Tuesday, 1 March 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Oil prices fall ahead of US inventory data

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SINGAPORE (AFP) - Oil prices fell in Asian on Wednesday as traders awaited the release of US crude inventory data, which are expected to show a further rise in stockpiles.After closing higher Tuesday on fresh Russian calls for a production freeze to reduce the global supply glut, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in April was 33 cents (0.96 percent) down at $34.07 around 0300 GMT in New York.Brent North Sea crude for May delivery was 12 cents (0.33 percent) lower at $36.69 in London.US crude oil inventories increasing is almost becoming a norm. Inventories are already at a historic high and markets are taking a nonchalant stance towards a continued inch upwards, said Daniel Ang, investment analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore.US production, on the other hand, is slightly more interesting as it is finally starting to show corrections. We highly expect to see US oil production drop a lot more now that prices are in the $30 region, which could result in the easing of global oil supply, he added in a note.A Bloomberg News survey ahead of Wednesdays Energy Information Administration (EIA) report showed that US crude stockpiles probably increased 3.4 million barrels from an 86-year high last week.The EIA is projected to report that supplies of gasoline and distillate fuel, a category that includes diesel and heating oil, dropped, Bloomberg added.Oil prices had risen Tuesday on increasing optimism of an output freeze to shore up the market as Russia said domestic oil groups supported the proposal.Opening a meeting with Russian oil group chiefs, President Vladimir Putin said Energy Minister Alexander Novak had led discussions on forging a freeze agreement between producer countries.He said the idea was to fix Russias 2016 production level at that of January, which was a post-Soviet record of 10.8 million barrels per day on average.The market gained a lift in the latter half of February when OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC member Russia agreed to freeze output to January levels, if other major producers followed suit.But disappointment that there was no output cut, and skepticism that such a freeze could be agreed, has contributed to recent market volatility.

Hiddink sets sights on overhauling Manchester United

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NORWICH (AFP) - Guus Hiddink has set Chelsea the target of over-taking Manchester United by the end of the Premier League campaign.Winning the Champions League and the FA Cup are the top priorities for last seasons champions, who moved up to eighth place in the table thanks to a 2-1 win at Norwich City on Tuesday.A top four finish has long been established as the norm at Stamford Bridge in the Roman Abramovich era, but Hiddink knows that it remains a tough task to achieve that aim this term.United, in fifth, seem more catchable and are currently five points ahead, although that could change when they play Watford on Wednesday.Fifth spot will qualify the team that finishes there for the Europa League, as will winning the FA Cup.Are they catchable? said Hiddink when asked about United. Well, first of all, were happy. Its not Chelsea standard to be happy to be out of the relegation zone, and sit back and relax a bit.We have to set new targets now with the ambition of Chelsea in the direction of Europe.We have a tight schedule -- Stoke, PSG, Everton -- and the squad is not very, very broad, so we hope everyone is on board.If everyone is available, wed like to go as high as possible towards the European spots.Chelsea took the lead at Norwich after just 39 seconds when Kenedy scored and Diego Costa doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time, albeit from an offside position.That gave them enough of a cushion to repel a spirited fightback from Norwich, who saw Nathan Redmond pull one back.Hiddink made it clear he was happy with the result but the performance could have been better.We have now won a few games in a row, which gives satisfaction of course, he said.But I think we were a bit sloppy in the finishing in the first half.We had a splendid start through Kenedy, a beautiful goal, but after that we had some options to get a second.We did in the end, but we should have killed it off already by then. Im satisfied with the result, but I like to be critical that we didnt finish it off early.- Frustrated -==============It wasnt the first time this season that Chelsea have benefited from an offside goal and Hiddink sympathised with the Canaries, who dropped into the bottom three.I havent seen it yet but, if so, I can understand people are frustrated in the other dressing room, he said.If thats the case, I can understand their feelings.Norwich manager Alex Neil was confident that the players would not be affected by the current league table.I dont think psychologically it will have a part, he said. We have Swansea on Saturday, Man City and then games against teams around about us. Were capable of winning those games.We need to win games to stay in this league. The fact were in the bottom three now has no bearing. Weve been there or about all season. We have to win games to get us out of there.Were playing teams around us. Teams like Bournemouth might be playing teams at the top. Everybody has everyone to play.Neil was frustrated that the relevant linesman did not spot that Costa was offside for the second goal.I made them aware that hed got it wrong at half-time, he said. The guys made an honest call and got it wrong. It happens.I wont lambast him for that. Of course were disappointed and frustrated, but there we are.Norwich midfielder Alex Tettey was taken to hospital for an X-ray on a leg injury, while Robbie Brady and Gary ONeil were hurt when they collided in the second half.

