Jayawardene falls cheaply as Sri Lanka collapse

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/cricket/2014/8/14/599561header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/cricket/2014/8/14/599561header.jpg" /></a>Mahela Jayawardene failed with the bat in his final Test as a last-session flurry helped Pakistan take control on day one against Sri Lanka.<br /> <br /> Jayawardene will bring the curtain down on a glittering career in the longest format of the game, which has yielded 34 centuries, upon the completion of the two-match series - which Sri Lanka lead 1-0.<br /> <br /> The 37-year-old fell for just four shortly after tea at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo as the hosts lost six wickets in the last session to reach 261-8 at stumps on Thursday.<br /> <br /> Junaid Khan (4-69) and Wahab Riaz (3-66) did the majority of the damage with the ball for Pakistan, who had initially been up against it as Upul Tharanga (92) made the most of Angelo Mathews' decision to bat after winning the toss.<br /> <br /> Tharanga and opening partner Kaushal Silva (41) were not out at lunch, but the latter was first to fall when he edged Junaid behind.<br /> <br /> Kumar Sangakkara (22) was Sri Lanka's only other victim before tea when he was bowled by Riaz and that brought Jayawardene to the crease in front an expectant home crowd.<br /> <br /> However, the prolific right-hander faced just 16 deliveries before Saeed Ajmal got some sharp turn from outside off stump and trapped him leg before.<br /> <br /> Tharanga, whose knock included 12 boundaries, was dismissed by Riaz just eight runs shy of his century and the wickets continued to fall.<br /> <br /> Mathews (39) put on 38 and 34 with Lahiru Thirimanne (20) and Niroshan Dickwella (24) respectively, but both of his partners were dismissed by Junaid.<br /> <br /> Dilruwan Perera then went for a duck and Pakistan rounded off an excellent final session when Mathews edged Riaz behind to get the decision overturned with a review just before the close.<br /> <br /> The tourists will now look to quickly dispatch the remainder of the tail before attempting to build a first-innings lead on day two.

Cricket Mahela Jayawardene news news sports Pakistan Sri Lanka Jayawardene falls cheaply as Sri Lanka collapse

Mahela Jayawardene failed with the bat in his final Test as a last-session flurry helped Pakistan take control on day one against Sri Lanka....

Read more »

Ebola outbreak in west Africa press briefings

<h1 class="headline" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 20px 12px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Ebola outbreak in west Africa press briefings</h1> <div class="meta" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; margin: 0px 20px 36px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9em; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 9px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span class="" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div> </div> <h3 class="page_heading" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #d86422; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Video, audio and transcripts from the briefings</h3> <hr style="background-color: white; background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/lines.gif); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border: none; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; height: 4px; line-height: 13px; margin: 10px 20px 10px 0px;" /> <h4 class="section_head2" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 6px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 8 August 2014 press briefing on Ebola outbreak in west Africa by Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, and Dr Keiji Fukuda, Assistant Director-General for Health Security, WHO</h4> <ul class="list" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 20px 12px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="link_external" href="http://www.tusfiles.net/plka38k874zy" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/who_sprite.gif); background-position: 100% -577px; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #723475; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 22px 0px 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Audio of the press briefing</a><br /><span class="link_info" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">mp3, 99 Mb [01:11:00]</span></li> <li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="link_media" href="http://www.tusfiles.net/l0sdur9p2elt" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/icon_media_download.gif); background-position: 4px 3px; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #723475; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Transcript of the press briefingpdf, 523kb</a></li> </ul> <hr style="background-color: white; background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/lines.gif); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border: none; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; height: 4px; line-height: 13px; margin: 10px 20px 10px 0px;" /> <h4 class="section_head2" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 6px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> 8 April 2014 press briefing by Dr Keiji Fukuda, Assistant Director-General, Health Security, and Dr Stéphane Hugonnet, Medical Officer, WHO</h4> <ul class="list" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 20px 12px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="link_external" href="http://www.tusfiles.net/21h6fl3flykq" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/who_sprite.gif); background-position: 100% -577px; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #723475; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 22px 0px 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Audio of the press briefing</a><br /><span class="link_info" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">mp3, 42Mb [00:44:00]</span></li> <li style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 3px 0px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="link_media" href="http://www.tusfiles.net/ehj5bbwvrrv3" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/icon_media_download.gif); background-position: 4px 3px; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; color: #723475; display: inline-block; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px; position: relative; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Transcript of the press briefingpdf, 162kb</a></li> </ul> <div> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.who.int%2Fentity%2Fmediacentre%2Fmultimedia%2F2014%2Fwho-ebola-outbreak-08aug2014.pdf%3Fua%3D1&docid=7af42315142eadec3cb6c0a1119140e2&a=bi&pagenumber=1&w=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.who.int%2Fentity%2Fmediacentre%2Fmultimedia%2F2014%2Fwho-ebola-outbreak-08aug2014.pdf%3Fua%3D1&docid=7af42315142eadec3cb6c0a1119140e2&a=bi&pagenumber=1&w=800" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> WHO Virtual Press Conference following the Meeting of the International </div> </b></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><b><div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> Health Regulations Emergency Committee Regarding the 2014 Ebola Outbreak </div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> in West Africa</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <br /></div> </b></span></span></div>

Africa briefings Ebola Ebola Virus Disease hot news news South Africa West Africa Ebola outbreak in west Africa press briefings

Ebola outbreak in west Africa press briefings Video, audio and transcripts from the briefings 8 August 2014 press briefing on Ebol...

Read more »

WHO to convene ethical review of experimental treatment for Ebola

<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Early next week, WHO will convene a panel of medical ethicists to explore the use of experimental treatment in the ongoing Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Currently there is no registered medicine or vaccine against the virus, but there are several experimental options under development.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The recent treatment of two health workers from Samaritan’s Purse with experimental medicine has raised questions about whether medicine that has never been tested and shown to be safe in people should be used in the outbreak and, given the extremely limited amount of medicine available, if it is used, who should receive it.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We are in an unusual situation in this outbreak. We have a disease with a high fatality rate without any proven treatment or vaccine,” says Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organization. "We need to ask the medical ethicists to give us guidance on what the responsible thing to do is.”</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The gold standard for assessing new medicine involves a series of trials in humans, starting small to make sure the medicine is safe to use. Then, the studies are expanded to more people to see how effective it is, and how best to use it.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The guiding principle with use of any new medicine is ‘do no harm’. Safety is always the main concern.</span></div> <h4 class="section_head2" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 6px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Media contact:</h4> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gregory Hartl<br />WHO Department of Communications<br />Telephone: +41 22 791 44 58<br />Mobile: +41 79 203 67 15<br />E-mail: <a href="mailto:hartlg@who.int" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #723475; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">hartlg@who.int</a></span></div>

Doctor Who Ebola Ebola Virus Disease hot news New York Daily News news review WHO WHO to convene ethical review of experimental treatment for Ebola

Early next week, WHO will convene a panel of medical ethicists to explore the use of experimental treatment in the ongoing Ebola outbreak i...

