Netherlands mourns after at least 154 Dutch die in Ukraine MH17 crash

The Dutch prime minister on Thursday ordered that flags fly at half mast at government buildings across the country after the death of at least 154 of his country's citizens in what he said might be the worst air disaster in the Netherlands' history.

 

The Dutch were among 295 passengers and crew, including three infants, aboard a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that crashed while crossing above the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian rebels are fighting forces controlled by the government in the capital Kiev.

 

Speaking at Schiphol Airport after interrupting his holiday in southern Germany on news of the crash, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said it was a "black day" for the Netherlands.

 

"The whole of the Netherlands is in mourning," he said. "This beautiful summer day has ended in the blackest possible way."

 

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was operating as a code-share flight with the Dutch flagship carrier KLM, was also carrying at least 27 Australians, 23 Malaysians, 11 Indonesians, six Britons, four Germans, four Belgians, three Filipinos and one Canadian.

 

The 15 flight crew - two captains, two flight officers and 11 cabin crew — were all Malaysian citizens. The nationalities of a further 47 were as yet unknown.

 

Malaysia Airlines' Europe vice president Huib Gorter told reporters that relatives would be provided with support if they requested it and could be flown from Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur to Kiev if they so wished.

 

"You cannot imagine what's happening to these people right now," he said. "They are our main concern."

"No Talks Yet With Chelsea And Arsenal" - Khedira Agent

Sami Khedira’s agent, Jorg Neubauer, has revealed there has been no talks with Chelsea or Arsenal this summer over the availability of his client, according to Sky Sports.

Arsenal are the bookies’ favourite to sign Khedira, and with three German team-mates persuading him to make the move, his move to the Emirates did appear inevitable.

However, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was responsible for bringing the 27-year-old to Real Madrid, a factor which could give the west London outfit a leg up on their rivals. He’s stated his interest in the German midfielder, but Neubauer was keen to reiterate there has been no movement on a deal to sign for either club.

“We are not in talks with Arsenal,” he said. “I don’t think a fee can have been agreed, otherwise I would have been told. When a club have an interest I am sure they will call me and we will speak about things. The same goes for Chelsea.”

“We are talking to Real Madrid about his contract, but nothing is close to being decided. Sami has just returned from the World Cup and has gone on holiday.”

Last season, Khedira made just 13 league appearances in an injury-hit season with Real Madrid and he only has one-year left on his deal with the Spanish giants. Despite his agent's comments, Khedira is still being tipped for a Premier League this summer.

German football team given heroes' welcome

Hundreds of thousands of jubilant fans massed at Berlin´s Brandenburg Gate Tuesday to cheer the World Cup winners and new national heroes bringing home football´s top prize for the first time to a reunified Germany.

 

The flag-waving crowd, which began gathering before dawn, erupted in applause under warm summer sunshine when the triumphant players arrived from Rio de Janeiro.

 

Germany coach Joachim Loew told more than 250,000 supporters at the so-called Fan Mile stretching behind the Gate, the symbol of national unity, that they shared the title with his players.

 

Captain Philipp Lahm hoisted the World Cup trophy to a giant roar from the crowd.

 

Team members wearing black shirts emblazoned with the number one took the stage in groups to greet ecstatic supporters. They carried a long banner reading "Obrigado Fans", "thank you" in Portuguese in a nod to tournament hosts Brazil, and "the fourth title is ours".

Mario Goetze, who scored the only goal in Sunday´s nail-biter final against Argentina, called the Mannschaft´s win "a dream".

 

"We played an amazing tournament," he said. "It´s an incredible feeling."Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger appeared with the black, red and gold German flag draped from his shoulders, with a bandage still affixed below his eye from an injury he suffered in a clash during the final.

The players jumped and danced in a raucous circle on the stage, singing "this is how the Germans win, this is how the Germans win".

The team arrived in the late morning at Berlin´s Tegel airport on a Lufthansa jet rebranded "Fanhansa" for the occasion on one side and "Victors´ Plane" on the other, with thousands of fans waiting on a viewing platform.

 

Fans had lined the team´s route as black buses ferried the players to central Berlin from the airport, while construction workers waved from scaffoldings and dozens of cyclists followed the motorcade, their bicycles draped with Germany banners. (AFP)

Brazil beat Colombia 2-1 to take World Cup semi-final place

David Luiz smashed a 30-metre free kick to give Brazil a 2-1 victory over Colombia in Fortaleza on Friday and set up a World Cup semi-final clash against Germany.

But worryingly for the hosts striker Neymar was stretchered off the pitch late in the game and Brazil captain Thiago Silva scored his first World Cup goal and then got himself booked and suspended for the semi-final against Germany.

Colombia´s James Rodriguez scored a consolation goal for Colombia with his sixth goal of the tournament, from the penalty spot.