Rooney winner sets up Italy clash
Wayne Rooney marked his England return with the goal that secured a place in Euro 2012's last eight - but it was a rough passage eased by helpings of good fortune and controversy against Ukraine.
England manager Roy Hodgson instantly restored Rooney after a two-match suspension in place of Andy Carroll with orders to make a belated mark on the campaign after sitting out the draw against France and victory against Sweden.
And after missing a simple header in the first half, the Manchester United striker ensured England topped Group D to set up a quarter-final meeting with Italy in Kiev on Sunday.
England could have met world and European champions Spain but that eventuality was avoided by Sweden's 2-0 win against France, and Rooney's first goal in a major tournament since scoring twice in the 4-2 victory over Croatia in Lisbon at Euro 2004.
Ukraine, however, will complain long and hard about a contentious second-half incident when Marko Devic's shot clearly crossed the line before it was scrambled away by John Terry, only for the officials to remain unmoved.
The incident immediately revived the debate about goal-line technology, with a final decision on whether it is introduced expected to be taken in Zurich on 5 July.
England will regard it as a measure of justice for Frank Lampard's disallowed goal against Germany in Bloemfontein at the 2010 World Cup - but it was also an illustration of how they rode their luck for long periods in front of a predictably partisan home crowd.
But once again Hodgson's men found a way to get the result they required and there is a real air of respectability about their campaign even though they had to survive a first-half siege from a Ukraine side desperate for the win they needed to progress.
Oleg Blokhin's side lost the talismanic Andriy Shevchenko to the substitutes' bench because of a knee injury but still showed enough to put England through real turmoil in spells.
A lack of match sharpness was perhaps to blame for Rooney squandering England's best chance after 27 minutes.
It appeared he only had to make clean contact with Manchester United team-mate Ashley Young's cross to score but his far-post header lacked conviction and went tamely wide of keeper Andriy Pyatov's goal.
Either side of Rooney's fluffed chance, it was a tale of Ukrainian domination as they attacked England down both flanks and showed the greater fluidity of the teams.
Scott Parker was desperately urging England's players to keep possession - but it was easier said than done amid waves of Ukraine attacks and it needed a penalty area block from the Tottenham midfield man to thwart Devic.
England keeper Joe Hart had to save smartly from the dangerous Andriy Yarmolenko, who also raised the hopes of the Donetsk crowd as he evaded several challenges in the area before running out of space.
However, Rooney made no mistake with his second headed opportunity, Steven Gerrard's delivery from the right once again the creative source. The cross took two deflections and slipped from the grasp of Pyatov for a simple far-post header from the Manchester United striker.
The crowd was momentarily silenced but Ukraine refused to lose heart - and they were robbed of an equaliser when once again an effort that had crossed the line was not spotted by officials.
Artem Milevskiy should have done better than send a header wide but the real controversy came when Hart partially stopped Devic's effort and Terry desperately scrambled back to hook the ball off the line.
The Ukrainians immediately demanded a goal and their claims were vindicated as replays showed the ball crossed the line before Terry's intervention.
There was still time amid the drama for Ashley Cole to almost mark his 97th cap with a goal but the erratic Pyatov made a fine recovery save after another inelegant attempt to deal with a cross.
With 20 minutes left it was time for the entrance of Ukraine's great sporting icon Shevchenko.
He received a thunderous ovation as his country looked to him to rescue their Euro 2012 campaign but it was a task beyond even the veteran striker, who was soon booked for a rash challenge.
Before the game manager Hodgson had said England could dream a little - ahead of the confrontation with Italy in Kiev, they can now afford to dream a little more.
By Phil McNulty Chief football writer, BBC Sport
England v West Indies: Alastair Cook steers hosts to series win
Captain Alastair Cook scored 112 as England cruised to an eight-wicket victory over West Indies to clinch the one-day series with a match to spare.
Cook shared an opening stand of 122 with Ian Bell (53) and 81 with Jonathan Trott as the hosts chased down the tourists' below-par 238-9 in 45 overs.
Put in to bat, the Windies failed to build on Chris Gayle's explosive 53.
Dwayne Bravo top-scored with 77 off 82 balls but the innings fizzled out with only 19 runs in the last five overs.
Their total never looked enough on a true pitch and in bright sunshine, and Cook and Bell gave a masterclass in how to chase down a modest target, picking up singles off most balls and putting away any wayward deliveries for four.