Read more »

Ebola Outbreak in West Africa 'WHO'

<h1 class="headline" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px 20px 12px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> WHO Statement on the Meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee Regarding the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa</h1> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The first meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) [IHR (2005)] regarding the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD, or “Ebola”) outbreak in West Africa was held by teleconference on Wednesday, 6 August 2014 from 13:00 to 17:30 and on Thursday, 7 August 2014 from 13:00 to 18:30 Geneva time (CET).</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Members and advisors of the Emergency Committee met by teleconference on both days of the meeting<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; border: 0px; bottom: 0.8ex; font-family: inherit; font-size: 9px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 1px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">1</span>. The following IHR (2005) States Parties participated in the informational session of the meeting on Wednesday, 6 August 2014: Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During the informational session, the WHO Secretariat provided an update on and assessment of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The above-referenced States Parties presented on recent developments in their countries, including measures taken to implement rapid control strategies, and existing gaps and challenges in the outbreak response.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">After discussion and deliberation on the information provided, the Committee advised that:</span></div> <ul class="disc" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 20px 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">the Ebola outbreak in West Africa constitutes an ‘extraordinary event’ and a public health risk to other States;</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">the possible consequences of further international spread are particularly serious in view of the virulence of the virus, the intensive community and health facility transmission patterns, and the weak health systems in the currently affected and most at-risk countries.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">a coordinated international response is deemed essential to stop and reverse the international spread of Ebola.</li> </ul> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was the unanimous view of the Committee that the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have been met.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The current EVD outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013. This outbreak now involves transmission in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. As of 4 August 2014, countries have reported 1 711 cases (1 070 confirmed, 436 probable, 205 suspect), including 932 deaths. This is currently the largest EVD outbreak ever recorded. In response to the outbreak, a number of unaffected countries have made a range of travel related advice or recommendations.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In light of States Parties’ presentations and subsequent Committee discussions, several challenges were noted for the affected countries:</span></div> <ul class="disc" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 20px 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">their health systems are fragile with significant deficits in human, financial and material resources, resulting in compromised ability to mount an adequate Ebola outbreak control response;</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">inexperience in dealing with Ebola outbreaks; misperceptions of the disease, including how the disease is transmitted, are common and continue to be a major challenge in some communities;</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">high mobility of populations and several instances of cross-border movement of travellers with infection;</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">several generations of transmission have occurred in the three capital cities of Conakry (Guinea); Monrovia (Liberia); and Freetown (Sierra Leone); and</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">a high number of infections have been identified among health-care workers, highlighting inadequate infection control practices in many facilities.</li> </ul> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Committee provided the following advice to the Director-General for her consideration to address the Ebola outbreak in accordance with IHR (2005).</span></div> <h3 class="section_head1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> States with Ebola transmission</h3> <ul class="disc" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 20px 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Head of State should declare a national emergency; personally address the nation to provide information on the situation, the steps being taken to address the outbreak and the critical role of the community in ensuring its rapid control; provide immediate access to emergency financing to initiate and sustain response operations; and ensure all necessary measures are taken to mobilize and remunerate the necessary health care workforce.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Health Ministers and other health leaders should assume a prominent leadership role in coordinating and implementing emergency Ebola response measures, a fundamental aspect of which should be to meet regularly with affected communities and to make site visits to treatment centres.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should activate their national disaster/emergency management mechanisms and establish an emergency operation centre, under the authority of the Head of State, to coordinate support across all partners, and across the information, security, finance and other relevant sectors, to ensure efficient and effective implementation and monitoring of comprehensive Ebola control measures. These measures must include infection prevention and control (IPC), community awareness, surveillance, accurate laboratory diagnostic testing, contact tracing and monitoring, case management, and communication of timely and accurate information among countries. For all infected and high risks areas, similar mechanisms should be established at the state/province and local levels to ensure close coordination across all levels.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should ensure that there is a large-scale and sustained effort to fully engage the community – through local, religious and traditional leaders and healers – so communities play a central role in case identification, contact tracing and risk education; the population should be made fully aware of the benefits of early treatment.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">It is essential that a strong supply pipeline be established to ensure that sufficient medical commodities, especially personal protective equipment (PPE), are available to those who appropriately need them, including health care workers, laboratory technicians, cleaning staff, burial personnel and others that may come in contact with infected persons or contaminated materials.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">In areas of intense transmission (e.g. the cross border area of Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia), the provision of quality clinical care, and material and psychosocial support for the affected populations should be used as the primary basis for reducing the movement of people, but extraordinary supplemental measures such as quarantine should be used as considered necessary.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should ensure health care workers receive: adequate security measures for their safety and protection; timely payment of salaries and, as appropriate, hazard pay; and appropriate education and training on IPC, including the proper use of PPEs.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should ensure that: treatment centres and reliable diagnostic laboratories are situated as closely as possible to areas of transmission; that these facilities have adequate numbers of trained staff, and sufficient equipment and supplies relative to the caseload; that sufficient security is provided to ensure both the safety of staff and to minimize the risk of premature removal of patients from treatment centres; and that staff are regularly reminded and monitored to ensure compliance with IPC.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should conduct exit screening of all persons at international airports, seaports and major land crossings, for unexplained febrile illness consistent with potential Ebola infection. The exit screening should consist of, at a minimum, a questionnaire, a temperature measurement and, if there is a fever, an assessment of the risk that the fever is caused by EVD. Any person with an illness consistent with EVD should not be allowed to travel unless the travel is part of an appropriate medical evacuation.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">There should be no international travel of Ebola contacts or cases, unless the travel is part of an appropriate medical evacuation. To minimize the risk of international spread of EVD:</li> <ul class="disc" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 36px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="background: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif) 0% 0.5em no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Confirmed cases should immediately be isolated and treated in an Ebola Treatment Centre with no national or international travel until 2 Ebola-specific diagnostic tests conducted at least 48 hours apart are negative;</li> <li style="background: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif) 0% 0.5em no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Contacts (which do not include properly protected health workers and laboratory staff who have had no unprotected exposure) should be monitored daily, with restricted national travel and no international travel until 21 days after exposure;</li> <li style="background: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif) 0% 0.5em no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Probable and suspect cases should immediately be isolated and their travel should be restricted in accordance with their classification as either a confirmed case or contact.</li> </ul> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should ensure funerals and burials are conducted by well-trained personnel, with provision made for the presence of the family and cultural practices, and in accordance with national health regulations, to reduce the risk of Ebola infection. The cross-border movement of the human remains of deceased suspect, probable or confirmed EVD cases should be prohibited unless authorized in accordance with recognized international biosafety provisions.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should ensure that appropriate medical care is available for the crews and staff of airlines operating in the country, and work with the airlines to facilitate and harmonize communications and management regarding symptomatic passengers under the IHR (2005), mechanisms for contact tracing if required and the use of passenger locator records where appropriate.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States with EVD transmission should consider postponing mass gatherings until EVD transmission is interrupted.</li> </ul> <h3 class="section_head1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> States with a potential or confirmed Ebola Case, and unaffected States with land borders with affected States</h3> <ul class="disc" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 20px 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Unaffected States with land borders adjoining States with Ebola transmission should urgently establish surveillance for clusters of unexplained fever or deaths due to febrile illness; establish access to a qualified diagnostic laboratory for EVD; ensure that health workers are aware of and trained in appropriate IPC procedures; and establish rapid response teams with the capacity to investigate and manage EVD cases and their contacts.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Any State newly detecting a suspect or confirmed Ebola case or contact, or clusters of unexplained deaths due to febrile illness, should treat this as a health emergency, take immediate steps in the first 24 hours to investigate and stop a potential Ebola outbreak by instituting case management, establishing a definitive diagnosis, and undertaking contact tracing and monitoring.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">If Ebola transmission is confirmed to be occurring in the State, the full recommendations for <i>States with Ebola Transmission</i> should be implemented, on either a national or subnational level, depending on the epidemiologic and risk context.</li> </ul> <h3 class="section_head1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> All States</h3> <ul class="disc" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 20px 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">There should be no general ban on international travel or trade; restrictions outlined in these recommendations regarding the travel of EVD cases and contacts should be implemented.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should provide travelers to Ebola affected and at-risk areas with relevant information on risks, measures to minimize those risks, and advice for managing a potential exposure.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should be prepared to detect, investigate, and manage Ebola cases; this should include assured access to a qualified diagnostic laboratory for EVD and, where appropriate, the capacity to manage travelers originating from known Ebola-infected areas who arrive at international airports or major land crossing points with unexplained febrile illness.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">The general public should be provided with accurate and relevant information on the Ebola outbreak and measures to reduce the risk of exposure.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">States should be prepared to facilitate the evacuation and repatriation of nationals (e.g. health workers) who have been exposed to Ebola.</li> </ul> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Committee emphasized the importance of continued support by WHO and other national and international partners towards the effective implementation and monitoring of these recommendations.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Based on this advice, the reports made by affected States Parties and the currently available information, the Director-General accepted the Committee’s assessment and on 8 August 2014 declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The Director-General endorsed the Committee’s advice and issued them as Temporary Recommendations under IHR (2005) to reduce the international spread of Ebola, effective 8 August 2014. The Director-General thanked the Committee Members and Advisors for their advice and requested their reassessment of this situation within 3 months</span></div>

