Sunday 26 April 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tennis: Nishikori seals second title in Barcelona

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BARCELONA (AFP) - Japans Kei Nishikori claimed his second consecutive Barcelona Open title on Sunday with a hard-fought 6-4, 6-4 over Spaniard Pablo Andujar.Andujar had upset Rafael Nadals conquerer Fabio Fognini and David Ferrer on his route to the final and made the perfect start by breaking the world number fives serve in the first game.However, Nishikori broke straight back and then sealed the set by breaking once more in the 10th game.The second set followed a similar pattern as Andujar moved into a 4-2 lead, but Nishikori then upped his level to race through the final four games to seal his ninth career title.Finally yes, I am the champion, but in the beginning (of the week), I was just playing one match at time with so many tough players and all the Spanish players playing here, said Nishikori.I tried to do my best and I am very happy.The second set was very hard and to be honest I dont know how I was able to win it.Victory continued Nishikoris love affair with the Spanish clay court season having also reached the final of last years Madrid Masters when he took the first set off Nadal before having to retire with an injury.The injury ended up writing off the rest of his season on clay as he missed the Rome Masters and suffered a shock first round exit at the French Open to Martin Klizan, who he swept aside in Saturdays semi-final.The US Open finalist should be a far bigger threat in Paris this year and Andujar recognised that he had been made to pay for not taking his chance to force the match into a deciding set.I think Nishikori deserved to win the first set, but not the second, he said.But when you play against players of this calibre, that are capable of getting into a great rhythm, if you dont take your chances you end up losing.

Tennis: Kerber shocks Wozniacki in Stuttgart final

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STUTTGART (AFP) - Germanys Angelique Kerber extended her winning streak to 11 matches with a three-sets win over Caroline Wozniacki to win the Stuttgart claycourt title on Sunday.Having knocked out three-time champion Maria Sharapova in the second round, Kerber recovered from losing the finals first set to earn a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory over former world number one Wozniacki.I fought hard until the end and drained all my reserves of energy, beamed Bremen-born Kerber.I am mega-proud to have won here in front of a home crowd.Since winning the Charleston tournament a fortnight ago, Kerber carried her impressive recent form onto Stuttgarts clay courts.Her win over Sharapova was the first time the Russian had tasted defeat in Stuttgart in her fourth appearance at the German venue.The first set of Sundays final was all Wozniacki, who broke Kerber in the fourth game then held her serve to take a 4-1 lead before the set was eventually served out.The German rallied to control the second, blasting her way out to a 3-0 lead before breaking the former world number one in the sixth game for a 5-1 lead to serve out the set.Both players traded breaks in the third before Wozniacki looked to be heading for her second tournament victory of 2015 at 5-3.But Kerber made her shots count and with the Dane under immense pressure on the base line, Wozniacki was broken in the ninth and 11th games to give the German victory in just over two hours.

Tennis: Murray eyes Bayern visit on Munich debut

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MUNICH (AFP) - Andy Murray admits he wants to watch Pep Guardiolas all-conquering Bayern Munich play at home as part of his build-up to his debut this week at the Munich ATP tournament.The 27-year-old Olympic champion is the highest ranking player in the field for the Bavarian claycourt tournament.He plays his first match on Thursday at a tournament which also features Australias Bernard Tomic, Frances Gael Monfils and Fabio Fognini, the colourful Italian who defeated Rafael Nadal in Barcelona last week.Its a tough field, Ill have to play my best tennis to get into the final, but I wouldnt mind watching Bayern Munich play if its possible, Murray admitted.Outing himself as a Bayern fan would have done him no harm in winning over some supporters amongst the home crowd.Murrays wish could well come true as Guardiolas Bayern host Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup semi-finals on Tuesday having captured their 25th league title on Sunday.Two weeks after getting married, world number three Murray will be looking to capture his 32nd ATP title and first claycourt crown.The Munich tournament is celebrating its 100th anniversary and Murray is using it as part of his warm-up for the French Open at the end of next month.The home favourite is Philipp Kohlschreiber who is hunting a third Munich crown after winning in 2007 and 2012, then finished runner-up to Tommy Haas in 2013.The defending champion is Slovakias Martin Klizan, who won a total of eight matches through qualifying last year, and lifted the Casablanca tournament earlier this month.Im really looking forward to playing this week in Munich, said Murray.I have already heard a few things about the city and its a beautiful place.The 100th anniversary is something special and my brother has already told me a lot about the tournament and its great atmosphere.His brother Jamie won the doubles title last year with his partner Colin Fleming.

