Sunday, 13 March 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Tennis: Serena advances at Indian Wells

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INDIAN WELLS (AFP) - World number one Serena Williams stepped up her bid for her first Indian Wells title in 15 years with a straight set victory over Yulia Putintseva 7-6 (7/2), 6-0 on Sunday.The two-time Indian Wells champion Williams had a difficult time with Putintseva in the opening set but then steamrolled through the second to wrap up the win in one hour, 15 minutes.The first set was a little tricky, then I had to find my inner tiger, and roar, Williams said.Williams moves on to the fourth round of the hardcourt tournament where she will face Kateryna Bondarenko who defeated Lesia Tsurenko 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (9/7) earlier on Sunday. Williams has a chance to become the first three-time winner in womens singles at Indian Wells, a feat she failed to achieve last year when she was forced to withdraw from her semi-final match with a knee injury.Williams, who won the event in 1999 and 2001, returned to the tournament last year, ending a 14-year boycott which began after she beat Kim Clijsters in the 2001 final.That year spectators at Indian Wells booed Serena during the final and jeered her sister and father Richard Williams in the stands.As the top seed and a 21 Grand Slam title winner, shes the clear favourite this week.Her quest was boosted Saturday with the elimination of two of the top five seeds in the womens draw, Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza.Although Williams got off to another slow start Sunday but she closed out in style with an ace on match point.She needed a tiebreaker to win the first set, taking the final three points, including the last two on her serve.I was just trying to find my rhythm out there. Trying my best to not get off to a slow start, she said. I was just trying to fight and do what I could.World No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska breezed past Romanias Monica Niculescu 6-2, 6-1 to reach the fourth round.The third seed from Poland needed just 87 minutes to eliminate Niculescu following a tough two-hour, 41-minute second round contest which she won 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 over Slovak Dominika Cibulkova. I knew I would have to be patient, Radwanska said of playing Niculescu. I am just very happy to win that match in those two quick sets.Radwanska is hoping to get back to the Indian Wells final for the first time since losing the championship match to Flavia Pennetta two years ago.In mens action, Japanese star Kei Nishikori eased through his second round match by beating Kazakhstans Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-3.The 26-year-old Nishikori, seeded fifth in his eighth appearance in Indian Wells, has never made it past the fourth round in the California desert.It is not easy playing the first match of any tournament, Nishikori said. But I felt comfortable today. So I hope I can go further than the last couple of years. Nishikori, who has been ranked as high as fourth in the world to become the highest ranked Asian player in ATP history, moves on to the third round where he will face either American Steve Johnson or Australias John Millman.Nishikori won 71 percent of his first serve points and broke Kukushkins serve four times in the 70-minute match.The first couple of games are the most important, he said.I try not to hit too many crazy shots and get a good rhythm and if I feel good then go for shots and hit the ball a little harder, added Nishikori, who last month defended his ATP title at Memphis for the fourth consecutive year, extending his win streak at the event to 17 matches.In other matches Sunday, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated French compatriot Vincent Millot 7-5, 6-1, Dominic Thiem beat Jozef Kovalik 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3) and Sam Querrey stopped Thiemo de Bakker 7-6 (7/5), 6-4.

Tennis: Murray off to flying start at Indian Wells

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INDIAN WELLS (AFP) - World No. 2 Andy Murray got his Indian Wells campaign off to a flying start Saturday with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) victory over Spaniard Marcel Granollers.Murray is playing in his fifth ATP Tour tournament since losing to Novak Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open in January. It was his fourth championship match loss to Djokovic and the fifth time he has lost in the Australian final.Murray, who was the Indian Wells runner-up to Rafael Nadal in 2009, advances to the third round where he will face Federico Delbonis who beat Joao Sousa 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.I came out and served a good game, Murray said. I had my service game going, especially in the tiebreaker.French Open champion Stan Wawrinka defeated Illya Marchenko 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round.Third seed Wawrinka, who will turn 31 later this month, moves on to face unseeded Russian Andrey Kuznetsov who beat Jeremy Chardy in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.Czech Tomas Berdych defeated Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 and Canadian 12th seed Milos Raonic routed Inigo Cervantes-Huegun 6-1, 6-3.Eighth seeded Richard Gasquet beat Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 6-1 in an all-French matchup and Gael Monfils.

