Daily Archives: June 18, 2014

H κ. Κλίντον με την πρώην πρωθυπουργό της χώρας Τζούλια Γκίλαρντ όταν η τότε υπουργός Εξωτερικών των ΗΠΑ επισκέφθηκε την Αυστραλία

Σε συνέντευξή της στο ABC καταδίκασε τις σεξιστικές επιθέσεις που δέχθηκε η πρώην πρωθυπουργός ενώ αναφέρθηκε και στη στάση της Αυστραλίας στο θέμα των κλιματικών αλλαγών.

Αποκλειστική συνέντευξη στην εκπομπή 7.30 Report του κρατικού δικτύου ABC παραχώρησε η πρώην υπουργός Εξωτερικών των ΗΠΑ, κ. Χίλαρι Κλίντον.
Η κ. Κλίντον στη συνέντευξή της έκανε ιδιαίτερη μνεία στον σεξιστικό τρόπο με τον οποίο οι πολιτικοί αντίπαλοι της πρώην Αυστραλής πρωθυπουργού, Τζούλια Γκίλαρντ, την αντιμετώπισαν όταν ήταν στην πρωθυπουργία, λέγοντας χαρακτηριστικά ότι αυτή η συμπεριφορά «δεν θα πρέπει να γίνεται αποδεκτή από καμία χώρα».
«Αναφέρομαι στο πώς οι πολιτικοί της αντίπαλοι την χαρακτήριζαν» είπε η κ. Κλίντον, προσθέτοντας «ότι η γλώσσα που χρησιμοποιούσαν εντός και εκτός του κοινοβουλίου ήταν απαράδεκτη και προσβλητική για την πρωθυπουργό της χώρας».

«Δεν έχω κανένα πρόβλημα με κανέναν -άνδρα ή γυναίκα- να αμφισβητεί την πολιτική ή τις πολιτικές θέσεις κάποιου, αλλά ο τρόπος με τον οποίο συνέβη στην Αυστραλία τότε και οι επιθέσεις που δέχθηκε η κ. Γκίλαρντ επειδή ήταν γυναίκα, πραγματικά δεν έχει καμία σχέση με την Αυστραλία που εγώ ξέρω» είπε η κ. Κλίντον.
Η πρώην υπουργός Εξωτερικών των ΗΠΑ και, πολύ πιθανόν, η επόμενη υποψήφια του κόμματος των Δημοκρατικών για την προεδρία των ΗΠΑ, αναφέρθηκε και στη θρυλική ομιλία της κ. Γκίλαρντ, το 2012, ομιλία που έδωσε στο κοινοβούλιο και κατά την οποία κατηγόρησε ευθέως τον τότε αρχηγό της αντιπολίτευσης και νυν πρωθυπουργό της Αυστραλίας, κ. Tony Abbott, για μισογυνισμό.

«Εκείνο που πραγματικά μου έκανε εντύπωση δεν είναι αυτά που είπε, αλλά το γεγονός ότι τόλμησε να τα πει» είπε η κ. Κλίντον, προσθέτοντας ότι δεν είναι λίγες οι γυναίκες που πέφτουν θύματα σεξιστικών επιθέσεων αλλά είναι ελάχιστες αυτές που κατέχουν τόσο υψηλά αξιώματα και τολμούν να μιλήσουν ξεκάθαρα για το θέμα. Η κ. Κλίντον απέφυγε να αναφερθεί ονομαστικά στον κ. Abbott ως έναν από τους κύριους πολιτικούς αντιπάλους της κ. Γκίλαρντ που υιοθέτησαν τις σεξιστικές επιθέσεις κατά της πρώην πρωθυπουργού. «Δεν θέλω να αναφερθώ με ονόματα σε συγκεκριμένους πολιτικούς. Ο αυστραλιανός λαός είναι ο πλέον αρμόδιος για να κρίνει ποιοι ήταν αυτοί που εισήγαγαν στην πολιτική ζωή της χώρας αυτήν την τόσο απρεπή και προσβλητική συμπεριφορά» είπε.