Bayern Munich clinches Bundesliga title

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BERLIN (AP) - Bayern Munich clinched the Bundesliga title with four games to spare Sunday, thanks to a little help from traditional rival Borussia Moenchengladbach.Gladbach forward Max Kruse scored in the last minute to inflict a 1-0 defeat on second-place Wolfsburg, removing the mathematical possibility of Bayern being caught. Kruse lifted the ball over Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio for his side to move third.With 76 points from 30 games, Bayern has an unassailable 15-point lead over Wolfsburg, one of only two sides to have beaten the Bavarian powerhouse this season. Moenchengladbach is the other.Bastian Schweinsteiger scored late for Bayern to beat Hertha Berlin 1-0 at home on Saturday, the win that ultimately secured the clubs third straight Bundesliga title.If they didnt win it today, they were going to win it in the next few weeks, Wolfsburg director Klaus Allofs said.Bayern has a record 25 German championships overall, including the first from 1932, with the rest coming after the Bundesliga was formed in 1963.Retaining the title is a magnificent achievement, Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. All credit to the coach and the team. Theyve been fantastic throughout, in a season following a World Cup where we had a host of players in action.The treble is still a possibility for Pep Guardiolas side in his second season at the club, with a German Cup semifinal at home to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, before attention turns to Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals.Guardiola led Bayern to a league and cup double in his first season after taking over from Jupp Heynckes, who had steered the side to the treble in 2013.Its not enough to be champion here. Its not enough to win the cup here. Only the treble is enough, Guardiola said before Bayern routed Porto 6-1 in the Champions league last Tuesday.Gladbach made the better start against Wolfsburg, with Patrick Herrmann going close in the 21st, before the visitors improved. Kevin de Bruyne and Ricardo Rodriguez both had good chances before the break.The best chances of the second half fell to Kruse, firing over in the 74th and just wide two minutes later, before he finally sealed the result for Bayerns celebrations to begin.Bayern deserve it, theyre the best, and we deserved it too, to win today, Gladbach coach Lucien Favre said. I always thought we could score a goal.Earlier, Paderborn let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home with Werder Bremen and miss the opportunity to escape the relegation zone.Mario Vrancic met Moritz Stoppelkamps corner with a brilliant volley to blast Paderborn ahead in the 26th minute and Stoppelkamp headed the home sides second a minute later.Suleyman Koc almost made it 3-0 two minutes after that but shot just wide of the far post, and Paderborn were to rue several missed chances.Davie Selke pulled one back with a header just before the break, and Izet Hajrovic equalized in the 76th, two minutes after coming on as a substitute, with a low shot inside the post after a corner.The home side had Michael Heinloth sent off with a second yellow card two minutes after that.Paderborn moved a point above bottom club Stuttgart, while a win would have propelled the promoted side above Hamburger SV and Hannover. Bremen missed the chance to go seventh.

