Squash queen Nicol David reaches world final with ‘difficulty’ |
- Squash queen Nicol David reaches world final with ‘difficulty’
- US slaps sweeping sanctions on Crimea over Russia ‘occupation’
- Swimming star Phelps escapes stint in prison for drunk driving
- Brad Pitt turned down from jury duty — for being famous (VIDEO)
- Cover Media Video: Jury rules — Brad Pitt is too distracting!
- German bank files RM1.46b suit against F1’s Ecclestone
| Squash queen Nicol David reaches world final with ‘difficulty’ Posted: 19 Dec 2014 04:48 PM PST
It was a mental triumph for David with the cool court perfect for Kawy's shot-making brilliance, the atmosphere becoming more frenzied with every winner the home heroine struck, and at 3-3 in the fourth game the top seed was in plenty of difficulty. It was then that David constructed a run of six points which changed the character of the match. Her patient rallying, clever containment, and unflagging court coverage increasingly taxed Kawy's physical resources and elicited more errors, and once David had her opponent on the hook she never let her off. "I'm really pleased to come through 3-2 (in games) against a really sharp, in-form Omneya who was composed throughout the match," said David. "I have played her many times, and sometimes it goes after a while," she added, referring to Kawy's stamina in lengthy matches. "But she didn't let it go. "She thrives on confidence and so for me to come back from 2-1 down was pleasing. I didn't want to let her get in there in the fourth game," David emphasised. "It was a great atmosphere. But from then on I played with more purpose with my shots and she attempted a few things which were out of reach, and made a few unforced errors. "So I used that to push on through. I had to bring my level up, and I did. I'm really happy with that." In the final David may have to endure another trial by an excited home crowd and a talented Egyptian. This time it will be an even more dangerous opponent, the third-seeded Raneem el Weleily, who also showed a wide range of shot-making brilliance while beating the surprise semi-finalist, Alison Waters, 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 11-5. It has taken a long time for el Weleily to reach her first final. Though she is only 25 years old she is playing in her 13th World Championship, and this was her third semi-final. But she handled the pressure of expectations superbly, pegging down her wandering mind better than usual, except for a spell in the third when she drifted to 3-10 down, won six points in a row, and lost that game anyway. "I was too eager to win," el Weleily said. "That is no help. It is not possible to win like that. But even though winning those six points did not win me the third game at least it got my mind back. "I shall be playing my first world final, in my home town, and before my home crowd ― and somehow I have to handle it as if it were just another match." ― AFP  |
| US slaps sweeping sanctions on Crimea over Russia ‘occupation’ Posted: 19 Dec 2014 04:43 PM PST
US neighbour Canada also slapped new sanctions on Russia, hitting the country's oil and gas sector and targeting 20 Russian politicians as well as Ukrainian separatist leaders. Obama said his executive order "is intended to provide clarity to US corporations doing business in the region and reaffirm that the United States will not accept Russia's occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea." The action bans new US investments in Crimea and authorises the US Treasury to impose sanctions on people and companies operating there. It also forbids trade of technology or services between Crimea and the United States. "I again call on Russia to end its occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea, cease its support to separatists in eastern Ukraine, and fulfill its commitments under the Minsk agreements," Obama said. The Minsk Protocol signed in September led to a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine but failed to stop the fighting. Obama's order came a day after he signed into law a congressional bill allowing him to impose new sanctions on Russia over its alleged support of pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. That law also authorises the president to send lethal weapons to Ukraine's military. But Obama stressed he would not change his administration's "carefully calibrated" sanctions policy on Russia. Russian forces invaded Ukraine's Crimea region in March after a Ukrainian revolution ousted Kiev's pro-Kremlin president. Crimea residents voted in a disputed referendum to join Russia. International effort The multi-pronged sanctions effort is the latest punitive action against Russia, which was hit Thursday by a European Union decision to impose sanctions on Crimea. The move was announced during an EU leaders summit where the bloc urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to make a "radical change" in his stance on Ukraine. The EU agreed to ban all investment in Crimea and cruise ships from its ports. Obama said he "will continue to review and calibrate our sanctions, in close coordination with our international partners, to respond to Russia's actions." Western powers have repeatedly accused Russia of stoking the Ukraine crisis, which has killed at least 4,700 people and displaced nearly one million, by supplying weapons and troops to the rebels. Moscow denies the charge. In announcing his country's sanctions, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned that "the Putin regime has continuously violated the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine." "Canada will not accept the illegal occupation of Crimea and persistent, provocative military activity in eastern Ukraine," he added. While Putin has shown no willingness to change tack, even as Russia's economy comes under increasing pressure from a plunging ruble, Canada's Foreign Minister John Baird insisted the West's stiffening sanctions are working. "There is no doubt that collectively the sanctions have been effective," Baird said. Canada's travel bans impact mostly members of the Russian State Duma and ministers of the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine. — AFP |
