Saturday 21 March 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

El Salvador unites behind martyr Romero, 35 years on

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SAN SALVADOR (AFP) - Archbishop Oscar Romero was a symbol of the divisions that split El Salvador during its civil war, but 35 years after his assassination, his imminent beatification has united former foes.Romero, an outspoken critic of social injustice, was gunned down while celebrating mass on March 24, 1980, at the outset of the conflict, a day after exhorting soldiers to stop killing civilians.His murder propelled the country deeper into a brutal war that raged until 1992, when the right-wing government signed a peace deal with the leftist guerrillas of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN).No one has ever been convicted of the crime, but a UN-sponsored truth commission concluded it was carried out by a right-wing death squad under the orders of Roberto DAubuisson, a former army officer who died the year the war ended.Even after peace was restored, Romeros legacy continued to divide El Salvador, where the movement to make him a saint pulled at the countrys fault lines.A champion of the poor nicknamed the Voice of the Voiceless, Romero has been heralded on the left and condemned as a communist on the right.He has also been a divisive figure for the Catholic Church.His support for the oppressed has seen him held up by some as a proponent of liberation theology, a political movement rooted in Latin America that advocates working with the poor to bring about social change.While Romero did not actually subscribe to the theology, conservative Catholics feared his death could be exploited for political or ideological reasons.Under pope John Paul II, the Vatican blocked the movement to canonize him.But Pope Francis, who has himself sought to defend the poor, cleared the way for him to be beatified, naming him a martyr for the Church last month.The Church announced this month that Romero will be beatified on May 23 at a ceremony in San Salvador, taking him to just one step from sainthood.That news has been widely celebrated in El Salvador, even in hard-right circles that once demonized him.Its a step forward and a cause for joy for the Catholics of El Salvador, said former president Armando Calderon, a conservative hardliner who was close to DAubuisson.Justice never doneThe tributes to Romero began Saturday with a candlelight march from San Salvadors central square, where he will be beatified in May, to the capitals cathedral, where pilgrims held a vigil at his tomb until dawn.Commemorations were also held in Boston and Washington, where Mayor Muriel Bowser officially inaugurated an affordable housing project named for him.On Tuesday, Salvadorans will remember him at masses in his honor across the country, with the ceremony in San Salvador cathedral led by Panamanian Cardinal Jose Luis Lacunza.We are commemorating another anniversary of his death, but we are incredibly happy because Monsignor Romero will soon be beatified, said Gregorio Rosa Chavez, the Auxiliary Bishop of San Salvador.The anniversary has also stirred new calls for justice in Romeros killing.The murder of Monsignor Romero is one of so many crimes committed before and during the civil war that remain unpunished. Justice has never been done, said David Morales, special prosecutor for human rights cases.Romero was shot through the heart by a sniper while performing evening mass in the chapel of San Salvadors Divine Providence hospital.The day before, he had delivered a homily aimed at ordinary soldiers, urging them to halt the growing wave of atrocities committed by the army as it sought to stamp out the burgeoning leftist rebellion gripping the country.I beg you, I plead with you, I order you in the name of God: stop the repression, he said.Romeros life was depicted in the 1989 film Romero starring Raul Julia.His murder had widespread impact across Latin America, a predominantly Catholic region where several far-right regimes were then fighting wars against Marxist guerrillas.