Cook was marginally the more aggressive, taking a particular liking to the off-spin of Sunil Narine, who he cracked for successive fours on either side of the wicket in racing to a 51-ball half-century.
England were scoring at more than six runs per over when Bell, a centurion in the first match at the Rose Bowl, gifted his wicket to Darren Sammy with a loose drive to cover.
Cook marched on to reach his fourth century since taking over as one-day captain a year ago - and the sixth by an England opener in successive one-day internationals.
With Trott playing his usual game of steady accumulation, Cook steamed to three figures off 114 balls.
After 12 fours, he bludgeoned his first six off opposite number Sammy over long-on before falling trying to repeat the shot and ballooning the ball up in the air.
That left Trott, who finished 43 not out, and Ravi Bopara to steer England to a victory that was even more comprehensive than their 114-run Duckworth-Lewis win in Saturday's series-opener at the Ageas Bowl.
"It was a really good team performance," Cook told BBC Test Match Special.
BBC
Interior Minister Responds to Attack on Press Freedom in Haiti
The Minister of the Interior, Thierry Mayard-Paul, reiterated the government's firm commitment to investigate and prosecute anyone involved in the attack of Journalist Phebe Wendy.
SOS Journalists, a Haitian press freedom organization announced in Le Nouvelliste that it had partnered with national and international press freedom organizations to publish a list of Haitian politicians considered to be enemies and predators of journalists and press freedom.
SOS Journalist Secretary General, Joseph Guyler Delva named Interior Minister Thierry Mayard-Paul, the Mayor of Thomonde, Souverne Jean Delva and Deputy Marie Denise Bernadeau (Thomonde/Lavni) as government officials complicit in the attack of Phebe Wendy.
The Ministry of the Interior responded to the accusations saying the attack was committed by security officials at the mayor's office in Thomonde. The ministry added that the matter is in the hands of justice officials to judge and discipline as it finds appropriate.
Guyler Delva is not satisfied. He would like that Haitian authorities, namely Minister Thierry Mayard-Paul, to relieve Mayor Delva of his duties and other officials of his staff.
The Ministry of the Interior communicated to the press (below) that an effort was being made to shed light on the matter and it remains in the hands of justice.
The Ministry of Interior and Local Authorities informs the national and international community that it had ordered the formation of an administrative commission which visited Thomonde to investigate the incident.
Under the terms of the report, Justice in the person of the magistrate, has begun already regularly hearing the case, the Interior Ministry is therefore withdrawn. At this stage of the proceedings, the Ministry of Interior and Local Authorities is available to any injunction of Justice for an order against any person such administrative action as ordered by a court of law.
The Ministry of Interior and Territorial Communities reiterates its absolute commitment to respect fundamental freedoms and especially the human rights and press freedom in Haiti. Minister Thierry Mayard Paul recalls that "for over three decades, Haiti has been working to build a democratic regime. Government to which I belong is fully dedicated to the consolidation of a system where human rights , freedom of the press and generally the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Charter of Human Rights and the citizen are guaranteed for all Haitians. lawyer by profession, comes from a long line of legal practitioners I have always opposed any kind of violence or abuse against journalists and against any other citizen."
The rule of law, the backbone of any democratic government must prevail in Haiti and is the only safeguard against arbitrariness and popular passions. The Ministry of Interior and Local Authorities, all the Minister wish to reaffirm their total commitment and complete the process of consolidating the rule of law that the country requires of all his wishes and wait for the formulation of any request from Justice to respond immediately in accordance with the Act.
Wikileaks' Julian Assange seeks asylum in Ecuador embassy
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is seeking political asylum at Ecuador's London embassy, the country's foreign minister has said.
"Ecuador is studying and analysing the request," Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino told reporters in Quito.
Last week the UK's Supreme Court dismissed Mr Assange's bid to reopen an appeal against extradition to Sweden over alleged sex crimes he denies.
The Foreign Office says it will work with Ecuador to resolve the situation.
Mr Assange could still take his case against extradition to the ECHR and has until 28 June to make the move, or extradition proceedings will begin.
Swedish prosecutors want to question him over allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two female former Wikileaks volunteers in mid-2010 but have not filed any charges.
Mr Assange, whose Wikileaks website has published a mass of leaked diplomatic cables that embarrassed several governments and international businesses, claims the sex was consensual.