Football: Ibra nets four as PSG seal French title in record time

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PARIS (AFP) - French giants Paris Saint-Germain, inspired by four stunning Zlatan Ibrahimovic goals, turned on the style Sunday to beat Troyes 9-0 and clinch a fourth consecutive Ligue 1 crown in record time.Just four days after advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals, PSG wrapped up the clubs sixth French title with eight games to spare by beating a Troyes side destined for an immediate return to the second tier.Laurent Blancs men obliterated the French record for the quickest league victory, currently held by Lyon who won the 2007 title under Gerard Houllier with five games to go.Unlike last season when Paris waited until late March to take over top spot, the capital club have set the pace uninterrupted since beating Gazelec Ajaccio 2-0 in their second game of the campaign.Weve worked well. Everyone is to be congratulated, first of all the players, the coaching staff, the medical team, etc, said Blanc.But the season isnt finished and were going to have to get ourselves back in competition mode because there are some important dates coming up in April and hopefully May. Three goals in six early first-half minutes settled PSGs nerves at Troyes sun-kissed Stade de lAube.First up was Edinson Cavani, the Uruguyan capitalising on a poor back pass to sneak in to beat goalkeeper Matthieu Dreyer on the second attempt.Pastore made it 2-0 shortly after, a David Luiz interception played quickly to Ibrahimovic, whose sublime backheel found the Argentinian who toe-poked a looped finish past a despairing Dreyer.No sooner had the game been restarted than Adrien Rabiot was the welcome recipient for PSGs third after following up on a Cavani shot that rebounded off Dreyer.It was then time for Ibrahimovic to take centre stage in 10 magical minutes.The towering Swede made it 4-0 just seconds into the second-half after Cavani intercepted another poor clearance, Ibra gifted too much space on the edge of the box and making no mistake as he drilled the ball low into the left-hand corner.Ibrahimovics second was a gem, a first-time mid-air volley of an inch-perfect Angel di Maria cross as PSG swamped Troyes.His third -- and 100th in Ligue 1 action -- was equally sublime, the 34-year-old Swede meeting a Layvin Kurzawa cross at full speed and unleashing a blinding right-footed shot that swerved into the far corner of the net.Matthieu Saunier compounded Troyes woes with an own goal, while Lossemy Karaboue saw red for hauling Cavani down in the box with 16 minutes to play.Dreyer did well to save Cavanis penalty, but the striker tapped in at the second bite.It was left to Ibrahimovic to wrap up the 9-0 rout, the striker showing great strength to ride a tackle and unleash an unstoppable shot after a Pastore through-ball.Im very lucky to play with good players, a modest Ibrahimovic said, walking off with the ball wedged under his arm. The referee gave it to meThe Ligue 1 title was the fourth time Blanc has won it as a manager having also guided Bordeaux to the 2008-09 title.The gulf in class has never been more apparent since Qatar Sports Investments purchased PSG in the summer of 2011, in what has become a landmark moment in French football.With a budget of close to 500 million euros ($558 million), PSGs financial supremacy has enabled them to spring well clear of the rest of the competition in Ligue 1 and render last years keenly-contested title race a distant memory.PSG have set records tumbling this term and surpassed Nantes 32-game unbeaten run set during the 1994-95 campaign, only for a 2-1 defeat at Lyon last month to end their sequence at 36 matches and with it any hopes of earning the invincibles tag.But PSGs ambitions go beyond simply retaining the league title, with the club also through to the League Cup final on April 23 and set to face Lorient four days earlier for a place in the French Cup showpiece as they seek to defend last years historic treble.However, conquering Europe represents the top priority for PSG, and how they fare next month and beyond will go a long way to determining how successfully their season is portrayed.Meanwhile, Lyon threw away a two-goal lead at Rennes to draw 2-2 as they missed a chance to close the gap on second-place Monaco.Lyon led through goals from Rachid Ghezzal and Alexandre Lacazette, but Rennes rallied with Fallou Diagne and on-loan Chelsea teenager Jeremie Boga rescuing a point for the hosts as Lyon stayed in fourth behind Nice.