Tennis: Federer to face Djokovic in blockbuster final

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INDIAN WELLS (AFP) - Roger Federer roared into the final of the ATP Indian Wells Masters Saturday where he will face Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster showdown between the worlds top two players.Federers remarkable run at Indian Wells continued with a 7-5, 6-4 demolition of Canadas Milos Raonic in the semi-finals. Defending champ Djokovic was equally dominant earlier in the day with a convincing 6-2, 6-3 win over world number four Andy Murray.It is going to be quite physical out there, Federer said of Sundays final. I think we played five times last year and then now this would be the second time this year. We have played each other a bunch now.The two also met in last years Indian Wells final which Djokovic won 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).The ageless Federer has been in top form the past two weeks in the California desert and a win on Sunday would avenge last years heartbreaking loss.I think last years final was great, said Federer. We both played very well. Came down to the wire. I didnt get off to a good start to the breaker and then he ran away with it.After losing by so little last year I was quite disappointed, even though I was happy with how I was playing.So I couldnt wait until I got a chance to play him again here.This will be the 38th career meeting between the two with Federer holding a 20-17 edge.Their most recent meeting was in the final last month in Dubai where Federer won in straight sets 6-3, 7-5.Serb Djokovic says facing a red-hot Federer so soon in the final of another big tournament is what he craves.The ultimate finalIts the ultimate final that right now I can have, Djokovic said. Probably the player that is in the best form.In the last 12 months hes been playing some of his best tennis.If Djokovic wins Sunday he will equal Federer for the most Indian Wells mens titles with four.It doesnt play a decisive role on how Im going to approach the match, but it does motivate me, said Djokovic of trying to add to the titles he won in 2008, 2011 and last year.It does give me this positive wind in the back that I can maybe use and manifest on the court.The 33-year-old Federer won in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2012. Federer improved to 16-1 this year with his only loss coming against Andreas Seppi at the Australian Open in January.He avenged that defeat in the third round at Indian Wells this year, spanking Seppi 6-3, 6-4. He also took just 69 minutes to reach the semis by ousting in straight sets Czech Tomas Berdych, who has been a particularly troubling opponent for Federer over the years.Federer is out for more revenge in the final against Djokovic.Hes tough, as we know. He barely misses. He moves great. He makes you go for the extra shot, he said of Djokovic. This is one of the great hardcourt players we have seen in tennis.

Football: Deila thrives on Celtic pressure

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GLASGOW (AFP) - Celtic manager Ronny Deila says he is thriving on the pressure of trying to lead his side to their first treble since 2001.The Hoops manager saw his side extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to five points with a game in hand after a comfortable 3-0 win over Dundee United at Celtic Park on Saturday.The Glasgow giants claimed the first part of a potential clean sweep of trophies when they picked up the League Cup last Sunday with victory over United before booking their place in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup with victory over the same side on Wednesday.United manager Jackie McNamara had suggested Deila was feeling the pressure of becoming only the third Celtic manager to win a treble, but the Norwegian insisted it was having a positive effect on him.I feel pressure all the time; thats how it is in this job, Deila said.I enjoy the pressure. If not I wouldnt have come here.I think its a positive pressure and it could be much worse. If we can make it then it will be a big, big achievement.We have energy and belief and we are looking forward to the next games now. We are in a good place.treble in our handsAfter seeing his side play 17 matches since the turn of the year, Delia says it is important for some of his players to get a rest during the international break.We have played so many matches since January, the Celtic manager said.We have been training hard and been really focussed and now some of the boys can get some rest, which is good.Some have to go away with the national team, but I think its good for everyone to get some days away from each other and also get ready for a very exciting end to the season.Then it is about very good training and keep improving everything we do so hopefully we can be historic and win the treble.There are many games still to play, but we are in a very good position and everything is in our hands.I would be very surprised if we had a big dip in the way we play and train now so I am very confident we are in a good position now.In the final instalment of four consecutive clashes between Celtic and Dundee United in 14 days, Gary Mackay-Steven came back to haunt his former club as his strike gave the Hoops a 16th minute lead.Swedish striker John Guidetti lashed home a second in the 33rd minute before Jason Denayer made it 3-0 in first-half stoppage time with a back-heeled effort from close range.Deila was happy with the contribution of both Stuart Armstrong and Mackay-Steven, who were facing former club United for the first time since their January transfer deadline day move.I think it was a special game for them, the Celtic manager added. It was good that we played it so that next time hopefully its not so special and they concentrate more on playing.I think both of them had a good performance and we controlled the game very well.