Football: Hernandez stars for Madrid in six-goal thriller

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MADRID (AFP) - Javier Hernandez struck twice as Real Madrid kept the pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga by reducing the Catalans lead to two points with a enthralling 4-2 win at Celta Vigo on Sunday.Nolito fired the hosts into an early lead before goals from Toni Kroos and Hernandez turned the game around.Santi Mina brought Celta level, but James Rodriguezs deflected effort put Madrid in front once more before the break and Hernandez rounded off the scoring in style 22 minutes from time.Hernandez had starred with the only goal of the tie as Real beat Atletico Madrid for the first time in eight meetings this season to reach the Champions League semi-finals in midweek.However, they were pushed onto the back foot straight away by a Celta side that had already claimed the scalps of Barcelona and Atletico in La Liga this season.Nolito opened the scoring after just nine minutes as he eased past the weak challenges of Dani Carvajal and Asier Illarramendi before leaving Iker Casillas flat-footed with a low shot that rolled in at the near post.Celtas lead lasted only seven minutes as Cristiano Ronaldos dangerous cross from the right was cleared only as far as Kroos at the edge of the area and the German curled home just his second goal for Madrid.The visitors then went in front as Hernandezs scoring streak continued with a fine low finish after a neat one-two with Rodriguez.Yet, again the lead was short-lived when Fabio Orellanas through ball split the Madrid defence wide open and Mina slotted into an empty net at the second attempt after his initial effort came back off the post.Celtas offensive approach was allowing Madrid plenty of space to counter-attack and Ronaldo nearly took advantage of another lightning break when he struck the post from Hernandezs pass.However, Carlo Ancelottis men only had seconds to wait for the third goal to arrive and there was a touch of fortune about it as Rodriguezs shot was deflected past the helpless Sergio Alvarez.Celta began the second period with the same intensity as they had the first and the home fans were screaming for a penalty when Orellana tumbled inside the area under pressure from Kroos, but the referee was unmoved.Hernandez then sealed the three points in stunning fashion as he controlled Sergio Ramoss brilliant ball over the top before slamming past Alvarez for his fourth goal in as many games.Earlier, Europa League holders Sevilla maintained their push for a return to the Champions League with a comfortable 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.Unai Emerys men had edged out Zenit St Petersburg in a gruelling 90 minutes to make it back to the semi-finals of the Europa League with a 2-2 draw in Russia on Thursday.However, they showed little sign of fatigue in a commanding first 45 minutes and made the game safe before the break thanks to goals from Vicente Iborra and Daniel Carrico.Victory moves the Andalusians a point above Valencia in the fight for a top four finish, although Los Che can move back into the final Champions League place should they avoid defeat at home to Granada on Monday.At the other end of the table, Almeria gave their hopes of survival a huge boost with a 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Eibar thanks to goals from Thievy Bifouma and Verza.That result elevated Almeria out of the relegation zone at Deportivo la Corunas expense after they had earlier claimed a point in a 1-1 draw away to Malaga.

Football: Arsenal stalemate delays Chelsea coronation

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LONDON (AFP) - Chelsea must wait at least another week for the Premier League title after drawing 0-0 with Arsenal in a niggly, physical encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.Chelsea had three penalty appeals turned down in the first half, and Arsenal one, and while the home side procured clearer chances after half-time, the result favoured the visitors, who kept their 10-point lead intact.Victory would have enabled Jose Mourinhos team to secure the league by winning at Leicester City on Wednesday, but they can now claim the title in front of their own fans by beating Leicester and then defeating Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge next Sunday.The draw ended a run of nine Arsenal wins in all competitions, but while Arsene Wengers record of matches without victory over Mourinho now stands at 13, his side remain well placed in the race for the Champions League.They remain third, below Manchester City on goal difference and two points above Manchester United, but have games in hand on both.With Diego Costa and Loic Remy injured and Didier Drogba not fully fit, Chelsea manager Mourinho sprang a surprise by fielding a starting XI that contained no recognised strikers.Oscar was the nominal number nine and he was involved in the days first two penalty incidents, firstly going to ground when Hector Bellerin ran across the back of his legs.There was fleeting contact between the players, but it appeared accidental and referee Michael Oliver waved play on.Back at the club where he had previously spent eight years, Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas was booed at every turn.The second penalty appeal stemmed from his pass from deep that sent Oscar sprinting into the Arsenal box.The Brazil international lofted the ball over the onrushing David Ospina, who poleaxed him, but Bellerin headed his shot off the line and Oliver did not deem the Arsenal goalkeepers challenge a foul.In the 24th minute, it was Fabregas turning a plaintive face to the referee after he had tumbled over Santi Cazorlas outstretched leg.But Oliver again was unmoved and to the delight of the home fans, booked the Spaniard for diving.On the touchline, Mourinhos scowl tightened, but 10 minutes later it was Wengers turn to lament the officials clemency.After striding onto Bellerins volleyed cross, Cazorla saw a shot strike the raised arm of Gary Cahill, but again Oliver let it go.Moments later Chelsea created the first real chance, with Willian steering a pass into the path of his countryman Ramires, but the Chelsea number sevens prodded shot was comfortably saved by Ospina.Mesut Ozil took aim at the other end after a sharp passing sequence, but put his shot straight at Thibaut Courtois.Oscar, apparently feeling the effects of his collision with Ospina, left the fray at half-time, with Drogba coming on.The first half had at times been frantic, but Chelsea looked to draw the sting from the game in the second, inviting Arsenal to attack them and looking to break forward on the counter-attack.After Drogba had put a shot straight at Ospina, there was another wince-inducing moment when Willian almost kicked Laurent Koscielny in the head with a high boot.The Brazilian escaped with a booking, but Chelsea were almost punished from the ensuing free-kick.Courtois could only pat the ball into the path of Per Mertesacker, but the big German centre-back skewed his shot wide, and when Koscielny teed up Cazorla moments later, the outcome was the same.Wenger gambled by sending on forward Danny Welbeck for midfielder Francis Coquelin, but still Chelsea refused to buckle, prompting chants of Boring, boring Chelsea from the frustrated home fans.There was one last chance for Arsenal, Nacho Monreal threading a cross into the box from the left, but neither Ozil nor Welbeck could apply a finishing touch.

