Tuesday 18 November 2014

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Toba Tek Singh: 4 of a family shot dead

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TOBA TEK SINGH (Dunya News) – According to details, some unidentified persons entered a house in a village near Kamalia and opened fire, killing four persons on the spot.Those who died also included two women. Police have shifted the bodied to Civil Hospital for autopsy and started investigation. No arrest was made yet.

Charsadda: Grenade attack kills two policemen

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PESHAWAR (AFP) - A grenade attacked killed two policemen and wounded another one in Charsadda on Tuesday, police said.The incident happened in the Shabqadar area of Charsadda district, 30 kilometres (18 miles) north of Peshawar, the capital of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.Two men riding a motorbike threw a hand grenade on a police vehicle patrolling the area, killing two policemen and wounding another one, district police chief Shafiullah Khan told AFP.He said one of the policemen died on the spot and the second in hospital. Another local police official Asghar Khan also confirmed the incident.Spokesman of the Jamatul Ahrar faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement issued to local media in Peshawar.Pakistan has been battling Islamist groups in the northwest and its semi-autonomous tribal belt since 2004, after its army entered the tribal region to search for Al-Qaeda fighters who had fled across the border following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.In June the army began a major offensive against militant hideouts in the North Waziristan tribal agency, a major base for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, after a bloody raid on Karachi Airport ended faltering peace talks between the government and the Taliban.

Iran, West eye chances of historic deal as final talks start

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VIENNA (AFP) - Iran and the West put the onus for reaching a historic deal over Tehrans nuclear programme on each other Tuesday, as a final round of talks geared up in Vienna despite big gaps remaining ahead of a November 24 deadline.Speaking as he arrived in Vienna for the negotiations, Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that an accord would only happen if the other side -- the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany -- make no excessive demands.If, because of excessive demands ... we dont get a result, then the world will understand that the Islamic Republic sought a solution, a compromise and a constructive agreement and that it will not renounce its rights and the greatness of the nation, Zarif told Iranian media.US Secretary of State John Kerry, in London but expected in Vienna in the coming days, said it was imperative that Iran works with us with all possible effort to prove to the world that the programme is peaceful.In a joint news conference, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond called for more flexibility by the Iranians to convince us that their intentions in their nuclear programme are entirely peaceful.The mammoth accord being sought by Mondays deadline, after months of negotiations, is aimed at easing fears that Tehran might develop nuclear weapons under the guise of civilian activities.It could resolve a 12-year standoff over Irans atomic programme, silence talk of war and help normalise Irans fraught relations with the West after 35 years of mistrust and antagonism.It could also boost Irans economy, improve the lives of ordinary Iranians and mark a rare foreign policy success for US President Barack Obama, five years after he offered Tehran an outstretched hand.US and Iranian negotiations are under domestic pressure not to give too much away, however, while Israel -- the Middle Easts sole if undeclared nuclear-armed power -- and others in the volatile region are sceptical.In order to make it virtually impossible for Iran to assemble a nuclear weapon, the US, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany (the P51) want Iran to scale down its nuclear programme.Iran, which insists its nuclear aims are exclusively peaceful despite hiding parts of its programme in the past, wants painful sanctions lifted.Some areas appear provisionally settled. But the big problem remains enrichment, rendering uranium suitable for power generation and other peaceful uses -- but also, at high purities, for a weapon.At present Iran could use its existing infrastructure to produce enough weapons-grade uranium for one bomb in a few months, although any such breakout attempt would be detected very quickly.And Iran wants to ramp up massively the number of enrichment centrifuges in order, it says, to make fuel for a fleet of future reactors.The West wants the number of centrifuges slashed, saying Iran has no such need at present, something that would extend the breakout period to at least a year.Other thorny issues are the duration of the accord and the pace at which sanctions are lifted, an area where Iranian expectations are excessive, one Western diplomat said.Given the differences, many analysts expect more time to be put on the clock.There is virtually no possibility that a complete deal will be concluded by November 24, former top US diplomat Robert Einhorn, now an expert with the Brookings Institution, told AFP, predicting another extension of several more months.The alternative -- walking away -- would be catastrophic, Arms Control Association analyst Kelsey Davenport said.Given the political capital that both sides have invested... it would be foolish to walk away from the talks and throw away this historic opportunity, Davenport told AFP.For now though, with another extension presenting risks of its own -- fresh US sanctions, not least -- officials insist that they remain focused on the deadline. An extension is not and has not been a subject of conversation at this point, a senior US official said late Monday.Zarif went into a working lunch in the Austrian capital Tuesday with the powers lead negotiator, former EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, and further meetings were expected later.

