Mercedes can win Formula 1 title, says Ross Brawn

　　Brawn is refusing to give up on the title despite a slow start

　　Mercedes boss Ross Brawn believes his team are still capable of winning this season's Formula 1 world title.

　　The German-owned outfit have managed only two podium finishes this season, Nico Rosberg taking third place at the Malaysian and Chinese Grands Prix.

　　And Rosberg, Mercedes's highest-placed driver, is 35 points behind leader Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.

　　But Brawn insisted: "We are still within striking distance of the Championship leaders."

　　The 55-year-old captured the title with his own team, Brawn GP, last season - with Jenson Button crowned champion - before selling to Mercedes before the new campaign.

　　But while Brawn remained at the helm, his team have not stayed at the front of the pack as they have struggled to match the pace of rivals McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari.

　　

　　606: DEBATE

　　Who do you think will win the title?

　　McLaren have recorded one-twos in the previous two races to surge to the top of the standings - Hamilton leads Button by three points, with Red Bull's Mark Webber a further three points behind in third.

　　Rosberg lies in sixth place, with team-mate Michael Schumacher ninth - the seven-time champion, who returned to racing this year after three years in retirement is 75 points off the pace.

　　But Brawn is confident of closing the gap to the leaders, after seeing an encouraging performance by Rosberg in Montreal last team out, and he is optimistic about his team's chances of doing well at the next race in Valencia on 27 June.

　　He said: "Our car was well suited to the circuit in Montreal and our pace during the race was encouraging.

　　

　　Canadian Grand Prix in 90 seconds

　　"Nico was clearly one of the quickest cars during the race and his climb from the midfield to sixth place was a very impressive performance.

　　"Looking ahead to Valencia, the circuit is similar to Montreal in many ways with long straights connected by slow corners which should suit our car.

　　"We have an upgrade package which will be another good step in our development towards competing at the front of the field.

　　

　　It was an incident-packed race - Schumacher

　　"We will continue with our efforts to become more competitive. We have a number of the basics right and the difference between winning and losing is small. We need to close that difference."

　　Meanwhile, championship leader Hamilton is eager to build on his recent excellent form with another fine drive in Valencia.

　　"I had a great, attacking race there last year - but I've finished second for the past two seasons, so I feel like I have some unfinished business," said the 25-year-old Briton, who was champion in 2008.

　　"The last few grands prix have had some fantastic racing - it would be great for all the Spanish fans if we can have a great race here too.

　　"It's not a circuit where we've seen too much passing in the past, but I think this year could be different - the grid is so tight, there were battles all through the field in Montreal last week, so I think we could have a close and exciting race this year."

　　Hamilton's team-mate and reigning champion Button is also raring to go and is pleased with the recent improvements the team has made.

　　"As a team, we've taken maximum points in the last two races and it feels like we've really gathered considerable momentum," he said.

　　"The team really is functioning as a single unit, so I think we head into Valencia next weekend hopeful of being able to once again capitalise on that determination and ambition."

 

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South Africa make strong start against Windies

　　

　　Smith powered his way to another century for South Africa

　　South Africa captain Graeme Smith hit 132 to help put his side into a good position against the West Indies on day one of the second Test in St Kitts.

　　Smith and Alviro Petersen shared an opening stand of 99 before Petersen was dismissed for 52 by Shane Shillingford.

　　Off-spinner Shillingford also bowled Hashim Amla for 44 before Kemar Roach got rid of Smith after tea.

　　But Jacques Kallis (45 not out) and AB de Villiers (7 not out) guided the Proteas safely until the close.

　　It was the 21st test century for the 29-year-old who also became the third South African to reach 7,000 Test runs when he had scored 88.

　　The visitors won the toss on a good batting pitch but the hosts were let down by their fielding and dropped three catches.

　　Smith and Petersen gave South Africa the perfect start with Petersen passing his half-century first, thanks to three fours and two sixes.

　　But he top-edged a sweep off Shillingford and Roach held a brilliant catch at deep square leg.

　　South Africa continued to dominate after the interval as Smith and Amla added 112 for the second wicket.