«ΟΙ ΕΦΗΜΕΡΕΣ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΕΣ ΣΚΟΠΙΜΟΤΗΤΕΣ ΔΕΝ ΕΝΔΕΙΚΝΥΝΤΑΙ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΑΝΤΙΜΕΤΩΠΙΣΗ ΤΩΝ ΚΛΙΜΑΤΙΚΩΝ ΑΛΛΑΓΩΝ»

Η αντίθεση τόσο της σημερινής αυστραλιανής, αλλά και της καναδικής κυβέρνησης, για την επιβολή φόρου στις εταιρείες που εκπέμπουν ρύπους διοξειδίου του άνθρακα δεν σχολιάστηκε από την κ. Κλίντον η οποία όμως ανέφερε ότι η στάση της Αυστραλίας και του Καναδά στην αντιμετώπιση των κλιματικών αλλαγών είναι σημαντική.
«Το φαινόμενο της κλιματικής αλλαγής είναι αναμφισβήτητο πλέον και χώρες όπως η Αυστραλία και ο Καναδάς έχουν επιδείξει σε πολλά μέτωπα ότι μπορούν να ηγηθούν της παγκόσμιας προσπάθειας αντιμετώπισης του φαινομένου. Χώρες όπως οι ΗΠΑ πιστεύω ότι μπορούν να δημιουργήσουν νέες θέσεις εργασίας και να γίνουν οι ενεργειακές υπερδυνάμεις του 21ου αιώνα αντιμετωπίζοντας παράλληλα και την πρόκληση του φαινομένου των κλιματικών αλλαγών. Το ίδιο μπορούν να κάνουν τόσο η Αυστραλία όσο και ο Καναδάς» είπε η κ. Κλίντον.

Πρόσθεσε, δε, ότι η Αυστραλία έχει ένα τεράστιο πλούτο πρώτων υλών και βρίσκεται σε ιδιαίτερα πλεονεκτική θέση. Είπε όμως ότι η κυβερνήσεις της χώρας θα πρέπει να θεσπίσουν μακροπρόθεσμη πολιτική ώστε να αντιμετωπίσουν τις κλιματικές αλλαγές και να εξασφαλίσουν παράλληλα την πρόοδο και να αποφύγουν μεσοπρόθεσμες λύσεις που εξυπηρετούν εφήμερες πολιτικές σκοπιμότητες.

Πηγή: Νέος Κόσμος

Δήλωσε στο BBC εμπειρογνώμονας της Inmarsat, της βρετανικής εταιρείας δορυφορικών επικοινωνιών.

Οι έρευνες για τo μοιραίο Boeing της Malaysia Airlines που εξαφανίστηκε στις 8 Μαρτίου δεν επικεντρώθηκαν στο σημείο του Ινδικού Ωκεανού όπου υπάρχουν οι περισσότερες πιθανότητες να έχει πέσει το αεροσκάφος, δήλωσε στο BBC εμπειρογνώμονας της Inmarsat, της βρετανικής εταιρείας δορυφορικών επικοινωνιών.
Η εταιρεία προέβη σε εκτίμηση του σημείου όπου ήταν πιο πιθανό να έπεσε το αεροπλάνο στον νότιο Ινδικό Ωκεανό με βάση τη σύντομη επικοινωνία που είχε η MH370 με έναν από τους δορυφόρους της.

Ωστόσο, το αυστραλιανό πλοίο που ξεκίνησε για τη συγκεκριμένη περιοχή δεν μετέβη εκεί ποτέ, καθώς εντόπισε ηλεκτρονικά σήματα προερχόμενα από άλλη ζώνη στην οποία και κατευθύνθηκε για να τα ερευνήσει, αφού θεωρήθηκε πιθανό τα σήματα να προέρχονται από το μαύρο κουτί του αεροσκάφους.

«Δεν ήταν επ’ ουδενί μία μη ρεαλιστική τοποθεσία (η ζώνη από όπου προήλθαν τα σήματα) αλλά ήταν πιο βορειοανατολικά από την περιοχή όπου υπήρχαν οι περισσότερες πιθανότητες (να βρίσκεται το αεροσκάφος)» δήλωσε ο Κρις Άστον της Inmarsat στην εκπομπή Horizon του BBC, που επρόκειτο να προβληθεί.
Οι έρευνες επικεντρώθηκαν επί δύο μήνες σε μία ακτίνα 850 τετραγωνικών χιλιομέτρων στη θαλάσσια περιοχή όπου οι διασώστες θεώρησαν ότι εντόπισαν ηλεκτρονικά σήματα προερχόμενα από τα μαύρα κουτιά του αεροσκάφους.