Spanish lawmakers call on govt to recognise Palestine

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MADRID (AFP) - Spanish lawmakers adopted a motion Tuesday calling on the government to recognise a Palestinian state, following similar moves in other European nations.The motion submitted by the opposition Socialists asks the conservative government to recognise Palestine in coordination with any similar move by the European Union.It was adopted nearly unanimously with 319 in favour, two against and one abstention.The vote came after Tuesdays attack at a Jerusalem synagogue that saw two Palestinians armed with a gun and meat cleavers kill four people before being shot dead. The vote however had been planned beforehand.The text asks the Spanish government to recognise Palestine as a state, subject to international law, while adding that the only solution to the conflict is the co-existence of two states, Israel and Palestine, reached through negotiation.It is not binding, it does not set a timeline for the recognition, it gives the government the margin to proceed with the recognition when it feels it will be opportune, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo told reporters in Brussels on Monday.If we want to be effective this recognition must be done in coordination with the European Union, he added.The motion follows moves in other European countries intended to increase pressure for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.Britain and Ireland approved similar non-binding motions last month that call on their governments to recognise Palestine. Neither government has heeded that call. French lawmakers will vote on November 28 on a proposal by the ruling Socialist party urging the government to recognise Palestine as a state.Swedens new left-leaning government went a step further and officially recognised a Palestinian state on October 30, prompting a strong protest from Israel, which swiftly withdrew its ambassador from Stockholm.

Ten killed in Egypt's Sinai after rocket struck home

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CAIRO (AFP) - Ten people including women and children were killed in Egypts restive Sinai Peninsula on Tuesday when a rocket struck their home, security and medical official said.It was not immediately clear whether it was a missile fired by one of the Egyptian army helicopters that have repeatedly struck militants, or an errant mortar round from the insurgents, security officials said.Three children, three women and four men in the house south of the Rafah border town were killed in the blast, medics said.They have not yet been identified.The military is battling an Islamist militant insurgency in the peninsula that has killed scores of policemen and soldiers, since the army overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last year and cracked down on his supporters.The leading militant group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, has pledged its allegiance to the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.Ansar claimed credit for an attack on a checkpoint in October in which suicide bomber blew up a car and then militants combed the ruins to shoot dead the survivors.The government declared a state of emergency in parts of north Sinai after that attack and are raising homes to create a buffer zone with the neighbouring Palestinian Gaza Strip.Civilians in the mostly Bedouin towns of Sinai had been caught in the crossfire before, with several killed by an errant mortar round.

Turkey fears '2-3 million more refugees' if Aleppo falls

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ANKARA (AFP) - Turkey fears another two to three million Syrian refugees could cross its borders if the region of Syrias second city of Aleppo is overrun either by Islamist extremists or regime forces, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Tuesday.Turkey is already hosting at least 1.5 million refugees displaced by the Syrian conflict and has repeatedly warned that its capacities are being strained by the numbers.Cavusoglu said supporting the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) was the only option for the international community against what Ankara sees as the twin threat of Islamic State jihadists and the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.The main force fighting both ISIS and the Syrian regime today is the Free Syrian Army, he said, using another term for the Islamic State group.But it has failed to achieve the desired outcome because it is fighting against both groups, he told reporters in Ankara alongside his Finnish counterpart.Cavusoglu said there was little difference between IS militants and the Assad regime. Both of them are killing people brutally and dont refrain from using any kinds of weapons at their disposal. Both force people to flee their land.He added: An advance on Aleppo would mean an influx of two to three million people to the Turkish border.He said a weakening of the moderate opposition to Assad and the FSA would result in the advance of the unstoppable ISIS as well as the regime.And this will make Syria even more unstable. Therefore, the advance of both of them should be halted.Turkey has repeatedly called for the ousting of Assad as the sole way to resolve the Syrian crisis permanently.But it has grown increasingly concerned in recent months that the US-led coalition strikes against IS could end up strengthening the Assad regime.Ankara has been seeking to persuade the United States a three-pronged approach is needed to strike against IS, Assad and Kurdish militants. But it is unclear if its arguments have made any headway with Washington.Turkey is pressing for a no-fly zone and a security zone to be imposed inside Syria along its 911 kilometre (566 mile) border with the country to ensure its security.A senior aide to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that there was an unholy alliance between IS and Assad in the battle for Aleppo that had to be broken by the FSA.If Aleppo is allowed to fall, it would be the loss of any hope for the future of humanity in Syria, Ibrahim Kalin wrote in the Daily Sabah newspaper.In recent months, Assads forces have advanced around the outskirts of the eastern portion of Aleppo that is under rebel control, threatening to encircle it completely.Rebel-held areas of Aleppo are under the control of multiple groups, including fighters affiliated with the FSA.Meanwhile the Turkish online newspaper Radikal reported that the chief of the moderate anti-Assad group the Syrian Revolutionary Front, Jamal Maarouf, had fled to Turkey two weeks ago. There was no confirmation of the report and no further details were immediately available.Media reports said at the weekend that Turkey and the United States have agreed a plan under which some 2,000 FSA fighters would be trained on Turkish soil.