Tennis: Venus ends Indian Wells boycott

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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Venus Williams will end her 15-year boycott of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells next week, following in the footsteps of sister Serena who returned to the event last year.The 35-year-old former world number one has not played the prestigious Californian event since 2001, when she and Serena were booed by sections of the crowd.Her father Richard Williams has long alleged the family was subjected to repeated racial slurs after Venus withdrew from a semi-final against Serena due to a knee injury.Explaining her decision to return to the tournament in a commentary on The Players Tribune website, Williams said the criticism directed at her family had left a lasting mark on her.I remember the pain of my knee injury, and how badly I wanted to play in the semis against Serena - before finally accepting that I wouldnt be able to, Venus wrote.I remember the accusations toward me and my sister and our father. I remember the crowds reaction, as I walked to my seat, during Serenas match in the final. And I remember how I couldnt understand why thousands of people would be acting this way - to a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old, trying their best.There are certain things where, if you go through them at a certain age, you simply dont forget them.Venus said she had been prompted to return after seeing the warm reception her sister received last year, when she was given a 57-second standing ovation before her opening match on Stadium Court.It was in that moment, seeing Serena welcomed with open arms last year at Indian Wells, that I think I fully and truly realized what being the big sister means, Venus wrote. It means that, for all of the things I did first, and all of the times when I paved the way for Serena, the thing I can be most proud of is this time. When Serena paved the way for me.

Football: Costa lifts Chelsea as Norwich crash again

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NORWICH (AFP) - Chelsea moved into the top half of the Premier League for the first time since August as Diego Costa sealed a 2-1 win at struggling Norwich on Tuesday. Guus Hiddinks side, who remain unbeaten in domestic action under their interim manager, climbed to eighth place thanks to first-half goals from Kenedy and Costa. Nathan Redmonds goal gave Norwich hope of a comeback, but the Canaries have now not won since early January and have been pushed into the bottom three by Sunderlands 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace. Chelsea made four changes from the side that came back from behind to win 2-1 at Southampton on Saturday, with Kenedy, Nemanja Matic, Bertrand Traore and Oscar replacing Baba Rahman, John Obi Mikel, Willian and Pedro making way. Norwich had held out until the 89th minute at Leicester at the weekend before going down to the games only goal. But this time parity lasted all of 39 seconds when Kenedy, played in by Eden Hazard, struck a low drive across John Ruddy in the home goal. The goalkeeper had been afforded scant protection as team-mates backed off initially to allow Hazard to gain speed. And when the ball was switched to the Brazilian at least three Norwich men were guilty of making half-hearted attempts to stop him before the shot was unleashed. If Norwichs plans had been to defend, the setback at least forced them to abandon such negative thoughts and the Canaries did attack their visitors regularly before the break.A lack of cutting edge was all too obvious, but no clear cut Chelsea chances were created until half-time was seconds away and Spain striker Costa doubled the lead.The goal came from a throw-in as Hazard teed up Traore, making his first Chelsea start, for a first-time ball that saw the young forward stride off towards goal with defenders trailing. Costa lofted the ball over Ruddy with ease but it was already apparent that he had been offside when Traore launched his pass. That wasnt the first error made by referee Lee Mason and his officials - Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had been allowed to pick up an obvious back-pass by Gary Cahill. Norwich began the second half brightly and Cameron Jerome peeled away from his marker at the back post to volley narrowly wide. Redmond fired over before Jerome squandered a great chance to put the Canaries back in the game. Wes Hoolahans cross found Russell Martin at the back post and the Scotland internationals header was perfect for the striker right in front of goal but somehow his volley hit the top of the bar rather than the net. Chelsea made a double substitution, with Mikel and Willian replacing Oscar and Traore on the hour mark.Norwich threw on an extra attacker in Dieumerci Mbokani, with centre-back Bennett the man sacrificed. Jerome headed a good chance over straight away but Redmond pulled one back with a fine strike in the 68th minute, rifling past Courtois after Hoolahan had played him in on the right of the box. Chelsea nerves were frayed and Cesc Fabregas was booked for fouling Redmond before Jerome diverted Robbie Bradys shot, forcing Courtois into a save. Gary ONeil and Brady were hurt in a clash of heads that also involved Willian. Blood was spilt by both Norwich men and ONeil had to go off to get a massive bandage tied round his head. Norwich pressed to the end and Redmond fired a low drive past Courtois but into the side-netting. Costa put a great chance to wrap up victory wide after Fabregas had beaten the offside trap but despite five frantic added minutes the score remained the same.