Africa Ebola Ebola Virus Disease Emergency EVD HEALTH healthy hot news Medicare NATIONAL NEWS news South Africa West Africa WHO Ebola Outbreak in West Africa 'WHO'

WHO Statement on the Meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee Regarding the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa ...

Read more »

Marquez focused on staying ahead

Marc Marquez is determined to stay ahead of the pack after making it 10 straight race wins in 2014 with victory in Indianapolis on Sunday.<br /> <br /> The 21-year-old Spanish sensation became the first rider since Mick Doohan in 1997 to record a double-figure winning streak, with the Repsol Honda star prevailing by just under two seconds from Movistar Yamaha duo Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.<br /> <br /> Marquez will now seek to extend his sequence in the Czech Republic on Sunday, having narrowly won at the Brno circuit last year.<br /> <br /> "The race was very hard, especially as the track temperature was very high," Marquez said.<br /> <br /> "I struggled a little with the front tyre so I stayed behind Rossi to try to keep the front tyre cool.<br /> <br /> "I tried to push but then the rear started sliding. Eventually I was able to open the gap and take 25 points.<br /> <br /> "We will try to fight for the victory in Brno. The test we had went well but it was very slippery so we don't have too much data.<br /> <br /> "I have never gone great there and Jorge and Vale are very strong there.”<br /> <br /> Lorenzo, meanwhile, had to settle for second best for the second time this season, but was happy to see some light at the end of the tunnel just over halfway through a frustrating campaign.<br /> <br /> "It has been a long road, but we are getting better and better," said the 2010 and 2012 champion.<br /> <br /> "This is the closest race, other than Mugello, we have had to the front.<br /> <br /> "I needed one or two tenths to catch Marquez, hopefully it will come at the next race. The bike was working very well and I was able to get faster and faster.<br /> <br /> "Maybe on more of a Yamaha track and a track that is better for my style, we can challenge him. Brno is luckily a track that I really like and our bike works well at.”<br /> <br /> Rossi, who became the first rider to reach 4,000 career points, said: "I knew it would be difficult, as Marc and Jorge were faster than me in practice. I would have hoped to have a bit of a better battle with Lorenzo, but I am satisfied as this is one of my worst tracks, with no podium since 2008."

Marquez Motorsports news SPORTS Marquez focused on staying ahead

Marc Marquez is determined to stay ahead of the pack after making it 10 straight race wins in 2014 with victory in Indianapolis on Sunday. ...

Read more »