Football: Watford stun Arsenal in FA Cup, Martial saves Man Utd

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LONDON (AFP) - Holders Arsenal were dumped out of the FA Cup by Watford on Sunday, while Anthony Martials 83rd-minute goal earned ailing Manchester United a 1-1 draw with West Ham United.Goals by Odion Ighalo and Adlene Guedioura ended Arsenals two-year reign as FA Cup holders as Watford won 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium to join Crystal Palace and Everton in Mondays semi-final draw.Manchester United looked set to follow Arsenal out of the competition after Dimitri Payet put West Ham ahead with a stunning free-kick at Old Trafford, but French forward Martial spared manager Louis van Gaal from another wave of unflattering headlines with a late volleyed equaliser.Our fantastic run has come to an end on a day where we felt that our performance deserved a win, said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side replied through substitute Danny Welbeck in the 88th minute.Credit to Watford -- they created few chances, but took them all. Its sad because we gave everything.Triumphant in the FA Cup in 2014 and 2015, Arsenal were beaten in the competition for the first time since a 1-0 fifth-round defeat by Blackburn Rovers in February 2013.It left them facing the prospect of a trophyless season, with Wengers side -- booed off at the final whistle -- eight points off the pace in the Premier League and 2-0 down to Barcelona ahead of Wednesdays Champions League last 16 return leg at Camp Nou.Wenger named a strong team for the visit of Watford, but despite dominating possession Arsenal struggled to create chances in the first half, with Mohamed Elneny sweeping one effort over the bar.Arsenal centre-back Gabriel, meanwhile, was very fortunate to escape without even a booking after flying into a two-footed challenge on Troy Deeney with his studs raised.Watford made the breakthrough in the 50th minute as Deeney flicked a left-wing throw-in to Ighalo, who turned, held off Gabriel and beat David Ospina with a low shot.The visitors extended their advantage 13 minutes later in stunning fashion as Guedioura met Deeneys lay-off with a blistering strike that flew from his right foot into the top-right corner.Welbeck reduced the arrears late on, finishing neatly after a one-two with Mesut Ozil, but then squandered a golden chance to equalise by shooting wide of an open goal from Kieran Gibbss pass.I have memories on television of the old Wembley and watching in Spain and seeing the finals of this competition, said Watfords Spanish manager Quique Sanchez Flores.Now it is a new Wembley. Ive just arrived in England and to get there is exciting. Im really happy for the fans and they deserve this kind of day.Reeling from last Thursdays 2-0 loss at Liverpool in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie, United welcomed West Ham to Old Trafford needing victory to rekindle their season.But Slaven Bilics visitors made the better first-half chances, with Emmanuel Emenike shooting wide from Andy Carrolls lobbed pass and heading straight at David de Gea from Aaron Cresswells cross.West Ham took the lead in the 68th minute when French playmaker Payet confirmed his status as one of the players of the season by arcing a picture-perfect 30-yard free-kick over the wall and in off the left-hand post.But with nails being chewed to the quick by the home fans, Martial kept United in the competition by charging in to convert Ander Herreras right-wing cross with a close-range volley.Michail Antonio almost restored West Hams lead in stoppage time, but De Gea turned his low strike around the post to send the tie to a replay.We have played a game against Liverpool on Thursday and they (West Ham) had the whole week to prepare and (yet) we could come back and show a big revival, said Van Gaal.I have to give a lot of compliments to my team. They were mentally tired after Liverpool and also in the body.A bullish Bilic told the BBC: Manchester United are a different team when they play away and dont have that confidence.It (the replay) is going to be a tough game, but I fancy us because were going to be even more confident.

