Ribery leads seven-goal Bayern to 40-match milestone |
- Ribery leads seven-goal Bayern to 40-match milestone
- BP investors lose bid for class status in Gulf spill case
- Mandela memorial events set to draw thousands in South Africa
- Napoli in six-goal thriller, Balotelli saves Milan
- Ukraine opposition urges million-strong rally to pressure leader
| Ribery leads seven-goal Bayern to 40-match milestone Posted: 07 Dec 2013 04:55 PM PST
Ribery boosted his claim for the 2013 world footballer of the year award, which will be announced on January 13, by creating two goals and scoring twice in the rout. "We are all happy, but we must continue to play like that," said Ribery as the European champions warmed up for Tuesday's Champions League match at home to Manchester City. "This team has a great mentality, it makes it fun to play." Bayern, who last lost in the German league in October 2012, produced their biggest win so far under Pep Guardiola, cutting Bremen's defence to tatters. "I must say a big thank you to my team, they played very, very well," beamed Guardiola. "It was an honour to coach them today, but I know Bremen can play much better than that." The victory was just short of the Bundesliga's 57-year-old record of 9-0 for an away win and was Werder's heaviest home league defeat. Bremen coach Robin Dutt kept the team on the pitch for a stern lecture as they dropped to 14th after just two wins in their last 10 games. Ribery, who started his first Bundesliga match for nearly a month after a rib injury, helped give Bayern the lead when his cross was turned into the net for an own goal by Werder's Congo defender Assani Lukimya on 21 minutes. Towering Belgian centre-back Daniel van Buyten added a second from a corner six minutes later before Ribery added their third on 38 minutes when he tapped home Thomas Mueller's cross. Ribery provided the cross for Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic on the hour mark to fire into an empty net for the fourth and six minutes later Mueller fired home for Bayern's fifth with 68 minutes gone. Ribery capped an eye-catching display when he converted left-back David Alaba's cross on 82 minutes before Mario Goetze powered past tired defenders to hit Munich's seventh with 90 minutes gone. Second-placed Bayer Leverkusen stayed four points behind Bayern with a hard-fought 1-0 win at third-placed Borussia Dortmund, who now find themselves six points behind Leverusen and ten points behind Munich. South Korea striker Son Heung-Min hit the 18th-minute winner after Leverkusen's attack pounced on a mistake by Dortmund defender Manuel Friedrich for Son to score his fifth goal in his last three games against Borussia. Both sides finished with 10 men as Leverkusen had Bosnia defender Emir Spahic sent off for striking Dortmund midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan while Borussia had Greece centre-back Sokratis dismissed late on for a second bookable foul. Dortmund had defensive midfielder Sven Bender taken off in the second-half with a knee injury, adding to Borussia's injury woes having lost their entire back four last month. Fourth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach drew level on 31 points with Dortmund as they picked up their sixth-straight win with a 2-1 win at home to Schalke 04, whose coach Jens Keller has been told a decision on his future will be made over the winter break. Schalke must beat Swiss champions FC Basel on Wednesday to reach the Champions League's knock-out phase and another defeat could be Keller's last having taken charge of the Royal Blues in December 2012. Eintracht Frankfurt stay just above the relegation places after losing 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim while Hamburg, who had been steadily climbing the table under ex-Holland manager Bert van Marwijk, slumped to a 1-0 defeat at home to Augsburg. Stuttgart are up to 10th after picking up only their third win in the last 10 games with a 4-2 win at home to Hanover 96. ― AFP  |
| BP investors lose bid for class status in Gulf spill case Posted: 07 Dec 2013 04:50 PM PST
US District Judge Keith Ellison in Houston denied a request on Friday to certify a class action of holders of BP's American depository shares (ADSs) who were allegedly injured by the energy giant. "Plaintiffs have failed to discharge their burden to establish that damages in this case can be measured on a class-wide basis consistent with their theories of liability," Ellison wrote. The judge said his decision was based largely on a US Supreme Court ruling from March holding that a class action against Comcast Corp was improperly certified. Ellison said the Supreme Court decision "has appreciably changed the landscape for class certification." But he said he would allow the plaintiffs another chance to argue that their case should move