| Swimming star Phelps escapes stint in prison for drunk driving Posted: 19 Dec 2014 04:37 PM PST
The most decorated Olympian of all time struck a remorseful tone when he appeared in a Baltimore courtroom where he acknowledged the DUI charge against him. As his defense lawyer pleaded for leniency, it emerged that the 29-year-old is attending Alcoholics Anonymous sessions after completing 45 days of intensive rehab at the Meadows addiction treatment center in Arizona. "During my 45-day programme, I was able to find out a lot about myself that I never knew," Phelps, in a dark suit and heavy-rimmed glasses, told Judge Nathan Braverman. He added: "I'm looking at a much brighter future than I have had in the past." Phelps ― still under a six-month suspension from competitive swimming ― could have landed in prison for driving too fast after a few too many at Baltimore's chic Horseshoe casino in the early hours of September 30. But Braverman opted to heed a state prosecutor's recommended penalty ― a one-year suspended sentence, plus 18 months of supervised probation, during which Phelps must abstain totally from alcohol. Phelps will be free to go outside the United States to train and compete, the judge said, but wherever he is he must stick firmly to his alcohol addiction treatment. "It sounds like you know what you need to do," Braverman told Phelps, adding that he hoped the case would in time become "a footnote to a legendary career." Phelps was arrested for driving under the influence once before, when he was 19, in rural Maryland. His traffic record also included a 2006 speeding rap. Yesterday's outcome clears the way for Phelps ― whose 22 Olympic medals include 18 golds ― to resume his return to top-notch competitive swimming. Due to the six-month suspension imposed by USA Swimming in the days after his arrest, Phelps will not be taking part in the 2015 world swimming championships in Russia, his attorney Steven Allen told the court. However, Phelps "is in the process of training for the upcoming Olympics" in Rio de Janeiro, said the lawyer, who gave no further details. Police pulled over Phelps in a white Range Rover SUV after he was clocked doing 84 miles (135 kilometers) per hour in a 45 mph zone in Baltimore's undersea Fort McHenry Tunnel. After the arresting officer whiffed alcohol in the vehicle, Phelps underwent a breathalyser test that found a blood alcohol level of 0.14 per cent ― well above the Maryland legal limit of 0.08 per cent. Support from retired football star Within hours, as news of his arrest got out, Phelps went on Twitter to acknowledge his error and express regrets to his fans ― but gave no hint of any alcohol issues. His appearance in Maryland District Court ― minus the beard he sported in a cheerful Thanksgiving family photo on Instagram ― was a celebrity moment in a morning when Braverman was otherwise shovelling through dozens of routine traffic cases. Phelps said nothing as he arrived with his mother Debbie, his two sisters and former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, a local hero and close friend of the six-foot-four (1.93-metre-tall) swimmer. Allen took pains to stress Phelps' involvement with youth groups, saying his client understood he was a role model and that he wanted his misfortune to stand as a lesson to others to beware the dangers of drink. Leaving the courthouse, after paying US$57.50 (RM199.9) in court fees, Phelps told reporters that the past three months had been among the hardest in his life. "I am happy to be moving forward," he said, as a chauffeured black SUV waited for him and a member of his entourage waved off a couple of autograph-seekers. "I'll continue to grow from this and continue on my path of recovery," he added. "These couple of years are going to be very challenging. I'm very pleased and happy that I have the great support that I have around me." ― AFP |
| Brad Pitt turned down from jury duty — for being famous (VIDEO) Posted: 19 Dec 2014 04:34 PM PST LOS ANGELES, Dec 20 — Brad Pitt has just proved that there's another perk to being a celebrity that no one had thought of until now. The A-list star has apparently been dismissed from jury duty because it would be "too distracting" to have him there.—Cover Media
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| Cover Media Video: Jury rules — Brad Pitt is too distracting! Posted: 19 Dec 2014 04:33 PM PST Duration: 0:46, Published 20 Dec 2014 Brad Pitt has just proved that there's another perk to being a celebrity that no one had thought of until now. The A-list star has apparently been dismissed from jury duty because it would be "too distracting" to have him there.—Cover Media |
| German bank files RM1.46b suit against F1’s Ecclestone Posted: 19 Dec 2014 04:28 PM PST
German press agency DPA say the Bavarian bank has filed a fresh suit in Munich against the 84-year-old Ecclestone, the chief executive officer of Formula One. The Bavarian state bank, who were unavailable for comment on Friday, accuses the British billionaire of bribing one of its executives to influence the 2006 sale of Formula One's rights. Ecclestone has counter-sued BayernLB by filing a suit in London, according to reports. In August, Ecclestone avoided a possible prison sentence by agreeing to pay US$100 million to settle a case in Munich after state prosecutors said he paid BayernLB executive Gerhard Gribkowsky US$44 million as a bribe to help smooth the sale. Ecclestone has never denied paying the money, but said he was blackmailed into paying the huge sum or would have risked losing the Formula One rights. The corruption case tainted the Formula One chief's tenure for more than three years. Gribkowsky is serving an eight and a half year sentence for corruption and tax fraud after accepting the money. ― AFP |
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