Football: Menez hits brace as Milan end 13-year wait for Cup final

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MILAN (AFP) - Jeremy Menez ended an 11-month goal drought with a brace as AC Milan booked their first Italian Cup final in 13 years with a 5-0 rout of third division Alessandria on Tuesday.Milan, 6-0 winners on aggregate, last featured in the Cup final in 2003 when they won it for the fifth time. After a comprehensive victory which included a brace from centre-back Alessio Romagnoli and a late goal from on-loan Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, the Rossoneri are now expected to meet Juventus in the May 21 final at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.Holders Juventus travel to Inter Milan on Wednesday, three days after outclassing Roberto Mancinis men 2-0 in Turin to boost their Serie A title bid, and with a comfortable 3-0 cushion from the first leg.Mihajlovic praised both Menez and Balotelli, saying they would be useful to us in the run-in.Mission complete, Mihajlovic told Rai Sport. It was crucial for us to secure a place in the final and win with a big margin.Were happy, its been 13 years and weve achieved one of our objectives of the season, although well obviously be looking to also win the final.Menez emerged to become one of Milans most valuable players when he joined the struggling Serie A giants from Paris Saint-Germain in 2014, only to be sidelined with injury at the end of last season.The 28-year-old returned to Sinisa Mihajlovics side recently with a series of cameo substitute appearances, but capitalised on his first start for the Rossoneri since April 2015 to underline his attacking credentials in timely fashion as they look to secure a top three finish this season.Alessandria headed to the San Siro with a sizeable travelling support but their dream of a fairytale final with Juventus was compounded from the 20th minute onwards.Menez broke the deadlock in clinical fashion when he collected a pass inside the area to beat Gianmarco Vannucchi with a low angled strike.Milan doubled their lead only four minutes later when Romagnoli tapped the ball home from a corner that had been headed towards the back post by Rossoneri midfielder Juraj Kucka.Milan put the tie beyond reach six minutes before half-time when Menez struck Andrea Polis delivery first time past Vannucchi after Keisuke Hondas clever ball on the right.Menez was replaced by Carlos Bacca with 15 minutes remaining, the Frenchman leaving the pitch to an ovation.Alessandria thought they had reduced arrears soon after but Mattia De Sciglio produced a spectacular clearance inches from the goalline after a shot had trickled under Christian Abbiati and beyond the goalkeepers reach.Two minutes later, Romagnoli had his second from a near carbon copy of his first goal, the defender firing home at the back post from a corner to leave a desperate Vannucchi pushing the ball out of the net.Bacca should have had Milans fifth when he was sent clear by Hondas through ball, but despite having time and space, the Colombian contrived to shoot wide.But as Alessandria tired, Balotelli punished the visitors when he collected Hondas ball to power down the middle and fire through Vannucchis legs.

