World Cup: First round leaves Europe all at sea

World Cup: First round leaves Europe all at sea
Canada’s aboriginals win historic victory for rights
His Majesty consents to the appointment of Auditor General
Algeria make history after draw with Russia
Monarch consents to grant audience to Perak’s Royal Envoys and Philippine’s Health Officials
World Cup: Slimani heads Algeria to historic qualification

Posted: 26 Jun 2014 07:39 PM PDT

RIO DE JANEIRO: Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Andrea Pirlo and Xavi have left Brazil with their tails between their legs highlighting the hard times for Europe at the World Cup.

Having provided seven of the last eight World Cup semi-finalists, Europe's dominance appears to be on the wane after a brutal group phase for the continent's teams.

Where Latin American sides such as Chile and Costa Rica created sensations, Europe's powerhouses flopped, with Italy, England, Portugal and defending champions Spain among seven teams from the UEFA zone eliminated in the first round.

In sharp contrast, World Cup crowds have thrilled to the virtuoso performances of Neymar and Lionel Messi, the swashbuckling football of Chile and Colombia, and the daring displays of giant-killing Costa Rica.

While France, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and Greece remain in contention for glory, the tournament has done little to encourage hope of a first European World Cup success in the Americas.

"It cannot be a coincidence that a European team couldn't win a World Cup held in South America," declared Switzerland's decorated German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld before the tournament.

"Not in Uruguay, not in Mexico, not in Argentina, and for sure not in Brazil."

Europe's World Cup difficulties may be part of an emerging trend.

Whereas European teams filled 10 of the last-16 places in five of the first six tournaments after the round was introduced in 1986 (with nine getting there in 2002), only six made it in 2010 and this year.

With tens of thousands of fans from neighbouring countries flooding into Brazil, the South American teams have clearly benefited from the home advantage.

Supporters from Argentina and Chile took over Rio de Janeiro's Maracana when their sides played there in the group phase and France coach Didier Deschamps believes such mass support can make a difference.

"We are in Brazil, so the South American teams certainly acclimatise better, and maybe the fact that they are playing so close to home and have so many supporters with them gives them added strength and energy," he said on Wednesday.

Developing Deschamps's theme, Brazil striker Fred said: "I think the climate can make a bit of a difference, because we are better adapted to it.

"The tactical aspect makes a difference, too. We see Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Chile all playing technically good football. And as they are used to the very hot climate, it can end up helping a bit."

England manager Roy Hodgson feels that European sides are hindered by the strengths of their respective domestic championships.

Citing the examples of Costa Rica and Iran, who almost held Argentina to a goalless draw in Group F, he said that it is easier for the tournament's supposed weaker sides to gather together for pre-competition training camps, making them more well-drilled and tactically flexible.

"Iran and Costa Rica have been together for months, so they've really had a chance to do the type of work that we've been happy to do for three or four weeks with our players," he said after his side's group-phase exit.

"We'll never get the access to our players that an Iran or a Costa Rica get."

One consolation for the Europeans is that only one of Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Uruguay can reach the semi-finals due to the configuration of the draw.

And although only six teams from Europe reached the last 16 in 2010, three of those went on to reach the semi-finals, while the final between Spain and Holland was the second all-European affair in a row after France and Italy in 2006. France, Germany and the Dutch are again looking strong and confident.

While it has been a chastening first fortnight for the old continent, the cream of European football can still rise to the top. -AFP

Canada’s aboriginals win historic victory for rights

Posted: 26 Jun 2014 06:31 PM PDT

Canada's Supreme Court recognized native groups' rights over a large swathe of land for the first time Thursday in western British Columbia province.

The landmark ruling in favor of the semi-nomadic Tsilhqot'in people — numbering about 3,000 — could have an impact on similar Native American claims currently pending in court, as well as on impact on mining, forestry and other projects exploiting raw materials across vast portions of Canada.

In 2012, a British Columbia appeals court had refused to recognize the Tsilhqot'in people's ancestral rights over the land in center of the province, saying that they needed to identify the "specific sites" their ancestors had used when the Europeans arrived, rather than lay claim to the broad area.

The Supreme Court tossed that decision out, stressing that "occupation sufficient to ground Aboriginal title is not confined to specific sites of settlement but extends to tracts of land that were regularly used for hunting, fishing or otherwise exploiting resources and over which the group exercised effective control at the time of assertion of European sovereignty."

The high court's ruling ends a court saga that dragged on for decades, starting when the provincial government granted a commercial forestry permit on land that the Tsilhqot'in people considered part of their ancestral territory.

Both the provincial government and the federal government in Ottawa had contested the Tsilhqot'in people's claims, but the high court said British Columbia had failed to fulfill its constitutional duty to consult with the aboriginal community.

The Supreme Court's ruling does not grant absolute rights for the indigenous group over its ancestral land.

But the province can no longer authorize projects on the territory without the aboriginal people's consent, unless it proves a real and pressing public objective, and appropriately compensates the Tsilhqot'in.

"This is truly a landmark decision that compels us all to embark on a new course," said Assembly of First Nations spokesman Ghislain Picard, the regional chief for Quebec and Labrador.

"The court has clearly sent a message that the crown must take aboriginal title seriously and reconcile with First Nations honorably.

"This decision will no doubt go down in history as one of the most important and far reaching ever rendered by the Supreme Court of Canada." -AFP

His Majesty consents to the appointment of Auditor General

Posted: 26 Jun 2014 06:31 PM PDT

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: By command of His Majesty the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan dan the Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister's Office hereby announces that His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to the appointment of Yang Mulia Awg Matali Yusof, Acting Deputy Auditor General as the Auditor General, Brudirect reported.