MK Dons host AFC Wimbledon, managerless Huddersfield at Chesterfield

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/11/595677header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/11/595677header.jpg" /></a>MK Dons hosts AFC Wimbledon in an emotionally charged League Cup round one clash on Tuesday.<br /> <br /> League Two AFC Wimbledon were formed when their League One opponents relocated from London to Milton Keynes in 2002.<br /> <br /> It will be the second meeting between the two sides, with MK Dons coming out on top in a December 2012 FA Cup clash.<br /> <br /> MK Dons started the season in emphatic fashion with a 4-2 comeback win at home to Gillingham on Saturday, while AFC Wimbledon shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Shrewsbury Town<br /> <br /> Huddersfield Town begin life without Mark Robins with a trip to Chesterfield.<br /> <br /> Robins parted company with Town after their 4-0 opening day defeat to Bournemouth - who travel to face League Two Exeter City - and Chesterfield will hold hopes of claiming a Championship scalp, having begun life back in League One with a 2-1 win over last season's beaten play-off finalists Leyton Orient.<br /> <br /> Orient's Wembley conquerors from last May Rotherham United host League Two play-off final winners Fleetwood Town, while the 2013 finalists in the competition, Bradford City, are in another trans-Pennine clash as they make the trip to the Lancashire coast to face Morecambe.<br /> <br /> There are all-Lancashire clashes between Bolton Wanderers and Bury and Rochdale and Preston North End, while York and Doncaster Rovers will contest Yorkshire bragging rights.<br /> <br /> Leeds United will be dearly hoping to avoid any slip ups against Accrington Stanley after Dave Hockaday's unlikely reign as manager got off to a lacklustre start with a 2-0 loss at Millwall, who also entertain League Two opposition in the form of Wycombe Wanderers.<br /> <br /> Cambridge United and Luton Town sealed their returns to the Football League last term and look to build on opening day wins with ties against Birmingham City and Swindon Town respectively.<br /> <br /> Shrewsbury Town will have designs on a Championship scalp when crisis club Blackpool travel to Greenhous Meadow, while the latter's 2-0 weekend conquerors Nottingham Forest head to Merseyside to take on Tranmere Rovers.<br /> <br /> Forest’s local rivals Derby County get the 2014-15 competition under way at Carlisle United on Monday night, while the two other teams that fell short in the Championship play-offs last season - Brighton and Wigan Athletic - face Cheltenham Town and Burton Albion respectively.<br /> <br /> Ipswich Town and Watford are on the road at Crawley Town and Stevenage following impressive weekend showings in the second tier, with Middlesbrough and Cardiff City also travelling Oldham Athletic and Coventry City.<br /> <br /> The remaining Championship sides in the draw are Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and Reading and the quartet will enjoy home advantage against Scunthorpe United, Notts County, Colchester United and Newport County respectively.<br /> <br /> Elsewhere, Barnsley host Crewe Alexandra, Bristol City face Oxford United, Dagenham and Redbridge welcome Brentford, Plymouth Argyle entertain Leyton Orient, Hartlepool United travel to Port Vale, Portsmouth tackle Peterborough United, Wolves host Northampton Town, Gillingham head to Yeovil Town and Sheffield United play Mansfield Town.

AFC Champions League FA Cup football MK Dons news news sports MK Dons host AFC Wimbledon, managerless Huddersfield at Chesterfield

MK Dons hosts AFC Wimbledon in an emotionally charged League Cup round one clash on Tuesday. League Two AFC Wimbledon were formed when the...

Read more »

Venus through to Montreal final

<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J5AOauiV6bs/U-fQ6Pmz3AI/AAAAAAAAAFA/YAf00Vjt1rQ/s1600/594795header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Venus through to Montreal final" border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J5AOauiV6bs/U-fQ6Pmz3AI/AAAAAAAAAFA/YAf00Vjt1rQ/s1600/594795header.jpg" title="Venus through to Montreal final" width="320" /></a>Venus Williams booked her spot in the Rogers Cup final, at the expense of her top-seeded sister Serena on Saturday.<br /> <br /> In the 25th career meeting between the Williams sisters, it was Venus who earned bragging rights with a shock 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 6-3 win after just over an hour in Montreal.<br /> <br /> Venus' triumph - her 11th against Serena - was her first over a reigning world number one since upstaging Dinara Safina in the 2009 Wimbledon semi-finals.<br /> <br /> The 34-year-old fended off 19 aces from Serena to advance to Sunday's decider, where she will face Agnieszka Radwanska after the third-seeded Pole overcame Russian Ekaterina Makarova 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-3).<br /> <br /> "The level of game we played was pretty high," said Venus<br /> <br /> "We're both serving well, returning well, moving well - everything is happening so well that all of our matches seem to be very competitive."<br /> <br /> Venus stormed out of the blocks to take a 3-1 lead only for Serena to hit back, levelling the match at 3-3, before eventually closing out the opening set in a tie-break.<br /> <br /> Two breaks of serve in the second stanza - the first coming in the opening game - set the tone as Venus forced a third set.<br /> <br /> It was a similar story in the deciding set, with Venus breaking Serena's serve in the sixth game to reach her second final of 2014, having won the Dubai Tennis Championships in February.<br /> <br /> Following Venus into the final was Radwanska, who finally got the better of Makarova in straight sets after two hours and four minutes on court.<br /> <br /> Radwanska had lost her past two meetings against Makarova, slipping up at the US Open in 2013 and Wimbledon in June.<br /> <br /> But the 2012 Wimbledon finalist exacted revenge, making the most of Makarova's 43 unforced errors.<br /> <br /> Radwanska finished the match with 28 winners and just 14 unforced errors.<br /> <br /> "I think it was a great match," Radwanska said.<br /> <br /> "Two hours of fighting and long rallies and tight games - I had to really run a lot to win that match because she's so good. I had to give 100 per cent today.<br /> <br /> "I think I was just better on a few points today. I'm really happy with the win."

2014 Championships news news sports Rogers Cup SPORTS tennis Venus Williams Venus through to Montreal final

Venus Williams booked her spot in the Rogers Cup final, at the expense of her top-seeded sister Serena on Saturday. In the 25th career mee...

Read more »

Suarez suffers brain injury in friendly victory

<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6wFb90a8SM/U-fL_rT9WaI/AAAAAAAAAEk/jnPavYGTXdw/s1600/595491header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Suarez suffers brain injury in friendly victory" border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6wFb90a8SM/U-fL_rT9WaI/AAAAAAAAAEk/jnPavYGTXdw/s1600/595491header.jpg" title="Suarez suffers brain injury in friendly victory" width="320" /></a>Mario Suarez suffered a "traumatic brain injury" in Atletico Madrid's 5-1 friendly win over Wolfsburg on Sunday.<br /> <br /> The midfielder was left unconscious following a first-half collision with team-mate Cristian Ansaldi, who was challenging Wolfsburg's Ivica Olic for an aerial ball.<br /> <br /> Suarez required lengthy treatment on the pitch before being replaced by Tiago, with Atletico later confirming details of the injury.<br /> <br /> "Mario Suarez suffers a traumatic brain injury," they tweeted. "He's regained consciousness. He's being taken to the hospital for tests."<br /> <br /> Raul Garcia had already headed Atletico in front by the time Suarez was stretchered from the field, and added his second nine minutes after the interval.<br /> <br /> A Mario Mandzukic penalty made it three before Naldo reduced the deficit, but further goals from Koke and Hector put Atleti out of sight.<br /> <br /> Diego Simeone's men started well and Mandzukic tested goalkeeper Diego Benaglio inside the opening minute as the Liga champions looked to end a run of three matches without a goal.<br /> <br /> And it was not long before they were in front, with Garcia rising well to power home a header from Gabi's corner in the 13th minute.<br /> <br /> Kevin De Bruyne started to cause problems in the Atleti penalty area, but the visitors had an even bigger issue to deal with when Suarez was felled in the 21st minute.<br /> <br /> That injury cast something of a shadow over the remainder of the match, but Garcia did his bit to lift Spanish spirits when he capped a flowing Atleti move to double the advantage in the 54th minute.<br /> <br /> And the visitors were three up eight minutes later when Mandzukic was clumsily brought down in the penalty area by Naldo - the referee showing no hesitation in pointing to the spot.<br /> <br /> The Croatian dusted himself down to drive the ball straight down the middle and into the back of the net.<br /> <br /> Naldo atoned for his earlier mishap by drilling into the bottom left-hand corner from a 67th-minute free-kick, but Koke's curling effort ensured the German club's joy was short-lived.<br /> <br /> Hector put the gloss on the result seven minutes from time after being teed up by debutant Antoine Griezmann.<br /> <br /> Despite the serious injury to Suarez, who later underwent a CT scan and was kept in hospital for observation, the nature of the result and a debut for Griezmann should send the men from the Spanish capital home with at least some cheer.