　　But Windies captain Chris Gayle dropped Amla on 14 and then Smith then had a let-off on 79, when his sweep off Shillingford was spilled by Shivnarine Chanderpaul at square leg.

　　Smith arrived at his seventh century against West Indies just before tea but the Windies soon got a breakthrough when Amla edged Shillingford low to first slip with the score on 211.

　　Smith survived another scare after tea when on 112 and Kallis had helped extend the third-wicket partnership to 72 when Smith dragged a tired pull back on to his stumps to give Roach a wicket.

　　Kallis, who passed Australia's Steve Waugh to become sixth on the all-time run-scorers' list during his innings, hit three fours and a six as he closed in on another half century.

　　He and de Villiers held firm as light rain and bad light forced play to end 15 minutes early.

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World Cup 2010: Dutch to make late decision on Robben

　　

　　

　　Highlights - Netherlands 2-0 Denmark

　　Netherlands will wait until the morning of Saturday's game against Japan before deciding whether to risk Arjen Robben.

　　Robben completed a full training session on Friday for the first time since injuring his hamstring in a warm-up match against Hungary on 5 June.

　　When asked whether Robben would play, head coach Bert van Marwijk replied: "Ordinarily not, but you never know.

　　"We have to see how he responds. It's the first time he took part in a whole training session so that's something."

　　The Bayern Munich forward missed Netherlands' win over Denmark even though Dutch physio Dick van Toorn had insisted the player would be ready for Monday's opening match.

　　

　　Robben arrived in South Africa on Saturday morning and was taken to the Dutch base at the Hilton hotel in Sandton via police escort.

　　The former Chelsea and Real Madrid forward sustained what has been described as a "small tear" in his left hamstring towards the end the 6-1 victory over Hungary.

　　Robben, a second-half substitute, had scored two goals before pulling up when in possession in the 85th minute of his country's final warm-up match in Amsterdam.

　　The Netherlands' final game of Group E is against Cameroon on 24 June.

 今天你菊子曰了么？

Eleven killed in 'US missile strike' in Pakistan

　　

　　

　　US drone attacks are being stepped up along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border At least 11 people have been killed in a suspected US missile strike in the Pakistani tribal region of North Waziristan, local officials say.

　　A drone aircraft targeted a house in a village about 25km (15 miles) east of the main town of Miran Shah.

　　The identities of the dead are not yet known. The officials said militants were believed to have been inside.

　　The lawless region, a haven for members of the Taliban and al-Qaeda, has been repeatedly targeted by US drones.

　　Last month, al-Qaeda number three and Afghan operations chief Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, also known as Sheikh Said al-Masri, was believed to have been killed in such a strike in North Waziristan.

　　Residents told the Reuters news agency at least three drones were still flying over the village targeted on Saturday, and that they were afraid to approach the destroyed house because of them.

　　Some 70 drone strikes have killed more than 200 people in North and South Waziristan since the start of 2010, officials say.

　　Pakistan publicly criticises drone attacks, saying they fuel support for militants. But observers say officials privately condone the strikes.

　　The US military and CIA do not routinely confirm drone operations, but analysts say only they have deployed such aircraft in the region.

　　

 今天你菊子曰了么？

Aung San Suu Kyi's supporters mark her 65th birthday

　　

　　

　　Activists have held a demonstration in Manila calling for Ms Suu Kyi's release The 65th birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's detained opposition leader, is being recognised by supporters both at home and abroad.

　　UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US President Barack Obama and the UK have marked the occasion by reiterating calls for the Nobel laureate's release.

　　Members of Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy plan to plant about 20,000 saplings around Burma.

　　Ms Suu Kyi has spent most of the last two decades in some form of detention.

　　Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, she is one of the world's best known political prisoners, and is currently under house arrest in Burma's former capital, Rangoon.

　　Demonstrations calling for her release are planned around the world later on Saturday.

　　Symbolic gesture

　　UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply concerned" that Ms Suu Kyi was still under house arrest.

　　"I have been persistently, consistently demanding that all the political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi should be released without condition as soon as possible, so that they would be able to participate in the political process," he said.

　　The UK has also called for her immediate and unconditional release.

