Saturday 18 April 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Snooker: World champion Selby survives first round scare

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SHEFFIELD (AFP) - Mark Selby kept the Curse of the Crucible at bay but only just as he launched the defence of his World Championship title with a dramatic 10-9 first-round win over qualifier Kurt Maflin on Saturday.It had looked as if Selby, who beat five-times champion Ronnie OSullivan to win a maiden world crown last year, was easing to an opening-day victory as he went 8-4 up in the best of 19 frames match at the Crucible Theatre.However, the London-born but Oslo-based Maflin had other ideas, winning five frames in a row to lead 9-8 and be on the brink of a sensational upset before Selby fought back.This is the hardest tournament in the world to win, Selby told the BBC.At 8-8, I felt I was not going to win, the Englishman, bidding to win back-to-back major tournaments for the first time in his career following his success at the China Open earlier this month, added.Everything I tried to do, I felt it was just not going to be my match but thankfully I got through.His victory meant Selby avoided, for the time being at least, the so-called Curse of the Crucible which has seen no first-time champion successfully defend the world title the following year since the tournament moved to the Sheffield venue, in northern England, back in 1977.Indeed a quartet of first-time defending champions -- Steve Davis, Denis Taylor, Graeme Dott and Australias Neil Robertson -- had all lost in the first round on their Crucible return.The 31-year-old Selby came close to joining their ranks before Maflin, whom he played against as a junior, failed to make the most of a chance in the 18th frame and, crucially, missed a red in the decider.Despite Maflins breaks of 96, 60 and 88, Selby led 6-3 at the end of Saturdays morning session with no hint of the drama to come.And when Selby went four frames clear with a total clearance of 124, victory looked a formality for the world number one.But Maflin rallied before Selbys greater experience of high-profile matches told in the end.I had a chance in the decider, didnt take it and he deserved to win, said Maflin, who came through three rounds of qualifying.He (Selby) is so tough to beat and he was the better player on the day.I was quite calm out there all day. Im happy, I just wish it had gone the other way.Meanwhile Hong Kongs Marco Fu edged 5-4 in front of Englands Jimmy Robertson in a match that will be played to a finish on Sunday.In other first-round ties, debutant Anthony McGill established a surprise 6-3 lead over Stephen Maguire, his fellow Scot, with the winner playing Selby in the second round on Thursday.Four-times world champion John Higgins, also of Scotland, led Englands Robert Milkins 6-3 while Dott, another Scot and the 2006 title-winner was 5-4 up against Ricky Walden.

