Thursday 10 April 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Violence kills 21 in Iraq

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Shootings and bombings in Iraq killed at least 21 people Thursday, officials said, as the country struggles with rampant violence ahead of parliamentary elections at the end of the month.The country is suffering from a protracted surge in bloodshed that has killed more than 2,500 people this year and sparked fears Iraq is slipping back into the all-out sectarian fighting of 2006-2007.The unrest has been driven principally by complaints among the Sunni Arab minority of mistreatment by the Shiite-led government and security forces, and by the civil war in neighbouring Syria.In Thursdays deadliest single incident, a car bomb exploded near a petrol station in the Ameen area of east Baghdad, killing at least seven people and wounding 35, officials said.Another car bomb exploded in an area of shops in the capitals northern Shiite-majority Sadr City district, killing at least six people and wounding 18.The attacks came after eight car bombs hit the capital the day before.In a bid to cause maximum casualties, militants frequently target areas where crowds gather, such as shops, markets, mosques and cafes.North of Baghdad, gunmen opened fire on a group of young Shiite men in Khales, north of Baghdad, and killed five of them, a police colonel and a doctor said.Fundamentalist Sunni militants frequently target members of Iraqs Shiite majority, whom they consider apostates.In a market in Baquba, also north of the capital, a gunman shot dead an army captain, while a roadside bomb killed a woman near the city.And in the northern province of Kirkuk, a member of powerful jihadist group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant killed his father, apparently because he refused to leave a rival militant group, security sources said.On April 30, Iraqis go to the polls for the first parliamentary election since US forces pulled out in 2011.The election will be a major test for security forces, who were able to keep violence to a minimum during last years provincial polls, but have subsequently failed to bring a year-long surge in unrest under control.Violence has killed more than 290 people this month, according to AFP figures based on security and medical sources.

Israel, Palestinians in 'intensive' talks to end deadlock

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held a fresh round of US-mediated talks Thursday to try to revive crisis-hit peace talks, officials said.The gaps are narrowing, but any speculation about an agreement are premature at this time, said US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.Washington remains in intensive negotiations with both sides, Psaki told reporters, but stressed that reports of a deal were inaccurate as Israel announced it was going to sanction the Palestinians by freezing taxes it collects on their behalf.We're working, as you know, to determine what the path forward is for these negotiations, and that is up to the parties.The talks hit a new impasse last week after Israel refused to release a final batch of Palestinian prisoners and the Palestinians retaliated by seeking accession to several international treaties.US Secretary of State John Kerry blamed Israel this week for the deadlock as Washington mulled how much more time and effort to put into the faltering negotiations.American envoy Martin Indyk presided over Thursday's meeting in Jerusalem between Israel's chief negotiator, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, and her Palestinian counterpart, Saeb Erakat, a Palestinian source close to the talks said.Also present were Yitzhak Molcho, a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian intelligence chief Majed Farah.The Palestinians were pushing for the release of a final batch of prisoners, a commitment Israel reneged on in a move that sparked the crisis.An Israeli official told AFP that Israel wants to return to talks and overcome the current crisis.And Israeli television later reported that the two sides were on the verge of a deal to extend peace talks beyond their April 29 deadline.The deal, which could be finalised within a few days, would see a final batch of Palestinian prisoners released in return for Washington freeing American-born Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, Channel 2 television said.Sources in Washington said the Palestinians would refrain from pursuing accession to the treaties, Channel 2 said, and both sides would agree to extend the talks beyond April 29.According to the source, the agreement will include the release of Palestinian prisoners, including Arab-Israelis, in exchange for the release of Jewish American spy Jonathan Pollard, the report said.But insisting there was no deal yet, Psaki said no decision has been made about Jonathan Pollard.The Israelis have repeatedly asked Barack Obama and previous US presidents to release Pollard, sentenced to life in 1987 for passing US secrets on Arab and Pakistani weapons to Israel.Pollard is eligible for release from November next year.And Psaki revealed that Indyk would be returning to Washington this week for consultations with Kerry and the White House.He would then return to the region some time next week.Freeing the Palestinian prisoners was among a range of issues that are being discussed, Psaki said.A Palestinian official also denied any deal was yet on the table, telling AFP there was still a deep chasm between the two sides.That chasm was highlighted late Thursday when Israel announced sanctions on the Palestinians, whose actions an official said were in flagrant violation of accords between the two sides.It has been decided to freeze the transfer to the Palestinian Authority of the taxes collected by Israel on its behalf, the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.At the same time, Israel was suspending its participation with the Palestinians in developing a gas field off the Gaza Strip and putting a cap on Palestinian deposits in its banks.However, the official also said that discussions under the aegis of the United States to overcome the talks crisis will continue.When Israel refused to release 26 long-time Palestinian prisoners, it went back on a pledge it made at the launch of the peace talks.The Palestinians responded by abandoning their own commitment not to seek international recognition until the nine months of talks ended, applying for accession to 15 treaties.The United Nations said Thursday it had accepted the deposit of the request, but Psaki said that was merely a technical step... so I don't think it changes, necessarily, what we're negotiating now.On Tuesday, Kerry blamed Israel for the crisis, pointing to its April 1 decision to issue tenders on 708 Jewish settlement homes in occupied Arab east Jerusalem.