Football: Atletico ease past Sociedad, cut Barca's lead

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MADRID (AFP) - Atletico Madrid closed the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to five points with a routine 3-0 win over Real Sociedad on Tuesday.A bright start from the hosts was rewarded when Diego Reyes turned Kokes low cross into his own net after just eight minutes.Saul Niguezs acrobatic volley doubled Atleticos advantage a minute into the second-half before Antoine Griezmanns penalty rounded off the scoring.Barca can restore their eight-point lead when they travel to Rayo Vallecano on Thursday looking to set a Spanish football record by stretching their unbeaten run to 35 games.Third-placed Real Madrid are now seven points adrift of Atletico ahead of their trip to Levante on Wednesday.We started the game very well from middle to front which opened up the game for us, said Atletico boss Diego Simeone.It is very difficult to imagine Barcelona losing games. We are concentrating on ourselves and bettering our own standards.Buoyed by coming out on top against Real in the capital city derby on Saturday, Atletico started full of confidence and should have killed the game off before half-time.The opener arrived when Kokes dangerous low cross from the right caused confusion between Reyes and Geronimo Rulli and the Mexican defender shanked the ball into his own net.Diego Godin should have made it 2-0 moments later when he blasted over Jose Maria Gimenezs flick-on from Kokes corner.Rulli then redeemed himself with smart saves from Griezmann and Luciano Vietto, although in truth both strikers placed their shots too close to the keeper.Atletico did finally get the second goal with the first attack of the second half as Viettos lofted cross picked out Sauls late run into the box and his bicycle-kick had too much power for Rulli.The only slight concern for Atletico boss Diego Simeone was the sight of Godin having to be replaced by Lucas Hernandez shortly afterwards, with the vital return-leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with PSV Eindhoven just two weeks away.Griezmann was Atleticos hero at the weekend and he won the chance to round off the scoring against his former club when he was tripped inside the area by Antonio de la Bella on the hour mark.The French international dusted himself off to send Rulli the wrong way for his 21st goal of the season.Griezmann was then also withdrawn with a meeting against Gary Nevilles Valencia on Sunday in mind.Sociedad began to threaten for the first time in the match in the final half hour as Carlos Vela fired just wide before Jonathas headed against the post.At the bottom of the table Las Palmas secured a huge 4-0 win over fellow strugglers Getafe to move three points clear of the relegation zone.Willian Jose, Jonathan Viera and a Tana double consigned Getafe to a seventh straight defeat which leaves them just two points above the drop zone.

Formula One: Mercedes unleash Rosberg in second test

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BARCELONA (AFP) - World champions Mercedes sent another signal of their continued dominance to the rest of the Formula One paddock, as Nico Rosberg was fastest on the first day of the second pre-season test in Barcelona on Tuesday.The German and defending world champion Lewis Hamilton are sharing driving duties on each of the four days in the Catalan capital this week due to the W07s remarkable reliability.Rosberg registered the second best time of testing so far in 1min 23.022sec as Mercedes finally used the quicker soft tyres, after completing nearly 700 laps on the first four days of testing last week on the medium compound.It was nice for me to be able to push some more and produce some stronger lap times, said Rosberg.Thats when its all the more enjoyable; taking the car to the limit and really pushing.Its been a good test, reliability has been good, the speed has been there - its all working to plan.Hamilton remained on the medium tyres, though, for his 90 laps after lunch to finish down in sixth fastest.Williams also began to show their speed after an understated first week in Barcelona as Valtteri Bottas was second quickest, although his time of 1min 23.229sec was not exceptional given he was on ultrasoft tyres.It was a good day today. We managed to run without any major issues with the car, said Bottas.We have improved in the areas where we were weak last year.McLaren-Honda enjoyed a more positive day as they recovered from the reliability problems suffered at the end of last weeks test with a new engine as Fernando Alonso completed 93 laps.The Spanish two-time world champion also recorded the third fastest time, but was 1.7 seconds back on Rosbergs best on the same soft tyres to again demonstrate the gulf between the McLaren project and Mercedes.After the disappointment of not being able to complete much running at the end of last weeks test, it was positive to get so many laps on the board today, said Alonso.Kimi Raikkonen was down in fourth as Ferrari managed just 72 laps due to a gearbox blockage.Dutch teenager Max Verstappen managed double that tally with a marathon 144 laps for Toro Rosso in seventh fastest.Brazilian Felipe Nasr debuted the Sauber C35, with the Swiss team the last to unveil their new car for the new season.Rookie Rio Haryantos difficult start at Manor continued as he completed only two laps without registering a time due to an oil leak in the morning.The Indonesian bounced back with 42 laps in the afternoon, but was still well adrift of the rest of the field on time.