Atletico Madrid football Mario Suarez midfielder news news sports The Players Wolfsburg Suarez suffers brain injury in friendly victory

Mario Suarez suffered a "traumatic brain injury" in Atletico Madrid's 5-1 friendly win over Wolfsburg on Sunday. The midfiel...

Read more »

Mazzarri blames defeat on heavy workload

<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JUQXSQXvNoc/U-fKwZ8yYlI/AAAAAAAAAEc/XvKaUjwoXGQ/s1600/595469header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Mazzarri blames defeat on heavy workload" border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JUQXSQXvNoc/U-fKwZ8yYlI/AAAAAAAAAEc/XvKaUjwoXGQ/s1600/595469header.jpg" title="Mazzarri blames defeat on heavy workload" width="320" /></a>Inter coach Walter Mazzarri put Inter's 3-1 friendly defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday down to a challenging week of training.<br /> <br /> The Serie A outfit had gone in front at the Commerzbank-Arena through Ruben Botta, but on-loan Chelsea man Lucas Piazon levelled for Frankfurt.<br /> <br /> Haris Seferovic then netted twice before half-time as Inter succumbed to defeat in their penultimate friendly before their return to competitive action in the UEFA Europa League play-offs in 10 days' time.<br /> <br /> Mazzarri, while disappointed with the result, felt the hard work put in by his players during the week had been detrimental to their short-term cause.<br /> <br /> "Was this down to the heavy workload during the week? I don't want any excuses," he told Inter Channel.<br /> <br /> "My fitness coach told me we needed to work on strength right now, as otherwise we'd lack sharpness later on in the season. I think the lads paid that price and they looked pretty heavy-legged.<br /> <br /> "We weren't sharp and I hope that is only down to the fitness work. At this stage of the season it's easy to do well in one game and badly the next. If you lack just a tiny bit of sharpness and focus, then you can trip up.<br /> <br /> "Up until our goal Eintracht hadn't created any chances, but we have to be more concentrated in some situations. Perhaps we subconsciously let go after taking the lead.<br /> <br /> "In the second half we focused on damage limitation."

Chelsea coach Eintracht Frankfurt Europa League football Haris Seferovic Inter news news sports Serie A UEFA Walter Mazzarri Mazzarri blames defeat on heavy workload

Inter coach Walter Mazzarri put Inter's 3-1 friendly defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday down to a challenging week of training. T...

Read more »

Wenger gives Arsenal captaincy to Arteta

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JuI6h-jdHkc/U-fIjCXhoCI/AAAAAAAAAD8/tmwyCbWuPi4/s1600/IMG_20140727_061819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Wenger gives Arsenal captaincy to Arteta" border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JuI6h-jdHkc/U-fIjCXhoCI/AAAAAAAAAD8/tmwyCbWuPi4/s1600/IMG_20140727_061819.jpg" title="Wenger gives Arsenal captaincy to Arteta" width="320" /></a></div> Arsene Wenger confirmed Mikel Arteta as Arsenal's new captain after watching his side beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield.<br /> <br /> Hours after the sale of former skip<br /> per Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona, Arsenal dispatched the Premier League champions at Wembley on Sunday as Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud found the net in an impressive performance.<br /> <br /> Arteta featured alongside Jack Wilshere as the FA Cup holders dominated central midfield and Wenger named the former Everton player as his new captain, with Per Mertesacker to serve as vice-captain.<br /> <br /> Wenger said: "One, Arteta and two, Mertesacker. Arteta will be captain and Mertesacker vice-captain."<br /> <br /> Mertesacker was absent against City due to an extended break after being part of Germany's triumphant World Cup squad.<br /> <br /> It opened the way for close-season signing Calum Chambers to partner Laurent Koscielny at centre-back and the 19-year-old produced as assured display, despite playing the majority of his senior football to date at right-back.<br /> <br /> "For a 19-year-old he had an outstanding performance," Wenger said. "The kind of performance he delivered is very promising.<br /> <br /> "It's impressive because he hasn't got a long history in this position because he was a right-back and I think if all goes well he has a good career in front of him.<br /> <br /> "He can challenge both centre-backs and that's what you want. You cannot play with two centre-backs the whole season; that means he will play."<br /> <br /> At the other end of the field, an Arsenal attack featuring showpiece new signing Alexis Sanchez caused City no end of problems and Wenger is pleased with the talent at his disposal for the new campaign.<br /> <br /> "I have more attacking options than I had for a long time - that's for sure," he said.<br /> <br /> "Three, four, five years ago, every year we lost a big player. In the last two years, we added players like [Mesut] Ozil and this season like Alexis so of course that strengthens the squad.<br /> <br /> "I am, of course, very ambitious but I'm a bit cautious because I have quite a good experience. I look around and see the other teams have strengthened as well so it will be interesting to watch the Premier League because it looks like all the big teams will be very strong."<br /> <br /> Arsenal's title bid last term was undermined by heavy defeats at the hands of fellow Premier League heavyweights.<br /> <br /> "That's why it was important for us not to lose the game," Wenger added.<br /> <br /> "On that front we know that last year we were very consistent against the teams outside the top six and not consistent against the top six teams.<br /> <br /> "The year before it was reversed so let's hope that this year it will be right on both sides."

