Sunday 25 January 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Greek radical left wins election, threatening market turmoil

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ATHENS (AP) - A radical left-wing party that is demanding an end to Greeces painful austerity measures won Sundays parliamentary elections, threatening renewed turmoil in global markets and throwing the countrys continued membership in the eurozone into question.But Syriza, which is led by 40-year-old Alexis Tsipras, was still waiting to find out whether it would have enough seats to govern alone, or be forced to seek support from another party, either in a coalition or as a minority government. Greeks might have to wait until at least Monday all the ballots are counted to find out whether they have a government.Whatever the case, all eyes will be on the opening of world financial markets after Syriza beat Prime Minister Antonis Samaras incumbent conservatives.Whats clear is we have a historic victory that sends a message that does not only concern the Greek people, but all European peoples, Syriza party spokesman Panos Skourletis said on Mega television. There is great relief among all Europeans. The only question is how big a victory it is.Official results from 54.2 percent of polling stations counted showed Syriza with 35.9 percent and Samaras New Democracy with 28.3 percent. Alarmingly, the Nazi-inspired Golden Dawn party whose leadership is in prison pending trial for allegedly running a criminal organization was in third place with 6.4 percent.The Interior Ministry said that its projections, based on early returns, show Syriza gaining 150 seats. But it added that the margin of error meant that the final number could be 149 to 151, and a final result could not emerge until all votes have been counted.If the communist-rooted party fails to win at least 151 seats, it will have to find a coalition partner, or secure pledges of support that would allow it to form a minority government.Samaras conceded defeat, saying he had received a country on the brink of disaster when he took over in 2012 and was close to ushering it out of the crisis.I was asked to hold live coals in my hands and I did, he said. Most gave us no prospect of lasting out and we did. We got the country out of deficits and recession ... and set the foundations for growth and a final exit from the crisis.Tsipras has promised to renegotiate the countrys 240 billion-euro ($270 billion) international bailout deal, and seek forgiveness for most of Greeces massive debt load. He has pledged to reverse many of the reforms that creditors demanded including cuts in pensions and the minimum wage, some privatizations and public sector firings in exchange for keeping Greece financially afloat since 2010.Greeces creditors insist the country must abide by previous commitments to continue receiving support, and investors and markets alike have been spooked by the anti-bailout rhetoric. Greece could face bankruptcy if a solution is not found, although speculation of a Grexit Greece leaving the euro and a potential collapse of the currency has been far less fraught than during the last general election in 2012.The election result will be the focal point of Mondays meeting of eurozone finance ministers and Belgiums minister, Johan Van Overtveldt, said there was room for some, but not much, flexibility.We can talk modalities, we can talk debt restructuring, but the cornerstone that Greece must respect the rules of monetary union that must stay as it is, Van Overtveldt told VRT network.As far as I am concerned, we can discuss the modalities (of the program) but its impossible to fundamentally change things, he added.But Syriza struck a defiant tone Sunday night.There is an expectation of economic relief for many, of a reboot of the economy and there will be a new debate on the servicing of the debt, Skourletis said. Europeans have accommodated themselves with the idea.Skourletis said the election results heralded a return of social dignity and social justice. A return to democracy. Because, beyond the wild austerity, democracy has suffered.Syrizas anti-bailout rhetoric appealed to many in a country that, in the past five years of its acute financial crisis, has seen a quarter of its economy wiped out, unemployment of above 25 percent, and average income losses of at least 30 percent.But it has also renewed doubts over Greeces ability to emerge from its financial crisis, and fears that the countrys finances could once again send shockwaves through global markets and undermine the euro, the currency shared by 19 European countries.Hundreds of people turned out to celebrate outside Syrizas main electoral kiosk in central Athens, waving flags and cheering.The centrist Potami (River) party was battling for third place with Golden Dawn. Early official returns showed Golden Dawn slightly ahead with 6.4 percent, compared to Potamis 5.9 percent.If Syriza falls shy of the 151 seats necessary to form a government on its own, it will have to seek support from other parties either in a minority government or as a coalition.A Syriza government will see Tsipras becoming Greeces youngest prime minister in 150 years.