'Minimum guarantees'In a statement, Ecuador's embassy said he had arrived there on Tuesday afternoon to seek asylum.
"As a signatory to the United Nations Universal Declaration for Human Rights, with an obligation to review all applications for asylum, we have immediately passed his application on to the relevant department in Quito," it said.
"While the department assesses Mr Assange's application, Mr Assange will remain at the embassy, under the protection of the Ecuadorean government."
It said the decision to consider the bid for asylum "should in no way be interpreted as the government of Ecuador interfering in the judicial processes of either the United Kingdom or Sweden."
Mr Assange issued a statement, saying he was "grateful to the Ecuadorean ambassador and the government of Ecuador for considering my application".
Associated Press quoted Mr Patino as telling reporters Mr Assange had written to Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa saying he was being persecuted.
Mr Patino said the Australian had claimed "the authorities in his country" would not "defend his minimum guarantees in front of any government".
Mr Assange said he would not be protected from being extradited to "a foreign country that applies the death penalty for the crime of espionage and sedition," Mr Patino said.
The Foreign Office said the UK had now been officially informed by the authorities in Ecuador that Julian Assange was seeking asylum.
Since he was now in the embassy of Ecuador, he was "on diplomatic territory and beyond the reach of the police," a spokesman said.
The anti-secrecy campaigner fears extradition to Sweden may lead to him being sent to the US to face separate charges relating to Wikileaks, for which he could face the death penalty.
Swedish assurance
But Swedish authorities have said the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) would intervene if Mr Assange was to face the prospect of "inhuman or degrading treatment or an unfair trial" in the US.
Mr Assange was on £200,000 bail which was provided by several high-profile supporters including socialite Jemima Khan and Ken Loach, who each offered £20,000 as surety.
Ms Khan said on Twitter that she had expected him to face the allegations, adding, "I am as surprised as anyone by this".
Vaughan Smith, a friend who allowed Mr Assange to stay at his Norfolk home until December 2011, told the BBC he was surprised by the move but understood why he may have decided to seek asylum.
"There's been an organised campaign to undermine him," Mr Smith said. "And he believed that if he was sent to Sweden he would be sent to America."
Wikileaks has posted an alert on its Twitter feed: "ALERT: Julian Assange has requested political asylum and is under the protection of the Ecuadorian embassy in London."
It said Ecuador had offered asylum as early as November 2010.
Ecuador's deputy foreign minister said in 2010 his country was offering Mr Assange residency because it wanted to give him the opportunity to freely present the information he had.
However, President Rafael Correa subsequently dismissed the idea, which he said neither he nor Mr Patino had approved.
BBC
St Kitts-Nevis waives taxes on alternative energy equipment
The Federal Cabinet in St Kitts and Nevis has approved the waiving of taxes on a range of alternative energy generating equipment and energy efficiency equipment.
Minister of Information, Senator Nigel Carty, said Cabinet has accepted the proposal submitted by Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas in support of the National Energy Policy of the government to facilitate St Kitts and Nevis becoming a country where sustainable, clean, reliable and more affordable energy sources are developed and used.
In submitting the proposal, Douglas, in his capacity as minister of finance was strongly of the view that, although the government has no control over the price of petroleum-based energy products, a lot could be done to reduce the cost of energy to the local population by spurring the development and use of alternative energy technologies, and by creating an impetus for the use of energy-saving technologies by a wide cross-section of the populace.
“As a result, Cabinet approved a waiver of import duty and customer service charge on solar PV panels and ancillary equipment for generating electricity; hydrogen fuel cells and ancillary equipment; wind turbines and ancillary equipment; energy-saving bulbs including LED bulbs; solar water heaters and tanks; solar AC units and other approved related equipment,” said Carty.
With the assistance of Taiwan, solar panels have been installed at Government Headquarters, which houses the Prime Minister’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office, the National Assembly and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Youth and Sports.
A few weeks ago, discussions took place here on plans to set up a solar panel manufacturing plant in St Kitts.
Minister of Housing and Energy, Dr Earl Asim Martin, also said the next set of low-income homes constructed island wide by the National Housing Corporation (NHC) will be electrified by solar energy.
Taiwan is also assisting with the installation of LED street lighting system on the Kim Collins Highway and on the road to Frigate Bay from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) to Sugars.
Haitians abroad get more rights with new constitution
A new constitution has been published in Haiti, giving some 2 million citizens living abroad the right to own land and run for public office.