Arsenal Arsene Wenger football Manchester City Mikel Arteta news news sports Wenger gives Arsenal captaincy to Arteta

Arsene Wenger confirmed Mikel Arteta as Arsenal's new captain after watching his side beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield...

Read more »

Martinez - McCarthy form will be rewarded

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592725header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592725header.jpg" /></a>James McCarthy is the next Everton player in line for a new contract after impressing in his debut season, says Roberto Martinez.<br /> <br /> Martinez has just tied down young defender John Stones to a new five-year contract and is keen to reward the work done by McCarthy since his arrival from Wigan Athletic.<br /> <br /> The pair worked together at the DW Stadium for four years and the 23-year-old midfielder was one of the first players Martinez brought with him to Goodison Park.<br /> <br /> After making his debut against Chelsea last September, McCarthy went on to make 34 appearances as Everton finished fifth in the Premier League table.<br /> <br /> His continued progress has earned him further international recognition with the Republic of Ireland - he now has 23 caps - and Martinez insists a new deal is on the cards.<br /> <br /> "It will be natural. James's contract is already performance related so the longer that he plays he gets a bigger reward," he told the Liverpool Echo.<br /> <br /> "We will always be looking at rewarding players as they do well and James, clearly, is one of those.<br /> <br /> "We always want to keep our young players important at the club and keep rewarding them. That will never change. That goes along with players who change their roles in the squad.<br /> <br /> "We talk a lot about our young players and rightly so, but sometimes we forget that without that solid base of experienced lads behind them you don't go anywhere.<br /> <br /> "We must remember that we have continuity too which is vital."<br /> <br /> Tim Howard, Seamus Coleman and Ross Barkley have also signed new contracts at Goodison Park during the close-season.

Everton James McCarthy Liverpool news news sports Premier League Roberto Martinez Martinez - McCarthy form will be rewarded

James McCarthy is the next Everton player in line for a new contract after impressing in his debut season, says Roberto Martinez. Martinez...

Read more »

Ramsey aims to emulate Lampard and Gerrard

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592773header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592773header.jpg" /></a>Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey wants to match the goal-scoring exploits of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard over the next few years.<br /> <br /> Ramsey struck 16 times in all competitions for the London club last season, easily his best haul since his move from Cardiff City in 2008.<br /> <br /> The last of those goals was also arguably Arsenal's most important in nine years, as Ramsey burst into the box in extra-time in the FA Cup Final to score the winner against Hull City and ensure Arsenal secured their first major trophy since 2005.<br /> <br /> Just like Lampard in the 2009 FA Cup Final and Gerrard in the 2005 UEFA Champions League decider, Ramsey produced the goods when it mattered most and the Welshman wants to become Arsenal's answer to the famous English midfield duo for years to come.<br /> <br /> "I see myself as that midfielder who can score goals for Arsenal and I think that's important," Ramsey told The Telegraph on Thursday.<br /> <br /> "It's proven over the years to be important for successful sides to have goal-scoring midfielders and, hopefully, I'll do the same this season.<br /> <br /> "The likes of Gerrard and Lampard have done it for many years on a consistent basis and that will be my aim now to do that.<br /> <br /> "I've always felt I'd be a goal-scoring midfielder. Before my serious injury, I had broken into the team and scored a few goals. I've always believed in my ability to do that and I've always been in goal-scoring situations.<br /> <br /> "But I haven't been as composed as I was last season. I just felt like I had a lot more time in front of goal, whereas in the past I rushed a few decisions and shots that I made."<br /> <br /> Arsenal will return to Wembley on Sunday for the Community Shield against Manchester City and the Wales international is determined to start the new season on a high note.<br /> <br /> "Our season starts on Sunday and we'll be going out to win the game," he said.<br /> <br /> "It will be a good marker because we let ourselves down last year against the bigger teams. If we improve on that this season, we'll have a great chance [to win the Premier League] and we'll be right there at the end."

Arsenal Champions League FA Cup Frank Lampard news news sports Premier League Ramsey Steven Gerrard UEFA Ramsey aims to emulate Lampard and Gerrard

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey wants to match the goal-scoring exploits of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard over the next few years. Rams...

Read more »

Nicky Butt Van Gaal has Ferguson aura

<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.00299835205078px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592771header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592771header.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" /></a>Nicky Butt is confident Manchester United are in safe hands this season after likening new boss Louis van Gaal to Alex Ferguson.</div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.00299835205078px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> Butt has been impressed with the way the Dutchman, who guided his country to third place in the World Cup, has settled in at United and believes the club could challenge for the title this season.</div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.00299835205078px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> The former United midfielder has been retained as part of the backroom staff at Old Trafford, with his focus on developing young players.</div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.00299835205078px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> David Moyes struggled under the pressure of succeeding Alex Ferguson at United last season, but 39-year-old Butt does not expect the new man in charge to have any such problems.</div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.00299835205078px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> "He is obviously a very in-control man," he told the Manchester Evening News. "He has an aura about him - when he walks in the building, you know who the boss is, and I think that is very important.</div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.00299835205078px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> "We had that with Sir Alex for all those years and I think we have that now with Van Gaal. He walks into the building and he commands your respect.</div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.00299835205078px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> "All the players look up to him as the leader and that is how it should be.</div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.00299835205078px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> "From afar, when I've looked at him it looks like he takes no messing about and if anyone doesn't toe the line, I'm sure they will be out of the team."</div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.00299835205078px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> United have won every game since the 63-year-old arrived and have one friendly against Valencia remaining before their opening Premier League clash with Swansea City on August 16</div>

Ferguson football Manchester United news news sports Nicky Butt Premier League soccer United Van Gaal Nicky Butt Van Gaal has Ferguson aura

Nicky Butt is confident Manchester United are in safe hands this season after likening new boss Louis van Gaal to Alex Ferguson. Butt has...

Read more »

Promes agrees Spartak switch

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592797header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592797header.jpg" /></a>Spartak Moscow have announced the signing of promising Dutch forward Quincy Promes on a four-year contract from Twente.<br /> <br /> Promes burst onto the scene in the Eredivise last season with 11 goals in 31 appearances as Twente qualified for the UEFA Europa League with a third-placed finish.<br /> <br /> The 22-year-old's domestic form attracted attention from then-Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal and earned him an international debut against France at Stade de France in March.<br /> <br /> Promes was also included in Van Gaal's provisional squad for the World Cup in Brazil, but failed to make the final 23.<br /> <br /> His form attracted the attention of a number of clubs, but it is Spartak have won the race for his signature and Promes is looking forward to the next chapter in his career.<br /> <br /> "I am happy that all the formalities are settled and I am now a Spartak player," he told the club's official website.<br /> <br /> "For me as a young player, this move is certainly a step forward.<br /> <br /> "Here I get the opportunity to grow and develop as a professional, playing in a strong league, and I hope to be able to benefit from a new team.<br /> <br /> "This is a very big club with a great history."<br /> <br /> Twente have moved quickly to replace Promes with the signing of South Africa international Kamohelo Mokotjo from Zwolle on a four-year deal.