Football: Liverpool scent Chelsea blood as Wembley looms

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LONDON (AFP) - With Chelsea reeling from FA Cup humiliation, Liverpool will visit Stamford Bridge for their League Cup semi-final second leg on Tuesday with increased confidence of reaching the final.Liverpool were unfortunate not to emerge victorious from last weeks first leg at Anfield, drawing 1-1, and they will scent blood after Chelsea were bundled out of the FA Cup by third-tier Bradford City on Saturday.Liverpools own FA Cup tie did not go quite according to plan, a 0-0 draw with Championship side Bolton Wanderers leaving them with an unwanted replay, but they were at least spared the embarrassment that befell Chelsea.Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho branded the result a disgrace and declared himself ashamed after seeing the Premier League leaders throw away a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 to a team 51 places below them in the English league pyramid.Elimination by Liverpool on Tuesday would see his sides potential trophy haul cut in half in the space of four days, leaving the west London club with only the league and Champions League as objectives.The most important competition now is the Capital One Cup because it is the next game, said Mourinho.We lost at home against a lower division team and in an ideal word it will affect us in a positive, not a negative way, like we have to win the next match and lets go for it. But I dont know.Liverpools preparations have been further aided by the news that former Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge could make his return in the game after close to five months on the sidelines with thigh and calf injuries.Hes had the final rehab with the medical and sports science guys and will join with the group, said manager Brendan Rodgers.Now its just about getting that condition and football fitness and game fitness. Well see how he is for Tuesday. If he isnt ready for Tuesday, hell be back against West Ham next weekend.Chelsea approached the tie as favourites, but Liverpools first-leg display suggested that they have overcome their early-season difficulties.After Eden Hazards penalty was cancelled out by a fine solo goal from Raheem Sterling, Liverpool came closest to securing victory, with Steven Gerrard notably hitting the post.Liverpool have now gone 10 games without defeat in all competitions and Rodgers voiced confidence after the first leg that his side would finish the job at Stamford Bridge.Hazards goal gives Chelsea a slight advantage, but away goals will only be taken into consideration if the game finishes level at the end of extra time.The teams reunion has been given an extra dash of intrigue by reports that Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson and Chelsea striker Diego Costa clashed in the tunnel after last weeks game.Both teams will recall key players after making changes for the weekends FA Cup matches.Thibaut Courtois, Branislav Ivanovic, John Terry, Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Willian, Hazard and Costa were all left out of Chelseas starting XI for the shock loss to Bradford.Liverpool, meanwhile, are expected to recall captain Gerrard after he sat out the draw with Bolton.Tuesdays match holds special significance for Gerrard, who is desperate to end his Liverpool career with a trophy in his hands before departing for the Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of the season.As well as remaining alive in the FA Cup, Liverpool are due to tackle Besiktas in the Europa League next month, but the League Cup currently represents Gerrards best hope of signing off with some silverware.For Liverpool to reach the final, where either Tottenham Hotspur or Sheffield United await, Rodgers may need to claim victory over his former mentor Mourinho for the first time.The Northern Irishman worked under the Portuguese during Mourinhos first stint at Chelsea and has failed to get the better of him in their four encounters to date, losing three times and drawing once.

Golf: Haas holds on to win Humana Challenge

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LA QUINTA (AFP) - Bill Haas rolled in some huge birdies and made some key pars on the back nine to beat five challengers by one shot and win the PGA Tours Humana Challenge on Sunday.This is unbelievable. This is great, said the 32-year-old Haas.Haas shot a final round 67 to finish the week at 22-under-par 266 and win for the sixth time on the PGA Tour. This is Haass second victory at this event, which he also won five years ago.I was fighting it today, Haas said. You can see on the last hole that I was grinding it out to the end.I was lucky enough to make a couple of putts. The one on No. 16 was huge. I knew I needed that one to at least give me a chance here on 18.Coming down to the par-five final hole, Haas needed a par to win. A bogey by Haas would have forced a six-way playoff, which would have tied a US Tour record. Haas was able to scramble for par and win on the Arnold Palmer Private Course.Second-round leader Matt Kuchar finished with a five-under 67 and he ended tied for second along with Charley Hoffman (64), Brendan Steele (64), Park Sung-Joon (65) and Steve Wheatcroft (67) at 21-under 267. Kuchar was the highest ranked player in the tournament.Rookie Justin Thomas, who shared the third-round lead with Haas, Erik Compton and first-round leader Michael Putnam, finished with a three-under 69 and tied for seventh with Webb Simpson (64) and Boo Weekley (65) at minus-20.Compton could not make enough birdies down the stretch and he carded a two-under 70 to finish tied for 10th at 19-under 269. Putnam (72) ended two shots behind Compton at 17-under 271, tying him for 15th.Defending champion Patrick Reed needed to go low on Sunday to try and defend his title, but he fired a one-under 71 to finish tied for 24th at 15-under 273 with Phil Mickelson (68).