Football: Everton overpower United

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LONDON (AFP) - Everton made a mockery of the Premier League table as they beat Manchester United 3-0 in fine style on Sunday to dent their visitors hopes of direct entry into the Champions League.Had United won on Merseyside, they would have climbed into second place.But this defeat, their third in as many league visits to Goodison Park, left Louis van Gaals side fourth in the table with four matches to play as goals from James McCarthy, John Stones and Kevin Mirallas saw Everton rise into 10th place.Only the top three teams in the Premier League at the end of the season go straight into the first round of the Champions League, with the side finishing fourth facing the unwanted prospect of a qualifying round.And United are not yet certain of fourth, given they lead Liverpool, who are fifth, by seven points having played a game more than their bitter rivals.United manager van Gaal said his side, whove now lost eight league matches this season, had been out-fought by Everton.We have always had more fighting spirit on the pitch and I think that this is the first match that the other team have shown more of that than us, the Dutchman told Sky Sports.This was the first match when I saw a team that was more motivated and aggressive than us. It is not good, but we are human beings.Van Gaal, whose team featuring former Everton favourites Wayne Rooney and Marouane Fellaini were repeatedly undone on the counter-attack, added: We have to see that our opponents will defend more and cope with that as a club. Everton deserved to win -- when the result is fair, you can live with it.Meanwhile delighted Everton manager Roberto Martinez said: I thought we were well worth a three-goal lead and that speaks volumes. To keep the concentration for 90 minutes and keep a clean sheet was magnificent.It took Everton, who kicked-off 24 points behind United, just five minutes to open the scoring in front of their own fans as McCarthy surged between flimsy challenges from Paddy McNair and Daley Blind before his low shot beat United goalkeeper David de Gea.Everton doubled their lead 10 minutes before half-time when Stones powered in a header from a corner that beat both de Gea and Ashley Young, stationed on the line.The second half saw a 74th-minute goal from Belgium international Mirallas secure Evertons victory.Ross Barkleys ball forward appeared to be aimed at the offside Romelu Lukaku. But Lukaku, showing impressive awareness, opted out of receiving the ball and, with United waiting for a flag that never came, the onside Mirallas raced beyond his team-mate and swept the ball in, with referee Andre Marriner letting the goal stand.

Athletics: Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge wins men's London Marathon