forward as a class action, giving them 30 days to file a new motion. Geoff Morrell, a spokesman for BP, said the ruling "confirms BP's view, as noted in our brief and at oral argument, that plaintiffs failed to establish that this case is appropriate for class treatment." Steven Toll, a lawyer for the plaintiffs at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll, said the investors "definitely do intend to refile the motion to address the court's concerns about the Comcast ruling." Friday's decision follows a February 2012 ruling dismissing claims by purchasers of ordinary BP shares on the basis of an earlier 2010 Supreme Court ruling limiting the ability of holders of foreign securities to bring cases in US courts. The plaintiffs are led by the New York State Common Retirement Fund and four Ohio public pension funds. They sued BP after the April 20, 2010, explosion of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, which killed 11 people and resulted in the largest offshore oil spill in US history. The investors said BP's shares dropped in value around 40 per cent in the weeks after the incident. The plaintiffs had asked Ellison to certify a class of investors who bought ADSs between November 8, 2007, and May 28, 2010. They also asked for subclass to be certified covering purchasers of ADSs from March 4, 2009, to April 20, 2010. BP continues to face other litigation stemming from the Deepwater Horizon incident, which has resulted in the company taking US$42.5 billion (RM137.4 billion) in charges to date. In January, BP pleaded guilty to 14 criminal counts over conduct leading up to and after the disaster as part of a US$4 billion settlement with the US Justice Department. The case is In re: BP Plc Securities Litigation, US District Court, Southern District of Texas, No. 10-md-02185. — Reuters |
| Mandela memorial events set to draw thousands in South Africa Posted: 07 Dec 2013 04:50 PM PST
President Jacob Zuma called on South Africans to hold prayers today for Mandela, who died on December 5 at the age of 95. The nation's first black leader had been ill for about a year, most recently with a lung infection, and died peacefully at his Johannesburg home surrounded by his family, Zuma said. Mourners have flocked to Mandela's home since his death to pay their respects, leaving flowers and messages, while some sang and danced. Posters bearing the logo of the ruling African National Congress were attached to lamp posts on the roads leading to Mandela's property, while hawkers set up stores selling green and gold rugby shirts bearing the image of Mandela clenching his fist. "He has served us with such integrity, did so much for us and it's time for him to go," Michael Mpanza, 48, who works in the national airline's finance department, said in an interview outside Mandela's home in the suburb of Houghton. "We celebrate all the things that he's done for us. I'll stay here for as long as my legs can carry me." Mandela's body will lie in state from December 11 to December 13 at the government's executive headquarters at the Union Buildings in the capital, Pretoria. Lining streets Mourners will be allowed to file past his open casket, which will be protected by a transparent covering, while a static camera feed will be located at the venue for broadcast, Neo Momodu, a spokeswoman for the Government Communication and Information Service, told reporters in Johannesburg yesterday. People will be allowed to line the streets along the route when Mandela's remains are transported to and from the morgue to the Union Buildings over the three days, Momodu said. Mandela encouraged reconciliation after becoming South Africa's first black president in 1994, when white majority-rule, or apartheid, ended. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 together with F.W. de Klerk, the last white president, for negotiating a peaceful end to apartheid. The "son of the soil made time for the kings and the queens, the poor and the rich, the great and small, ex-political prisoners of every persuasion" Themba Matanzima, a spokesman for the Mandela family, told reporters in Johannesburg yesterday. "The pillar of the family is gone. But in our hearts and souls he'll always be with us." Celebrating life A special parliamentary sitting is planned tomorrow in Cape Town, followed the next day by a memorial service at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, the 94,000 seat venue where the final of the 2010 Soccer World Cup took place. About 9,000 mourners are expected to attend the funeral in Qunu, located about 900 kilometres south of Johannesburg, according to the government. "We should, while mourning, also sing at the top of our voices, dance and do whatever we want to do, to celebrate the life of this outstanding revolutionary," Zuma, who plans to attend a church service in Johannesburg today, said in a statement. "Let us sing for Madiba," he said, referring to Mandela's clan name. Former US Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will join President Barack Obama on his trip to South Africa this week to attend memorial events, according to their spokesmen. Visitors yesterday packed out a ferry to visit Robben Island, a rocky outcrop off the coast of Cape Town, where Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison and is now a museum. A tent was set up outside the mainland ferry station at the city's Waterfront shopping centre with a photo of Mandela, a candle and condolence books. 