Το αεροπλάνο της Malaysia Airlines εξαφανίστηκε ενώ είχε πραγματοποιήσει μία ώρα πτήσης κατευθυνόμενο από την Κουάλα Λουμπούρ στο Πεκίνο με 239 επιβαίνοντες.
Η ομάδα των ερευνητών ανέστειλε την επιχείρησή της μέχρι να ολοκληρωθεί η σύνταξη ενός λεπτομερούς χάρτη του βυθού για μία ευρύτερη ακτίνα από εκείνη των αρχικών ερευνών και στη συνέχεια να αποφασιστούν τα επόμενα βήματα.

Το άλυτο μυστήριο και οι αντιφατικές δηλώσεις παρατείνουν την αγωνία των απελπισμένων συγγενών των επιβατών που έχουν επικρίνει δριμύτατα τις αρχές των εμπλεκόμενων στις έρευνες χωρών, για κωλυσιεργία και άστοχους χειρισμούς, ενώ θεωρούν ότι η αλήθεια δεν έχει ειπωθεί. Γι’ αυτό και αποφάσισαν να συγκεντρώσουν μέσω διαδικτύου τουλάχιστον 5 εκατομμύρια δολάρια ως αμοιβή για αξιόπιστες πληροφορίες και για χρηματοδότηση ιδιωτικής έρευνας.

Πηγή: Νέος Κόσμος

Και αυτό είναι καλό για την οικονομία της χώρας σύμφωνα με στέλεχος της Αποθεματικής.

Το κόστος των εργατικών χεριών της χώρας έχει μειωθεί, ενώ, παράλληλα, η παραγωγικότητα αυξήθηκε, γεγονός που, σύμφωνα με τον αναπληρωτή κυβερνήτη της Αποθεματικής Τράπεζας της χώρας, Christopher Kent, οι εξαγωγικές εταιρίες της χώρας έχουν γίνει ανταγωνιστικότερες στην παγκόσμια αγορά.
Αυτό ήταν το βασικό μήνυμα του ομιλίας που έδωσε ο κ. Kent, σε εκδήλωση που οργανώθηκε από την εφημερίδα Wall Street Journal.

«Για το τελευταίο ενάμισι χρόνο, η αύξηση των μισθών κυμάνθηκε σε πολύ χαμηλά επίπεδα, ενώ η παραγωγικότητα αυξήθηκε πολύ περισσότερο. Αυτό μεταφράζεται σε μηδαμινή έως μηδενική αύξηση του κόστους παραγωγής» είπε χαρακτηριστικά ο κ. Kent.

Ανέφερε, μάλιστα, ότι το πάγωμα των μισθών στην Αυστραλία είναι φαινόμενο που δεν παρατηρήθηκε στις άλλες χώρες που αποτελούν τους βασικούς εμπορικούς εταίρους της χώρας μας.

Την ίδια στιγμή, όμως, ο κ. Kent είπε ότι, πολύ σύντομα, οι μισθοί θα αρχίσουν και πάλι να παίρνουν την ανιούσα και αυτό γιατί όλο και περισσότεροι εργαζόμενοι πλησιάζουν το ηλικιακό όριο συνταξιοδότησης και, κατ’ επέκταση, τα κενά που θα αφήσουν στην αγορά εργασίας θα αυξήσουν και την ζήτηση εργατικών χεριών γεγονός που θα οδηγήσει και στην αύξηση των μισθών.

Ο κ. Kent προέβλεψε, μάλιστα, ότι έως και τα τέλη του 2015, η ανεργία θα κυμανθεί στα σημερινά επίπεδα, ενώ μείωσή της, αλλά και σταδιακή αύξηση των μισθών, θα παρατηρηθεί μετά από τη συγκεκριμένη περίοδο.

Πηγή: Νέος Κόσμος

The Thessaloniki Pride event is on this weekend, from June 20 to June 21.

“We just don’t share the same view,” says Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris

Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris sought to strike a diplomatic tone on Tuesday following controversial statements by a leading Orthodox cleric regarding the city’s upcoming gay pride festival.

“We see eye to eye on many issues with the bishop and we have a very good cooperation. On other issues, we just don’t share the same view and we don’t cooperate,” the recently re-elected Boutaris said of Thessaloniki Bishop Anthimos.