Replica of French general's historic US independence ship sails again

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LA ROCHELLE (AFP) - A replica of the 18th century ship that took a French general on his voyage to become a hero of the American war of independence set sail again Saturday, cheered off by thousands of well-wishers and President Francois Hollande.Thousands gathered to wish bon voyage to the painstakingly recreated tall ship Hermione, leaving from Ile dAix, in southwest France, for the east coast of the United States.The French and American flags were raised on the wooden frigate as it embarked on an Atlantic crossing retracing the voyage 235 years ago of General Lafayette, who won fame for rallying Americas rebels fighting for independence from Britain.The Hermione is a glorious page of our history... thus was sealed one of the finest alliances, a fraternal alliance, Hollande said ahead of the vessels departure, followed by a rendition of the American national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner.US consul in Bordeaux Thomas Wolf read out a statement in French from President Barack Obama in which the American leader spoke of the unwavering friendship and solidarity between the two countries.The tribute we are paying today to the extraordinary efforts by General Lafayette and the French people in favour of the American Revolution reminds us that our partnership with France has made it the oldest ally of our nation, he added.After a fireworks display, the ships crew set off in the rain at 2045 GMT, with a first stop due in the Canary Islands before continuing on their 7,500-mile (13,000-kilometre) journey that should take them around six weeks.Replica ship, reenacted routeSome 80 crew members will sail the three-masted 65-metre (213-feet) ship along the route to Boston made by French General Gilbert du Motier -- the Marquis de Lafayette -- to bolster revolutionaries fighting for an independent United States.Back in 1778 the original Hermione took a mere six months to build. The new replica took 17 years to construct, mobilising hundreds of craftspeople from around the world.The crew plans to make landfall on June 5 in Yorktown in Virginia, where US troops led by George Washington and French soldiers accompanied by General Lafayette scored a decisive victory over the British in 1781.The Hermione, the ship that reunited Lafayette and Washington and sealed our freedom, sails again for America, trumpets the website promoting the reconstruction of the epic journey.The project is the brainchild of a group of history and sailing enthusiasts who two decades ago embarked on the arduous task of recreating the vessel using only 18th century shipbuilding techniques.The frigate is scheduled to make more than 10 stops in the United States as it sails up the east coast, including in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston.Hermione will also sail into New York Harbour just in time for July 4 independence celebrations, with an expected escort of hundreds of local yachts.Yann Cariou, a veteran sailor who has already completed seven round-the-world trips in the military and civilian navy, will captain the imposing ship.The project cost 25 million euros ($32 million), financed by more than four million visitors to the shipyard in Rochefort in southwestern France where the ship was built, as well as through crowd-funding initiatives for specific parts of the ship.It took Lafayette 38 days to cross the Atlantic, a voyage that confirmed his renown as a hero of the American Revolution.Even today, Lafayette remains a constant presence across the country he helped transform from British colony into the energetic new state that would eventually become todays superpower.At least 42 US counties and cities and hundreds of streets and squares -- including the famed Lafayette Square opposite the White House -- are named after him or after his ancestral home in France, La Grange.

MQM shows strong political strength in rally, musical show held

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Saturday night showed strong political strength in its rally held in Jinnah ground Karachi. A musical program was also held for the entertainment of its workers. MQM chief Altaf Hussain on this occasion stated that the opposing parties have been taken by surprise and has become confused after watching the massive show of public unity for MQM. He stated that this rally that a historic win will be achieved in the NA-246 elections on 23rd of April.Workers of MQM were full of energy and excitement at the rally. Flags of the party were seen everywhere as the workers of the party chanted slogans in favor of MQM.The rally was attended by MQM workers in huge numbers. Active participation of children and women was also seen. The participants stated that MQM has served the public in Karachi. They stated that Altaf was a great and fearless leader and MQM is sure to win the elections.

Golf: Merritt keeps lead at RBC Heritage

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HILTON HEAD ISLAND (AFP) - Troy Merritt shook off a double-bogey to keep his bid for a first US PGA Tour title on track Saturday at the RBC Heritage, firing a third-round 69 for a three-shot lead.The American went into the round with a four-stroke lead after a course record-equalling 61 on Friday.His 54-hole total of 14-under-par 199 put him three shots clear of a trio of players.Defending champion Matt Kuchar, who played in the last group with Merritt, carded a 68 for 202. Brendon Todd joined the group sharing second with a sparkling 63 and Kevin Kisner posted a 67 to get to 11-under for the tournament.Todds 63 -- the third lowest round of the week after Merritts 61 and Jordan Spieths 62 -- included eight birdies without a bogey.Five of his birdies came on the front nine at Harbour Town Golf Links and he added two more at 11 and 16 before chipping in for birdie at the par-four 18th.I came up a little short with the six-iron coming into the green and had a long chip with a lot of green, Todd said. I used my pitching wedge and it went right at the hole. I was fortunate to get it on line there.It was a further stroke back to another group of three on 203: former champion Jim Furyk (68), Brice Garnett (65) and Branden Grace (66).Masters champion Spieth followed up his second-round 62 with a 68 that kept him in the hunt on 204, tied with fellow American Bo Van Pelt, who carded a 67.Merritts round included four birdies and a double-bogey six at the par-four eighth, where he was in the water with his second shot but rolled in a tough five-foot putt to limit the damage.It was one good shot on the hole, Merritt said of the putt. It was just a momentum keeper.I was hitting the ball just fine all day and I just tugged a six-iron, something that hasnt happened in a while, and watched it sail into the water and make a spectacular splash, he said.But I was able to roll that five- six-footer in and keep the momentum going.Merritt responded with his third birdie of the round at the par-four ninth, and picked up one more stroke coming in when he struck his tee shot within four feet at the par-three 14th and rolled in the birdie putt.Sundays final round will tee off earlier than originally scheduled, with groups going off from the first and 10th tees as organizers try to beat the thunderstorms forecast for the afternoon in South Carolina.

