before drilling a perfect left-footed grounder to the left of Maty Ryan’s goal.
Robben’s strike, however, did not lead to the opening of the floodgates for his side, but on the contrary, Australia replied with a bang within less than a minute with veteran Tim Cahill equalising with a spectacular left-footed volley which left Dutch keeper Jasper Cillessen without any chance.
The second half was even more fascinating with the two sides giving not any inch to each other.
It was Australia who actually went ahead through a penalty kick conversion in the 54th minute.
Oliver Bozanic, who came in as substitute in the 51st minute, made an instant impact within two minutes as his attempted cross was blocked by Janmaat’s hand and the referee pointed to the dreaded spot.
Jedinak coolly dispatched the penalty to the goalkeeper’s right, sending him the wrong way.
But the Dutch made a swift turnaround with van Persie scoring his third goal of the tournament in the 58th minute. Jason Davidson played van Persie onside inside the Australia box and the Manchester United striker made no mistake, slamming the ball into the roof of the net.
20-year-old Memphis Depay then scored the winner, his first international goal for the Netherlands, in the 68th minute to send the Australians crashing out of the tournament.
Australia will also be without Cahill in the final group match against Spain as he received his second yellow card on Wednesday.
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