Golf: Stenson seizes command at Bay Hill as Rory fades

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ORLANDO (AFP) - Swedens third-ranked Henrik Stenson went four-under on the last four holes to grab a two-stroke lead after Saturdays third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational while Rory McIlroys charge fizzled.Stenson sank a 13-foot birdie putt at 15, eagled the par-5 16th with a 20-foot putt and dropped his approach inches from the cup at 18 for a tap-in birdie to finish a six-under par 66 and stand on 16-under 200 at the $6.3 million US PGA Tour event.Pretty nice way to finish, Stenson said. What Ive done has put me in a nice position but it has got to be done all over again tomorrow. Ive got to go out there and keep the same mindset.It was the second day in a row Stenson went four-under over the final four holes. He matched the low 54-hole total at Bay Hill first recorded by Andy Bean in 1981.I just hit some great shots two days in a row, Stenson said. Youre going to pick up some shots if you go 4-under two days in a row on the last four.American Morgan Hoffmann, who led after the first and second rounds in quest of his first tour title, fired a 71 to stand second on 202, one stroke ahead of Australian Matt Jones and Americans Jason Kokrak, Ben Martin and defending champion Matt Every.Stenson, trying to snap a run of eight US PGA losses by 54-hole leaders, knows the layout well, living in the area, and his bogey-free round also featured birdies at the par-5 sixth and par-4 ninth holes.World number one McIlroy, who could win his third major title in a row and complete a career grand slam with a victory in next months Masters, pulled within one shot of the lead with back-to-back birdies only to bogey the next three holes.McIlroy had a tap-in birdie at the par-5 sixth and chipped in a 22-footer from just off the green for birdie at the ninth. After birdies at 12 and 13, he was just one adrift.But McIlroys charge collapsed. He missed a 10-foot par putt at the par-3 14th and a three-foot par putt at 15, then went into a fairway bunker and missed a seven-foot par putt at 16 for his third bogey in a row. He fired a 71 to stand seven behind Stenson.Jones, who defends his lone US PGA title in two weeks at the Houston Open, closed with four birdies in a row, including a 75-footer at the par-3 17th.It was a historic day of shotmaking at Bay Hill as Daniel Berger made the first albatross in tournament history at the par-5 sixth, the American holing out from the fairway with a stunning 237-yard shot on his way to shooting 68.Kiradech starts strongThailands Kiradech Aphibarnrat matched the tournament record for the low front nine score with a 30 on his way to a bogey-free 65. Kiradech made six birdies in the first nine holes and needed only nine putts on the first nine holes.After dropping his approach at the first inches from the cup on the way to a birdie and adding a 15-foot birdie putt at the third, Kiradech ran off three birdies in a row starting at the fifth, the first of them the longest putt at 14 feet. At the ninth he sank a 13-foot birdie putt to equal to record.On his back nine, Kiradech fired eight pars and birdied the par-5 16th.Im striking the ball really well, said Kiradech, who said the key to his low score was avoiding mistakes.I made eight birdies in the first round, but just had a two-under finish. But today I had a low score because I didnt drop any shots.Kiradech said hes hoping his renewed confidence will help him get to the next level.Ive been playing last year a lot in the States. I made cuts, but couldnt finish high, said the Thai, although he added that his immediate goal for the weekend is just to keep things going as they are.Tomorrow I dont want to force myself, he said, just play my game.

Graft-accused son of Senegal ex-leader 'to run for president'

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DAKAR (AFP) - Karim Wade, the son of a former Senegalese president and currently on trial for corruption, was chosen Saturday to be the former ruling partys candidate in the next presidential election.Karim Wade was chosen by 257 of the 268 delegates to be the Democratic Party of Senegals presidential candidate, leading party member Tafsir Thioye told AFP.No date has yet been set for the upcoming election.The announcement comes as Senegals anti-corruption court is expected to deliver its verdict in the case against Wade -- son of the countrys longtime leader Abdoulaye Wade -- on Monday.He is accused of corruption and illegally amassing a multi-million dollar fortune while a minister.Saturdays decision was made at a party congress that was attended by 88-year-old Abdoulaye Wade, who is the secretary general of the opposition Democratic Party of Senegal (PDS).He later praised the transparency of the vote saying it had been conducted publicly in front of party activists and even the press.The younger Wade, who has been in custody since April 2013 and on trial since July last year, beat at least seven other candidates to become the PDSs presidential hopeful.He is alleged to have illegally acquired companies and real estate worth almost $240 million (221 million euros) during his time as a minister and an adviser to his father, who was president of Senegal from 2000 to 2012.Prosecutors have called for a seven-year prison sentence. Wade himself denies the charges and his supporters claim the case against him is politically motivated.Wade junior was an extremely divisive figure in Senegalese politics in the run-up to the last presidential election in 2012, with many believing his father was trying to line him up as his successor.He was often criticised for alleged mismanagement of public finances and was nicknamed super minister, and the minister of the Earth and the sky, after his father placed him in charge of the international cooperation, air transport, infrastructure and energy portfolios.The 2012 polls were won by Macky Sall, who is expected to seek re-election.Tension as verdict loomsSall on Saturday insisted he had nothing to fear from a potential face-off against another member of the Wade family.If a candidate stronger than myself is appointed by the Senegalese, we will take note, he told reporters.Tension has been mounting ahead of Mondays trial verdict, with local media reporting a heightened security presence in the capital Dakar.The countrys main opposition coalition, which includes the PDS, on Friday urged sympathisers to rally at the court on Monday in a show of support for Karim Wade.The PDS has said that Abdoulaye Wade is expected to make a statement after the ruling is handed down.The former leader said last month that he was prepared to give his life to prevent his son being convicted.Adding fuel to the fire, opposition lawmaker Mamadou Diop Decroix on Saturday told reporters that if the country swings towards violence, it wont be the fault of the opposition but of those who put people in prison.Justice Minister Sidiki Kaba sought to calm tempers, saying the state would maintain public order.Freedom of expression will be respected but within the context of the law. The decision that will be handed down by the court will be an independent one, he told the pro-government daily Le Soleil.