President Michel Martelly said the new text would allow Haitians to hold dual nationality.
"This matter was creating division between the diaspora and people here in Haiti," said Mr Martelly.
Remittances from Haitians living in the US and Canada have a huge impact on the economy of the Caribbean country.
Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Americas.
Its capital, Port-au-Prince, was hit by a devastating earthquake in January 2010. Thousands of people still live in tent cities.
The new constitution was approved by parliament in May 2011.
President Martelly initially opposed the right of Haitians to hold dual nationality and tried to persuade legislators to change the text.
But he finally bowed to international pressure and signed it.
"All Haitians are Haitians," he said after the signature at a ceremony at the presidential palace.
Marleine Bastien, a leader of the Haitian community in the US, told the AP news agency that she was pleasantly surprised by the decision.
"I think it was overdue," said the founder of Haitian Women of Miami. "It show that he understands the great positive impact that the diaspora can play in the future of Haiti."
Cuba welcomes UN resolution on Puerto Rico independence
Cuba welcomed the adoption on Monday by the UN Decolonization Committee of a resolution recognizing the inalienable right of Puerto Rico to self-determination and Independence.
The document was presented by Cuba and co-sponsored by Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The permanent representative of the island at the UN body, Oscar Gonzalez, who submitted the draft resolution, said that this is the thirteenth occasion in a row that the UN Committee has adopted a similar document in favour of the Puerto Rican people and, this time in particular, all member nations expressed their support of the resolution.
The proposal was also backed by all 120 members of the Non Aligned Movement through a declaration issued during the Monday session.
Gonzalez noted the identical aboriginal origins of Cuba and Puerto Rico and he stressed the historic and unavoidable compromise of both island nations in the struggle for Puerto Rican independence. Commenting on the approved resolution, the Cuban diplomat said that some 114 years of colonial rule have not been enough to deprive the Puerto Rican people of their culture, identity and national sentiments.
The adoption of the resolution was also welcomed by Nicaragua, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Iran, Syria and other countries at the United Nations.
(ACN)
Obama Applauds European Economic Efforts
President Barack Obama is welcoming statements by Europe's major economic powers that they will work toward a plan for growth and an integrated banking system. The president spoke Tuesday, at the end of the annual Group of 20 economic summit in the Mexican resort of Los Cabos.
President Obama says the leaders of Europe's G20 countries answered the concerns of world markets about their willingness to do what is required to hold the euro currency zone together.
“Over the last two days, European leaders here in [Los] Cabos have made it clear that they understand the stakes, and they pledged to take the actions needed to address this crisis and restore confidence, stability and growth," said President Obama.
The president returns to Washington with an indication from the European leaders that they will make a coordinated effort to promote economic growth, something Mr. Obama and several other leaders have been urging.
Growth and job creation are mentioned very early in the G20 leaders' statement at the end of the summit.
“I welcome the important steps that they have already taken to promote growth, financial stability and fiscal responsibility," said Obama.
The statement of unity was intended to reassure world markets, which appear worried about Greece's effort to form a coalition government and a bank bailout for Spain.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been under increasing pressure to endorse the job creation approach and retreat somewhat from the budget cuts she has been advocating for European nations burdened by vast debt.
President Obama's re-election could depend, in part, on the outcome of the eurozone situation. The state of the economy will be one of the main issues in this year's campaign, and the administration says the euro crisis is one of the factors holding back America's economic recovery.
The president stressed to the European leaders in Los Cabos that the eurozone crisis is affecting the U.S. economy, as well as those in other parts of the world.
Under pressure from Mr. Obama and other leaders, Europe's G20 members also agreed to move toward a more integrated banking system, including a common regulatory system and insurance for depositors. They did not say how long it would take.
U.S. Undersecretary of the Treasury Lael Brainard told reporters Monday that Europe is making progress toward a resolution, but she advised being patient.
“Some of the medium-term reforms that they are talking about involve a really very significant step forward on integration," said Brainard. "And so these are moves that are going to require political reforms, as well as financial reforms, and so, you know, they will take some time.”
In addition to talking with European leaders on Tuesday, President Obama met with Chinese President Hu Jintao. Before the meeting, Mr. Obama said job creation and the situation in Syria would be among the items discussed.
China has pledged to contribute $43 billion to the International Monetary Fund's emergency bailout fund. Fellow emerging economies India, Brazil and Russia have promised $10 billion each, bringing the fund's total to $456 billion.