Boko Haram Cameroon attack toll rises to 19, 'many beheaded': security source

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YAOUNDE (AFP) - Nineteen people were killed in Thursday nights attack on a Cameroonian village by Nigeria-based Boko Haram militants, a security source said in an updated toll, adding that most of the victims were beheaded.The final toll from this attack is 19 dead, with a majority of the victims decapitated, a security source said Saturday on condition of anonymity.Security sources had previously said 10 civilians were killed in the cross-border raid on the village of Bia in Cameroons Far North region.The attack comes after a regional military offensive -- which includes Cameroon -- has claimed a string of successes in their fightback against the militants in Nigeria in recent weeks.Bia, which borders Lake Chad, has been identified previously by security forces as a recruiting ground for Boko Haram militants.The source speaking to AFP on Saturday said security forces were slow to react to the raid on Bia, located in an area with several military bases.We noted a late response by our forces,, the source said.Many huts were burned down, the source added.Also during the night from Thursday to Friday, Boko Haram attacked a Cameroon army position in Amchide, on the border with Nigeria.They burned houses in Amchide, but without losses on our side. The attack was repulsed. We dont know yet about casualties on the enemy side, a security source told AFP on Friday.The insurgency by Boko Haram -- which is seeking to create a hardline Islamic state -- has killed some 13,000 people in northeast Nigeria and sent 1.5 million fleeing their homes since 2009.The group had in recent months widened its attacks into neighbouring nations, prompting Chad, Cameroon and Niger to launch a joint offensive with the Nigerian army, resulting in a series of rebel-held towns and villages being recaptured in Nigerias northeast.Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathans perceived inability to end the six-year insurgency was a factor in his election defeat last month.Nigerian President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to rid the country of the terror of Boko Haram.

Greece told to move 'urgently' on detailed debt plan

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Greece was told Saturday to urgently deliver a detailed fiscal and debt plan to official lenders as the IMF-World Bank spring meetings wound up amid escalating worries of a looming default.As Athens talks with creditors continued in Paris, both IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde and European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi warned in Washington that Greece has not provided enough information about how its economic and reform plans will impact its finances.With Greece seeking the release of another 7.2 billion euros ($7.8 billion) in bailout funds from the European Union, Draghi cautioned that not reaching an agreement would take the situation into uncharted waters.He and Lagarde said that however the new leftist Greek government of Alexis Tsipras wanted to adjust policies under the countrys massive bailout, it still needed to demonstrate the effect on the budget and debt.More work, much more work is needed now, and its urgent, Draghi said, against the backdrop of increasing fears for the very existence of the eurozone.Any government is free to choose what they can do, he added.We have to have an overall framework... we have to have a methodology in place whereby which we can assess the quantitative impact, the fiscal impact of these proposals.At this point in time is to have in place a framework that allows a well-informed political discussion by the Eurogroup and the Greek government.Lagarde said she and her number two at the IMF, David Lipton, had each met Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis over the past two days and pressed him for a more detailed plan.The job as finance minister... is to go deep into the analysis, pull out the numbers, assessing the efforts undertaking, making a few hypotheticals about what it will deliver in terms of growth, in terms of fiscal revenues, or spending, she said.Its not a question of racing to the end. Its a question of doing all the work that needs to be done.Increasing pressureGreek negotiators were meeting in Paris Saturday with representatives of the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund to try to thrash out a deal ahead of the April 24 gathering of the Eurogroup finance ministers in Riga, Latvia.The Greek government needs new financing urgently to pay salaries at the end of the month and then make a series of debt payments to the International Monetary Fund and the ECB over the next three months.IMF officials said they do not know how much cash the Greek government has, but that between now and August the country has to come up with $10-11 billion to service its debts, and that reaching a deal on the release of funds and then a new support program is crucial.In Athens, officials said that Greece would soon get billions of euros from a gas pipeline deal with Moscow that would give it a significant cushion for weeks.But Moscow has denied the claim and European officials said it would not solve the countrys chronic problems.Asked if Greece could default on its huge debt, Draghi replied: I dont want to even contemplate such an event... The Greek leaders repeatedly state that they want to honor all their obligations.We all want Greece to succeed. The answer is in the hands of the Greek government.Athens has come under intense pressure in Washington, with US President Barack Obama calling on the country to proceed with badly needed reforms.Luis De Guindos, Spains economy minister, also weighed in, stressing that Athens needed to get to work now.Time is of the essence, he told journalists in the US capital.Everybody has to try to avoid that any accident occurs and that any nonpayment occurs. That would be negative for everybody.However, he added, The ones that need to work with more intensity are no doubt the Greek government.