US warns Russia of more sanctions over Ukraine

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew warned his Russian counterpart Thursday of more sanctions if Moscow continues to escalate the crisis in Ukraine.Lew also expressed to Finance Minister Anton Siluanov concerns about reports that Moscow was discussing an oil-for-goods trade deal with Iran, the Treasury said in a statement.On the sidelines of IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, Lew told Siluanov Russias ongoing occupation and purported annexation of Crimea is illegal and illegitimate.Lew told him that in addition to the sanctions already imposed in response to Russias occupation and purported annexation of Crimea, the United States is prepared to impose additional significant sanctions on Russia if it continues to escalate the situation in Ukraine.Echoing calls from President Barack Obamas administration, Lew said the United States believed that Russia can resolve the dispute with Ukraines new interim government diplomatically.Obama has imposed sanctions on Russia, blacklisting officials, businesspeople and a bank close to President Vladimir Putin, to protest Moscows seizure of Crimea from Ukraine.The United States and its allies have also voiced concern as Russia steps up pressure on Ukraines new pro-Western government.Putin on Thursday threatened to cut off gas unless Ukraine pays $2.2 billion in debts.Western nations have rallied to support Ukraine, with the International Monetary Fund crafting an aid package that would total $14 to $18 billion over two years.IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said earlier Thursday that the Fund would submit the plan by early May and that she expected Ukraine to meet criteria on its economys stability, despite concerns in some quarters about the new governments capacity.The packages goal, Lagarde told reporters, will be for Ukraine to restore its financial situation so that it can finance itself, refinance itself and operate without support from the IMF.The IMF, which counts the United States as its biggest stakeholder but also has Russia as a member, has warned of economic risks for Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.On Tuesday, the IMF slashed its growth forecast for Russia for the current year to 1.3 percent, and warned its economy may contract by as much as 1.8 percent if the crisis with Ukraine is prolonged.Lew also voiced serious concerns over indications that Russia is negotiating an oil-for-goods deal with Iran.The United States has eased limited sanctions on Iran after the Islamic republic agreed to freeze sensitive nuclear work as part of a tentative deal with six foreign powers.But Obama has insisted only on a small let-up in sanctions before a final deal. US lawmakers and Israel have opposed any easing of pressure on Iran.

Woman throws object at Hillary Clinton in Vegas

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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A woman threw an object -- reported to be a shoe -- at Hillary Clinton during a speech in Las Vegas on Thursday, but it missed and Clinton laughed off the incident, video footage showed.The woman launched the projectile at the former secretary of state as she was addressing a meeting of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI).Clinton, the 66-year-old presumed frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, ducked as the object whisked past at head height to her left.Good thing she didn't play softball like I did, Clinton joked, drawing cheers from the audience at the Mandalay Bay hotel/casino, according to the video by KTNV.My goodness, I didn't know that solid waste management was so controversial.The woman who threw the object was arrested, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.Neither police nor organizers immediately responded to request for comment or details.