'Great Man' "We should never forget about this great man," Lucas Letsholo, 65, who runs a transport business in the northwest town of Rustenburg, said after buying tickets to visit the island. "Our children must also know what he did. He was the one who made South Africa what it is today." After a single five-year term as president, Mandela became a champion in the fight against AIDS, disclosing that one of his sons died from the disease. He retired from public life in 2004 and was last seen publicly at the soccer World Cup in Johannesburg three years ago. "You just have to celebrate his life," Godfrey Mamashela, a 28-year-old engineer, said as he waited to write a message of condolence at the entrance to Johannesburg's Carlton Center shopping mall. "I'm just going to say thank you. I don't think I would be where I am today if it weren't for him." ― Bloomberg |
| Napoli in six-goal thriller, Balotelli saves Milan Posted: 07 Dec 2013 04:45 PM PST
In the day's other game, a stunning late free kick by Mario Balotelli, his second goal of the match, helped AC Milan snatch a 2-2 draw at Livorno. Rafael Benitez's Napoli stay third with 32 points from 15 games, two points behind AS Roma and eight adrift of leaders Juventus, who beat Bologna 2-0 on Friday and look an even stronger bet for their third consecutive league title. "We have to improve," said Benitez. "We scored two goals and had control of the game before making a mistake at a corner. "We're the ones who have to improve and stop making mistakes. If we manage to score as many goals as we did tonight we need to be better at the back." Pandev tapped in the opening goal in the 38th minute after showing delicate control. He quickly made it 2-0 when Gonzalo Higuain charged to the byline and pulled the ball back for the Macedonian forward, who spun well before guiding in his sixth league goal of the season. Napoli defender Federico Fernandez let Udinese back into the game with an embarrassing own goal seconds before halftime when he clipped in a tame Thomas Heurtaux header. Bruno Fernandes then deservedly drew Udinese level with a dipping shot that confused Napoli keeper Rafael with 21 minutes left. Napoli went back in front seconds later when Blerim Dzemaili tapped in the rebound following a curling effort from Higuain, but Udinese refused to give up and equalised with 10 minutes to go when Dusan Basta scored after a goalmouth scramble. The visitors then almost snatched victory when Brazilian Maicosuel burst through on goal, only for Christian Maggio to thwart him with a superb sliding tackle. The challenge enraged Udinese coach Francesco Guidolin, who was sent off for protesting. "Maggio was clever and crafty to slow down Maicosuel," said Guidolin. "If they didn't see it that's fine but I was sent off only for asking how not only he but also his assistants didn't see it." Eighth-placed Milan were rescued at Livorno by Balotelli, who thumped a spectacular shot past keeper Francesco Bardi from 30 metres with six minutes left. His leveller came after two sucker punches from Luca Siligardi and Paulinho had turned the game in the home team's favour following Balotelli's seventh-minute opener. He almost clinched a barely deserved win for Milan when he hit the bar with a looping effort two minutes from the end. Second-placed Roma host flamboyant Fiorentina in one of seven fixtures today. ― Reuters |
| Ukraine opposition urges million-strong rally to pressure leader Posted: 07 Dec 2013 04:36 PM PST