Speaking of the Thessaloniki Pride event, which takes place on Friday and Saturday, Anthimos described homosexuality as a “perversion of the human existence” and attacked the annual festival as a “disgrace.”

“Do not give dogs what is holy,” he said quoting the gospel of Matthew.

Source: Kathimerini.

China’s Premier Li Keqiang (R) with Greece’s Prime Minister Antonis Samaras (L), in May 2013. Photo: EPA/JASON LEE / POOL.

Li Keqiang is due in Athens this week for a three-day visit where both sides are expected to boosting bilateral trade ties.

Just over a year after Prime Minister Antonis Samaras visited China to seek investment, his counterpart Li Keqiang is due in Athens on Thursday for a three-day visit during which both sides are expected to reaffirm their commitment to boosting bilateral trade ties with several agreements expected to be signed.

Li, who is to be accompanied on his visit by a 14-member government delegation, noted in a letter published in Wednesday’s Kathimerini his intention to “open up new prospects for a deeper China-Greece relationship.”

Describing the Greek and Chinese economies as “mutually complementary,” the Chinese premier said he saw “huge potential for cooperation.” A key aim is to expand the Chinese presence at Piraeus where the firm Cosco is already active, he said, declaring that the Chinese “will work with Greece to make the port the best of its kind in the Mediterranean.”

Li also expressed interest in “airport, rail, road and other infrastructure development”” as well as in maritime transport, logistics and shipbuilding. He described tourism as an “important growth area for China-Greece cooperation,” noting that officials from both sides would sign an agreement foreseeing the creation of cultural centers to facilitate “people-to-people exchanges.”

Samaras and Li are also expected to sign several more pacts foreseeing closer cooperation in shipping, infrastructure, financial services and exports.

On Friday the two leaders are scheduled to visit Cosco’s facilities in Piraeus in a highly symbolic appearance as the firm is aiming to acquire 67 percent of the Piraeus Port Authority’s share capital.

Later on the same day, the two men are due to address a forum exploring opportunities in shipping, investments and trade. In another symbolic trip the two leaders are due to travel to Crete, one of Greece’s top tourist destinations. While there, the Chinese premier is expected to repeat Beijing’s interest in the new international airport near the port of Iraklio.

Li’s visit comes nearly a month before a trip by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Rhodes, another top tourist destination. Xi is set to meet his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias on the island. In a letter sent to Papoulias earlier this month, the Chinese statesman reportedly described Greece as “a strategic partner” and reaffirmed Beijing’s interest in making major investments in the country.

Source: Kathimerini.

Kevin Andrews, Minister for Social Services. PHOTO: AAP/Lukas Coch.

11,401 Australian expatriates living in Greece claim the age pension.

Federal government data shows that the number of Australian citizens claiming the age pension while living overseas has increased by 30 per cent between 2007 and 2012. The high cost of living in Australia and the subsequent inability to make ends meet seems to be the main cause of this new wave of
Australian pensioners moving abroad.

Italy is the number one destination with 17,050 Australian pensioners, followed by Greece with 11,401 pensioners, while many opt to move to New Zealand, Spain, the Netherlands and Asian countries.

The figures also revealed that 2.3 million Australians are entitled to an age pension, of which 3 per cent live overseas. In the meantime, the future is not looking so bright for pensioners, after the budget announcement of $2.1 billion in pension payment cuts and with the retirement age expected to be raised to 70 by 2035.

According to the Fair Go for Pensioners Coalition committee member, Theo Nomikos, the qualifying age for pensioners should not exceed 65 years of age, so that employability is ensured for younger generations. He also points out that it is difficult for a pensioner to live merely on the age pension, without any more benefits.

“It is sad to see people who have grown up here, worked and contributed all their life having to leave the country,” Mr Nomikos tells Neos Kosmos.

A research study, conducted by the University of South Australia and investigating how people plan to fund their retirement, indicates that for a large number of current and near future retirees their savings and the age pension are not going to be sufficient to support their lifestyle.

“If they are faced with the situation of being unable to fund their retirement in Australia, they might be tempted to go back to the old country where they have family and friends and they have better prospects for their future,” says university researcher Peter Winwood.