European stocks, euro rebound along with German investor sentiment

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LONDON (AFP) - European stock markets and the euro raced higher Tuesday on news that investor sentiment had rebounded in Germany in a sign that the eurozones biggest economy is overcoming its brief malaise.Londons benchmark FTSE 100 index rose 0.56 percent to end the day at 6,709.13 points, while Frankfurts DAX 30 motored ahead 1.61 percent to 9,456.53 points and in Paris the CAC 40 climbed 0.86 percent to 4,262.38 points.Rome gained 0.71 percent and Madrid mustered a 1.20 percent gain.The European single currency increased to $1.2538 from $1.2448 late in New York on Monday.- German optimism grows -Investment sentiment in Germany rebounded in November, a survey showed Tuesday.After hitting a 22-month low in October, the widely watched investor confidence index calculated by the ZEW economic institute was back in positive territory in November, jumping to 11.5 points from minus 3.6 points the previous month.European stock markets took heart from a big turnaround in German investor confidence on Tuesday with bullish sentiment remaining over the prospect raised on Monday of government bond purchases by the ECB, said analyst Jasper Lawler at CMC Markets UK.The ZEW barometer increased for the first time so far this year, soothing investor concerns over the German economy, which narrowly avoided a recession in the third quarter.Europes equity markets had bounced into modest gains on Monday after European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi hinted at more steps to tackle the threat of deflation.Stocks remain underpinned by comments from Draghi ... that an expanded asset purchase programme could include government bonds, added Atif Latif, head of trading at Guardian Stockbrokers.In London, energy explorer Tullow Oil was the biggest gainer following positive broker comment. Tullow shares jumped 3.6 percent to 475 pence.In Paris, trading in Areva shares was suspended after leaked reports -- later confirmed by the nuclear giant -- that it was abandoning its 2014 financial targets and suspending those for the next two years.The state-owned company has suffered in recent years as interest in nuclear power has cooled following the 2011 Fukushima catastrophe in Japan, and recently announced it would step up sales of non-strategic assets and cut investments to shore up its finances.Back in the foreign exchange market, the British pound hit a one-month low against the euro on news that 12-month inflation rose to 1.3 percent in October from 1.2 percent in September. Expectations had been for no change.The euro rose to 80.13 British pence from 79.61 late on Monday. The pound meanwhile firmed to $1.5648, up from $1.5637 on Monday.- Yen under pressure -The yen remained under pressure following Mondays news that the Japanese economy has slumped into recession, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying Tuesday he was calling a snap election and delaying an expected sales tax rise.And the dollar rose as high 117.05 yen, touching a peak it set in October 2007.On the London Bullion Market, the price of gold rose to $1,192.75 an ounce from $1,182.50 late on Monday.Asian equities traded mixed on Tuesday, with Tokyo leading gainers on bargain-buying after the previous days sell-off, while Wall Street provided some support with another record close.Tokyo -- which lost almost three percent Monday on news that Japans economy was in recession -- rebounded by 2.18 percent.Hong Kong and Shanghai extended their previous days losses, despite a new trading link-up between the two exchanges. Hong Kong stocks lost 1.13 percent and Shanghai shed 0.71 percent.Wall Street pushed higher on Tuesday, a day after huge takeovers in the oil and pharmaceutical sectors helped lift the S&P 500 to a new record.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.24 percent to stand at 17,689.51 points in midday trading.The broad-based S&P 500 added 0.42 percent to 2,049.83, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.55 percent to 4,696.80.