Football: Juve see off Lyon, Iberian trio into last four

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PARIS (AFP) - Italian champions Juventus proved too strong for a spirited Lyon in the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday, while Sevilla, Valencia and last season's runners-up Benfica also clinched their places in the last four.Juve's main focus is on retaining the Serie A title, but Antonio Conte's side are also desperate to reach a Europa League final that will be played in their own stadium in Turin on May 14, and a 2-1 win against Lyon on Thursday took them into the semi-finals 3-1 on aggregate.Benfica, who suffered an agonising 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in last season's final in Amsterdam, beat Dutch side AZ Alkmaar 2-0 to go through 3-0 on aggregate, while Sevilla recovered from a 1-0 first-leg defeat away to Porto, beating the Portuguese side 4-1 in the return at the Sanchez Pizjuan.And Valencia recovered from a 3-0 first-leg loss to Basel, winning 5-0 after extra time at the Mestalla to progress.Unbeaten at home this season and leading 1-0 from last week's first leg in France, Juve got off to a superb start at a packed Juventus Stadium as veteran Andrea Pirlo curled home a typically brilliant free-kick inside four minutes.Lyon, who were missing a host of key players due to injury, showed great spirit to level the scores on the night when Jimmy Briand headed in off a post in the 18th minute, and suddenly OL knew that one goal would be enough to take them through.However, with former Juve player and coach, and current France boss, Didier Deschamps, watching on from the stands, Carlos Tevez had a headed effort disallowed for offside just after the hour mark before a Claudio Marchisio strike that took a huge deflection off Samuel Umtiti wrong-footed Anthony Lopes in goal and effectively ended Lyon's dreams.Having fallen just short in the Portuguese league and Cup as well as the Europa League 12 months ago, Benfica are still on course to win all three competitions this time around.Seven points clear in their domestic league with four games to go and through to the last four of the Portuguese Cup, Benfica are also into the last four in the Europa League after Spanish striker Rodrigo bagged a brace at the Estadio da Luz to clinch a comfortable aggregate win against AZ.Benfica's bitter rivals Porto are out, though, after a first-half collapse in southern Spain.An early Ivan Rakitic penalty levelled the scores on aggregate and further goals by Vitolo and Colombian striker Carlos Bacca had Sevilla - UEFA Cup winners in 2006 and 2007 - 3-0 up on the night.The sending-off of Coke early in the second half had little impact on the home side, and substitute Kevin Gameiro got their fourth goal late on.There was still time for Ricardo Quaresma to pull a goal back for the visitors, but Porto exited the competition in the same city where they won the UEFA Cup in 2003 by beating Celtic.There will be two Spanish sides in Friday's semi-final draw after Valencia went through in even more dramatic circumstances.The 2004 UEFA Cup winners lost 3-0 to Basel in last week's first leg in Switzerland but two goals from Paco Alcacer either side of an Eduardo Vargas header made it 3-0 to the hosts at the Mestalla and took the tie to extra time.The visitors then had Marcelo Diaz and Gaston Sauro sent off and crumbled with nine men, Alcacer completing his hat-trick before Juan Bernat sealed a memorable 5-0 triumph on the night.Friday's draw will be made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday at 1000 GMT.