UN Libya envoy condemns latest deadly violence

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SKHIRAT (AFP) - The UN envoy trying to broker a peace agreement in Libya on Saturday condemned another outbreak of violence and repeated calls for an immediate end to hostilities.A UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) statement said Bernardino Leon strongly condemned the renewed outbreak of violence in different neighbourhoods of the Libyan capital that caused many casualties and endangered the lives of civilians.It said initial reports indicate that three civilians were killed, including a young girl, since fighting broke out Friday in Fashloum, a central district of Tripoli.There have also been reports of abductions of civilians and burning of houses, the statement added.Leon stressed that, as Libyan political factions are gathered in Morocco in a bid to find a mediated settlement to the crisis in the North African country, there can be no justification whatsoever for clashes.He called on the sides to exert all efforts to bring an immediate end to the fighting in Tripoli and elsewhere, and to undertake all necessary measures to create a more conducive environment for the on-going dialogue.And he urged them to ensure that civilians and their property are not targeted in the fighting and that international human rights and humanitarian law are respected.All civilians abducted should be released immediately, and the wounded given access to medical treatment, Leon added.Libya has been divided since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi, with the two opposing governments and parliaments and armed groups now battling to control its cities and oil wealth.On March 24, UNSMIL unveiled a six-point plan to end the crisis, including the formation of a transitional unity government until a new constitution is adopted and elections held.Talks on that plan are under way in Morocco, where another round might take place on Sunday.