Champions League football news news sports Spartak Twente UEFA Promes agrees Spartak switch

Spartak Moscow have announced the signing of promising Dutch forward Quincy Promes on a four-year contract from Twente. Promes burst onto ...

Read more »

Bruce not ruling out more signings

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592653header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592653header.jpg" /></a>Hull City boss Steve Bruce is not ruling out making even more additions to his squad before the transfer window closes.<br /> <br /> After leading the club to a maiden FA Cup final last term, Bruce has strengthened significantly with over £20million worth of investment in his first-team squad.<br /> <br /> Jake Livermore's permanent arrival from Tottenham after a successful loan has been supplemented by the signing of attacking pair Tom Ince and Robert Snodgrass as well as promising defenders Harry Maguire and Andrew Robertson.<br /> <br /> And speaking after Hull secured a UEFA Europa League play-off berth with a 2-1 win over Trencin on Thursday, Bruce confirmed he will go after further signatures if suitable targets become available.<br /> <br /> "I always knock the door, I think every manager is never ever finished," he explained.<br /> <br /> "The day I say no is the day I may as well pack it in. We always look to improve.<br /> <br /> "I had five [on Thursday] not stripped, the two we've brought in - Maguire and Robertson - [Nikica] Jelavic, [Maynor] Figueroa, [George] Boyd.<br /> <br /> "We've got healthy competition all round but always if there’s a bit of quality then I'll try."<br /> <br /> One area Bruce is reportedly keen to strengthen is his attack with Matt Fryatt leaving for Nottingham Forest after slipping behind Shane Long and Jelavic in the pecking order.<br /> <br /> Yannick Sagbo is Bruce's only remaining out-and-out frontman other than his first-choice pairing.<br /> <br /> While keeping tight-lipped on his potential striker search, Bruce praised Long's efforts against Trencin despite the Irishman finding himself repeatedly thwarted by Slovakian goalkeeper Milos Volesak.<br /> <br /> The Hull boss added: "Strikers keep getting there, two or three of the chances he [Long] got there himself with his blistering pace to be fair to him and he made them himself.<br /> <br /> "He'll be disappointed that he hasn't scored knowing him but like any striker they've got to keep getting there, next week let's hope it's his turn and he sticks a couple in."

FA Cup football news news sports UEFA Bruce not ruling out more signings

Hull City boss Steve Bruce is not ruling out making even more additions to his squad before the transfer window closes. After leading the ...

Read more »

Spahic retires from international football

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592651header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592651header.jpg" /></a>Emir Spahic called time on his international career with Bosnia-Herzegovina following their group-stage exit at the World Cup in Brazil.<br /> <br /> Spahic wore the captain's armband as Bosnia-Herzegovina failed to reach the knockout rounds in their debut appearance at the World Cup last month, finishing behind Argentina and Nigeria in Group F.<br /> <br /> And the 33-year-old centre-back - Bosnia-Herzegovina's longest serving captain and second-most capped player - announced on Thursday that he was retiring after 77 appearances for the national team.<br /> <br /> "I gave it a lot of thought and decided to hang up my national team boots after consultation with my friends and family," Spahic told Bosnian media.<br /> <br /> "I am proud to have played in the World Cup with this group and the time has come for younger lads to take over.<br /> <br /> "I wish the team all the best in Euro 2016 qualifiers."<br /> <br /> Spahic, who made his debut as a substitute against Romania in 2003, stepped down from international duty in an effort to prolong his club career with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, according to Bosnia-Herzegovina coach Safet Susic.<br /> <br /> "Spahic told me after the World Cup he needed a bit of time to make a decision and when he did, he explained that he wanted to focus on his club duties," said Susic.<br /> <br /> "I respect his decision. He was a great player and captain for Bosnia and it will be difficult to replace him."

Brazil football news news sports Spahic Spahic retires from international football

Emir Spahic called time on his international career with Bosnia-Herzegovina following their group-stage exit at the World Cup in Brazil. S...

Read more »

United target Vidal back running

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592645header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592645header.jpg" /></a>Midfielder Arturo Vidal has resumed running but a date for his return remains unknown, according to Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.<br /> <br /> Vidal, 27, had knee surgery in May, but still played a huge part for Chile at the World Cup.<br /> <br /> Louis van Gaal's concerns over the problem are reportedly all that is standing between Vidal and a move to Premier League giants Manchester United.<br /> <br /> Allegri, whose team are in Australia to face an A-League All Stars team on Sunday, confirmed Vidal was back running.<br /> <br /> "He is running since yesterday, but we will evaluate day by day his condition and when it is best for him to start playing again," Allegri told a news conference in Sydney on Friday.<br /> <br /> Sunday's clash at ANZ Stadium will mark the first, and probably last, time Juventus great Alessandro Del Piero takes on his former club.<br /> <br /> Juve goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon said it would be "beautiful" to face his former club and Italy team-mate, but hopes he can keep the attacker off the scoresheet.<br /> <br /> Former Sydney FC star Del Piero, who is without a club, will captain the All Stars.<br /> <br /> "Of course having a game against Alex is something completely new for me and for Juventus of course," Buffon said.<br /> <br /> "It will be a beautiful experience to have this game against Del Piero and I hope there will be chances for everybody to entertain the public.<br /> <br /> "Hopefully one of these chances won't be Alex scoring a goal against Juventus."

Chile football Juventus Manchester United Massimiliano Allegri news news sports United Vidal United target Vidal back running

Midfielder Arturo Vidal has resumed running but a date for his return remains unknown, according to Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri. V...