UN condemns Syria, Iran rights record

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The United Nations on Tuesday strongly condemned Syria over its poor human rights record and also took aim at Iran in resolutions adopted by the world body.A resolution condemning the grave deterioration of the human rights situation in Syria was adopted by a resounding vote of 125 to 13, with 47 abstentions in the General Assembly committee for human rights.Condemnation of Irans rights record was not as strong, endorsed by 78 countries, with 35 voting against and 69 abstentions.The non-binding measures now go to the full Assembly for a vote expected next month.Syrias Ambassador Bashar Jaafari criticised the resolution as biased and politically-motivated and suggested that the UN rights committee should instead target Saudi Arabia or Qatar over rights abuses.They align themselves against Syria as long as Saudi oil runs through their veins, he said.The resolution condemned the use of chemical weapons in Syrias nearly four-year war and deplored the use of torture in detention centers throughout the country.It demanded that Syria put an end to attacks on civilians including those involving the use of barrel bombs.Irans representative called the resolution drafted by Canada with 45 co-sponsors as pointless and counterproductive.The resolution pointed to the surge in the use of the death penalty in Iran, with at least 850 people executed in the past 15 months.China and Russia opposed both resolutions on the ground that they unfairly target a country in resolutions that have been dubbed the name and shame measures of the United Nations.

Obama urges calm after 'horrific' Jerusalem attack

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama condemned Tuesday a horrific attack on a Jerusalem synagogue that killed four people, including three US citizens, and urged Israel and the Palestinians to seek peace.We know that two attackers senselessly and brutally attacked innocent worshippers in a synagogue during their morning prayers, Obama told reporters at the White House.Obviously, we condemn, in the strongest terms, these attacks.Obama said the assault was a tragedy for both nations -- Israel as well as the United States -- and our hearts go out to the families, who obviously are undergoing enormous grief right now.He identified the three Israeli-Americans who died in Tuesdays attack by two Palestinians armed with a gun and meat cleavers as Aryeh Kupinsky, Cary William Levine and Mosheh Twersky.And he added that US Secretary of State John Kerry had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by telephone.Tragically, this is not the first loss of life that we have seen in recent months, Obama warned.Too many Israelis have died, and too many Palestinians have died. And at this difficult time, I think its important for both Palestinians and Israelis to try to work together to lower tensions and to reject violence.The fourth Israeli victim has been identified as a British national. Eight more people were wounded.The attack began shortly after dawn when assailants burst into a Jewish seminary. Police exchanged gunfire with the attackers, killing them. Two police were wounded.Obama warned against a spiral of violence, but said that he believed that the overwhelming majority of Israelis and Palestinians want to live in peace and raise their families in safety.And he promised: The United States wants to work with all parties involved to make that a reality and to isolate the kinds of extremists that are bringing about this terrible carnage.

Tennis: Nadal looking forward to Aussie Open preparation

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MADRID (AFP) - French Open champion Rafael Nadal is aiming to be fit for the Australian Open, which starts in January, as he recovers from an appendicitis operation, the Spaniard said Tuesday.The former world number one missed the end of the current season due to appendicitis but says he wants to use December to help prepare him for 2015.As ever after a period when things havent gone well, youre a bit more eager to (prepare) well, although there is uncertainty about how things will go, said the 28-year-old during a promotional event.I hope to use December to prepare well.Ill have a month before things start in Australia, I hope and believe thats enough to get me to my best level.Nadal last played at Basel in October and went under the knife at the beginning of this month.He said the last few months had been complicated but added that a year in which you win a Grand Slam cannot be a bad year.Back in June he won Roland Garros for the ninth time in 10 years.And he said he would gladly sign up now for an equivalent next three years to this year if he could, despite the injury problems hes suffered.He still managed to win the Madrid Masters and events in Doha and Rio, as well as reaching the Australian Open final and those of the Miami and Rome Masters.Im very excited and I hope this year, from a health perspective, will allow me to compete the whole time and to feel good, added Nadal, the 2008 Olympic champion and 14-time Grand Slam winner.He said he would start next year with an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi before defending his title in Doha and then going on to the Australian Open.