Golf: Haas grabs Masters lead with 68, Scott in the mix

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AUGUSTA (AP) - With dad in his ear, Bill Haas turned in the best round of his Masters career Thursday.Now he wants to do what his father never could finish the job.Haas birdied the final hole for a 4-under 68 and the opening-round lead, the first time he has broken 70 in five appearances at Augusta National.His father, Jay, played in the Masters 22 times, with five top-10 finishes topped by a tie for third in 1995. He is staying with his son this week and providing valuable advice on the practice range.I never remember thinking, Man, I wish I could hit this shot for my dad, Bill Haas said. But I do know that theres times Im like, I wish my dad could hit this shot for me.Jay Haas never won a major despite having plenty of success on the PGA Tour.Maybe his son can take care of that family oversight.I think he deserves a major in his career as good as he played, Bill Haas said.Defending champion Adam Scott has his major title and got off to a strong start in his quest to stay dressed in green, even with a stumble in Amen Corner.Scott shook off a double-bogey at the par-3 12th, a tiny little hole that caused big trouble for a number of players. His tee shot caught the bank in front of the green and hopped back into Raes Creek.I had just received the most incredible ovation as I came to the 12th tee and I hit my worst shot of the day, Scott said. I think thats my first-ever trip into Raes Creek.The Aussie bounced back with a birdie at the 14th, rolled in a testy putt to save par at the 18th, and finished with a 69, one shot off the lead.It was a nice way to walk off, not shooting 70, Scott said.In contrast to Haas, it was the fifth time in his last six Augusta rounds that Scott has cracked the 60s, showing he still has the game to make a run at being the first back-to-back Masters champion since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002. Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo are the only other repeat champions.If Scott finishes no worse than a tie for third place, he will take over the No. 1 spot in the world rankings for the first time in his career.In a sense, winning last year took the pressure off, Scott said. Whats the worst that can happen? Im still a Masters champion.Playing in their first Masters, Jimmy Walker and Kevin Stadler of the U.S. and Swedens Jonas Blixt were among those shooting 70, making their way around the course just fine despite some unfamiliarity with the revered layout.They are among a record two dozen Augusta rookies in the field, which doesnt include four-time winner Woods, out of the game until summer as he recovers from back surgery.The 35-year-old Walker is having a breakout year on the PGA Tour, picking up the first three victories of his career. He kept up his strong play, ripping off a run of four straight birdies starting at the 14th.I wasnt thinking I was going to make four in a row, Walker said. But just keep hitting good shots.Gary Woodland and Brandt Snedeker of the U.S. also opened at 70, as did K.J. Choi of South Korea.Stadler is part of the first father-son duo to play the Masters together. His dad, Craig, was the 1982 champion, while Kevin earned a spot in the field with his first PGA Tour victory at Phoenix.The elder Stadler didnt fare nearly as well as his son. Craig opened with an 82 in what he has said will likely be his farewell as a Masters competitor.I played like a moron, Craig Stadler said.Two players at 71 provided quite a contrast: 54-year-old Fred Couples and 20-year-old Jordan Spieth, who wasnt even born when Couples won his green jacket in 1992.Among those with afternoon tee times: Phil Mickelson, attempting to join Woods and Arnold Palmer with a fourth green jacket. But that bid got off to a rocky start when Lefty shot a triple-bogey 7 at the seventh, his worst score ever at the hole nicknamed Pampas.The tournament began with Nicklaus, Palmer and Gary Player hitting ceremonial tee shots on a brisk, sunny morning. The Big Three combined to win 13 green jackets, including seven in a row at the start of the 1960s.This Masters is far less predictable. Without Woods or a dominant figure in golf, its seen as the most wide-open tournament in years.Day 1 did nothing to change that perception.