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LONDON (AFP) - Eliud Kipchoge led a Kenyan clean sweep of the podium places as he won the mens London Marathon on Sunday in a time of two hours, four minutes and 42 seconds.The final mile saw former world 5,000 metres champion Kipchoge sprint clear of Wilson Kipsang, last years London winner, with world record-holder Dennis Kimetto finishing in third place.Victory saw Kipchoge add the London title to his wins in last years Rotterdam and Chicago marathons and was his fourth victory in five runs at the distance.It was a tough race. My training paid off and it went to plan, said Kipchoge.Some pundits had billed the mens event as a Clash of the Champions between Kipsang and Kimetto, their first meeting over the marathon.I was really under-rated, said Kipchoge. Everyone was like, Wilson and Kimetto, who will win?Kipsang added: I tried to keep a close watch on him, but he had more fuel than me.The 30-year-old Kipchoge, who went up in distance after his world title success on the track in Paris in 2003, beat a field featuring the three-fastest marathon runners of all-time.His winning time was outside Kipsangs London record of 2hrs 04 mins and 29 secs set last year.Kipsangs time of 2:04:47 on Sunday made him the quickest-ever London runner-up, surpassing Stanley Biwotts 2:04:55 last year.Kimetto came in third this year in a time of 2:05:50, with Biwott in fourth place.In the womens race, there was a shock win for Tigist Tufa as the Ethiopian, who in common with Kipchoge was making her London debut, ended fours years of Kenyan domination.Tufa was only the ninth-fastest competitor in the elite womens field but pulled clear just over a mile from the finish.The 28-year-old won by some 18 seconds from Kenyas Mary Keitany in a time of 2:23:22.Keitany, the winner of the race in 2011 and 2012, just did enough to hold off Tufas compatriot, Tirfi Tsegaye, in the battle for second place. Tufa, the 2014 Shanghai Marathon champion, was the first Ethiopian to win the London womens race since Derartu Tulu in 2001, with a 25th mile completed in just 5mins 07 secs enabling her to make a decisive breakaway in overcast and cool conditions.Ive always dreamed about winning the London Marathon and I cant say how happy I am that this has come true, said Tufa who beat a field featuring the Kenyan quartet of defending champion Edna Kiplagat, Keitany, half-marathon world record holder Florence Kiplagat and Priscah Jeptoo, the London winner in 2013.Edna Kiplagat finished down the field in 11th place.The race also marked British distance-running heroine Paula Radcliffes farewell to the event.No longer among the elite competitors, but running among the main field, the 41-year-old was bowing out on the same course where in 2003 she set a womens world record of 2:15:25 that still stands.However, Radcliffes career has been blighted by a series of injuries in recent years, with illness and fitness problems helping deny her an Olympic title.Radcliffe crossed the line on Sunday in a time of 2:36:55.Down the last mile I thought, I dont care about the time. I just wanted to thank as many people as I could, Radcliffe said after embracing husband Gary Lough and their two children, daughter Isla and son Raphael, at the finish.There was a big sign at Embankment saying we will miss you, but it wont be as much as I will miss you.In the wheelchair races there was an American double, with Joshua George holding off Britains six-times London champion David Weir in a sprint finish, while Tatyana McFadden surged away in the womens event to win the event for a third successive year.

Lahore: 3 terrorists killed in police encounter

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – At least three terrorists belonging to a banned organization were killed in a encounter with police in Daroghawala area of Lahore on Sunday.Those who were killed were identified as Hafeez, Yasir and Rafiq. According to police sources, Hafeez was involved in attack on Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore in 2009 while another terrorist was involved in killing a police constable.Police have also recovered two hand grenades and two Kalashnikovs from the dead terrorists.

Deadly rain in Peshawar, Charsadda claims 45 lives

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PESHAWAR (Dunya News/Agencies) - Heavy rains and strong winds tore through Peshawar, Charsadda and their surrounding villages on Sunday, uprooting trees, collapsing buildings and killing at least 45 people, officials said.The storm also injured over 200 people, provincial Information Minister Mushtaq Ghani said. Winds reached up to 110 kph, said Lutfur Rehman, a local disaster management official.It was very unusual. It took people by surprise, Rehman said. Pakistan typically experiences such rains during its monsoon season in June and July.An emergency was declared at all local hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where Peshawar is the capital, Ghani said.The rain started Sunday afternoon and caused heavy damage to the regions infrastructure, city commissioner Munir Azam said. All flight operations at the Peshawar airport were suspended because more rain was expected overnight, he said.The Pakistani army said troops were sent to the area to launch rescue and relief operations.Rescuers rushed victims to hospitals as roads submerged in water hindered their operations. Ambulances and rescue vehicles found difficult to enter into some areas due to fallen trees and electric poles.Residents carried some of the injured on their backs to cars heading to hospitals.Sign boards and polls collapsed and several trees got uprooted following the disaster which caused most casualties.The rescue officials have also confirmed that several children and minors are also among those injured who have been rushed to the hospital.At least 4 persons died and another 11 injured as several roofs collapsed in Charsadda as well.The provincial government has imposed emergency in hospitals across Peshawar. Talking exclusively to Dunya News, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Information Minister Mushtaq Ghani said that the metrological department did not issue any warning about the rains, thunderstorm and the hailstorm.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his grief over the loss of life and property.He extended condolences to the aggrieved families and asked provincial government and disaster management authorities to gear up rescue efforts so as to control the damage, a statement by his office said.