Anti-government activists are gathering at noon in Kiev and want to top the half-million people who flooded the city last weekend, when protests were marred by clashes with baton-wielding riot police that have fuelled further demonstrations across the former Soviet republic. Speculation Yanukovych is preparing to sign up to a Russian customs bloc fired up crowds yesterday at the scene of the 2004 Orange Revolution. Protesters are camped out at Independence Square, which is blockaded with scrap wood, metal and barbed wire, and are picketing official buildings to demand snap elections and government accountability after 400 people were injured in violence last weekend. Having defeated a no-confidence motion Dec 3, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has accused demonstrators of instigating disturbances. Two were arrested December 5. "The opposition probably hopes that a massive turnout will unnerve the authorities, forcing them to capitulate or offer major concessions," Ian Bond, foreign-policy director at the Centre for European Reform in London, said December 6 by e-mail. Activists are promoting the latest rally via Facebook under the slogan: "there must be more of us than last Sunday!" Jailed ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko issued a statement urging her supporters to join the protest. More than 13,000 people were demonstrating in Kiev yesterday, according to the Interior Ministry. 'European faces' Members of the European Parliament including Poland's Jerzy Buzek joined a crowd of thousands on Independence Square yesterday, saying from the stage that they saw "European faces." Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who came to power in the 2003 Rose Revolution, arrived in Kiev to support for the opposition. He criticized Russian pressure on Ukraine to reject a European Union association agreement in favour of President Vladimir Putin's Customs Union, a precursor to an ex- Soviet economic alliance aimed at rivalling the 28-nation bloc. "It's not about a geopolitical fight here ― it's about a way of life," he said yesterday. "Are you going to have a normal life for your children, a decent life for yourselves, or are you going back to the Soviet disaster?" Sochi mystery Yanukovych met with Putin Dec 6 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi as he returned from a trip to China and the two leaders yesterday denied that they'd discussed the Customs Union. Yanukovych plans to commit to the bloc, which includes Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, at a December 17 meeting in Moscow, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, leader of Tymoshenko's party, said yesterday. He accused Yanukovych of "selling" Ukraine. "What did they talk about in Sochi? Does anyone know?" Oleh Tyahnybok, head of the opposition Svoboda party, shouted to protesters, drawing shouts of "No!" After the EU criticized Putin for pressuring Yanukovych, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Dec 6 accused Germany's Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle, of "interference in internal affairs." Westerwelle met world heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, another Ukrainian opposition leader, and accompanied him to Independence Square on December 4. Yanukovych said December 6 on his website that he'd cancelled a trip to Malta next week to focus on "domestic political issues." First Deputy Premier Serhiy Arbuzov has said he sees no need for early elections. Default risk Arbuzov voiced concern over Ukraine's economy, which is stuck in its third recession since 2008 after steel prices fell. The government needs at least US$10 billion (RM32.3 billion) in loans to improve its balance of payments and avoid the risk of a default, the Interfax news service cited Arbuzov as saying yesterday. Foreign reserves fell more than economists forecast last month. The stockpile has plunged more than US$6 billion in the last year and stood at US$18.79 billion on November 30, the lowest level since 2006. The government has repeatedly rejected International Monetary Fund bailout terms. Yatsenyuk told reporters yesterday that Yanukovych must fire the government before talks can resume between opposition and the authorities. He backed a resumption of negotiations with the Washington-based IMF. Klitschko reiterated a demand that people detained amid the protests be released and that police responsible for beating demonstrators be punished. US rebuke "Violence or the threat of violence is impermissible in a democratic state," Victoria Nuland, US assistant secretary of state, said December 6 in Tbilisi, Georgia. "Those responsible for the violence must be brought to justice and the detainees released." Azarov, who's vowed to purge his cabinet of those who made "mistakes," has labelled some protesters as "extremists." While he's indicated that the authorities are ready to sanction an independent commission to investigate the violence, he says protesters must first end their blockades of official buildings. As snow showers continued on Independence Square and weather forecasters warned of storms, 69-year-old Vasil Grinenkov, a former tractor driver, and his lawyer son Andrei, 41, said they're ready to stay as long as it takes to topple the government. "We want to be closer to Europe and the European community want to see us in Europe," said Vasil, who's been sleeping in a tent on the square for 10 days. "We want to change this bandit regime." ― Bloomberg |
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