Jamshoro: 3 cops killed in road accident

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JAMSHORO (Dunya News) – According to details, a police van turned turtle when its tyre busted on the Super Highway in Loni Goth area near Jamshoro on early Monday morning, killing at least three policemen.The van was going to Ghotki from Karachi. Two of the accused were identified as Raza Gul and Bisharat. Rescue teams have shifted the dead bodies to Civil Hospital, Hyderabad.

Karachi: 3 gang war accused killed in encounter

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Rangers and police launched a joint operation on a tip off in Lyari Kalakot on Sunday upon which the gang war accused opened fire and also hurled hand grenades of the raiding party.Rangers and police returned the fire as a result a key gang war commander Muneeb alias Maab Baloch and two of his accomplices were killed. Two policemen were also wounded in the encounter.According to DSP Kalakot, the accused Maab Baloch was wanted in dozens of cases.

Karachi: Extortionist, two accomplices arrested

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to details, police have arrested an extortionist named Abdur Raheem from Gabol Town on night between Sunday and Monday.The accused extortionist had killed a factory owner on January 7 in Gabol Town and the footage of Abdur Raheem’s meeting with the factory owner was aired by Dunya News. The mother of the accused recognized his son in the footage and provided information to police.On the revelations of Abdur Raheem, police conducted raids in New Karachi, Sarjani and Ittehad Town and arrested two of his accomplices. Two other accused, involved in the incident are still at large and police are conducting raids to arrest them.

Karachi: 2 killed in road accident

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – According to details, a speeding car collided with a poll near Lal Kothi at the Shahra-e-Faisal on Sunday night, critically injuring four people.Rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the injured to hospital where two of them succumbed to their wounds during treatment. The deceased were identified as Talha and Farhan. According to doctors, the condition of other two injured is stated to be stable.

New York braces for monster snowstorm

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Authorities in the US northeast warned Sunday of a fast-moving winter storm that could cause regional chaos and dump as much as three feet (just under a metre) of snow on New York.With parts of the region already hit by a strong winter system over the weekend, New Yorkers braced for what Mayor Bill de Blasio said could be a storm the likes of which weve never seen before.We are facing most likely one of the largest snow storms in the history of this city, de Blasio told a news conference, telling residents to stay home if possible as up to three feet of snow blankets the city. My message to all New Yorkers is to prepare for something worse than we have seen before.The US Weather Channel referred to the cold blast as a possibly historic winter storm that would likely result in flight cancellations, delays and possible airport closures late Monday to Tuesday.Take every precaution, now is the time to get ready for this extreme weather, de Blasio said. Dont underestimate the storm.The National Weather Service said the stage was set for a major noreaster storm that would affect parts of the region from Monday to Wednesday. This system will be responsible for heavy snowfall and strong winds, with blizzard conditions possible along coastal areas from New Jersey to Massachusetts, the weather service said.Blizzard warnings were in effect along the coast from central New Jersey to the Canadian border.Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, meanwhile, were already preparing for the system, USA today reported.Six to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) of accumulation were possible for the US state of New Jersey up to eastern Massachusetts, the weather service said. Four to eight inches were expected further south in parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania.Ahead of the weekends heavy snow, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh called on people in the city to try to be helpful to each other.We ask that each and every single Boston resident look after their neighbor, be it someone you see outdoors or someone living next door, he said.

UN Security Council to meet to discuss Yemen situation

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UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) - The UN Security Council will hold closed-door meetings Monday on the crisis that has left Yemen in a political vacuum after the president and prime minister resigned, diplomats said.Yemens worsening political crisis has seen the president and prime minister resign over the countrys deepening crisis involving a Shiite militia.President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, a key US ally in the fight against Al-Qaedas Yemeni franchise, tendered his resignation Thursday along with Prime Minister Khalid Bahah, saying he could no longer stay in office as his country was in total deadlock.The Huthi militia, from the countrys Shiite minority, overran the presidential palace last week, prompting Hadi to step down, shortly after Bahah quit. The militia has controlled most of the capital since September.On Sunday, parliament for a second time postponed an extraordinary session that had been due to discuss Hadis resignation.The UNs envoy to Yemen, Moroccan diplomat Jamal Benomar, had arrived in the country on Thursday for talks with the political rivals, but they were swiftly overtaken by events.