Gene holds key to (no) grey hair: study

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PARIS (AFP) - Dyeing ones hair may no longer be the only option for keeping grey at bay, scientists said Tuesday in announcing the discovery of a gene that makes hair lose its luster.The gene, IRF4, was known to affect colour, but a new study is the first to pinpoint its unique role in the inexorable transition to shades of grey.Further research on precisely how IRF4 works could unlock techniques and treatments that slow or even halt that process, said the scientists.An initial avenue has to do with the role IRF4 could play in survival and maintenance of cells that make pigment, said Andres Ruiz-Linares, a professor at the University College London Genetics Institute who led the study.Understanding how the gene interacts with other genes controling hair colour, for example, might yield cosmetic applications that block the fade to grey as hair grows in the follicle, he told AFP.Setting aside unresolved ethical issues, one could even wildly contemplate the use of gene editing, a ultra-precise cut-and-paste process for altering DNA sequences, he said.But the IRF4 variant that favours grey also produces fair hair, he cautioned, so tinking with the gene could also mean fewer blondes.In the study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications, Ruiz-Linares and three dozen colleagues investigated the genetic triggers for facial hair, the prevalence of mono-brows, hair colour and shape, balding and greying.This is well-travelled ground scientifically, but the size and original design of the research yielded a trove of new results.Another gene, PRSS53, for example, was found to influence curliness, shedding light on the evolution of hair shape that led to straight hair in East Asia and among Native Americans.A variant of a third gene, PAX3, was strongly associated with mono-brow, the tendency -- especially among men -- for eyebrows to be joined by a bridge of facial hair.Gender selectionTo undertake the analysis, scientists did a so-called genome-wide association scan (GWAS) of 6,630 volunteers in Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru, matching similarities in their DNA with physical traits.But rather than selecting subjects that shared a common ancestry -- all northern Europeans or Japanese, for example -- the researchers deliberately mixed things up.Nearly half the participants were of European background, 40 percent were Native American, and six percent were of recent African origin.Altogether, the study yielded 10 previously unknown correlations between genes and hair-related traits that rose to the level of statistical significance, including the grey hair gene.Depending on ancestry, people tend to go grey at different stages in their lives, the study found.The average age of hair greying for Caucasians is in the mid-30s, Ruiz-Linares told AFP.For East Asians, the loss of colour starts in their late 30s, and for sub-Saharan Africans, in their mid-40s.Likewise, the greying process is said to be premature if it starts before the age of 20 in people of European background, and before 25 and 30 among Asians and Africans, respectively.The study will also provide new fodder for speculation on the evolutionary drivers behind changes and variation in human hirsuteness, the authors said.Curly hair would help keep the brain cool, particularly in the hot, equatorial latitudes where humans initially evolved, Ruiz-Linares explained.Similarly, straight hair could stem from an adaptation to colder weather to the north and south.Hair, or the lack of it, may also affect gender selection, in which certain traits favour reproduction among robust specimens of a species.

Oil rises as Russia sees support for output freeze

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices rose Tuesday on increasing optimism over a output freeze to shore up the market as Russia said domestic oil groups supported the proposal.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in April climbed 65 cents (1.9 percent) to $34.40 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.Brent North Sea crude for May, the European benchmark for oil, gained 24 cents (0.7 percent) to $36.81 a barrel in London.The market continues to be driven by expectations were going to see a tightening of supply and demand fundamentals, said Gene McGillian of Tradition Energy.McGillian pointed out that Brent prices were up about 40 percent since January, when they hit the lowest level since 2003.The market, under sustained pressure from abundant supplies, gained a lift in the latter half of February when OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC member Russia agreed to freeze output to January levels, if other major producers followed suit.But disappointment that there was no output cut, and skepticism that such a freeze could be agreed, has contributed to recent market volatility.Today the Russians repeated they think theyll have their production freeze agreement slated for approval in March, McGillian said.Opening a meeting with Russian oil group chiefs, President Vladimir Putin said Energy Minister Alexander Novak had led discussions on forging a freeze agreement between producer countries.He said the idea was to fix Russias 2016 production level at that of January, which was a post-Soviet record of 10.8 million barrels per day on average.As the minister reported to me, you all agree with this proposal, he said in comments released by the Kremlin.OPEC member United Arab Emirates also voice support. I believe that current prices will force everyone to stabilize production at January levels, Emirati Oil Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei said, according to state news agency WAM.