Athletics: Asafa Powell handed 18-month doping ban

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KINGSTON (AFP) - Former 100m world record-holder Asafa Powell was handed an 18-month suspension on Thursday for his positive test for a banned stimulant.Powell and training partner Sherone Simpson tested positive for oxilofrine after the 100m finals at the Jamaican national championships on June 21, 2013.A three-member Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission Disciplinary Panel unanimously ruled that Powell, who blamed the positive result on a nutritional supplement, was negligent, panel chairman Lennox Gayle said in announcing the verdict.The suspension is due to end on December 20 this year.Having reviewed and listened, and bisected all evidence in this matter, and reading the submissions of both councils, the panel arrived at a unanimous decision and it is a decision that Mr. Powell was found to be negligent and that he was at fault, especially since he is an elite athlete, so the period of ineligibility will be 18 moths, starting from the date of the positive test, Gayle said.However, in a quick response, Powells lawyer Kwame Gordon said the athlete would appeal.We are disappointed at the verdict and will be taking it to the next level, he said.JADCO lawyer Lackston Robinson had argued in February that Powell should be banned a minimum of two years, telling Gayle, Peter Prendergast and Dr. Japheth Ford that the sprinter was guilty of gross negligence.Powell, who set a world record in the 100 metres in 2008 with a time of 9.74 seconds, blamed Canadian physical therapist Chris Xuereb for the positive test, saying he provided the nutritional supplement, Epiphany D1, that resulted in the positive test.Robinson argued that Powells trust of Xuereb, whom he had known for less than two months was gross negligence and cited discrepancies in testimony by Powell, Simpson and their manager, Paul Doyle.A bottle of Epiphany D1 submitted for testing to a US lab by Doyle showed traces of oxilofrine while one bought by the lab from the Epiphany D1 website did not test positive for the same substance.The evidence presented in the case was quite lengthy and detailed, and I must say, the defense team of Mr Powell did some real hard work in presenting the type of evidence and material in its defense of its case, Gayle said. The submission of JADCO was also very useful.

Oil slips on weak China trade data

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NEW YORK (AP) - Benchmark crude for May delivery fell 20 cents to $103.40 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. That followed gains totaling $3.16 a barrel on Monday and Tuesday.Brent crude, a benchmark for international oil prices, slipped 52 cents to $107.46 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.Oil prices fell as Chinese trade numbers showed that exports contracted unexpectedly in March, shrinking by 6.6 percent from a year earlier while imports contracted 11.3 percent. Chinese imports of crude oil were also the lowest in five months, totaling 5.54 million barrels in March.The numbers highlight the gradual slowdown in China's economic growth, which could result in lower demand for energy. The country's leaders are struggling to hit a full-year target of 7.5 percent growth this year while reorienting the world's second biggest economy away from trade and investment to one based on domestic spending.

Dollar slides vs. euro as rate hike prospects fade

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar weakened against the euro Thursday as traders digested Federal Reserve signals suggesting that interest rates would be unlikely to rise any time soon.Around 2200 GMT, the euro bought $1.3888 compared with $1.3852 late Wednesday.The dollar fell to 101.44 yen from 101.97 yen, after earlier hitting a three-week low of 101.33. The euro dipped to 140.88 yen from 141.26.A broadly under-pressure greenback fell to its lowest in weeks against the euro and yen, said Joe Manimbo of Western Union Business Solutions.Dollar sentiment took a hit after the Federal Reserve on Wednesday released the minutes of the March 18-19 policy meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee.The FOMC minutes stopped short of confirming expectations of a US rate hike some time during the first six months of 2015. The dollar had already ended the week on its back foot after US jobs data last week fell a little short of forecasts, Manimbo said.Both the Fed minutes and the job market have signaled a 'steady as she goes' outlook for the central bank's low-rate policies.The dollar also fell against the Swiss currency, buying 0.8762 franc compared with 0.8795 late Wednesday.The pound fell to $1.6785 from $1.6792.