Reporter flees Argentina after threats for breaking prosecutor's death story

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BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - A reporter who broke the story that an Argentine prosecutor was found dead shortly before he was about to make explosive allegations about President Cristina Kirchner fled Argentina on Sunday after threats.Now safe in Tel Aviv. Thanks everybody. Well talk soon, Damian Pachter tweeted.A citizen of Argentina and Israel, he worked for the English-language Buenos Aires Herald. Pachter fled Argentina after receiving threats, and being followed, he told colleagues in other media.The reporter, who also worked with Israels Haaretz, told colleagues his phones had been tapped in Argentina.I will return when my sources tell me that the conditions have changed, Pachter told the Herald. I dont think that will happen under this administration.Prosecutor Alberto Nisman was found dead with a bullet to the head in his Buenos Aires home a week ago, just before he was set to go before a congressional hearing to accuse Kirchner and Foreign Minister Hector Timerman of shielding Iranian officials implicated in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish charities federation office that killed 85 people.It was the worst terror attack in modern history for Argentina, home to Latin Americas largest Jewish community.Several pretrials in the case were cancelled amid serious irregularities involving judges and Argentine intelligence staff, so it has not yet been fully prosecuted.Kirchners government meanwhile has come under fire for publishing on the presidential office Twitter details of the Aerolineas Argentinas plane ticket Pachter purchased.The Herald said it could not confirm threats against Pachter but that he had not returned to work.Kirchner, meanwhile, has said she believes the 51-year-old was murdered in a plot to implicate her government in a coverup.Prosecutor Viviana Fein, who is leading the investigation, said investigators were waiting for ballistics analysis, including a DNA comparison, and to see whether the bullet taken from the body matches the .22-caliber weapon found at the scene.Before his demise, Nisman had filed a 280-page complaint charging that Kirchner had issued an express directive to shield a group of Iranian suspects in the 1994 bombing.Nisman contended that the government had agreed to swap grain for oil with Tehran in exchange for withdrawing red notices to Interpol seeking the arrests of the former and current Iranian officials accused in the unsolved case.Since 2006, Argentine courts have demanded the extradition of eight Iranians, including former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, former defense minister Ahmad Vahidi and Irans former cultural attache in Buenos Aires, Mohsen Rabbani, for the bombing.But in 2013, Kirchner signed a memorandum of understanding with Tehran agreeing to set up a truth commission to investigate the bombing and allowing Argentine prosecutors to question the suspects in Iran.The rapprochement was vehemently opposed at the time by Jewish community leaders, who charged it was unconstitutional.

Cairo: Protesters, security forces clashes kill 15 people

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CAIRO (AFP) - Clashes between protesters and security forces left at least 15 people dead on Sunday, the anniversary of Egypts 2011 revolt that toppled strongman Hosni Mubarak.Security had been tightened in Cairo and other cities after Islamists called for protests against the government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the former army chief who ousted his Islamist predecessor Mohamed Morsi in 2013.Demonstrators, mostly Islamist backers of Morsi, clashed with police, leaving 13 protesters dead in Cairo and another in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, a health ministry official said.Officials said the protester in Alexandria was shot dead by police after he opened fire on them.Hundreds of other protesters who denounced both Islamists and the government also clashed with police in central Cairo.The interior ministry said protesters shot dead a police conscript in the clashes in two north Cairo neighbourhoods that are strongholds of Islamist protests. Three other officers were wounded.Elsewhere in Cairo, two policemen were wounded in a driveby shooting, security officials said.At least 150 people were arrested across the country as police dispersed protests in which many leftwing demonstrators also participated, security officials said.In downtown Cairo, police fired shotguns and tear gas against hundreds of protesters who tried to march on the central Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the early 2011 revolt that ousted Mubarak.Armoured vehicles were stationed around Tahrir, but despite extra security in the capital jihadists set off a bomb in Cairo that wounded two policemen.The interior ministry said the bomb exploded in eastern Cairos Alf Maskan neighbourhood, where a similar blast on Friday wounded four policemen and a civilian.Jihadist group Ajnad Misr (Soldiers of Egypt) claimed both blasts.Two suspected militants were also killed when they mistakenly blew themselves up in an attempt to sabotage an electricity tower in the Nile Delta province of Baheira, the interior ministry said.Tensions had surged ahead of the anniversary, and a female demonstrator was killed in clashes with police during a rare leftwing protest in Cairo on Saturday.Shaima al-Sabbagh, who friends said was 34 and the mother of a five-year-old boy, died of birdshot wounds, a health ministry spokesman said.Fellow protesters said she was hit by birdshot when police fired to disperse the march. Prosecutors have launched a probe into her death.An 18-year-old female protester was also killed on Friday in clashes in Alexandria.Egypt has been gripped by political turmoil since Mubaraks ouster, and by violent unrest since his successor Morsi was overthrown by then army chief Sisi.Sisi toppled Morsi in July 2013 and has since led a crackdown on his supporters that has left hundreds dead.Ahead of the anniversary, police had warned they would decisively confront protests. Morsis supporters often hold small rallies that police quickly disperse.Cairos streets were largely deserted, although a few Sisi supporters gathered outside Tahrir waving Egyptian flags and chanting Long Live EgyptPlainclothes police checked identity cards and stopped people from heading to the square.Security was beefed up elsewhere in the capital, with machinegun-wielding police deployed on key streets.This is the funeral of the (2011) revolution, Mamdouh Hamza, a prominent figure from the anti-Mubarak uprising, told an AFP correspondent in central Cairo.The murderer kills, and then joins the funeral procession. Nothing has improved or changed since Sisi took over.Activists, including those who spearheaded the anti-Mubarak revolt, have accused Sisi of reviving much of Mubaraks autocratic rule.Sisi and his supporters deny such allegations, pointing to his widespread popularity and support in Egypt for a firm hand in dealing with protests, which are seen as threatening economic recovery.The revolt against Mubarak erupted on January 25, 2011, with hundreds of thousands of protesters taking to the streets across Egypt for 18 days until he stepped down.The anti-Mubarak revolt was fuelled by police abuses and the corruption of the strongmans three-decade rule, but the police have since regained popularity amid widespread yearning for stability.