'Mentally ill' man in US machete attack had Molotov cocktails

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - A machete-wielding mentally ill man shot by police at a New Orleans airport was armed with Molotov cocktails, officials said Saturday, but the motive for the assault was still a mystery.Attacker Richard White, 63, died at a hospital after being shot three times by police when he stormed a security checkpoint and attempted to assault Transportation Security Administration agents.He was pronounced dead this afternoon at 4:02 pm (2102 GMT), Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office spokesman Colonel John Fortunato told AFP.Initial reports said White had wounded one of the TSA agents at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, but police later said the injured employee was in fact hit by a stray bullet as police opened fire on the assailant.Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand said a police officer who opened fire had struck the TSA agent accidentally as White appeared to be primed to attack her.She was being chased by the perpetrator with the machete. The officer began to fire because he was gaining on her very quickly, Normand told reporters.The shot grazed the TSA agents triceps and passed through her to hit the attacker, Normand said.Acting TSA Administrator Mel Carraway praised his agencys officers, saying a lot of lives were saved by their actions.Plan to bomb airport?White, described by law enforcement as a member of the Christian-based Jehovahs Witnesses religious movement, was carrying a bag during the attack.Inside, police found six Molotov cocktails -- here in the guise of half-pint jars filled with gasoline and set with cloth wicks.A search of Whites car parked near the airport uncovered smoke bombs and several canisters, including an oxygen tank.We dont know at this time what the intended purpose of those being in the trunk of the car actually are, Normand said.He said the motive for the attack was a mystery, though discussions with Whites family had revealed a mental illness component.Investigators had hoped to interview White, but were never able to do so before his eventual death.His family has been very cooperative. We have been able to determine that there is a mental illness component here thats presented, Normand said.Witnesses said White had acted in a calm, cool, collected manner prior to the attack, the sheriff added.No one in this point in time has any notion to what may have triggered this behavior, he added.White had worked as a taxi driver, had recently received his chauffeurs license and had little or no criminal history, Normand revealed earlier.A neighbor, Donna Jackson, told The Times-Picayune newspaper that White was a former Army serviceman, who had retired years ago and was living off Social Security and disability checks.He was so meek, so mild, she added, saying he was a deeply religious Jehovahs Witness who shunned Western medicine and encouraged his neighbor to use herbal remedies, even to treat her diabetes.