Football: Kane brace at Villa sees Spurs close gap

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BIRMINGHAM (AFP) - Harry Kane reignited Tottenham Hotspurs Premier League title challenge with a well-taken double as his side heaped more misery on rock-bottom Aston Villa with a 2-0 win on Sunday.The prolific England striker took his tally to 22 goals for the season by striking either side of half-time at Villa Park as Spurs moved to within two points of leaders Leicester City, who host Newcastle United on Monday.It was the perfect answer for the doubters at the end of a week in which Mauricio Pochettinos side had squandered a 2-1 lead to draw 2-2 with Arsenal in the north London derby before crashing 3-0 at Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie.It was a good victory and three important points after a few games that have not been so good, Spurs manager Pochettino told the BBC.We need to keep the pressure on and win games. You cannot stop the dream of the supporters and they are right to dream. But we need to work hard.Kanes England team-mate Dele Alli set up both of his goals, firstly with a quickly taken free-kick on the cusp of half-time and then with a burst down the left wing in the 48th minute.Spurs exerted pressure on the Villa defence from the outset and should have gone ahead as early as the third minute.Erik Lamela threaded a pass through to Kane, but while he timed his run perfectly, his chip over the advancing Brad Guzan was too heavy and he watched in anguish as it clipped the top of the bar.The first threat from Villa came when Jordan Veretout produced a penetrating run down the right, but Rudy Gestede could not make clean contact with his cross.That was only brief respite for the home side as wave upon wave of Spurs raids led to a succession of clear-cut opportunities to take the lead.After Christian Eriksen had shot inches wide from distance, Guzan came to Villas rescue with an instinctive save to keep out a close-range effort from Kane following a cross by Danny Rose.Tottenham were then left wondering how a goal did not arrive in the 32nd minute as Lamelas first-time shot from a Kyle Walker cross was pushed onto the post by Guzan.The rebound hit the Villa goalkeeper on the shoulder before Alan Hutton managed to clear the loose ball.Spurs had been knocking at the door throughout the first half and right on the stroke of half-time, they got the all-important breakthrough.Alli unlocked the Villa defence with a smart free-kick and Kane forced his way past Jores Okore before firing a low shot beyond the reach of Guzan.Within three minutes of the restart, Tottenham had gained further reward for their dominance as the Alli-Kane partnership struck again.The former Milton Keynes Dons teenager ventured forward down the left and his low cross was side-footed into the roof of the net by the ever-alert Kane.It knocked the stuffing out of Villa and Spurs passed the ball around with relative ease as they probed for another opening.It seemed almost too easy when Lamela broke to the edge of the box, but his eventual shot lacked the sting or direction to trouble Guzan.A burst down the left by Rose teed up an opportunity for Eriksen to try his luck from long range again, but his left-foot volley was high and wide.Villas torment was heightened by two glaring misses in the closing stages as Gestede hit the underside of the bar from point-blank range before Joleon Lescott somehow contrived to miss from a similar position moments later.The result is not positive, but for sure the attitude and commitment for the 90 minutes was better than in previous weeks, said Villa manager Remi Garde, whose side are nine points adrift of safety.

Badminton: Lin Dan wins sixth All-England

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BIRMINGHAM (AFP) - Chinas Lin Dan suggested that he is ready to win an Olympic gold medal for a third time after clinching a sixth All-England mens singles title.Lins emphatic 21-9, 21-10 victory in the final over his compatriot Tian Houwei was a thrilling rebuttal to critics who reckoned that, now aged 32 and with few titles in the past three years, the Chinese legend is a faded master.However, it wasnt all good news for China on Sunday with compatriot Wang Shixian denied the chance to emulate Lin by regaining the All-England title as well, in a dramatic climax that was filled by a cacophony of booing and a controversial penalty point against her.Wang was leading 17-14 in the final game against Nozomi Okuhara of Japan when she was shown a red card for delaying too long at 17-all, thus slipping to 17-18 down without playing a rally and eventually losing by a whisker, 21-11, 16-21, 21-19.It had been a one-hour 39-minute thriller, the second longest match of the week, and the best final, but it was the decision of Mike Wright, the English umpire, which perhaps inevitably attracted more immediate attention and the most differing views.There should be certain standards, claimed Wang. My opponent was doing the same (delaying) but I was the one who got the warning, and I am sorry about that.I have complicated feelings about it all at the moment, and there are lots of elements (in what happened), but the call from the umpire I wasnt prepared for. Wang also appeared to be unhappy about the video review decisions.Okuhara, whose career-best success occurred on her 21st birthday and followed her triumph in the Super Series finals in Dubai in December, had a rather different view. The decisions were only minor issues, she claimed.Her win may be very significant. Okuhara may have a physical style and rely a great deal on this and upon admirable mental strength, but when the crisis was greatest she found unsuspected disguise and accuracy too, which augur well.Okuharas triumph also happened on a day when, remarkably, the Japanese were more successful than China, by far the worlds strongest badminton nation. Misaki Matsumoto and Ayaja Takahashi won the womens doubles and later Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa came close to winning the mens doubles. Eventually though the unseeded Vladimir Ivanov and Ivan Sozonovs 21-23, 21-18, 21-16 improbable victory made them the first Russians ever to win an All-England titleThe most major issue though was whether Lin Dans one-sided win suggests he could go on to become favourite for the Olympics in Rio. By regaining the All-England title it left only Rudy Hartono, who won eight, with more. And the great Indonesians were achieved more than 40 years ago in a pre-professional era.Lin himself suggested a record third Olympic mens gold was possible in five months time. I wanted to show everyone that at 33 I will still be able to do it, he said.Mischievously skilful, tenaciously contentious, and consistently fluent he ensured the outcome was never in doubt. Lin also made very few mistakes despite often playing to tight margins, before picking his moments superbly to make a quick change of direction or a sudden attacking thrust.When I came back (after two long periods away from the game) I tried to prove to the world that I am still the best, Lin said, appearing to imply that he now thought he was. I am pleased with the fitness that I have.