Football: PSG beat Nice to forget Barca defeat

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PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain bounced back from their Champions League humbling against Barcelona by beating Nice 3-1 on Saturday to boost their bid for a hat-trick of Ligue 1 titles.A clinical first half finish from Javier Pastore put PSG in charge against the run of play before Mathieu Bodmer deflected a speculative effort from Said Benrahma to level with the last kick of the half.But Paris took a decisive lead in the second half with a fine volley from Pastore and an Edinson Cavani penalty in a game sandwiched between Champions League commitments.We must face the facts: two days ago, we were playing a game against Barcelona. We are tired. Im not complaining, thats how it is but Nice had a whole week to rest, coach Laurent Blanc explained.We always try to fight physical and mental fatigue. The first half was difficult for us and Nice played well, he added.At half time, I told the players that we shouldnt focus on the first half. We came to Nice to get the three points and everyone agreed to make the required efforts. The second half was even better.It was important for us not to lose twice in a row.PSG temporarily moved a point ahead Lyon at the top of the table ahead of Sundays derby against Saint-Etienne.With Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marco Verratti suspended, on top of injuries to Thiago Silva and Thiago Motta, PSG coach Laurent Blanc had to rely on a reshuffled team to get past the French Riviera side.Lucas Moura, Serge Aurier and Lucas Digne were introduced into the starting line up while former Chelsea defender David Luiz, despite not being fully fit, was bestowed with the captains armband.But it was Pastores fourth goal of the season, following a defence-opening pass by Lucas, who gave PSG the breakthrough with their first real chance of the match.It was, however, quickly cancelled out by former Parisian Bodmer, although Nice still went into the half-time break frustrated to have nothing more to show form their first half dominance.The second half was a complete reversal, though, as Nice goalkeeper Simon Pouplin shined, preventing David Luiz and Lucas from finding the back of the net.Pastore added his second of the afternoon just after the hour mark as he latched onto a rebound after Pouplin saved his original driven effort.Cavani, brought down in the box by Jordan Amavi, bagged his ninth of the season on 69 minutes to seal the deal.In Saturdays late games Monaco missed the chance to take a significant step towards returning to the Champions League next season as they conceded an equaliser two minutes from time at home to Rennes.Bernardo Silva had given them a 28th minute lead but Habib Habibou struck late on to snatch a 1-1 draw for the Bretons.Monaco remain in third place as they refocus on overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit at home to Juventus in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final in midweek.But crucially, they failed to fully exploit fourth-placed Marseilles continued slump as Marcelo Bielsas side went down to a 1-0 defeat at Nantes on Friday night.They are now two points behind Monaco in the fight for third place.Metz and Lens switched places in the bottom two as the former gained three crucial points in the relegation fight with a 2-1 win, although they remain eight points from safety.Toulouse climbed three points away from the drop zone with a 1-0 win at third from bottom Lorient.Corsicans Bastia and Evian are only two points above Lorient after the former lost 2-1 at home to Reims and the latter drew 1-1 at Guingamp.

Athens-Moscow to sign gas deal: Greek official

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ATHENS (AFP) - Athens and Moscow are set to sign a deal extending a planned gas pipeline to Greece in exchange for billions in advance payment to the cash-strapped eurozone country, a Greek official told AFP Saturday, a claim denied by the Kremlin.Russia would make an advance payment worth billions for the extension of a new Turkish Stream pipeline to Greece, the Greek official said, confirming a report in German weekly Der Spiegel.A deal will be signed Tuesday in Athens with a high-level Russian delegation on the construction of the pipeline, said the Greek official on condition of anonymity.This agreement will set the conditions of financing the construction and level of royalty fees due, added the source.However, the Kremlins spokesman Dmitry Peskov told radio Business FM: No, there is no agreement.President Vladimir Putin meanwhile had said during Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsiprass visit to Moscow last week that the question of energy cooperation was raised... and will be studied by experts but Russia has not promised financial aid, simply because no one has asked for it.Austrian daily Die Presse however said Saturday that it had obtained confirmation from a Russian source close to negotiations about the planned agreement.According to the Spiegel report, the advance payment would amount to between 3 and 5 billion euros and would stem from royalties expected when Russian gas begins transitting through Greek territory through the pipeline.The Greek official told AFP that such an advance is indeed expected, and it will be an amount closer to the higher end of that cited by the Spiegel. The source added that the funds would be made available in a short time, in the coming months.If the deal is indeed sealed, any advance payment would be a welcome source of revenues for Greece, which has been struggling to unlock 7.2 billion euros in international bailout funds that it desperately needs.Asked about reports of the deal, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said: I am happy for Greece if thats the case.I dont know the details and I dont need to know them. But everything that helps Greece is good, he added.The Turkish Stream pipeline is not expected to come into service until 2019 and Ankara and Moscow are struggling to come to a final deal.In exchange for agreeing to host the pipeline, Turkey secured from Russia a reduction on its own gas imports of 10.25 percent, a welcome concession for a country with slowing growth and pressured currency.Yet Russian daily Kommersant has reported in March that the final negotiations had reached a dead end over the pricing terms, even though Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yildiz insisted both sides were in agreement.