Crimea plans to launch own airline

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MOSCOW (AFP) - Authorities in Crimea said Saturday they plan to set up an airline to facilitate connections with Russia and encourage tourism in the picturesque Black Sea peninsula, a year after the Ukrainian territory was annexed by Moscow.It requires a fleet of six aircraft and 40 pilots to serve 14 destinations initially, later rising to 36, according to a statement on the Crimean government website.For this project, we need 1.45 billion rubles (22 million euros, $24 million) Sergei Tourik, an official with Russian manufacturer United Aircraft Company, said in a meeting with Crimeas prime minister Sergei Aksyonov, according to the statement.Profitability will not be achieved before three years, he warned.The aircraft will be the Superjet 100, which is assembled by the United Aircraft Company with many parts from Western manufacturers.Crimea is isolated from Russian territory, accessible only by air and ferry pending the construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.Multinational firms have mostly left the peninsula because of Western sanctions and Simferopol airport currently only has connections with Russian cities.Setting up an airline will allow a wider range of air links between the Crimea and other regions of Russia as well as foreign cities near and far, according to the local authorities, who are aiming for 490,000 passengers in 2016.Aksyonov said it would also increase the number of tourists and business travellers.The separation of Crimea from Ukraine has dealt a devastating blow to the photogenic regions once-booming tourism industry, with tourist numbers dropping from 5.9 million in 2013 to 3.8 million in 2014, despite Russias efforts to subsidise package tours.

Bodies of French stars killed in Argentina crash head home

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BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - The bodies of three French sports stars and five crew members killed during a helicopter accident while filming a reality TV show in Argentina earlier this month were being flown back to Paris late Saturday.Coffins containing renowned yachtswoman Florence Arthaud, Olympic champion swimmer Camille Muffat and boxer Alexis Vastine, along with the crew members were loaded on an Air France flight that departed Buenos Aires at 6:15 pm (2115 GMT).The eight French nationals died along with two Argentine pilots on March 9 during the filming of reality show Dropped when two helicopters collided shortly after takeoff from the remote village of Villa Castelli in northwestern Argentina.There were no survivors.French Ambassador Jean-Michel Casa told AFP that embassy staff had observed a moment of silence before the bodies were repatriated.Dropped, which was to air on French channel TF1 but was immediately canceled after the crash, featured sports stars who were taken blindfolded into rugged environments and given 72 hours to get to a place where they could charge a mobile phone.Initial investigations indicate the crash was caused by human error, officials say.

Football: Hodgson rues slim Champions League pickings

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LONDON (AFP) - England manager Roy Hodgson has bemoaned the lack of English players at the countrys leading clubs after a bleak fortnight for Premier League teams in the Champions League.With Arsenal and Manchester City having followed Liverpool and Chelsea in crashing out of the Champions League this week, England has no teams in the quarter-finals for the second time in three years.It has prompted fears of a lasting decline in Englands continental standing, but for Hodgson, the diminishing number of English players playing for the countrys top sides is a source of equal concern.When we talk about England and English teams in the Champions League, were not talking about very many English players, if were being perfectly honest, he said.Were talking (Manchester Citys James) Milner, were talking (Chelseas Gary) Cahill, we might be talking (Arsenals Danny) Welbeck, although he didnt play in the first game against Monaco.Sometimes people ask me the question as if eight, nine, 10 English players (are playing for each English team). Theyre not. Were talking three, four or five English players involved at most and whats more, theyre all shoe-ins for us anyway.The declining number of England-eligible players in the Premier League was one of the issues that prompted Football Association chairman Greg Dyke to launch his England Commission last year, tasked with assessing the future of the sport.Hodgson added: At Champions League level, much as I enjoy watching the games, Im not really watching that many players.When I watch Chelsea play or Man City play against Barcelona, Im only watching two or three players from my selfish point of view. Hows James (Milner) doing? Is Joe (Hart) in good form?Well hed better be, because we havent got many goalkeepers. Of 20 teams in the Premier League, theres only five Englishmen. Fifteen of the goalkeepers in the Premier League are foreigners, I think.Rooney a legendOne of the few English players guaranteed a starting berth at a major Premier League team is captain Wayne Rooney, who will lead Manchester United into battle against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.Rooney, 29, is three goals shy of Bobby Charltons national goal-scoring record of 49, ahead of games against Lithuania and Italy later this month, but Hodgson believes he has already proven himself an England great.Fifty goals today is in my opinion harder than 50 goals in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the former Liverpool manager told journalists during a briefing at Wembley.When I was at Liverpool, I was constantly surrounded by people who were described by Liverpool TV as legends, some of whom I can barely remember.So I think the word legend is a dangerous one. You dont have to do too much these days. I would think he is already a legend.Hodgson also lauded stand-in Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who has excelled in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard in recent weeks, scoring three goals in his last three league games.His rise has been quite meteoric, really, Hodgson said.Although he has been around a long time, its only in the last year or so that people have started to say, Actually this boy is a good player. This lad has got a lot of qualities.I dont think he needs to be hung up on goal-scoring, because I think he has always been around the national team for the many other qualities he has.If he starts adding goals as well, then you are talking about someone who is exceptional.