Clinton, Trump pile up Super Tuesday wins

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump piled up the wins in pivotal Super Tuesday contests, US networks projected, as the frontrunners edged closer to clinching presidential nominations.Clinton, the former secretary of state, was the projected winner in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and the vital battleground state of Virginia, auguring well for her campaign as millions of votes are counted in a dozen states across the country.Super Tuesday is the most pivotal day of the US presidential primary season so far, with Clinton and Trump hoping to wipe out all rivals for their party nominations.Billionaire real estate mogul Trump was projected to win the Republican contests in Alabama, Georgia, Massachusetts and Tennessee, and held a narrow lead over Marco Rubio in Virginia, according to early exit polls.His success will sow yet more terror in the Republican hierarchy, which fears the party of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan could face electoral annihilation in Novembers general election if he is the nominee.Trumps main Republican rivals, Senators Rubio and Ted Cruz, have been frantically trying to halt his march toward the nomination, seeking to unite the party against the man they see as a non-conservative political interloper.But it might be too little too late, with polls showing the 69-year-old Trump with a commanding lead nationwide.Clinton, coming off a blowout weekend win in South Carolina, continued her dominance in the South, though her camp has played down talk of a clean sweep Tuesday.That proved to be prescient, with rival Bernie Sanders projected to win his tiny home state of Vermont. Sanders told supporters: (It) means so much to me that the people who know me best, the people who knew me before I was elected, who knew me as mayor, Congressman and know me as Senator, have voted so strongly to put us in the White House.The 68-year-old Clinton, as she made her final case to voters earlier in Minnesota, appeared to tilt toward the general election matchup, assailing Republicans running their campaigns based on insults.Asked if Trump would be the eventual nominee, she told reporters he could be on the path. But whoever they nominate, Ill be prepared to run against (him) if Im fortunate to be the nominee.A new CNN/ORC poll found that both Clinton and Sanders would easily defeat Trump if the general election -- set for November 8 -- were held now.Trumps incendiary rhetoric has infuriated his Republican rivals, and the race has descended in recent days into a mud-slinging match between him and the mainstream favorite Rubio.The Florida senator sent a letter to his supporters Tuesday calling Trump a serious threat to the future of our party, and our country.In just the last few days, Trump has refused to condemn white supremacism and the Ku Klux Klan, praised dictators Saddam Hussein and Moammar Qaddafi, and proposed infringing upon the First Amendment of our Constitution, he wrote.This is no joke. Its time to fight back.Trump also received a stern rebuke from House Speaker Paul Ryan over his failure to immediately denounce the support of David Duke, a former leader of the Ku Klux Klan.If a person wants to be the nominee of the Republican Party, there can be no evasion and no games, Ryan, the top Republican in Congress, told reporters. This party does not prey on peoples prejudices.But the CNN/ORC poll gave Trump 49 percent of support nationwide, with Rubio a distant second at 16 percent and Cruz one point further behind. Cruz, a Texas senator, is however banking on winning his home state, the largest prize on Tuesday.Trumps inflammatory rhetoric -- he has accused Mexico of sending rapists across the border, mocked women and the disabled, urged a ban on Muslims entering the country, and eagerly advocated the use of torture -- would have been the undoing of a normal candidate.But the 2016 cycle has been anything but normal, with a furious electorate keen to back an outsider who scorns the political establishment.If Trump sweeps the South, where many of the Super Tuesday races are taking place, it could be lights out for his Republican challengers.Almost 600 Republican delegates are up for grabs Tuesday, nearly half the 1,237 needed to secure the nomination.Some 865 Democratic delegates are at stake, 36 percent of those needed to win.As the prospect of a Trump nomination loomed ever larger, a lengthy clip by British satirist John Oliver skewering his many false claims and inconsistencies has gone viral.The segment, first aired late Sunday on Last Week Tonight, launched a hashtag, MakeDonaldDrumpfAgain, in a nod to the candidates original family name.By Tuesday, the word Drumpf was ahead of both Rubio and Cruz in Google search rankings -- right behind Trump himself.

Aiming at Trump, German FM warns of 'politics of fear'

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday took a thinly veiled shot at Donald Trump, decrying the politics of fear in the US presidential campaign.Building walls is a very bad idea -- no matter who pays for them, Steinmeier told university students during a visit to Washington.Trump has vowed to build a giant wall on the countrys southern border to keep migrants from illegally crossing into the United States and has promised that he will make Mexico pay for it.As millions of Americans headed to the polls in primaries and caucuses in a dozen states on Super Tuesday, the billionaire real estate mogul was leading the race for the Republican nomination where immigration is a hot-button issue.Steinmeier warned that the rise of populist parties and politicians in Europe and the United States could undermine effective foreign policy in our Western democracies.In Germany and in Europe, something is gaining momentum in our domestic politics - and to be honest, I am also seeing it here in the United States during the primary campaigns: Its the politics of fear, he said.Lets guard against those politics of fear -- they are dangerous for Europe and the US. They are bad for the world and, in the end, they will also be bad for our transatlantic relations.In Germany, anger over the arrival of some 1.1 million refugees last year has buoyed the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) and sparked a surge in racist hate crimes.Speaking at George Washington University, Steinmeier defended Germanys refugee policy as a humanitarian duty and said he was confident that his country could cope with the influx.On Monday, Secretary of State John Kerry reassured Steinmeier of US support, calling the exodus of Middle Eastern refugees to Europe a global challenge and a test for all of us.