Football: Bale, Modric injured days before Atletico decider

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MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid suffered two injury blows ahead of their Champions League quarter-final, second leg against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday as Gareth Bale and Luka Modric hobbled off during their 3-1 win over Malaga on Saturday.Bale went down holding his left calf after an innocuous looking challenge just five minutes into the game, but immediately signalled to the bench that he needed to be replaced, with Manchester United loanee Javier Hernandez taking over.Modric then had to be withdrawn on the hour mark after suffering a heavy blow to his knee in a challenge with Malaga midfielder Recio.Modric has a problem in his knee, Bale in his calf, said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti.Right now we cant say anything. We will evaluate them in the coming days. They are not completely ruled out.Modric only recently returned from a five-month injury layoff and his presence has coincided with Madrids upturn in form in recent weeks.However, Madrid sports daily AS reported that the Croatian is now set to miss another six weeks due to a sprained ligament in his right knee.Real and Atletico are locked at 0-0 after the first leg last week in a repeat of last seasons Champions League final.

S.Africa's Zuma seeks to reassure foreigners as violence spreads

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JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - President Jacob Zuma on Saturday pleaded with foreigners to stay in South Africa as he cancelled a state visit to Indonesia to deal with a wave of deadly xenophobic violence at home.Three weeks of escalating anti-foreigner violence in South Africa have claimed at least six lives and forced more than 5,000 immigrants to seek refuge in makeshift camps.The unrest, which began in the eastern port city of Durban before spreading to other parts of the country, carries echoes of the xenophobic riots that gripped South Africa in 2008 when 62 people were killed.In the latest incident, police on Saturday said a foreigner died of stab wounds in Alexandra, a township north of Johannesburg. The impoverished area was the focus of much of the days violence, with officers firing rubber bullets to disperse looters.More than 30 arrests were made overnight Saturday around Johannesburg alone.Under pressure to avoid a repeat of the 2008 bloodshed, Zuma travelled to Durban to visit a camp for foreigners displaced by the violence, but he faced a hostile reception from the crowd, which yelled go home, go home and too late, too late.As government, were not saying to you go away. It is not every South African who is saying go away. It is a very small number of people who say so, Zuma said at Chatsworth camp, where he presented a cheque of 50,000 rand ($4,100) to help the victims of xenophobic victims.He vowed to end the unrest and sought to assure the crowd there was a place for foreigners in South Africa. Even those who want to go home, they must know that when we have stopped the violence they are welcome to come back, Zuma said.The South African leader had been scheduled to fly to Indonesia on Saturday, but he announced he was scrapping the trip to attend to matters at home relating to the attacks on foreign nationals.The decision came as alarm grew within South Africa -- and from the United Nations and foreign capitals -- over the attacks.Neighbouring Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique have announced plans to evacuate their citizens.Reflecting international concern, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said most victims targeted are refugees and asylum seekers who were forced to leave their countries due to war and persecution.Pray for peaceThe violence has been largely blamed on a speech last month by King Goodwill Zwelithini, traditional leader of the Zulus, in which he blamed foreigners for South Africas high crime rate and said they must take their bags and go.The king has since said his words were misinterpreted.As the crisis raged, Zuma urged all churches to pray for peace and friendship on Sunday.We know that the majority of our people believe in human rights and peace and that they respect the dignity of all who live in our country, he said in a statement late Saturday.They know that where there are concerns and differences, these should be resolved the South African way, through dialogue, and not through violence and intimidation.The violence has sparked angry responses in other African nations.In Mozambique, a group of about 200 people on Friday blockaded the southern Lebombo border with South Africa, stoning South African vehicles.In Zambia, a privately-owned radio station has stopped playing South African music in protest against the xenophobic attacks.And in the Zimbabwean capital Harare, demonstrators marched to the South African embassy to condemn what they called the senseless and gruesome slaughter of fellow Africans.Zimbabwes President Robert Mugabe also condemned the violence on Saturday, expressing a sense of shock and disgust.South Africa already grappled with a wave of anti-foreigner violence earlier this year. In January, foreign shopkeepers in and around the vast township of Soweto, south of Johannesburg, were forced to flee and six were killed as looters rampaged through the area.