Football: Rooney at the double as England silence Scots

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GLASGOW (AFP) - Wayne Rooney became Englands third-highest goal-scorer outright as Roy Hodgsons side defeated old rivals Scotland 3-1 in a Glasgow friendly on Tuesday to record a sixth successive victory.Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put England ahead at Celtic Park and Rooney scored either side of a late Andy Robertson strike to chalk up his 45th and 46th international goals on his 101st appearance.It took the Manchester United striker clear of Jimmy Greaves, with whom he had previously shared third place, and left him three goals shy of Bobby Charltons all-time record and two goals behind Gary Lineker.England have now won all six of the games they have played since their group-stage exit at the World Cup, while they will have a six-point lead to protect in Group E when Euro 2016 qualifying resumes in March.Scotland are also well placed in qualifying, but despite making only one change to the team that beat the Republic of Ireland 1-0 last week -- Chris Martin replacing the injured Steven Fletcher -- Gordon Strachans side were unable to summon the same levels of grit and guile.The teams emerged to the bangs of fireworks and the flashes of pyrotechnics, and the home fans enthusiastic booing of God Save the Queen only served to further enliven the atmosphere.Recalled by England after a two-and-a-half year absence, Stewart Downing lined up on the left of midfield in a 4-3-3 system, rather than at number 10, where he has excelled for West Ham United this season.Nonetheless, he teed up Gary Cahill to head over with an early corner, while Danny Welbeck shot straight at David Marshall from Rooneys pass as England made an energetic start to their first game in Scotland since 1999.Scotland flickered, Robertson flashing in a cross that just eluded the sliding Scott Brown, but it was England who went ahead in the 32nd minute.Jack Wilshere was the architect, drilling a fine flighted pass over the Scotland defence from the left for Arsenal team-mate Oxlade-Chamberlain to glance a header past Marshall.Both coaches made changes at half-time, with Adam Lallana and Phil Jagielka coming on for England and Craig Gordon, Darren Fletcher and James Morrison entering the fray for Scotland.It was Gordons first Scotland appearance in four years, after injuries forced him to take a two-year career hiatus, but the Celtic goalkeepers first duty was to scoop the ball out of the net.James Milners right-wing free-kick was only cleared as far as Wilshere, who drove the ball back into the box, and Robertsons attempted clearance sat up for Rooney to nudge a close-range header inside the left-hand post.In reply, Fraser Forster had to touch a Russell Martin header over the bar, but Chris Smalling almost extended Englands lead when he headed wide from Lallanas corner minutes later.Substitutions robbed the game of momentum, only for Robertson to reduce the arrears in the 83rd minute when he beat Forster at his near post after a one-two with Johnny Russell.But England responded almost immediately, with Rooney converting Lallanas cut-back to restore the visitors two-goal cushion and inch ever closer to Charltons record.