The appointment of the said officer is effective from Thursday, Rejab 15 1435 Hijrah corresponding to May 15 2014.

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Algeria make history after draw with Russia

Posted: 26 Jun 2014 06:31 PM PDT

Posted on June 27, 2014, Friday

A 60th minute header by Islam Slimani gave Algeria the point they needed to reach the second round of the World Cup for the first time with a 1-1 draw with Russia in Curitiba on Thursday.

Algeria had had to come from 1-0 down to grab the draw and knock 2018 World Cup hosts Russia out inflicting more World Cup woe on their coach Fabio Capello.

While Belgium top the group having beaten the Koreans 1-0, Algeria face a grudge match with Germany on Monday.

The Algerians believe they and not the Germans would have progressed to the second stage of the 1982 World Cup had not Germany beaten Austria 1-0 in a match considered by many to have been played out as a friendly. -AFP

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Monarch consents to grant audience to Perak’s Royal Envoys and Philippine’s Health Officials

Posted: 26 Jun 2014 06:27 PM PDT

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: His Majesty the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddien Waddaulah, the Sultan and the Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to receive in separate audiences Orang Besar Lapan Perak Darul Ridzuan and the Secretary of Health at the Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines. Both audiences took place at Istana Nurul Iman, Brudirect reported.

His Majesty first received in audience Orang Besar Lapan Perak Darul Ridzuan, Yang Berbahagia Orang Kaya-Kaya Seri Agar Diraja Tan Sri Dato' Seri Diraja Haji Ramli bin Ngah Talib.

Accompanying Yang Berbahagia Orang Kaya-kaya Seri Agar Diraja at the audience ceremony was the Secretary to the Government of Negeri Perak Darul Ridzuan, Yang Berhormat Dato' Seri Abdul Puhat bin Mat Nayan; Confidential Secretary to the Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Perak Darul Ridzuan, Yang Dihormati Toh Raja Diraja Colonel (Rtd) Dato' Abdul Rahim bin Mohammad Nor; and Secretary of the Senate of Dewan Negara Perak Darul Ridzuan, Yang Dihormati Toh Amar Seri Diraja Dato' Ayop bin Hashim.

His Majesty then consented to receive in audience the Secretary of Health at the Department of Health, Republic of the Philippines, The Honourable Doctor Enrique T. Ona.

Accompanying the Honourable at the audience ceremony was the Director of Bereau of the International Health Cooperation Republic of the Philippines, Ms. Maylene M. Beltran. Present was Charge D'Affaires Embassy of Republic of the Philippines to Brunei Darussalam, Ms. Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat.

Also in attendance was the Minister of Health, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Md Yusof.

World Cup: Slimani heads Algeria to historic qualification

Posted: 26 Jun 2014 03:45 PM PDT

CURITIBA: Algeria progressed to the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in their history with a 1-1 draw against Russia on Thursday, but controversy surrounded Islam Slimani's equaliser as Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev appeared to have been distracted by a laser pen.

Russia boss Fabio Capello said there was no doubt Akinfeev had been distracted by the laser beam.

"He was blinded by the laser beam. There are pictures and you can see that in the footage," said the Italian, who for a second successive time has failed to translate his success as a club coach onto the World Cup stage.

"About the lasers it is not an excuse. The goalkeeper was unable to do his job. The laser beam was in his face."

Algeria boss Vahid Halilhodzic said he has not seen the laser beam incident, but is relishing the chance for the Desert Foxes to avenge their controversial exit from the 1982 World Cup when they face Germany in Porto Alegre on Monday.

Back then West Germany and Austria played out a mutually beneficial 1-0 win for the Germans to ensure Algeria were eliminated on goal difference.

"We have not forgotten about it. Everyone talks about Algeria and Germany from 1982," said Halilhodzic.

"Thirty-two years ia a long time, but I am very proud of what we have achieved tonight and we deserve to be here.

"Algeria played a heroic match and our qualification for the second round is perfectly deserved."

Belgium topped the group with a maximum nine points from three games after they beat South Korea 1-0 in the other game.

Algeria had gotten off to the worst possible start as with Sofiane Feghouli off the field receiving treatment for a head injury, Russia used the extra space afforded to them down Algeria's right to open the scoring.

Left-back Dmitry Kombarov sauntered forward and his cross was expertly nodded into the top corner by Alexander Kokorin.

Oleg Shatov then came within inches of doubling Russia's advantage with a dipping shot from range that flew just past the post.

However, Algeria posed the greater threat towards the end of the half and Akinfeev went some way to redeeming himself for an awful error which cost his side a goal in their opening game against South Korea with a fine save from Slimani's first effort of the evening.

Russia came flying out of the traps in the second period, though, looking to kill the game off and should have done when a lovely one-two between Kokorin and Aleksandr Samedov put the latter clean through on goal, but Rais Mbolhi stood up well to block his effort.

And that save was to prove vital on the hour mark as Akinfeev flapped at Brahimi's free-kick and Slimani headed home into an unguarded net.

Mbolhi was forced into another fine save 21 minutes from time as Samedov played in Alexander Kerzhakov down the right and his low strike was held at the second attempt by the Algerian goalkeeper.

Russia continued to push for a winner, but when Aleksei Kozlov's header sailed wide in stoppage time their last chance was gone.

Defeat means Russia have still yet to qualify for the last 16 since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and continues Capello's poor record at the World Cup after he oversaw England's 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Germany in the last 16 four years ago. -AFP