India's Rahul Gandhi leads protest against Modi's land law

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NEW DELHI (AFP) - Beleaguered Indian Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi is set to lead thousands of farmers Sunday in a protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modis controversial plans to overhaul land purchasing laws.The new legislation would make it easier to acquire land for crucial infrastructure projects as part of Modis pledges to revive the economy after storming to power last May -- but rivals say the move will hurt millions of farmers.The unpopular bill has given a boost to the ailing Congress party, which has been struggling to recover its image after a series of electoral defeats since its humiliating loss in last years national polls.Rahuls mother Sonia Gandhi, who is Congress president, has led several protests tapping into the growing anger.But her sons decision in February to go on a two-month sabbatical from politics sparked widespread criticism about his lacklustre leadership and speculation about his future.Congress has pulled out all the stops to galvanise support in New Delhi for the mass protest, which is being seen as a springboard for the 44-year-old to relaunch himself as a strong party vice president.The proposed bill exempts projects related to defence, rural housing and power, along with industrial corridors, from the requirement that 80 percent of the affected landowners must agree to a sale.It also does away with the need for a social impact assessment to find out how many people would be affected by the loss of land.Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says these rules are restrictive and deter the investment needed to fuel Indias growth.Rahul Gandhi -- along with his mother and senior party members -- will address more than 100,000 farmers from across the country at the rally just a day before the reopening of parliament, when the government is expected to reintroduce its bill.Farmers duped(The) rally would be a historic rally... we want to expose this BJP government for the way farmers have been duped, Sachin Pilot, a Congress member and close ally, said Saturday.Rahul Gandhi met with farmer groups at his plush Lutyens bungalow ahead of Sundays protest, making his first public appearance on Saturday since returning last week on Thursday.The scion of the Gandhi family, whose father, grandmother and great-grandfather were all prime ministers, discussed the impact the new law will have on the farmers, many of whom have seen their crops devastated by unseasonal rains this year.The government has defended the changes as a catalyst for growth -- from building new cities and factories to more roads and industrial corridors.But its attempts so far to push the Land Acquisition Bill through parliament have been stonewalled by a united opposition, which controls the upper house.While the government has issued a temporary order making it easier to buy land for projects, the changes need approval in the parliamentary session starting Monday to be made permanent.Modi recently used his monthly radio show to appeal to farmers not to oppose the bill, repeatedly assuring them that acquiring their land would be a last resort.