Football: Menez at the double as Milan beat Cagliari

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MILAN (AFP) - French forward Jeremy Menez hit a brace including a controversial penalty as AC Milan broke a three-game winless run thanks to a 3-1 victory over Cagliari in a half-empty San Siro on Saturday.Milan hosted Zdenek Zemans league strugglers looking to get back to winning ways following draws with Chievo and Verona and a 2-1 defeat away to Fiorentina last week.And the pressure eased on embattled Rossoneri coach Filippo Inzaghi as Milans ninth win of the campaign moved them up to seventh place ahead of the remainder of the weekend fixtures.Im happy for the team, we got less than we deserved from our performances against Verona and Fiorentina, said Inzaghi.I was confident that if we played the way we did at Fiorentina, we would be rewarded.Now, we hope to keep on like this.Menez opened the scoring on 21 minutes when he controlled well on the left edge of the area before firing a great curling shot through the hands of Zeljko Brkic at the keepers far post.Cagliari, who welcomed back Zeman two weeks ago following the sacking of Gianfranco Zola, levelled in fine style when Diego Farias dribbled around Philippe Mexes to fire across Diego Lopez and inside the Spanish keepers far post.Mexes made up for his error only two minutes later when he met a corner on the edge of the box with a volley which bounced and travelled through Cagliaris defence untouched before leaving Zeljko stranded.Menez wrapped up the points 12 minutes from time when he beat the Cagliari keeper from the spot, although Alessio Cerci was clearly outside the area when he tumbled under a challenge from Luca Ceppitelli.It was Menezs 15th league goal of the campaign, taking the Frenchman level with Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi and Juventus marksman Carlos Tevez at the top of the Serie A scoring charts.All that mattered tonight was the three points, Menez told Mediaset Premium.We played well at Fiorentina as well, but this time we got the win. Its nice to score and get an assist, but I prefer to win games.I want to dedicate the goas to our fans. We have to keep on playing like this so they keep coming to the stadium.After seeing his side drop one place to second from bottom, Zeman hit out at the penalty decision.Im disappointed about the penalty decision, it was decisive in our defeat, said the Czech veteran.Theres no point calling for the slow motion replay, we all saw it was outside the area and up until then we were still in the game.Milan moved up three places to seventh but could drop back depending on results elsewhere on Sunday.Juventus host Genoa boasting a 14-point lead on stuttering challengers Roma, who are in danger of being overtaken by city rivals Lazio, who sit in third only one point further adrift.Roma are away to third-from-bottom Cesena while Lazio host Verona earlier Sunday.Napoli, in fourth at three points behind Lazio, host Atalanta while Sampdoria and Fiorentina, one point further adrift in fifth and sixth, respectively host Inter Milan and travel to Udinese.Earlier, Chievo earned a precious 1-0 win over Palermo to pull themselves 11 points clear of the drop zone.