US Senate rejects Keystone pipeline in close vote

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Senate on Tuesday narrowly rejected a bill that would have approved construction of the Keystone XL pipeline to bring crude oil to Gulf coast refineries from Canadas controversial tar sands.Supporters of the long-delayed project, a top Republican energy priority, came up one vote short of the 60 needed for approval in the 100-member chamber.Rejection of the $5.3-billion project, which became a political football in the aftermath of Novembers midterm elections, sets up another likely showdown when the new Republican-controlled Congress convenes in January.Many of the 45 Republicans who supported the bill, as well as some of the 14 Democrats who voted with them, described Keystone XL as a no-brainer that would generate thousands of jobs and improve American energy independence.But critics, led by Senate Democrat Barbara Boxer, fiercely oppose the project due to concerns that it would harm the environment.Republicans vowed they would bring the bill to another vote in early 2015.Senate Democrats once again stood in the way of a shovel-ready jobs project that would help thousands of Americans find work -- a remarkable stance after an election in which the American people sent a clear message to Congress, to approve serious policies, top Republican Senator Mitch McConnell said.But once the 114th Congress convenes, the Senate will act again on this important legislation, and I look forward to the new Republican majority taking up and passing the Keystone jobs bill early in the New Year.The vote is a victory for environmental groups and their supporters, including Boxer, the California senator who led Democratic opposition to the project.Boxer, who warned of tar-sand poison and misery afflicting American communities, stood on the Senate floor before a photograph of Chinese men wearing face masks under a gray haze.I remember the days in Los Angeles when the air looked like this, Boxer said. I dont want it to look like what it looks like in China.The failure relieves President Barack Obama -- at least for now -- of the potential headache of vetoing the measure, as he recently has signalled several times over the past week that he might do.- Cliffhanger vote -Congressional Republicans have long pushed the Obama administration to lift its hold on the corporate-funded project, which remains under extended review some six years after permit requests were submitted.The pipeline easily passed the Republican-controlled House last week, as it has several times before.The 59-41 Senate vote, the most contentious action in the chamber since Republicans roared to victory in the midterm elections, came down to the wire, with supporters spending the day scrambling for a final Democrat to sign on.But with potential swing voters like independent Senator Angus King and Democratic stalwart Senator John Rockefeller announcing they would vote no, the bipartisan pro-Keystone coalition could not reach the finish line.Congress is not -- nor should it be -- in the business of legislating the approval or disapproval of a construction project, King said of the pipeline that would transport 830,000 barrels of oil per day from Alberta province to US refineries.- Jobs versus environment -Keystones progress is closely monitored in Canada, where government officials and builder TransCanada have said the project would provide an economic boon.The State Department, which has authority over Keystone because of its international link, released a review in January finding that the projects carbon emissions would not be significant.Obama has said he would only approve Keystone if it was shown to have minimal carbon emissions impact.Critics argue that tar-sand bitumen is some of the worlds dirtiest oil.Republicans tout Keystones generation of 40,000 temporary construction jobs. The State Department says only 35 permanent jobs will result.Republicans gained at least seven Senate seats in the midterms, and when the new Congress convenes with McConnell at the helm in the Senate, they should have votes to pass Keystone.The vote marked disaster for Keystones main Democratic backer, Senator Mary Landrieu, who is facing a December 6 runoff in Louisiana, where she wants to be seen as breaking Washington gridlock.Her Republican challenger, congressman Bill Cassidy, introduced the parallel legislation that passed in the House.

Football: Varane gives France win over Sweden

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MARSEILLE (AFP) - Centre-back Raphael Varane scored the only goal of the game six minutes from time to give France a 1-0 win over Sweden in Marseille on Tuesday.The result ensured France remained unbeaten since the June-July World Cup as they build up to hosting Euro 2016 with a number of friendlies.It also went some way to erasing the embarrassment of last Fridays 1-1 draw with unfancied Albania in Rennes.But the day belonged to Real Madrid starlet Varane, who at 21 not only scored his first international goal in 17 appearances, but was also captain on the night.Sweden, shorn of star forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who plies his club trade in France with Paris Saint-Germain, proved dogged opponents, wilfully manning their defences, but they were finally breached when Varane headed home a corner from Antoine Griezmann.Despite their toiling to break the deadlock, France were fortunate to count on passionate home support, helped in no small part by coach Didier Deschampss decision to field three players from the Velodromes resident club Marseille, as well as a former fan favourite on the south coast in Mathieu Valbuena, currently playing in Russia with Dynamo Moscow.Not to mention Deschamps himself is a former player and coach at OM.The major downside for France on the night, though, was another erratic performance from young midfield star Paul Pogba, too often wasteful in his distribution.