Syria peace talks set to resume amid ceasefire warnings

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GENEVA (AFP) - Syrias warring sides gathered in Geneva Sunday for UN-brokered indirect peace talks as the United States and France warned the Damascus regime against trying to disrupt the fragile ceasefire.As the fifth anniversary of the violence looms, the main players in the conflict were on Monday to resume negotiations in the latest bid to end bloodshed which has killed more than 270,000 people and displaced millions.United Nations Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura met representatives of both delegations on Sunday for informal meetings ahead of the negotiations.He has said that the round of Geneva talks would not last more than 10 days.In Paris, after meeting European allies, US Secretary of State John Kerry hit out at comments by his Syrian counterpart who said talk of removing President Bashar al-Assad would be a red line in the talks.French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault went further, calling Walid Muallems comments a provocation and a bad sign in the peace efforts for Syria.Kerry warned Damascus and its allies Russia and Iran against testing boundaries or lessening their compliance with a fragile February 27 truce that has largely held despite the sides trading mutual accusations of violations.While analysts say much has changed since the last round of indirect talks collapsed in February, Assads fate and the holding of elections within 18 months remain huge obstacles.We will not talk with anyone who wants to discuss the presidency... Bashar al-Assad is a red line, Muallem said in Damascus on Saturday.Kerry said the Syrian minister was clearly trying to disrupt the process... clearly trying to send a message of deterrence to others.But the fact is (Assads) strongest sponsors Russia and Iran have both adopted... an approach which dictates that there must be a political transition and that we must have a presidential election at some time.Kerry urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring Damascus into line, saying he should be concerned that Assad had used Muallem to try and act as a spoiler, to take off the table something that president Putin and Iran had committed to.So this is a moment of truth, a moment where all of us have to be responsible.Kerry hailed the fact that the ceasefire had led to a reduction of violence of up to 90 percent, and made possible the delivery of emergency supplies to some 150,000 civilians in besieged areas.He said the coalition had pushed the Islamic State group out of 20 percent of the territory it held in Syria and that 600 IS fighters had been killed in the last three weeks.He highlighted the importance of the Geneva process in tackling the unprecedented refugee crisis in Europe, saying that if the ceasefire did not hold we will be back here next year or even the year after next facing a Middle East with even more refugees, even greater numbers of dead and displaced, even more suffering.Syrian government negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari arrived Sunday in Geneva, a day after delegates from the main opposition group, the High Negotiations Committee (HNC).The HNC Sunday pledged to stick with the talks, but reiterated that Assad could play no role in the planned transitional body.We have come to discuss a political solution seeking to end the suffering of the Syrian people and we hope that the other party will be as serious as us, said HNC spokesman Salem al-Meslet, saying the opposition had no intention of pulling out of the talks.The HNC was hoping the talks would begin with a discussion of the transitional body which would be imbued with all the powers, including those of the president, he said.There will be no role within this body for those who have committed crimes or for Bashar al-Assad.The HNC has repeatedly called for Assads departure as a prerequisite for any deal, with chief opposition negotiator Mohammad Alloush saying Saturday that the transitional period should start with the fall, or death, of Bashar al-Assad.It cannot start with the presence of the regime, or the head of this regime still in power.In the latest violence on the ground, Al-Qaeda fighters and allied jihadists clashed with a rebel faction known as Division 13 overnight in northwestern Syria after storming its weapons depot, the group said.The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said at least six combatants were killed, four of them identified as Division 13 fighters.