Tennis: Federer routs Raonic to reach Indian Wells final

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INDIAN WELLS (AFP) - World number two Roger Federer, chasing a record fifth Indian Wells title, cruised past Canadas Milos Raonic 7-5, 6-4 to reach the ATP Masters event final on Saturday.The ageless Federer has been in top form the past two weeks and made quick work of world number six Raonic as he now goes for a shot at reclaiming the top overall world ranking.When we play it always going to come down to a few points here and there, a few backhands down the line and good serving, Federer said of facing Raonic.The Swiss star next meets world number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic, who eliminated Andy Murray in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 in the first semi-final.Federer, 33, leads the tournament with four titles having won in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2012. But Djokovic beat him 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) in last years championship match.Federer improved to 16-1 this year with his only loss coming against Andreas Seppi at the Australian Open in January.He avenged that defeat in the third round at Indian Wells, beating Seppi 6-3, 6-4. He had needed just 69 minutes to advance to the semis by ousting Czech Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-0.Federer also stopped American Jack Sock 6-3, 6-2 in the fourth round and Diego Schwartzman in his opening match 6-4, 6-2.Federer clinched Saturdays semi-final with a forehand volley at the net into the open court that Raonic tried in vain to chase down.Federer needed just 86 minutes to overpower the hard-serving Raonic, blasting five aces, 15 winners and breaking him twice.He had no double faults and made just 11 unforced errors, limiting Raonic to just nine aces.Early breakI did very well. In the first set I scrambled out a lot of balls, said Federer.In the second set I was happy to get the early break and then rolled from there.The 24-year-old Raonic was coming off one of the biggest wins of his career. He saved three match points to upset world number three Rafael Nadal for the first time on Friday.That win was not only his first in six tries over the Spaniard but it spoiled the prospects of a semi-final lineup featuring tennis Big Four.Raonic met Federer for the first time three years ago in Indian Wells where he managed to win the first set before dropping the next two.But this time Federer was ready for the blistering serves from the Canadian, who averaged 15 aces through his first three matches. The serve and thundering forehand are Raonics two biggest weapons and Federer snatched those away.He was neutralizing well on the serve, but especially during the points when I felt like a few times I was able to stretch him, said Raonic, who came into Indian Wells after helping Canada beat Japan in the Davis Cup.He was doing a good job of always playing a deep cross so I could never find that short forehand I was looking for.

Tunisian leader admits security 'failings' ahead of museum attack

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PARIS (AFP) - Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi said security failures had helped facilitate the deadly attack on the countrys national museum, according to an interview with French media published Saturday.There were failures which meant that the police and intelligence were not systematic enough to ensure the safety of the museum, Essebsi told the weekly Paris Match.Twenty-one people, all but one of them foreign tourists, were killed when two gunmen stormed the National Bardo Museum in the capital Tunis on Wednesday, in an attack claimed by Islamic State terrorists.Essebsi however stressed that the countrys security forces responded very effectively to quickly put an end to the attack at the Bardo, certainly preventing dozens more deaths if the terrorists had been able to set off their suicide belts, he was quoted as saying on the Paris Match website.A senior Tunisian politician on Friday said the guards supposed to be protecting the museum and the nearby parliament were having coffee at the time of the assault.I found out there were only four policemen on security duty around the parliament (compound), two of whom were at the cafe. The third was having a snack and the fourth hadnt turned up, deputy speaker Abdelfattah Mourou told AFP.

Three killed as clashes rumble on in east Ukraine

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leadKIEV, March 21, 2015 (AFP) - Two Ukrainian soldiers and one civilian were killed in the countrys rebel-held east as clashes rattled an official truce aimed at ending nearly a year of fighting, Kiev and separatists said Saturday.Over the last 24 hours we have lost two soldiers and seven were injured, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters.Rebel military representative Eduard Basurin also announced that a civilian was killed and one injured after tripping a bomb in Vuglegirsk, a separatist-controlled town 35 kilometres (21 miles) north-east of the rebel stronghold of Donetsk, on Thursday.Basurin accused Kiev forces of injuring three civilians -- a man, woman and a child -- when they fired on Donetsks Petrovsky district with a 120mm mortar late Friday.According to both sides, skirmishes continued to flare around Shyrokyne, a village close to the strategic port of Mariupol, Kievs largest remaining stronghold in the rebel-held east.Separatists claim to control around 30 percent of the village, with many Ukrainians fearing Mariupol could become the focus of any new offensive in a conflict that has already claimed more than 6,000 lives in 11 months.Fighting also broke out around the ruins of Donetsk airport, which rebels took in January following months of fierce fighting.Lysenko reported two clashes close to the airport, near the village of Opytne, and 15 sightings of enemy drones around Mariupol and Lugansk, another separatist bulwark.Both sides accused each other of violating the Minsk peace accords, which were signed last month.Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko later warned that he would respond with force if there were another offensive, but said that there was no ultimate military solution to the crisis.We cannot solve the conflict only with tanks and (multiple rocket launcher) Grads, said the president in an interview with the Ukranian TV channel Inter aired on Saturday.We will pay the price with tens of thousands of lives if we fight against the occupying Russian troops, and separatists backed by Russia, in urban neighbourhoods.Kiev and the West accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of supporting the insurgency with troops, tanks and heavy weapons -- accusations he rejects.We are at war, but we have a firm hope for peace, stressed Poroshenko.But we will do everything possible to break the teeth of the enemy if he launches an offensive, he added.