Assad vows to 'do our part' so shaky Syria ceasefire holds

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BEIRUT (AFP) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pledged on Tuesday to do his part to guarantee the success of a shaky ceasefire that was largely holding on its fourth day. World powers have thrown their weight behind the landmark truce as a way to bring an end to Syrias conflict, which began in 2011 with anti-government protests. The United Nations said the next round of peace talks would resume in Geneva on March 9, announcing a two-day postponement to allow adequate time to address logistical and practical matters.Assad said the truce provided a glimmer of hope for Syria, where more than 270,000 people have been killed since the complex conflict erupted. We will do our part so that the whole thing works, Assad told German public broadcaster ARD, referring to the cessation of hostilities reached by the United States and Russia. We have refrained ourselves from retaliating in order to give (a) chance for the agreement to survive. Thats what we can do, but at the end everything has a limit. It depends on the other side.Assad also offered an amnesty to opposition fighters if they agree to disarm. The most important thing for me, legally and constitutionally... (is) that youre not allowed, as a citizen, to hold machineguns and hurt people or properties, he said. This is the only thing that we ask. We dont ask for anything. As I said, we give them full amnesty.Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, whose Lebanese Shiite militants are fighting in support of Assad, also welcomed the ceasefire.We are happy with the truce and God willing it will persist and lead to a political solution, he said in Beirut.The ceasefire has brought relative calm to swathes of territory in Syrias north, south, and around the capital, where civilians were back on the streets demonstrating against the regime.In the besieged rebel town of Daraya, near Damascus, dozens of young men chanted against the government and carried signs reading Daraya will not kneel Of course were going to seize this opportunity (to protest) because the rest of the time there were constant barrel bombs and shelling, said activist Shadi Matar. On Monday, dozens had gathered in the opposition-controlled eastern parts of Aleppo city waving banners that read, The revolution continues.The truce does not include areas where the Islamic State group and Al-Qaedas affiliate in Syria, Al-Nusra Front, are present. Regime forces clashed Tuesday with IS jihadists in the oil-rich eastern province of Deir Ezzor, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.Clashes also took place in Aleppo city and in the town of Harbnafsa in central Hama province, said the monitor.The complex patchwork of territorial control has made the truce difficult to monitor, particularly in areas where Al-Nusra Front has formed close ties with non-jihadist rebel groups.Civilians in central Homs province say their towns are not being targeted as often, but violence has not stopped.There are much fewer airplanes, which is very good... (But) theres still artillery, mortar fire, and we hear the planes flying above us, said Hasaan Abu Nuh, an activist in the flashpoint town of Talbisseh.People still have the same routine -- they still go down to the shelters when they hear the planes.Despite backing opposing sides of Syrias war, Moscow and Washington drafted the UN-backed cessations of hostilities deal and co-chair the international task force evaluating its implementation.The opposition High Negotiations Committee said at least three violations by regime forces on Tuesday and 17 the previous day.The White House said it was not surprised by reports the ceasefire had been breached, but indicated it was too early to call it a failure.On Tuesday, Russia said it had recorded 15 truce violations in the past 24 hours across Syria, mostly in Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, and Latakia along the coast.Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for the closure of Syrias border with Turkey to prevent supplies reaching terrorist groups.Tens of thousands of displaced Syrians amassed along that border last month, fleeing an intense government offensive backed by Russian strikes.Speaking in Washington, top NATO General Philip Breedlove said Russia and Syria had turned the refugee crisis into a weapon against the West.And Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan criticised the US for working with the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units in Syria, which Ankara sees as terrorists.I dont believe it is a very correct approach for giant America to be relying on and hoping for help from a small terrorist organisation and staking its entire Syria approach on this, he told AFP.