England flops have to take charge, says Anderson

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LONDON (AFP) - England pace bowler James Anderson admits he and his team-mates must take more responsibility as they look to bounce back from a woeful Ashes defeat against Australia.Anderson and company will be led by a new coach this season, with the new man set to be appointed next month and charged with revamping a squad that slumped to a dismal 5-0 whitewash in the Test series in Australia before crashing out of the World Twenty20 at the group stage.However, Anderson, one of the team's senior figures, believes the onus should be on the players rather than the coach to ensure England return to the form that saw them win the Ashes on home soil last year.As important as a head coach is, I feel it's the players that have to try and turn things round, Anderson wrote on his personal blog, www.jamesanderson613.com.I honestly believe the group of players that are selected have to take responsibility to try and get the team out of the trough we find ourselves in.A successful team is not led by one man. The captain is also important, of course, but a successful team has a group of leaders within the team. We will need a nucleus of four or five leaders who can drive the team in the right direction.England descended into chaos during the long tour to Australia, which prompted Andy Flower to step down as team director before star batsman Kevin Pietersen's controversial axing.The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are due to announce Flower's replacement in the next month, with limited-overs boss Ashley Giles and Lancashire coach Peter Moores tipped as the men most likely to get the job.Anderson has worked under both and is confident either would be a suitable fit to help reinvigorate the national team.Ashley Giles and Peter Moores have been named in the shortlist of candidates and, having worked under both, I think they are each well equipped for the job, he said.Peter Moores has played a big part in my career and I have always enjoyed his enthusiasm and skill for coaching. Likewise, I have enjoyed working with Ashley Giles, particularly during last year's Champions Trophy (when England reached the final).

Blast injures 13 in Lahore

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – According to details, at least 13 people were injured in a powerful blast at a shop in Pakistan Chowk area of Icchra on early Friday morning.The blast was so severe that it damaged nearby buildings. Police and rescue teams have reached the spot and shifted the injured to Services Hospital where condition of two is stated to be critical.Police have cordoned off the area after the blast and started a search operation.

IOC ramp up speed of Rio preparations

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LAUSANNE (AFP) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday drew up a list of urgent recommendations aimed at breathing life into the flagging preparations for the 2016 Olympics.Rio's Olympics have come under fire recently over construction delays which have echoed the problems facing the World Cup which Brazil will host in June and July this year.Problems have been exacerbated by a host of international sports bodies also expressing their fears over the speed of construction of venues for the Olympics, the first to be staged in South America.We believe that Rio can and will organise excellent Olympics if the necessary actions are taken, said IOC president Thomas Bach, a day after listening to complaints from federations over the state of preparations.We are aware of the worries, he added.Bach said he was recommending a number of positive actions to help accelerate the work with the co-operation of the Brazilian authorities.We are asking our partners in Brazil to form a high-level decision-making body where the organising committee and multi levels of government are represented and where the IOC would play a major role in better coordinating the efforts by all these stakeholders, said Bach.Other new measures will also see the creation of dedicated task forces.We will recruit a local project manager with experience in construction who will monitor on a daily basis the progress being made in the different venues and infrastructures, added the IOC chief.Furthermore, international sports federations will send teams of experts to work alongside local organisers in a model of co-operation which was used in the build-up to the Sochi Winter Olympics.

Crocked Ibrahimovic returns to Sweden

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PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain have revealed that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has returned to his native Sweden to undergo treatment on a thigh injury.The Ligue 1 leaders have not, however, confirmed how long they expect their leading scorer to be on the sidelines with the injury suffered to his right thigh in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Chelsea last week.PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told RMC radio that he expected the Swede to be on the sidelines for at least four weeks, meaning that he would not return until the start of May at the earliest.The club's coach Laurent Blanc has insisted that Ibrahimovic, who has scored a club record tally of 40 goals in all competitions this season, will play again before the end of the campaign.He missed the second leg against Chelsea on Tuesday, which PSG lost 2-0 to exit the Champions League on away goals, and he will miss the League Cup final against Lyon on April 19.PSG are 13 points clear at the top of Ligue 1 with six games remaining and could seal their second successive Ligue 1 title this weekend with a win at Lyon on Sunday if second-placed Monaco lose at Rennes on Saturday.