At least 16 dead as gunmen storm Ivory Coast beach resort

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GRAND-BASSAM (AFP) - Heavily-armed gunmen went on a shooting rampage in the Ivory Coast resort of Grand-Bassam on Sunday, killing at 16 people and leaving bodies strewn on the beach in the first attack of its kind in the country.One witness told AFP they heard one of the assailants shouting Allahu Akbar -- Arabic for God is greatest, but there has not yet been any claim of responsibility.President Alassane Ouattara said 14 civilians and two special forces troops were killed in the strike that targeted three hotels in the former French colonial capital, a resort town popular with Western expatriates.The toll is heavy, he said as he visited the scene, adding that six gunmen had been killed.French President Francois Hollande said at least one French national was among the victims.The assailants, who were heavily armed and wearing balaclavas, fired at guests at the LEtoile du Sud, a large hotel which was full of expats in the current heatwave, another witness told AFP.It was not immediately clear who was behind the shooting in the resort, which lies on the Gulf of Guinea around 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of the commercial hub Abidjan.I havent heard anything from my son and my sister, said Marie-Claire Yapi, in tears as she held her two-year-old son in her arms.We had just arrived when we heard gunshots -- we thought it was a robbery. Someone said to me, Run, this is serious, they are killing everyone.West African nations have scrambled to boost security in the wake of jihadist attacks in recent months in the capitals of Mali and Burkina Faso.Sundays attack also bore grim similarities to the Islamist gun and grenade assault on a Tunisian beach resort last June, which left 37 foreign holidaymakers dead.Witness Braman Kinda said several attackers had roamed the beach firing shots, while Abbas El-Roz, a Lebanese national who was staying at the Etoile du Sud, said one of the assailants had a Kalashnikov assault rifle and a grenade belt.Another witness, Kouamena Kakou Bertin, said three others fled on foot via a nearby road.Search operations are continuing, the hotel has been secured, a police source told AFP.A large crowd gathered at the entrance to the French quarter at the edge of the old town, whose elegant colonial-era facades have earned Grand-Bassam UNESCO World Heritage status. An AFP journalist saw around a dozen people, including an injured Western woman, being evacuated in a military truck.Military vehicles carrying heavy machine guns also headed to the scene, along with armed traditional hunters known as Dozo. The army was tightly controlling access to the area, while the French embassy told its nationals to stay away from the attack scene to avoid obstructing security forces.Analysts have voiced fears that Islamist attacks could spread further into West Africa to countries such as Ivory Coast and Senegal, and the recently-concluded Flintlock exercise, which groups African, US and European troops, focused on the need to counter jihadism.In Burkina Faso and Mali, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for deadly attacks on hotels popular with foreigners in November 2015 and in January this year.The Mali attack in November left 20 people dead, while gunmen killed 30 people in the assault on a hotel in Burkina Fasos capital Ouagadougou in January.Ivory Coast is the worlds top cocoa producer. Its former president Laurent Gbagbo is currently on trial at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity over deadly violence that followed the disputed 2010 election that brought Ouattara to power.More than 3,000 people were killed in five months of unrest after the presidential polls, when Gbagbo refused to concede defeat.Ouattara was re-elected for a second presidential term late last year, hoping to turn the page on the violence and revive Ivory Coasts conflict-scarred economy.