Kerry to meet Iran FM Zarif on Monday: US official

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet his Iranian counterpart in New York on Monday, the first time since their marathon talks which sealed the outlines of an emerging nuclear deal.Kerry will hold talks with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the 2015 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty conference at the United Nations, a senior State Department official said Sunday.It would be the first meeting between the top diplomats since the April 2 deal reached in Lausanne, Switzerland setting out the parameters for a historic accord to curtail Irans suspect nuclear program.Work on the framework Iran agreement must be completed by June 30 but it is already earning praise as a potential happy ending to one of the worlds most vexing nuclear disputes.Kerry, who was to address the conference, is in store for a busy day in New York. He was already scheduled, with Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, to meet with Japanese counterparts.In addition, the senior State Department official said Kerry will hold separate talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry.

Air raids on market kill 40 as Syria regime hits back

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BEIRUT (AFP) - Air strikes on a marketplace Sunday killed at least 40 civilians, including women and children, as Syrian forces stepped up attacks on rebels a day after losing a key border town.There were fears the death toll would mount from the bombing raids on Darkush, a rebel-held town near the Turkish frontier, which also wounded dozens of people, a monitoring group said.The attacks came after rebel groups including Al-Qaedas Syrian affiliate overran the nearby town of Jisr al-Shughur on Saturday, tightening their grip on the northwestern province of Idlib less than a month after capturing its capital.At least 40 civilians were killed in regime air strikes on a market in the town of Darkush. Among the dead were nine women and eight children, said Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.Jisr al-Shughur was one of the regimes last remaining strongholds in the northwestern province, and its fall has left government-held territory elsewhere in neighbouring Latakia and Hama provinces open to new attack.Overnight and on Sunday, government warplanes pounded Jisr al-Shughur with several dozen air strikes as fighting raged on the ground south of the city, said the Britain-based Observatory.At least two civilians and 20 fighters were killed in the Saturday air strikes along with five others whose identities are not yet known, Abdel Rahman told AFP.The toll is expected to rise after the bombing continued overnight and into Sunday.The clashes in the south of Jisr al-Shughur came after government forces launched a failed bid to rescue at least 40 soldiers loyal to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.State television said government forces had attacked an area by the southern entrance to the town, killing a group of terrorists, but made no mention of any captured soldiers.State media said government troops had redeployed outside Jisr al-Shughur to avoid casualties among innocent civilians.Army units carried out night raids against a number of military positions infiltrated by armed terrorist groups in the area surrounding Jisr al-Shughur, the official SANA news agency reported.It charged that terrorist groups carried out a horrific massacre of more than 30 civilians, mostly women and children, after entering Jisr al-Shughur.But it gave no further details of the alleged killings, and the Observatory said it had received no reports of any massacre of civilians.On Saturday, the Observatory said its sources had seen the bodies of at least 60 regime loyalists in the streets of Jisr al-Shughur after the battle for the town.It said at least 23 prisoners had been summarily executed by government forces before their withdrawal.The Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front posted photographs on Twitter of what it said were the bodies of the murdered prisoners.With the seizure of Jisr al-Shughur, regime forces now hold just a few remaining areas of Idlib province, and analyst Thomas Pierret said the citys capture marked a turning point.Its the end of the loyalist counteroffensive that began in spring 2013, said Pierret, a lecturer on contemporary Islam at the University of Edinburgh.But he noted that while the regime is in a position of weakness, that doesnt mean its going to fall tomorrow.In 2012, the regime survived despite experiencing greater disasters.More than 220,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests that escalated into an armed rebellion.