Israel, Palestinians meet on peace talks stalemate

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli and Palestinian negotiators on Thursday held US-mediated talks to try to revive their crisis-hit peace process, a Palestinian official said, as a report emerged of a possible breakthrough.Peace talks sponsored by Washington hit a new impasse at the end of March when Israel refused to release a final batch of Palestinian prisoners and the Palestinians retaliated by seeking membership of several international treaties.US Secretary of State John Kerry, who fought hard to kick-start the talks last July, this week blamed Israel for the latest deadlock as Washington mulled how much more time and effort to put into the faltering negotiations.American envoy Martin Indyk presided over Thursdays meeting in Jerusalem between Israels chief negotiator, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, and her Palestinian counterpart Saeb Erakat, a Palestinian source close to the talks told AFP.Also present were Yitzhak Molcho, a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian intelligence chief Majed Farah, the source said, on condition of anonymity.The Palestinians were pushing for the release of a final batch of prisoners, a commitment Israel reneged on at the end of last month in a move which sparked the crisis.Israeli public radio confirmed Thursdays meeting was taking place but gave no details.An Israeli official told AFP, also asking not to be named, that Israel wants to return to talks and overcome the current crisis.Israeli television later reported that the two sides were on the verge of a deal to extend peace talks beyond their original April 29 deadline.The deal, which could be finalised within a few days, would see a final batch of Palestinian prisoners released in return for Washington freeing American-born Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard, Channel 2 television said.It cited sources in Washington as saying that the parties are to sign an agreement to extend negotiations beyond April 29.According to the source, the agreement will include the release of Palestinian prisoners, including Arab-Israelis, in exchange for the release of Jewish American spy Jonathan Pollard, the report said.In Washington, however, a US official, asking not to be named, told AFP that the reports are incorrect, without going into details.The Israelis have repeatedly asked Barack Obama and previous US presidents to release Pollard, who is serving his sentence in North Carolina for passing US secrets on Arab and Pakistani weapons to Israel during the mid-1980s.Pollard, who was given a life sentence in 1987, is eligible for release from November next year.- Prisoners and settlements -When Israel refused to release 26 long-serving Palestinian prisoners, it went back on a pledge it made at the launch of peace talks.The Palestinians responded by abandoning their own commitment not to seek international recognition until the nine months of talks ended, applying for membership of 15 international treaties.Kerry on Tuesday blamed Israel for the crisis, saying its April 1 approval of 708 Jewish settlement homes in east Jerusalem derailed plans for the prisoner release.While he cited intransigence on both sides, Kerry said the delayed release was sabotaged by the settlements move.In the afternoon, when they were about to maybe get there, 700 settlement units were announced in Jerusalem and, poof, that was sort of the moment, Kerry told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Wasim Akram wants boot camp for Pakistan World Cup hopes

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KARACHI (AFP) - Former Pakistan great Wasim Akram Thursday said players heading for the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand should sweat it out at a boot camp to boost their chances of victory.Pakistan are in Group B of the World Cup alongside arch-rivals India, South Africa, the West Indies, Ireland United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe.They open their campaign against India at Adelaide on February 15.To prepare for the challenges ahead, Wasim suggested a boot camp.Since Pakistan have no cricket until October (against Australia in the United Arab Emirates) they must hold a boot camp on hilly areas just like Australia do when they go into an Ashes series, Wasim told AFP.The former skipper said that the country's cricket administrators need to concentrate on improving fielding and fitness.For me the only worry is the 2015 World Cup will be totally different as grounds in Australia and New Zealand require great expertise and good preparation, Wasim told AFP.Declared player of the tournament for his 18 wickets in Pakistan's World Cup triumph in Australia and New Zealand in 1992, Wasim said it would be best to go to Australia early.I remember we went to Australia three weeks before the event and it helped us a lot, said Wasim.The grounds in Australia need adapting to because if you are not used to them you tend to injure yourself.Wasim said Pakistan also need to improve their fielding.When I am away I always ask experts to help Pakistan and recently I talked to Jonty Rhodes who is ready to help Pakistani players in fielding for a short period, said Wasim of the South African, regarded as one of the best fielders of his time.Wasim also added that Pakistan should forget the panic over their World Twenty20 flop in Bangladesh recently.Australia and England also lost in the Super-10 stages but there was no panic like here in Pakistan. We took it to our hearts and the captain had to step down, said Wasim, referring to Pakistan's Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez's resignation.
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