　　"Her continued detention, and that of more than 2,100 other political prisoners in Burma, contravenes international human rights law," said Foreign Secretary William Hague.

　　US President Barack Obama also joined the calls, referring to her as the "world's only imprisoned Nobel Peace laureate".

　　Continue reading the main story

　　

　　Aung San Suu Kyi's life in pictures

　　Activists in the US are planning to stage a rally in Washington on Saturday.

　　The Free Burma coalition staged a demonstration outside the Burmese embassy in Manila, in the Philippines, on Friday.

　　And a group of global statesmen called The Elders, founded by Nelson Mandela, left a seat symbolically empty for her at a meeting in South Africa on Thursday.

　　Messages of support from around the world have also been posted on Facebook and other social networking websites.

　　Supporters in the Burmese city of Rangoon say they plan to throw a small party for her at one of their houses.

　　The National League for Democracy won Burma's last elections in 1990 but was not allowed to take power.

　　The party has been forcibly disbanded, and Ms Suu Kyi has been banned from standing in elections later this year.

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MTV Movie Awards Fashion Report: Kristen Stewart's Pale Lips, Katy Perry's Neon Nails, Plus All The Little Details

　　MTV Movie Awards Fashion Report: Kristen Stewart's Pale Lips, Katy Perry's Neon Nails, Plus All The Little Details

　　

　　OBVIOUSLY Katy Perry's now-signature blue hair and Ken Jeong's dreamy "little tiger snooze" costume were two of the biggest standout style moments from last night's 2010 MTV Movie Awards. Those, and the Jersey Shore" girls and Lindsay Lohan, who had on enough metallics to permanently deprogram all of the metal detectors at LAX. But there were also a handful of beauty trends and quirky details that shouldn't be overlooked.

　　

　　Nude/Next-To-Nude Lips: Flashy dresses and obviously made-up eyes ruled the Movie Awards red carpet, but bold lips did not. Even Katy Perry followed the "play up ONE thing" rule, offsetting her blue wig with baby pink lips. Audrina Patridge and Stephanie Pratt followed suit, complementing their black-lined eyes with just a trace of neutral gloss. Meanwhile, Jessica Biel took natural glam to even hotter new places.

　　

　　Pretty Ponytails! Audrina Patridge's ponytail kept her look fresh and not too overly done. Nicky Hilton's loosely braided ponytail looked picture-perfect, and Kristen Stewart's messy-on-purpose ponytail made us fall in love with her all over again.

　　

　　Katy Perry's Neon Nails: You may have been too busy noticing Katy Perry's other ... assets... like her BLUE WIG, obviously. But look closely, and Katy pulled off two manis in one night! A super-summery neon yellow for the red carpet, and hot pink during her "California Gurls" performance. That's a seasoned showbiz pro for you, nailing every last detail.

　　

　　Heavy Metals: Christina Aguilera's all about the S&M and freaky-deaky between-the-sheetsies behavior these days. (Don't believe me? Have you seen this?) So her Versace Atelier chain detail dress was the perfect way to say "I may clean up nicely, but I'm still ready to get 'Dirrty.' " And we also loved Audrina Patridge's chained-and-cuffed Giuseppe Zanotti spike heels.

Fashion Statement: Willow Smith, girl gone wild

　　

　　

　　(AP)

　　I'll surely get taken to task for daring to snark -- no matter how gently -- on a nine-year-old's get-up. But think of me not as a kid basher, but as more of an interventionist whose only aim is to save a misled elementary-aged girl from years of critiques from the Fug girls.

　　First of all, brava to miss Willow Smith -- budding actress and daughter of Hollywood power couple Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith. Even at nine, she's clearly working hard to establish her own persona. And that takes a lot of guts. And experimenting with one's look is better done at age nine, certainly, than at, say, age 32.

　　But there's a fine line between individuality and caricature. And, sadly, the leopard-print get-up Smith wore to Monday's "Karate Kid" premiere (brother Jaden stars) is more cartoonish than couture. From the Zubaz-style pants to the dominatrix-ish boots to the poof of hair perched atop her head, there is just nothing here to like. Believe me, I tried.