10 dead in Yemen-Saudi border post attack

10 dead in Yemen-Saudi border post attack
Afghan presidential candidate slams “unacceptable” results delay
World Cup: Netherlands beat Costa Rica on penalties to reach semis
World Cup: Higuain fires Argentina into semis
State ‘nod’ to fed projects before tender — Fadillah
Six who threatened man nabbed, remanded 4 days

Posted: 05 Jul 2014 07:59 PM PDT

YEMEN: An attempt by Al-Qaeda militants to infiltrate Saudi Arabia from Yemen left five security officers dead on the two sides of the border, along with five assailants, officials said Saturday.

The Saudi interior ministry said six assailants attacked the Wadia border post in the south of the kingdom on Friday.

After an initial clash on Yemen's side of the border that left a Yemeni soldier dead, according to a security official in Sanaa, the infiltrators in a four-wheel-drive attacked a Saudi border patrol vehicle, killing the driver.

They seized the car, sparking a chase in which two Saudi police were killed along with three of the assailants, the interior ministry said.

It said one of them was wounded and arrested, while the two others fled to the nearby Sharura district with the seized vehicle.

They took over an intelligence building where they killed a fourth member of the Saudi security services.

Pinned down and encircled by security forces for several hours, they refused to surrender and blew themselves up early Saturday, a ministry spokesman said in a statement carried by state news agency SPA.

The Yemeni security source said the assailants were armed with machineguns and rocket-propelled grenades.

The crossing is in Yemen's southeastern province of Hadramawt, whose rugged terrain provides hideouts for militants of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

AQAP, born in 2009 of a fusion of the Saudi and Yemeni branches of Al-Qaeda, is considered by Washington to be the jihadist network's most dangerous affiliate.

To counter illegal crossings and arms smuggling, Saudi Arabia is building a three-metre (10-foot) high fence along its southern frontier.

Taking advantage of a collapse of central authority during a 2011 uprising that forced Yemen's veteran strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh from power, Al-Qaeda seized swathes of the country's south and east.

Saudi Arabia launched a massive crackdown on Al-Qaeda following a spate of deadly attacks in the kingdom from 2003-2006. – AFP

Afghan presidential candidate slams “unacceptable” results delay

Posted: 05 Jul 2014 06:10 PM PDT

KABUL: Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani said on Saturday any further delay in releasing preliminary results from the disputed election would be "unacceptable" after his opponent said he would reject their outcome.

The June 14 election run-off has been mired in allegations of cheating, with Ghani and his poll rival Abdullah Abdullah at loggerheads in a crisis that threatens Afghanistan's first democratic transfer of power.

The run-off election result was due to be released last Wednesday but was delayed by the commission until Monday to allow an audit of nearly 2,000 of the 23,000 polling stations nationwide.

Abdullah, once a front-runner in the race, alleges he was the victim of "industrial-scale" ballot-box stuffing, with many more votes than voters registered in some areas.

On Friday he confirmed he would not accept Monday's outcome from a partial audit of ballots – pitching the election into further turmoil as the political impasse between the two deepens.

"Further delay of the results are unacceptable to us and will create serious doubts and mistrust of people on the election process," said Ghani, who claims to have won the runoff fairly by more than one million votes.

He also denied rumours that a coalition government with Abdullah could be struck. "I can assure you we have not made any deals", Ghani said.

US-led allies who have fought a 13-year war against Taliban militants and spent billions of dollars in aid are eager to avoid a prolonged power struggle in Kabul.

On Thursday, European Union (EU) observers voiced growing international concern over fraud and called for an audit of suspicious votes to be expanded from 2,000 to 6,000 polling stations – about a quarter of all ballot boxes.

US senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham have travelled to Afghanistan to meet both candidates, in a bid to ease tensions.

With NATO's combat mission ending, the coming months are expected to be a test of the fledging Afghan government forces now responsible for imposing nationwide security.

All foreign combat troops will leave Afghanistan by December, with about 10,000 US troops staying into next year if the new president signs a security deal with Washington.

Any delay in appointing a successor to President Karzai could undermine anti-Taliban operations and also put billions of dollars of aid pledges at risk.- AFP

World Cup: Netherlands beat Costa Rica on penalties to reach semis

Posted: 05 Jul 2014 04:18 PM PDT

SALVADOR: Substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul saved two penalties in a dramatic shoot-out on Saturday as the Netherlands edged Costa Rica 4-3 to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

After a goalless 120 minutes, the towering Newcastle United custodian came on at the end of extra time and he saved from Bryan Ruiz and Michael Umana to win the quarter-final for the Dutch.