Madagascar President unveils a new government

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ANTANANARIVO (AFP) - Madagascar President Hery Rajaonarimampianina unveiled a new government in the Indian Ocean island nation on Sunday after the previous one resigned over public anger at its handling of recurring power outages.This is a government that is ready to fight, Rajaonarimampianina said in a speech that was broadcast on television and radio to mark his first anniversary in power.The team of 30 ministers will be led by Air Commodore Jean Ravelonarivo. Twenty-two among them were part of the previous government.Rajaonarimampianina, president of one of the poorest countries in the world, has been criticised for his lack of results over the past year.We are going to speed up, he promised. One year is not enough to change the country.Prime Minister Ravelonarivo succeeds Roger Kolo, who resigned last week along with his cabinet following widespread discontent with their lack of response to repeated electricity failures.Two people have died in recent weeks when angry Madagascans took to the streets to protest rolling power blackouts.Even with just 15 percent of Madagascar on the grid, the electricity company Jirama has been struggling to pay oil suppliers on time, resulting in recurrent blackouts.We have the basics, we can focus on a growth of five percent this year, Rajaonarimampianina said.Madagascar saw an economic growth rate of three percent last year, after no growth between the years of 2009 and 2013, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).The democratically elected Rajaonarimampianina came to power in January 2014 marking a return to constitutional order after five years of severe crisis caused by the overthrow of president Marc Ravalomanana by Andry Rajoelina.But Rajaonarimampianina does not have a majority in parliament and must contend with the hostility of Rajoelina who he refused to appoint as prime minister, despite his party being the most powerful in the national assembly.