Afghan president announces new ministers to complete cabinet

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KABUL, March 21, 2015 (AFP) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced Saturday 16 new names to complete his cabinet nearly two months after parliament rejected two thirds of his proposed ministers.Nearly six months after Ghanis inauguration and the formation of a national unity government with his poll rival Abdullah Abdullah, only eight out of 25 ministerial posts have been filled.The rest were rejected by parliament on technicalities in late January, despite a power-sharing deal agreed between Ghani and Abdullah that was seen as saving Afghanistan from the risk of civil war.The delays in establishing the new government have stoked fears of instability in the war-torn nation after the Nato withdrawal of combat troops in late December, handing responsibility for fighting the resilient Taliban insurgency to Afghan forces.The 16 ministers announced Saturday have not yet been approved by the lower house of parliament.In line with a commitment made by Ghani, four women are included in the list of 16 nominees. Names have also been proposed for several key portfolios, including economy, trade and industry, and agriculture.But no name has been released to head up the crucial defence ministry, just as fighting season between Afghan security forces and Taliban insurgents begins. The position is currently held by an interim minister.Ghani issued the list shortly before leaving for the United States with chief executive Abdullah. During the four-day trip, the Afghan leaders are expected to focus on the question of future peace negotiations with the Taliban.

Deal struck for British election TV debates

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LONDON (AFP) - British broadcasters on Saturday said party leaders have signed up to a schedule of televised debates ahead of the May 7 general election, following weeks of tense wrangling.But rather than stop the verbal warfare and jockeying for position, the announcement simply triggered a bitter round of recriminations.The opposition Labour party leader Ed Miliband accused Prime Minister David Cameron of running scared, while the eurosceptic UK Independence Party (UKIP) branded the whole process an utter farce.The announcement follows conversations with all the parties, the broadcasters said in a joint statement.The 2010 campaign saw televised election debates for the first time in Britain, featuring the three main party leaders in three shows.Conservative Prime Minister Cameron, Labour leader Miliband and Deputy PM Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, have been trading barbs over the potential format this time round, with smaller party leaders also chipping in.The main television news broadcasters have come up with a range of different formats.The programmes start on March 26 when Channel 4 and Sky News will host a 90-minute live question and answer session featuring separate interviews with Cameron and Miliband.A studio audience will also put questions directly to them but they will not debate with each other.ITV will host a live, two-hour debate with seven party leaders on April 2.Cameron, Miliband and Clegg will be joined by the UKIPs Nigel Farage, Natalie Bennett from the Greens, the Scottish National Partys Nicola Sturgeon, who is also Scotlands first minister, and Welsh nationalist leader Leanne Wood of Plaid Cymru.The BBC will stage an opposition leaders debate on April 16, featuring Miliband, Farage, Sturgeon, Bennett and Wood.The corporation will also ensure fair representation of the government parties (Conservative and Lib Dem) and Northern Irish parties, the statement said.Finally on April 30, the BBC will host a programme with Cameron, Miliband and Clegg answering questions from a studio audience.CowardiceA Conservative source said: In all these formats, we are confident the choice between competence and chaos will be clear.After the experience of 2010, Cameron did not want any debates during the formal election period this time round, feeling they eclipsed the actual campaign and were about just delivering the soundbite down the camera, rather than a proper debate.Labour accused Cameron of cowardice for declining to debate with Miliband head to head, saying they therefore signed up with great reluctance.They accused broadcasters of backing down on replacing the PM with an empty chair.Miliband said: David Cameron is now in the ridiculous position where hell go to the same studio as me... but he wont debate me head-to-head as hes running scared.A Liberal Democrat spokesman said they had strong objections to being excluded from any debate.But we think that the politicians and broadcasters have ducked and dived on this long enough and just need to get on with it... however flawed the format.UKIP leader Farage called the set-up an utter farce, saying the broadcasters should be ashamed by the shoddy formula.Its a smack in the face of democracy and I am appalled, he said.
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