Mr. Obama also met Tuesday with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The White House says they discussed moving Syria toward a peaceful political transition that leads to democracy, among other issues.
Possible G-20 Summit Breakthrough on Debt Crisis
Leaders from the Group of 20 nations, known as the G-20, have completed the first of two days of economic meetings at their summit in the Mexican resort area, Los Cabos, at the tip of the Baja Peninsula.
Non-governmental organizations have expressed concern that the leaders are too caught up in the debt problems of several European nations to have much discussion of issues that are vital to the poorer nations of the world.
But analysts keeping a close eye on the proceedings say this summit could produce results that will benefit not just Europe, but the world. There have been few protests near the summit site, partly because most of the coastal area remains heavily guarded and off limits to anyone not authorized to be here. But some accredited observers from non-governmental organizations who are here say they feel the world leaders have abandoned their pledges to the world's poorest citizens.
Jyotsna Mohan is one of them. “They don't hear us, they don't listen to us," she said. Mohan works in New Delhi with the Voluntary Action Network India, a group that serves as an advocate for poor communities and also promotes government reform. She says she is perturbed by her country's prime minister coming here to talk about Europe's crisis.
“I would be more happy if our prime minister would speak about our problems instead of being concerned about the eurozone crisis. Okay, we are going to be affected, but he forgets that we have 40 percent of our people living below the poverty line," she said. But economists and political analysts from a wide range of countries say G20 leaders are right to address the European debt situation as their chief priority. Krystel Monpetit, analyzes compliance by world leaders with their summit commitments for the Toronto-based G20 Research Group. She says the world economy will stall unless the European crisis is resolved.
“This is where you see the ripple of how this global economy is intertwined and the huge ripple that the European crisis is having on the rest of the world," she said. She says the European Union's trade partners, like India, will have little growth until the debt problem is resolved and she thinks that, unlike other recent meetings, this one will produce something. “There could finally be a breakthrough, a significant measure that actually brings the European Union on the right pathway," she said. She says direct recapitalizing of private European banks is likely to be one of the measures approved at this G20 summit. Such ideas have support from the international business leaders who met nearby at the B20 conference. Former governor of the Bank of Mexico Guillermo Ortiz, who has led a group focused on financial sector reform, stressed the need for more widespread access to credit. “In the world there are around two-and-a-half billion people who have no access to financial services," he said. The group Ortiz leads recommends using new technologies to allow more people to open bank accounts, better education of the public on financial matters, and expansion of loans to medium and small businesses. Researcher Krystel Monpetit says helping small businesses succeed benefits a nation's economy.
“Entrepreneurship is the real engine of growth and this person, this individual will start a company and create 20 new jobs or 40 new jobs and if you don't give him the right tools to do it, then we all lose out in the end," she said. G20 leaders will reveal their plan for Europe's debt crisis and announce decisions on other issues when they wrap up their summit Tuesday and say farewell to the beachfront hotels of Los Cabos.
Rupert Murdoch's News Limited in $2bn CMH takeover bid
Rupert Murdoch's News Limited has made a $2bn (£1.3bn) takeover bid for James Packer's Consolidated Media Holdings (CMH).
The move is being seen as an attempt by Mr Murdoch to further strengthen his position in Australia's media sector.
A successful bid will give News Limited a 50% stake in Australia's dominant pay TV business, Foxtel and 100% control of Fox Sports.
CMH shares rose more than 10% after the takeover bid.
Mr Packer said in a statement that he welcomed the proposal and "looks forward to Consolidated Media and News working together to address the detailed terms and conditions".
Win-win situation?
Mr Packer and Mr Murdoch share a long history of media ownership in Australia.
Both inherited their media interests from their fathers but have taken completely different paths in the past few years.
Mr Murdoch has expanded his media operations not only in the domestic Australian market, but also in overseas territories such as the US and UK.
On the other hand, Mr Parker has been seeking to reduce his interests in the media sector and has concentrated on expanding his casino business instead.
Analysts said that the takeover was a win-win situation for both the parties.
They said that while the deal helps Mr Murdoch gain control of one of the most dominant pay TV networks, it gives Mr Packer deeper pockets to fund his expansion plans.
"It frees up more cash and gives him a bit more flexibility," said Paul Xiradis, Managing Director of Ausbil Dexia.
BBC