The Super Tuesday winners, state by state

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump scored a string of early wins on Super Tuesday, US networks projected, putting the pair closer to presidential nominations.Ted Cruz managed a critical win over Trump in his home state of Texas, as well as in Oklahoma, while Bernie Sanders defeated Clinton in his home state of Vermont.Here is a state-by-state breakdown of projected winners on the pivotal day of the 2016 White House race:Alabama=======Republican: Donald TrumpDemocrat: Hillary ClintonAlaska======Republican: unknownArkansas========Republican: unknownDemocrat: Hillary ClintonColorado========Democrat: unknownGeorgia=======Republican: Donald TrumpDemocrat: Hillary ClintonMassachusetts=============Republican: Donald TrumpDemocrat: unknownMinnesota=========Republican: unknownDemocrat: unknownOklahoma========Republican: Ted CruzDemocrat: Bernie SandersTennessee=========Republican: Donald TrumpDemocrat: Hillary ClintonTexas=====Republican: Ted CruzDemocrat: Hillary ClintonVermont=======Republican: unknownDemocrat: Bernie SandersVirginia========Republican: Donald TrumpDemocrat: Hillary Clinton

Syria peace talks postponed to March 9: UN

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GENEVA (AFP) - Peace talks aimed at ending the conflict in Syria will resume in Geneva on March 9, UN envoy Staffan de Misturas office said Tuesday, announcing a two-day postponement. Intra-Syrian peace talks will resume in the afternoon of 9 March, de Misturas office said in a statement. The 7th of March 2016 was initially set as the target date for the resumption of peace talks, but a short delay was needed to allow adequate time to address logistical and practical matters.Mr. de Mistura looks forward to Syrian participants engagement in serious discussions, the statement added. A first round of talks which began early last month was cut short amid intensifying Russian airstrikes in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assads forces.Warring parties, excluding the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, have agreed to a truce brokered by the US and Russia, which the United Nations has said is broadly holding despite isolated incidents of fighting. The UN has said an extended commitment to the ceasefire by all sides would raise hope of the talks succeeding, after repeated diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have failed.

Bin Laden left millions for jihad in handwritten will

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had millions of dollars stashed in Sudan and wanted most of it to be used to fund jihad, according to a handwritten will released Tuesday.The late 1990s document was among a tranche of newly declassified letters and files that were seized by Navy SEALs on May 2, 2011 when they descended on Bin Ladens hideout in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad and killed him.The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released dozens of documents, including one they said was bin Ladens will that deals with monies in Sudan.Written in Arabic on a single piece of lined paper, the signed will states bin Laden had about $29 million in Sudan, and that much of it had come from his brother.I received twelve million dollars from my brother Abu Bakir Muhammad Bin (Laden) on behalf of Bin Laden Company for Investment in Sudan, he wrote, according to the ODNIs translation of the document.I hope, for my brothers, sisters, and maternal aunts, to obey my will and to spend all the money that I have left in Sudan on jihad, for the sake of Allah.Bin Laden sheltered in the Sudanese capital Khartoum for five years in the early 1990s. The ODNI would not comment on what happened to the purported hoard, and it was not immediately clear if bin Laden had written other, more up-to-date wills.The documents also show a growing schism between bin Ladens lieutenants and Al-Qaeda in Iraq, and said bin Laden was planning a worldwide media campaign for the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.In a letter to his father dated August 8, 2008 bin Laden wrote he was worried about being assassinated. If I am to be killed, pray for me a lot and give continuous charities in my name, as I will be in great need for support to reach the permanent home, bin Laden wrote.He also asks his dad for absolution, without saying what he might be regretting.I would like you to forgive me, if I have done what you did not like, he wrote.A letter from bin Laden to his dear wife provides a glimpse into the mindset of the most hunted man on the planet. The wife had recently visited a dentist in Iran, and bin Laden asks her if she is sure the physician didnt insert a tiny tracking device into a filling.Please let me know in detail about anything that bothers you about any hospital in Iran or any suspicions that any of the brothers may have about chips planted in any way, he wrote in a letter signed Abu Abdallah, bin Ladens nom de guerre.The size of the chip is about the length of a grain of wheat and the width of a fine piece of vermicelli.A first tranche of documents released last May showed bin Laden was worried about drone strikes, and in which he laid out plans to groom a new cadre of leaders.Bin Laden also warned that conflict with regimes in the Middle East would distract the extremists from hitting hard at what as far as he was concerned is the real enemy -- America.
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