Football: Tevez on target as unstoppable Juve stun Lazio

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TURIN (AFP) - Carlos Tevez was again on target as Juventus put one hand on their fourth consecutive Serie A title with a commanding 2-0 win over closest challengers Lazio on Saturday.Lazio travelled to Turin hoping to extend their impressive run of wins to nine games and keep city rivals Roma -- their direct rivals for the leagues second automatic Champions League spot -- at bay.But Stefano Piolis visitors, who had conceded only two goals in their eight-game winning streak, never recovered from going 2-0 down by the half hour after Leonardo Bonuccis strike added to Tevezs 17th minute opener.Having racked up 18 Serie A goals so far, Tevez leads French forward Jeremy Menez (AC Milan) and Argentinian striker Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan) by two goals in the race to see who ends the season as top scorer.With seven games remaining, Juventus now hold a 15-point lead over Lazio, with Roma, in third a point further adrift but with a game in hand, looking to reclaim second spot with a win over Atalanta on Sunday.Having conceded only nine times in 14 outings, Lazio had been the form team of 2015.But their hopes of equalling a club record of nine consecutive wins, set under former coach Sven Goran Eriksson, unravelled in 11 first-half minutes.Lazio paid a high price for a hasty clearance in the 17th minute, Andrea Pirlo heading the ball forward and Arturo Vidal rising above his marker to send it into the path of Tevez.The Argentinian had already stolen a yard on the Lazio defence and powered down the left, holding off a late challenge by Dusan Basta to beat Federico Marchetti with a low angled strike.Lazio came close minutes later when Giorgio Chiellinis poor clearance fell to German veteran Miroslav Klose, whose powerful shot looked goalbound before being deflected out for a corner.But Lazios hopes of becoming the first victors at Juventus this season all but evaporated when Bonucci collected a short pass from Pirlo on the halfway line and ran all of 40 metres unchallenged before drilling a low shot past an outstretched Marchetti.From then on, Lazio had little to offer despite Pioli trying to shake things up in the second half -- at the tail end of which Danilo Cataldi was shown a straight red for a trip from behind on Tevez.Dutch left-back Edson Braafheid had suffered a studs-up challenge from midfielder Claudio Marchisio in the opening half and was replaced at the interval by Antonio Candreva.Juve, however, were quickly back in command and it took a timely sliding tackle from defender Mauricio to dispossess Alessandro Matri as the Italian teed up to strike minutes after the restart.Candrevas arrival initially gave the visitors a glimmer of hope.The Italian international won a free kick on the edge of the area when his attempted shot came off the arm of Chiellini, but although his drive surged over the defensive wall it was palmed over by an alert Gianluigi Buffon.Pioli made a number of substitutions in a bid to turn the tide but the wind had been taken out of Lazios sails.Following Cataldis 89th minute expulsion, the visitors spurned a late chance when Brazilian sensation Felipe Anderson pounced on another Chiellini howler to fire a volley at Buffon, but the keeper did well to save with his legs.Earlier Saturday Sampdorias Europa League hopes were kept in check by a scoreless draw at home to Cesena as Sinisa Mihajlovics men stretched their winless streak to three games.Sampdoria moved up to fifth but will slip back the way if Fiorentina, one point adrift, account for Verona on Sunday.

Thousands march in Europe against US-EU free trade pact

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BERLIN (AFP) - Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Europe on Saturday to oppose the worlds biggest free trade pact between the US and European Union.Resistance to the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is fierce in Germany, with tens of thousands joining demonstrations across the country, a spokesman for lobby group Attac Germany said.In southern Germanys Munich alone, 23,000 people joined the protest, while 2,000 turned up in Leipzig, 1,000 in Stuttgart and 700 in Frankfurt.Demonstrations in other European cities also drew protesters, including 2,000 in Brussels, 1,000 in Madrid and Helsinki, and around 300 in Warsaw and Prague.The protests came as US and EU officials are set to resume a new round of negotiations in New York on Monday.The EU-US trade deal would not just slash the already low trade tariffs the two parties share but would also harmonise regulations to an unprecedented degree, affecting goods and services as far-ranging as Roquefort cheese and accounting.But campaigners in Europe are convinced that powerful interests are selling the consumer short in the secret negotiations.The most contentious part of the deal includes a clause which allows corporations to sue governments in tribunals that are above national law.

Karachi: Police conduct search operation, arrest 70 suspects

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KARACHI (Dunya News) – Police conducted a search operation in different areas of Karachi and arrested 70 suspects on Sunday. 2 police officers along with 3 other people were shot dead in separate areas of Karachi.The search operation was conducted in Sarjani area of Taiseer Town and 30 suspects were arrested. Gulsha Iqbal police conducted a search operation in different areas of Gulistan-e-Johar and Gulshan Iqbal and arrested 40 suspects.Meanwhile, Sub-Inspector Azhar Jaffri was shot dead near Airport Signal area of Karachi. According to District Inspector General (DIG) East the murder was due to personal grudge.On the other hand, unknown assailants gunned down police Head Constable Ghulam Rasool in Sarjani Town Sector 36-B.
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