Low-key Ronaldo-Messi duel as Portugal wins 1-0

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GENEVA (AP) - Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had left the pitch long before Raphael Guerreiros stoppage-time header gave Portugal a 1-0 win over Argentina in a friendly on Tuesday.The worlds two best players were substituted at halftime at Old Trafford, with Ronaldo rarely shining in a stadium he graced for six seasons with Manchester United.Messi struck the post in the 11th minute. Earlier, the Barcelona superstar hinted in an interview with Argentina sports daily Ole that he might not stay with the club for his entire career.Germany also struck late in a 1-0 away win, as Toni Kroos scored in the 89th against Spain though the past two world champions fielded far from full-strength lineups.Brazil made it six straight wins since a humiliating end to its home World Cup. The winning goal came in the 83rd against Austria as newcomer Roberto Firminos 25-meter shot sealed a 2-1 victory.England beat Scotland 3-1 in Glasgow, where captain Wayne Rooney scored twice in a renewal of the oldest international fixture, dating back to 1872.We expected to win the game and we were the better team, said Rooney, who has now scored 46 international goals.On a busy day of international friendlies worldwide, it was France 1, Sweden 0; Italy 1, Albania 0; Ireland 4, United States 1; and Japan 2, Australia 1 in a clash of 2015 Asian Cup favorites.The main attraction was an anticipated Ronaldo-Messi duel which failed to deliver in a lackluster game.Guerreiro, a second-half substitute, met a right-wing cross from Ricardo Quaresma with a thumping header in the first of two minutes of stoppage time.Germany ended Spains run of 34 games without a loss at home despite having only three starters from the side that thrashed Brazil 7-1 in the World Cup semifinals.Real Madrid midfielder Kroos unleashed a long-distance shot that skipped off the wet grass at Balaidos Stadium in Vigo and over substitute goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, marring his international debut.For Brazil, Firminos international career began last weekend and the Hoffenheim midfielder replaced Luiz Adriano in the second half to ensure Brazil got a fortunate win, firing a rising shot past Austria goalkeeper Ramazan Oeczan.David Luiz appeared to foul an Austria defender before connecting with Oscars corner to open the scoring in the 64th. Austria defender Aleksandar Dragovic leveled in the 75th from a penalty kick.We have to work on details, Dunga said through an interpreter. This is the beginning and we can build on it next year.On a cold, rainy night, Neymar was seldom a factor, and Dunga took off his captain in stoppage time, allowing him to symbolically hand over the armband to Thiago Silva. The former skipper had recently complained about the coachs choice of Neymar to lead the team.France captain Raphael Varane, like his Real Madrid teammate Kroos, scored a late winning goal, heading in a corner from Antoine Griezmann in the 83rd minute against Sweden in Marseille. Another Madrid player, Karim Benzema, shot his penalty over the bar three minutes later.Sweden was uninspired and had rested striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.Another 83rd-minute header, by Italy debutant Stefano Okaka, secured a 1-0 win against Albania in Genoa. The match was organized last month to aid the port citys recovery from devastating flooding.Italian coach Fabio Capello saw his Russia team win for just the second time in nine matches, 2-1 against Hungary in Budapest.Capello, whose multi-million dollar salary has been unpaid for six months, was assured Tuesday his job was safe by Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko.Jurgen Klinsmanns United States team is winless in four games after losing 4-1 against Ireland in Dublin.The Americans dominated the first half, though needed Mix Diskeruds 39th goal to level Anthony Pilkingtons seventh-minute opener. The Irish got two second half goals from Robbie Brady and a third from James McClean.Mexicos five-match unbeaten run was ended by Belarus, which won 3-2 in Borisov despite Raul Jimenez twice putting the visitors ahead in the second half.

Football: Germany beat Spain in 'clash of titans'

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VIGO (AFP) - Germany edged the big match between the last two World Cup winners on Tuesday as Toni Krooss last-gasp goal handed them a 1-0 friendly victory over Spain in rain-lashed Vigo.The goal came in the 90th minute of a game between two experimental sides when Spains substitute goalkeeper Kiko Casilla was guilty of a howler, fumbling Krooss innocuous looking shot from the edge of the area.Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas had started for Spain in his 160th international appearance, but made way for his near namesake Casilla with 20 minutes to go.Spains best chance had come ten minutes earlier as Barcelonas Pedro tried to chip Germany keeper Ron-Robert Zieler of Hannover 96, who produced a fine stop on what was actually a quiet night for him.Germany have been suffering something of a World Cup hangover with a run of poor form that saw them lose in Poland in a Euro 2016 qualifier. While Spain have also been far from their own rampant form that saw them win Euro 2008 and 2012 plus the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and neither side is leading its Euro 2016 qualifying group.Only four of the players that started the 2014 World Cup final for Germany, Benedikt Hoewedes, Kroos, Thomas Mueller and Mario Goetze started the game and it was a similar case for Spain.Bayern Munich striker Mueller, who had scored ten times during 2014 for the national team, limped out of the game on 27 minutes after a clash with Sergio Ramos, to be replaced by Karim Bellarabi.The heavy rain dampened what might have been expected to be a party atmosphere given the profile of the teams, but the biggest cheer of the night came with the news striker Nolito of local outfit Celta would start the game.Nolito sent a free-kick wide late in the first-half and was also in a position to score from another chance when ruled off-side on his international debut.
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