Australia’s national social security system provides the elderly – who have exceeded a certain age and meet designated requirements – with the benefit of an age pension, which is based on government funds rather than the employee’s or the employer’s contributions.

Pensioner and former trade unionist George Zangalis outlines the significance of the age pension for the elderly and explains that many southern European migrants who arrived and worked in Australia after World War II are not entitled to superannuation benefits.

“Let’s not forget that the age pension is not a gift to pensioners, but rather an obligation of the state. Money comes from the taxes they pay as citizens,” says Mr Zangalis.

He also explained that many Greek pensioners who visit their countries of origin choose to extend their stay for some months, as it is not worth paying for an expensive flight overseas just for a couple of weeks.

Figures published in the Melbourne daily Herald Sun in May indicated that 7,313 disability support pensioners (DSP) living overseas cost Australia $99.9 million a year. The front page story sparked debate among ethnic communities as it implied that taxpayers are financing holiday lifestyles for these pensioners.

Greece appeared to be the country where most Australian disability pensioners live abroad, a number of 1,242 recipients, while Turkey, New Zealand and Croatia are also popular destinations.

Minister for Social Services Kevin Andrews had told News Corp that he was in the process of investigating the residency requirements for pensioners who fall into this category.

However, as he told Neos Kosmos: “The vast majority of people who are on DSP are abiding by the law and in rare cases I have asked the department to provide clarification on the residency requirements for DSP. The thousands of overseas DSP recipients doing the right thing have nothing to worry about.”

source: Neos Kosmos

Former Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek said Australia were no hope of beating the Netherlands, wouldn’t score a goal and had a defence that was vulnerable and inexperienced.

Dutchman Verbeek, who was axed as Australian coach after the 2010 World Cup in which the Socceroos failed to progress past the first round, saw nothing in the new generation of players wearing the green and gold that suggested an upset was on the cards.

Speaking to Dutch media at the World Cup and transcribed for footballcentral.com.au, Verbeek shot down any chance of the Australians having an impact in the match.

Asked who he thought would win, Verbeek said: “Oh, (Holland) will win this game, not a single doubt.

“I don’t see any possibility that Australia will score a goal against the Netherlands.”

Verbeek said the Socceroos’ defence was a major concern.

“(Holland) should go for an extra attacker. We have to attack from the flanks, but also through the middle. (Australia are) so inexperienced at the back,” he said.

“They are very vulnerable at the back. So I think we’ll score at least three goals.”

Australia’s inexperience in defence – the back four against Chile in their World Cup opener had less that 40 national caps – has been exacerbated by the injury-induced withdrawal of Ivan Franjic.

The Socceroos will play the Netherlands, fresh off a 5-1 thrashing of their 2010 World Cup final conquerors Spain, at 2am (AEST) in Porto Alegre.

source: smh.com.au

Phillip Coorey Chief political correspondent

Labor and the Greens are daring Tony Abbott to call a double-dissolution election after they handed the government a trigger by blocking a bill to abolish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation in the Senate.

But the government, which had threatened a double dissolution should its agenda be thwarted, has backed off following a plunge in the polls. It now argues the electorate wants stability, not another election.

“Just because you are given a trigger it doesn’t mean you have to pull it,” said deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop.

However, senior sources have counselled that Prime Minister Tony Abbott could still call an election this time next year – a year early – should the new Senate render the country ungovernable.

In the Senate on Wednesday, Labor and the Greens combined to block the repeal of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, a $10 billion loan facility which was part of the carbon tax package. It provides loans for clean-energy projects and has started returning a profit, estimated at $500 million this financial year.

The repeal of the CEFC was first blocked in December. A double dissolution, which is a full House and full Senate election, can be called when the Senate blocks the same legislation three months apart.

The government had been planning to use the CEFC trigger to pressure the new Senate into abolishing the carbon tax, the CEFC, and passing its budget.

Government hopes in new Senate

Environment Minister Greg Hunt said the CEFC repeal legislation and the legislation to repeal the carbon tax, which has already been blocked once, would be reintroduced into Parliament next week.

It would be passed by the House of Representatives, which the government controls, and be ready for the new Senate, which first sits on July 7.

Mr Hunt said the government reserved the option to call a double dissolution should the new Senate not repeal the carbon tax and CEFC but he did not think it would come to that.