It was another masterstroke from Manchester United-bound coach Louis van Gaal, who despite his ingenuity was unable to engineer a breakthrough in normal and extra time.

Costa Rica rarely threatened and appeared content to play for penalties, their strong suit after goalkeeper Keylor Navas kept out Greece in a shoot-out in the last 16.

But their bluff was called and after Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Dirk Kuyt all buried their kicks, the outstretched Krul denied Umana to seal the win.

The thrilling shoot-out came after a match in which goalkeeping also featured strongly when the Dutch hit the woodwork three times and were repeatedly denied by Navas.

Their first chance came when Kuyt squared it to Memphis Depay, who found Van Persie in the area but had his close-range shot well blocked by Navas.

The goalkeeper then spared Ruiz's blushes, after his captain gave the ball away on the halfway line, when he stopped smartly from Depay.

Robben's frank admission to diving dominated the build-up but Uzbek referee Ravshan Irmanov had no delay in awarding free-kicks when he went down twice in quick succession.

And Sneijder nearly buried the second when he curled it past the wall, only for his goal-bound shot to be denied by Navas's fabulous flying, one-handed save.

The Levante 'keeper was again on his toes when he came out quickly to dive on Robben's through-ball just ahead of the on-rushing Van Persie.

The Netherlands were starting to carve Costa Rica open but despite 63 per cent of possession in the opening half, they went into the break goalless.

Costa Rica hadn't had a shot on target but they had a chance on the hour when Junior Diaz surged and found Campbell, who went sprawling but had his penalty claim denied.

Costa Rica withdrew Campbell for Marcos Urena, and they were forced into another change when midfielder Cristian Gamboa was stretchered off and replaced by Dave Myrie.

Dutch coach Van Gaal threw on Jeremain Lens for Depay in a bid to avoid extra time, and Sneijder nearly broke the deadlock when he hammered a free-kick against the near post.

Navas again denied Van Persie from close range, and with two minutes remaining the sharpshooter appeared to have it won when Sneijder floated a ball over the defence.

But Van Persie, scorer of a magnificent diving header in the Dutch win against Spain, embarrassingly swung and missed with his favoured left foot with the goal at his mercy.

In injury time, the Dutch appeared cursed as Daley Blind's ball ran across the face, missing a forest of outstretched legs, and Van Persie's shot was deflected onto the bar.

Extra-time began for the sixth time this World Cup and Navas rescued Costa Rica again when he turned away Ron Vlaar's header before needing treatment after a clash with Kuyt.

After they changed ends for the final time, Robben painfully clashed heads with Johnny Acosta and substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was booked for colliding with Navas.

With penalties looming, Urena threatened to snatch it for Costa Rica when he broke clear, but he was denied by goalkeeper Jan Cillessen.

And almost immediately at the other end, Sneijder hit the woodwork for the second time when he smashed a curling shot off the crossbar.

Van Gaal withdrew Cillessen for the 1.93m (six feet three inches) Krul exactly on 120 minutes for the penalties.

And his judgement looked impeccable when Krul saved Costa Rica's second kick, struck by Ruiz, and then palmed away Umana's low and one-handed before racing away in triumph. – AFP

World Cup: Higuain fires Argentina into semis

Posted: 05 Jul 2014 12:34 PM PDT

BRASILIA: onzalo Higuain smashed home an early goal as Argentina dashed the World Cup dreams of much-fancied Belgium with a 1-0 win in the quarter-finals in Brasilia on Saturday.

Higuain struck in the eighth minute at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium to send Argentina into the last four for the first time since 1990 and thwart Belgian hopes of avenging their defeat in the 1986 semi-finals.

Alejandro Sabella's side will play either the Netherlands or Costa Rica, who face off in the fourth and final quarter-final later on Saturday.

The only black mark for Argentina was an injury to influential midfielder Angel Di Maria that forced him off in the first half and may yet deny him a chance to play in the semi-final.

"It was our best game of the World Cup," said Sabella.

"It is a great joy for this team, for the people for my family and for everyone. This was the best game for Argentina in terms of balance and all aspects of its game.

"However, the injury to di Maria is a big blow."

Hours after Neymar was ruled out of the tournament due to injury and James Rodriguez was eliminated with Colombia, Lionel Messi gave further evidence to suggest the World Cup may yet belong to him.