Football: Unfancied hosts, Congo advance in Cup of Nations

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BATA (AFP) - Hosts Equatorial Guinea and Claude Le Roys Congo Brazzaville defied the odds to become the first teams to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.The duo were considered the outsiders in Group A when the competition began, but Congo advanced in first place after beating Burkina Faso 2-1 in Ebebiyin while Equatorial Guinea sunk Gabon 2-0 amid emotional scenes in Bata.After drawing their first two matches at the tournament, the Nzalang Nacional had to beat Pierre-Emerick Aubameyangs Gabon to go through and did so to match their achievement of reaching the last eight as co-hosts in 2012.A disputed 55th-minute penalty, won and converted by former Real Madrid forward Javier Balboa, set Equatorial Guinea on their way in front of a sell-out 35,000 crowd before Spanish-born substitute Iban Edu secured the win four minutes from time.Tears of joy from some home players greeted the final whistle and celebrations spilled over onto the streets as the nation soaked up a success that was unimaginable just a few short weeks ago.Last summer they were disqualified from the competition for fielding an ineligible player in a qualifier against Mauritania, only to be reinstated as the replacement hosts following Moroccos withdrawal over Ebola fears.But coach Esteban Becker hardly had any time to put together a competitive team after being appointed at the start of this month, and he later described the triumph as a Cinderella story.The poor team beat the rich team on merit, thanks to their sacrifice, their commitment, their pride and their passion, he said.This squad only came together 20 days ago in Madrid, then we went to Lisbon and put in place a style of play with optimism.We were convinced in every training session that we could go far. To be in the top eight in Africa is an honour for such a small nation.For Gabon, who only needed a draw to go through, there was a feeling of injustice, with Aubameyang saying the Ivorian referee erred in awarding the hosts a penalty for a foul on Balboa by Lloyd Palun.Its really upsetting because at this level referees should not be allowed to make mistakes like that, said the Borussia Dortmund star.While Gabon go home, Equatorial Guinea advance to a quarter-final in Ebebiyin against the runners-up from Group B.Congo won the group after beating Burkina Faso as veteran French coach Le Roy celebrated another remarkable success story in the African game.Having claimed their first win at the finals in 41 years when they beat Gabon in midweek, Congo needed only a draw against the 2013 runners-up but they made it two wins on the bounce all the same.Thievy Bifoumas second goal of the tournament gave Congo the lead early in the second half and Fabrice Ondama clinched the win in the 88th minute just after Aristide Bance had levelled for the Stallions.Congo are through to the quarter-finals for the first time since 1992, while Le Roy has now reached the knockout stage of the African football showcase seven times in eight attempts with five different countries.Its incredible. I feel a lot of emotion and incredible happiness. These guys are incredible, said Le Roy, whose side, like Equatorial Guinea, might never have been at the finals in the first place.Beaten on penalties by Rwanda in the second round of qualifiers in August, they were allowed back in when Rwanda were punished for fielding an ineligible player and then came through their final qualifying group ahead of 2013 champions Nigeria.We have come from nowhere. Anything that happens from now on is a bonus, added Le Roy, whose side will now return to Bata to face the Group B runners-up next Saturday.A wide open Group B concludes on Monday, when Tunisia need only draw with DR Congo in Bata to advance, while Zambia, the 2012 champions, must beat Cape Verde to keep alive their hopes of going through.

London: Hoax call put through British PM

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LONDON (AFP) - A hoax caller pretending to be a spy chief was put through to British Prime Minister David Cameron on Sunday, prompting a review of security procedures, a government spokeswoman said.The caller pretended to be the director of Britains electronic spy agency GCHQ Robert Hannigan, and was put through to Cameron on an official mobile phone, the spokeswoman said.The brief conversation ended once it was revealed to be a hoax and no sensitive information was disclosed, she added.It followed a previous hoax call to GCHQ on Sunday, in which Hannigans mobile phone number was given to the caller.Following two hoax calls to government departments today, a notice has gone out to all departments to be on the alert for such calls, the spokeswoman said.A hoax caller claiming to be the GCHQ director was connected to the prime minister. The prime minister ended the call when it became clear it was a hoax.Both GCHQ and Number 10 take security seriously and both are currently reviewing procedures following these hoax calls to ensure that the government learns any lessons from this incident.

Rallying: Ogier claims 'magical' Monte Carlo Rally

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MONACO (AFP) - Two-time world champion Sebastien Ogier won the Monte Carlo Rally on Sunday, the Volkswagen driver holding off his Finnish team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala for the Frenchmans third success in the iconic opening leg of the world rally championship.It was an all-Volkswagen podium for the 83rd edition with Andreas Mikkelson claiming third.The last time the first three places fell to the same constructor was in 2003 when Sebastien Loeb took third in a Citroen 1-2-3.This event had the best atmosphere I have experienced on a rally. When I drove the stage close to my home village, the atmosphere was magical, said Ogier who was born near the host town of Gap.Loeb, a seven-time Monte Carlo winner, posted the fastest time in one of Sundays closing three stages, the other two going to his Northern Irish team-mate Kris Meeke.Loeb, the nine-time world champion who lost time after a crash on Friday when Ogier took the lead, came in eighth overall after topping the timesheets in five specials.Ogiers previous wins in the Principality came in 2009 at the wheel of a Peugeot when the rally was part of the International Rally Challenge, and last year.Winning Monte-Carlo means a lot for every driver, but especially for me, said the 31-year-old, who after seeing his lead cut on Saturday wrapped up the win comfortably in the end by 58sec from Latvala with Mikkelson over two minutes behind.Its the most important rally of the season. The weather makes it a huge challenge but the satisfaction is great when you make it.The WRC season moves next to the snow-covered roads of Sweden starting on February 12, the only true winter test on the calendar.
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