Israel army kills four men on Syria border: security source

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JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli armed forces on Sunday killed four people when they tried to plant bombs near the Golan Heights on the countrys border with war-torn Syria, a security source said.The incident occurred at night near the town of Majdal Shams, in the Israeli occupied Golan, the source told AFP.The army said on its official Twitter account that the operation targeted terrorists armed with explosives who were en route to imminent attack on our forces. Our air force neutralised threat.It made no mention of any casualties, however.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement praised the vigilance of Israeli troops.Every attempt to attack Israeli soldiers or civilians will be met with a decisive response like this operation which thwarted an attack, the statement from his office said.Israel seized 1,200 square kilometres (460 square miles) of the Golan from Syria in the Six-Day War of 1967 and annexed it in 1981 in a move never recognised by the international community.There has been repeated shooting across the ceasefire line since the uprising in Syria erupted in March 2011, some of it stray.Syria and Israel are still officially in a state of war.

Baltimore police arrest 34 after violent protests

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Police arrested 34 people when protests over the death of a black man in custody spiraled into violence in Baltimore, authorities said, calling for calm in the tense US city.Six police officers were also injured in the disturbances late Saturday, a spokesman said, in the latest demonstrations in the United States over what critics say are overly aggressive police tactics, particularly when it comes to confronting African Americans.Baltimore, a blue-collar city about an hour from the capital Washington, was on edge Sunday and police were out in force, as a wake was held for the 25-year-old Freddie Gray. Gray, who died one week ago after his spine was allegedly nearly severed following his arrest on April 12, was to be buried Monday in what is likely to again be a major rallying point for angry demonstrators.A small contingent of yesterdays protesters caused violent disruptions downtown and in west Baltimore last night and early this morning after what had been mostly peaceful protests throughout the day, police spokesman Jeremy Silbert said.Approximately 34 people were arrested and six officers suffered minor injuries.Additionally, multiple storefronts were vandalized and several police vehicles and other property was damaged.Congressman Elijah Cummings, who represents the Baltimore district where the violence took place, said he was pleased that the US Justice Department was undertaking a top to bottom probe of the citys police department.Weve got to take this department apart and try to figure out what is wrong and what is right, Cummings told CBS televisions Face the Nation program.This is a significant moment. If we dont correct this now, it will only get worse.Saturdays demonstrations drew thousands of protesters, news reports said, in the biggest show of outrage so far over Grays death.Initially, the 90-minute rally at city hall demanding justice for Gray was peaceful.But the mood shifted dramatically when scores of protesters moved to the vicinity of the citys Camden Yards baseball stadium, scene of an evening Baltimore Orioles-Boston Red Sox game.Grays twin sister Fredericka appealed -- in vain -- for calm. My family wants to say: Please, please stop the violence. Freddie would not want this, she said amid the violence.She spoke alongside Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who said she was profoundly disappointed by violence she blamed on a small group of agitators.Local television footage showed a crowd hurling traffic cones, soda bottles and trash cans at police officers, before randomly smashing store windows, looting merchandise and vandalizing police cars.Street signs were torn down, and one motorist got a rock through her car window, local news media reported. Targets of the violence also included a convenience store, a Michael Kors fashion boutique, a financial services center and a cellphone shop in Baltimores landmark Lexington Market.Fans at the baseball game, which went beyond the standard nine innings due to a tie, were told to remain in the stadium, due to an ongoing public safety issue, until gates were opened for them to leave.One police spokesman blamed the trouble on isolated pockets of individuals who were believed to have come from out of town.Tensions have been simmering in Baltimore, a port city of 620,000, as investigators try to establish the circumstances that led to Grays death.During a press conference Friday, Baltimore officials acknowledged Gray should have received medical help at the moment of his arrest, when he was seen by bystanders -- and caught on video -- howling in apparent pain.They also revealed that Gray, contrary to police department policy, was not buckled into his seat in the van, which made at least three unexplained stops on its way to the Western District police station.Six officers have been suspended with pay as the police investigation inches closer to a May 1 deadline to submit findings to a Maryland state prosecutor, who could decide to press charges.Grays death is the latest in a string of high-profile confrontations between African Americans and police, including the fatal shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in August in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson.

Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev 'wins fifth term by a landslide'

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ASTANA (AFP) - Energy-rich Kazakhstans incumbent strongman Nursultan Nazarbayev scored a crushing victory in Sundays one-sided presidential ballot, taking 97.5 percent of the vote to win a fifth consecutive term, an exit poll showed.The exit poll carried out by the Institute for Democracy, a research company based in the authoritarian state, also showed Nazarbayevs closest competitor Turgun Syzdykov as scoring 1.8 percent of the ballot and third candidate Abelgazy Kusainov taking 0.63 percent.Kazakhstans Central Election Commission (CEC) claimed a record voter turnout of 95.11 percent for the poll whose result was never in doubt.The CEC is expected to present preliminary results on Monday.The marginalised opposition did not field a candidate for the election and 74-year-old Nazarbayev stood against two figures widely seen as pro-government.Nazarbayev has ruled the vast Central Asian country since before the breakup of the USSR in 1991. His new five-year term will take him to three decades as leader.He cast his ballot to loud applause in the capital Astana, saying he was confident Kazakhstans people would back his campaign.I am sure Kazakhstans people will vote primarily for the stable development of our state and the improvement of peoples lives, as well as the stability of the state and in support of the policies the country has implemented under my leadership, Nazarbayev told journalists.I am confident of this.Many citizens standing in long, snaking queues at polling stations in Astana and in the largest city Almaty cited a civic duty to vote.Gulmira Bardygulova, a student in Almaty, said she had voted for Nazarbayev to save the country from political turmoil.Young people themselves understand their duty -- nobody is forcing us to vote. We have seen revolutions in Kyrgyzstan, war in Ukraine. Nobody wants this future for Kazakhstan.Some, though, complained of having been pressured to vote by their employers. In Astana, one voter who refused to give her name but said she worked as a clerk complained everybody in her office had been rung up by a line manager and asked to vote.Of course I voted for Nazarbayev, she said. Who are the other two?One of the two candidates to stand against Nazarbayev, Syzdykov, is a 68-year-old former provincial official who campaigned on an anti-globalisation platform, railing against Hollywood, hamburgers and computer games. He represents the Communist Peoples Party of Kazakhstan.The other, Kusainov, 63, has held several important government positions and currently heads the national federation of trade unions. He was standing as an independent after running a campaign touching on Kazakhstans environmental problems.Nazarbayev said he respected his opponents and was prepared to work with them after the election.Elections in Kazakhstan resemble political theatre, Dosym Saptaev, director of the Kazakhstan Risks Assessment Group, a think tank based in the largest city Almaty, told AFP.The significance of the event is no more than the fact that it may well be Nazarbayevs last.Economic issues have come to the forefront in recent months in Kazakhstan, which is the most prosperous of the five ex-Soviet Central Asian states.Kazakhstans domestic producers have been laying off workers as they struggle to compete with Russian imports made cheaper by the dramatic weakening of the sanctions-hit ruble.Kazakhstan banned a number of Russian foodstuffs in March and April, citing standards violations, and has also restricted imports of Russian fuel. Moscow, traditionally viewed as a strong ally of the republic, implemented tit-for-tat measures this month.Depressed prices for Kazakhstans main export, crude oil, have created a headache for the government, with ratings agency Standard and Poors downgrading the countrys sovereign credit rating from BBB to BBB -- close to junk territory -- earlier this year.The strategic country, which borders both Russia and China, has never held an election deemed free and fair by international monitors.Nazarbayev claimed victory in the last presidential election, in 2011, with 95.5 percent of the vote. Sundays ballot -- called a year ahead of schedule -- is the fifth he has contested.In its interim report on the vote, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) raised concerns about Nazarbayevs institutional advantage.While Nazarbayevs posters and billboards were visible throughout the country, the other two candidates have distributed almost no campaign materials, the OSCE said.The OSCE sent nearly 300 observers to the vote and will deliver their verdict on Monday.Over 9.5 million people in the ethnically diverse country were eligible to vote at over 9,000 polling stations across the country, according to the CEC.
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