He illuminated Argentina's play with his trickery and incisive passing and although he failed to score, Higuain's goal was enough to see off Belgium's 'golden generation', for whom the occasion proved a step too far.

A symbol of Belgium's travails, star player Eden Hazard was booked for a crude challenge on Lucas Biglia and then replaced by Nacer Chadli with 15 minutes remaining.

Showing three changes to the team that had laboured to beat Switzerland in the last 16 — Jose Maria Basanta, Martin Demichelis and Biglia coming in — Argentina were quick to put Belgium on the back foot.

Messi was at the forefront, freeing Ezequiel Lavezzi for a low cross that Vincent Kompany hacked clear and then playing a central role in Argentina's opener with a pirouette and pass to Di Maria.

Di Maria's subsequent pass was intended for the overlapping Pablo Zabaleta, but it flicked off Jan Vertonghen's right foot and into the path of Higuain, who lashed in his first goal of the tournament.

Messi then produced a cleverly weighted pass to Di Maria, who shifted the ball onto his left foot, only for Kompany to block.

Though seemingly anodyne, it was a moment that could have lasting repercussions for Argentina.

Di Maria injured himself while shooting and had to trudge off in the 33rd minute, with Benfica's Enzo Perez coming on.

Belgium seemed slightly inhibited, but after Kevin De Bruyne saw a 25-yard shot boxed away by Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero, Kevin Mirallas headed narrowly wide from a Vertonghen cross.

Belgium coach Marc Wilmots pushed Marouane Fellaini further forward in the second half, but Argentina continued to threaten.

Higuain twice came close to claiming a second goal, first seeing a shot deflected wide by Daniel Van Buyten and then neatly nutmegging Kompany, only for his shot to clip the bar.

Wilmots reacted by introducing Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens, before hooking the ineffective Hazard.

Belgium began to apply pressure, with Fellaini heading a Vertonghen cross over the bar and De Bruyne having a shot deflected wide.

Messi should have made it 2-0 on the counter-attack in stoppage time, only for Thibaut Courtois to rush out and save, but Argentina held on nonetheless to join Germany and eternal rivals Brazil in the last four. – AFP

State ‘nod’ to fed projects before tender — Fadillah

Posted: 05 Jul 2014 11:49 AM PDT

by Saiful Bahari, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on July 6, 2014, Sunday

KUCHING: All federal government tendered projects will pass through several processes before construction can start.

Each project will first be discussed with a certified consultant before receiving approval from the state government after which tender will be opened to those interested.

According to Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof, the tender process will involve the Finance Ministry which will set the ceiling price for each project before approval.

Fadillah said this when asked by reporters to comment on the statement by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Communication Dato Sri Michael Manyin that there is no directive for any large scale federal project in the state at the moment.

He was met after presenting grants at Surau Demak Baru yesterday.

On the Emart Lee Ling Matang to Batu Kawa link road, Fadillah said the government had yet to receive a complete design from the appointed consultant for the RM145 million-project.

"The consultant has until September to submit their design and get the approval from the state government, the state planning authority and other related authorities," he said.

Fadillah later on highlighted the case of the Samarahan bridge project which has been approved but all tender applicants had come up with prices above the ceiling set by the ministry.

"We had to refer to the Ministry of Finance to find a formidable solution to the issue. However, if there are no other options, tender for the project will have to be opened again and this is where we will look into finding further funds," he said.

Fadillah also said his ministry is ready to work with Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) through the Works Department (JKR) to assists in any measure regarding the collapsed road at Jalan Imbi.

"The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) is also conducting their investigations and action will be taken against the contractor if the incident happened due to their negligence," he said.

At another function yesterday, Fadillah presented RM3,000 each to over 80 mosques and surau under the Samariang, Satok and Tupong constituency.

Also present at the event were Samariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali.

Six who threatened man nabbed, remanded 4 days

Posted: 05 Jul 2014 11:48 AM PDT

MIRI: Six men who threatened a man while he was looking for jungle produce on Thursday evening have been remanded for four days.

Miri police chief ACP Gan Tian Kee, when contacted yesterday, said the six suspects were picked up on Friday and the case was being investigated under Section 33 of the Fire Arms Act 1960.

The incident unfolded at about 3pm when the 30-something complainant was on his way to search for jungle produce somewhere near Sungai Rait Bakam.

Along the way, he was irked by the driving of a garbage-lorry driver.

It was understood the lorry driver became upset, went to fetch five fellow lorry drivers, and went looking for the complainant who criticised him earlier.

One of the suspects even fired a shot using an air pump gun to scare off the complainant.

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