“My belief, my expectation, is that in the end we will be successful through the Senate process,’’ he said. “My hope and my expectation, without presuming on any of the individual senators, is that the new Senate will stand by the will of the people and repeal the carbon tax and associated measures.’’

Before the federal election, Mr Abbott promised several times that he would call a double dissolution should the repeal of the carbon tax be blocked. In the aftermath of the federal budget, he raised the threat in the context of budget measures being blocked.

But the budget has been poorly received and the government’s fortunes have plunged to the extent that the polls indicate it would lose an election if one were held now.

Greens leader Christine Milne dared Mr Abbott to “bring it on” as did Labor leader Bill Shorten.

“Tony Abbott is all talk. If he wants an election, he should bring it on.”

“He won’t even talk to people in the street about how much this budget is hurting them let alone face their anger at the ballot box.”

Ms Bishop confirmed the government had no appetite for another poll any time soon.

“I think the Australian people . . . were sick and tired of the instability and the uncertainty that was a hallmark of the last, at least, five years of the previous government,’’ she said.

“For business confidence, for investor confidence, for consumer confidence, we owe it to the Australian people to get on with the job they elected us to do.”

Business urges legislation be passed

As the government made no progress on trying to pass its budget measures, the nation’s superannuation and infrastructure sectors sent a joint letter to MPs urging them to support the government’s asset recycling fund under which states would be given an extra 15 per cent in Commonwealth funding to the cost of infrastructure projects if those projects were funded from the sale of assets.

The legislation is due to be voted on in the Senate. The Greens oppose it while Labor wants to amend it to ensure all new projects are subject to a cost-benefit analysis and that either house of Parliament be able to disallow the 15 per cent bonus should it disagree with the asset being sold.

The Greens are yet to decide whether to support Labor’s amendments. The government opposes the amendments

In the joint letter, Brendan Lyon, the chief executive of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, and Pauline Vamos, the chief executive of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia, urged the legislation be passed. “Together, we speak for Australia’s $1.6 trillion dollar superannuation industry, and the national infrastructure sector,’’ they said.

“We are writing to you because this legislation provides an important incentive for states to get on with the job of finding the money the country needs for new infrastructure.

“The Australian public deserve much better infrastructure services, at much lower costs.

“What is missing is the ability and capacity to pay for major new projects, without lifting taxes or cutting services.

“Asset recycling is a proven way of marshalling the billions of dollars that governments need to break the ­infrastructure backlog”. They said super members would benefit from asset recycling.

source: afr.com

Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made a series of outstanding saves to help Mexico hold Brazil to a pulsating 0-0 draw at the World Cup on Tuesday.

The result leaves both teams with four points each after two games in Group A, ahead of their decisive final matches. Croatia and Cameroon meet on Wednesday for their second games after both opened with defeats.

Ochoa’s first remarkable save prevented Neymar from scoring in the 26th minute. The Brazil striker’s powerful header looked set to fly just inside the post when the goalkeeper dived to his right to push the ball wide.

Ochoa also made three other difficult saves to keep the hosts from breaking the deadlock — a shot by Paulinho in the 44th, a second-half effort by Neymar from inside the area and a close-range header by Thiago Silva in the 86th minute which produced a remarkable block by the Mexico keeper.

After that, there was still time for a thrilling end to the game in the northeastern city of Fortaleza.

The referee dismissed Brazilian claims for a penalty after Marcelo seemed to have been grabbed in the 88th minute. Mexico then had two great chances, first with Andres Guardado’s shot over the crossbar in the 90th and then with an effort by Raul Jimenez that was stopped by Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar in injury time.

It was an evenly-balanced game at the Arena Castelao, with Mexico not allowing Brazil to take control. El Tri didn’t play defensively and created chances throughout the match, especially with long-range shots, while Brazil turned up the pressure in the second half.

But there was no getting past Ochoa.

He denied Paulinho just before halftime, blocking the midfielder’s shot after a loose ball inside the area, and then got his body in the way of Neymar’s drive from inside the area. In the 86th, he was there on cue to block Silva’s powerful header from point-blank range.

Fans wearing Brazil’s green and yellow colors were the majority as expected, but Mexicans took over large seating sections of the stadium and at times were louder than the local fans. Among those in the crowd of 60,342 was NBA star Kobe Bryant, of the Los Angeles Lakers.

source: abcnews.go.com