Read more »

Sharapova, Kvitova exit as Williams rolls on

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/8/592647header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/tennis/2014/8/8/592647header.jpg" /></a>Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova were among the surprise losers at the Rogers Cup as Serena Williams advanced on Thursday.<br /> <br /> Sharapova, the Russian fourth seed, slumped to a 6-2 4-6 6-2 loss to Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro on the hard courts in Montreal.<br /> <br /> The 14th-seeded Suarez Navarro broke Sharapova's serve nine times – three of those came in the deciding set – in the third-round win.<br /> <br /> Suarez Navarro faces another powerful opponent in the quarter-finals in American Venus Williams, who also claimed a scalp by beating German sixth seed Angelique Kerber 6-3 3-6 6-4.<br /> <br /> Czech second seed Kvitova exited the WTA Premier event after a 6-4 1-6 6-2 defeat to Russian left-hander Ekaterina Makarova.<br /> <br /> On a day of upsets, Makarova's quarter-final opponent Coco Vandeweghe stunned Jelena Jankovic.<br /> <br /> American qualifier Vandeweghe fought to a 7-6 (10-8) 2-6 7-5 win over the Serbian seventh seed.<br /> <br /> As seeds around her were beaten, Serena Williams avoided problems against Czech Lucie Safarova.<br /> <br /> The world number one clinched a 7-5 6-4 victory over the 15th-seeded Safarova.<br /> <br /> Williams will face in-form Danish 11th seed Caroline Wozniacki, who needed just 56 minutes to crush American qualifier Shelby Rogers 6-1 6-0.<br /> <br /> Rogers could win just four points in the second set hammering.<br /> <br /> Belarusian eighth seed Victoria Azarenka was a 6-2 6-4 winner over British qualifier Heather Watson and Polish third seed Agnieszka Radwanska overcame German Sabine Lisicki 6-1 3-6 6-3

Maria Sharapova news Petra Kvitova Rogers Cup Sharapova, Kvitova exit as Williams rolls on

Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova were among the surprise losers at the Rogers Cup as Serena Williams advanced on Thursday. Sharapova, the...

Read more »

Poyet ´confident´ of Fabio Borini capture

<a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592641header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/soccer/2014/8/8/592641header.jpg" /></a>Sunderland manager Gus Poyet remains confident the club will sign Liverpool striker Fabio Borini.<br /> <br /> Poyet confirmed last month that terms had been agreed with Liverpool to bring Borini back to the Stadium of Light after a successful loan spell in 2013-14.<br /> <br /> But the Italian's move to Sunderland was put on ice following a shoulder injury sustained during Liverpool's pre-season fixture against Roma in the United States.<br /> <br /> Sunderland remain interested in Borini and speaking after Thursday's 2-0 win over Real Betis, Poyet said the club were staying patient in their pursuit of the 23-year-old.<br /> <br /> "We're still waiting," said Poyet.<br /> <br /> "There's no more than last week, no more than next week.<br /> <br /> "We're waiting but it's still ongoing. I'm still confident it will happen."<br /> <br /> Borini netted seven goals in 32 league appearances as Sunderland avoided relegation last season.<br /> <br /> The former Chelsea youth product also scored three goals in the Capital One Cup, including the opener in the decider against Manchester City.<br /> <br /> "I don't think the word is 'frustrating' because we knew after he travelled and the [shoulder] injury that it would take a bit longer," added Poyet.<br /> <br /> "We'll keep working because we know him very well.<br /> <br /> "Fabio ticks all the boxes because we know what we're going to get and how important it is for us and the fans as well.<br /> <br /> "We are in a very good position... waiting.<br /> <br /> "It's that last step, that little thing that is going to close it."<br /> <br /> "Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it takes a bit longer."

Fabio Borini football Gus Poyet news news sports Sunderland Poyet ´confident´ of Fabio Borini capture

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet remains confident the club will sign Liverpool striker Fabio Borini. Poyet confirmed last month that terms ha...

Read more »

Tinkov warns UCI he is ready for war

Tinkoff-Saxo's team owner Oleg Tinkov warned the International Cycling Union (UCI) not to make him their enemy.<br /> <a href="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/cycling/2014/8/8/592631header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.images.core.optasports.com/news/cycling/2014/8/8/592631header.jpg" /></a><br /> Tinkov is unhappy with how the UCI have dealt with their case against Tinkoff-Saxo rider Roman Kreuziger, who allegedly has anomalies in his biological passport, while he believes cycling's international governing body are "the main obstacle" to improving the sport.<br /> <br /> The Russian businessman has been vocal in his criticism of the way pro cycling is run since he bought Tinkoff-Saxo late last year, while he has reportedly been part of the secretive Project Avignon organisation that is investigating how to improve the UCI WorldTour.<br /> <br /> In an interview with Cyclingnews, Tinkov warned the UCI that if they try to silence him, he is willing to start a war to protect his interests.<br /> <br /> "Some people think the UCI will go against us now and perhaps not give us a [WorldTour] licence as they did with Katusha. But I'm not looking to start a war, I'm just trying to change cycling, to make it better," he said.<br /> <br /> "I'm the one paying the bills and I'm the one with a heart for this sport and just want to make it more valuable and better.<br /> <br /> "But if I start the war there will be no hostages. They should understand that. I'm not starting a war yet but if they want one, then they will cry.<br /> <br /> "Of course, if they're ready to sit down and discuss things in a normal way then we should do that. If they're looking for a war then I'm ready, no problem. Then they will push me to become the Bernie Ecclestone of cycling and create my own league.<br /> <br /> "I have a sponsor behind me and I have investors behind me. If we - the team owners - make an agreement with ASO [the Amaury Sport Organisation - that runs the Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana and other elite cycling races], why do we need the UCI?"<br /> <br /> Tinkov added he is planning legal action against the UCI for their provisional suspension against Kreuziger.<br /> <br /> Tinkoff-Saxo left Kreuziger out of the Tour de France due to perceived anomalies in his biological passport, which is a record of a cyclist's biological markers used to combat doping.<br /> <br /> Kreuziger was then named in Tinkoff-Saxo's Tour de Pologne squad but the UCI stepped in, suspending the 28-year-old until his case is heard.<br /> <br /> Tinkov feels that is unfair.<br /> <br /> "My idea now is to ask them for compensation. I want them to face their commercial responsibilities," the 46-year-old said.<br /> <br /> "Maybe I'll take action in a London court not in a sporting court. They're managing big business sport and so they have to be responsible for what they're doing.<br /> <br /> "I've basically lost a lot of money because of their stupid procedures. They need clarify the rules for the biological passport. Some people, some experts say there are anomalies. Others say there aren't but who is going to prove what is the truth and when? And how long is all going to take?"<br /> <br /> Tinkov claimed he originally thought the ASO were holding pro cycling back but now blames the UCI, claiming they are restricting his ability to profit from the sport.<br /> <br /> "The UCI doesn't care about the money. They're a bunch of bureaucrats," he said.<br /> <br /> "They've tried to establish the rules but can't even do that. They don't understand about business and money and are making a real mess at the moment."

news news sports Tinkov UCI Tinkov warns UCI he is ready for war

Tinkoff-Saxo's team owner Oleg Tinkov warned the International Cycling Union (UCI) not to make him their enemy. Tinkov is unhappy with...

Read more »