Merkel's CDU in poll hammering as backing for populist AfD surges

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STUTTGART (AFP) - German Chancellor Angela Merkels party suffered a major setback in key state polls Sunday over her liberal refugee policy, while the right-wing populist AfD recorded a surge as it scooped up support from angry voters.Merkels Christian Democratic Union (CDU) was defeated in two of three states in regional elections, and scored a historic low 27 percent in its stronghold Baden-Wuerttemberg where it came in second place after the Greens, final results for the southwestern state showed. The populist Alternative for Germany (AfD), which had sparked outrage by suggesting police may have to shoot at migrants to stop them entering the country, recorded double-digit support in the first elections they have stood for in all three regions. The elections are the biggest since Germany registered a record influx of refugees, and are widely regarded as a referendum on Merkels decision to open the countrys doors to people fleeing war.Bild daily called Sundays polls a day of horror for Chancellor Merkel as the stunning popularity of the upstart AfD was a clear punishment for her policy. The people who voted for us voted against this refugee policy, said AfD deputy chairman Alexander Gauland. We have a very clear position on the refugee issue: we do not want to take in any refugees, he declared.AfD is projected to garner close to one in every four votes in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt -- making it the second biggest political force in the region after the CDU.In Baden-Wuerttemberg, the populists are credited with 15.1 percent, displacing Merkels CDUs junior coalition partner Social Democratic Party (SPD) as the third biggest party.In the southwestern region of Rhineland-Palatinate, AfD also came in third, although the SPD and the CDU had substantial leads.Nevertheless, asked if Merkel should now overhaul her refugee policy, the CDUs general secretary Peter Tauber said: I dont see that need.Likewise, Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said the grand left-right coalition government would stand firm on its immigration stance.We have a clear position on refugee policies and we stand by that, said the SPD leader.Germans had watched in growing alarm as 1.1 million asylum seekers arrived in the country in 2015 alone.Despite facing intense pressure to change course, Merkel has resolutely refused to impose a cap on arrivals, insisting instead on common European action that includes distributing refugees among the EUs 28 member states.She reiterated her point on Thursday, insisting that imposing a limit on refugee numbers was merely a short-term pseudo-solution, and that the only measure that would sustainably bring numbers down was a concerted European approach.As dissent has grown over her stance, AfD has capitalised on the darkening mood.Founded in 2013 as an anti-euro party, AfD has since morphed into an anti-migrant outfit.Welcoming Sundays outcome, AfD party leader Frauke Petry insisted that we have competency and have not only spoken about migration policies in our election campaign, but she conceded that that was the theme for all parties and the people because it is such an emotional issue.Although the upstart party has seats in five regional parliaments and is represented in the European Parliament, it has so far made its biggest gains in former communist eastern states that still lag behind western Germany in jobs and prosperity.But its inroads into western states have sparked alarm in a Germany mindful of its Nazi past.On the eve of the vote, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere joined calls from both the political mainstream as well as civic and religious groups, urging the electorate to shun AfD.AfD has no political programme and no capacity to resolve problems, he told Die Welt daily on Saturday. We must make it clear -- this party hurts our country.Merkel herself described AfD as a party that does not bring cohesion in society and offers no appropriate solutions to problems, but only stokes prejudices and divisions. She has also shrugged them off as a temporary diversion saying that once her governments policies show results on reducing migrant numbers, Im convinced that from there, the support that AfD is enjoying right now will drop off.

Football: Van Gaal hails United spirit after forcing replay

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MANCHESTER (AFP) - Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal praised the spirit of his side as they scored a late goal to earn an FA Cup quarter-final replay at West Ham and potentially save their season.United trailed to a stunning Dimitri Payet strike before Anthony Martial equalised in the 83rd minute to give Van Gaals side renewed hope of ending the season with a trophy and potentially keeping the Dutchman in a job.Van Gaal said: When you have played against West Brom and lost and against Liverpool and lost, to come back like that is amazing.When you see the spirit of my team it is unbelievable. When you lose a game against Liverpool it runs very deep in the club.Then you have to play within two days against a very good team like West Ham, who have been preparing for this game for a week while we had to recover in two days, and found yourselves 1-0 behind. So to come back like that is fantastic.I was very proud of my team and the fans were also very proud. I have seen a great match, an entertaining match. We are still in three competitions and I said to Wayne Rooney, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young that you can still play the final.The injured trio will be fit by May but United -- trailing Liverpool 2-0 from the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie and sixth in the Premier League -- still have a long way to go to try and win the FA Cup for the first time since 2004.West Ham, whose last success in the competition was in 1980, had won 10 of their previous 15 games to reach the last eight of the Cup for the first time since 2011 and to go above United in the Premier League in pursuit of a possible top-four finish.Payet controversyThey went close to winning at Old Trafford for the first time in 11 visits thanks to Payets 11th goal of the season, superbly converted from a 30-yard free-kick.However, there was some debate as to whether the France international should still have been on the pitch, having been booked earlier for a trip on Jesse Lingard and then going down in the box four minutes before his goal when there looked to be no contact from a challenge by United defender Marcos Rojo.Payet was more or less diving, added van Gaal. He was maybe touched but not enough to fall like that. But there is always discussions about the decisions of the referee.The man has to decide within one second. That is more difficult than I can do. I have seen the videos. That is why I am in favour of a fourth referee with the video.West Ham manager Slaven Bilic, not surprisingly, defended his man and is looking forward to a second chance to beat United in what will be the last cup tie at the Hammers current ground before they move to the Olympic Stadium in the summer.Bilic said: If you have a screen, show me, I am going to defend my point at Cambridge (debating union). There is more than a contact. It is definitely not a dive.Nobody in the world can say there wasnt a touch. Then if it was a touch, and it is more than a touch, it is a penalty. I am not saying it was nasty, but it was mistimed.In our dressing room after the game it was kind of silent. We are a little bit disappointed because we were there the last few minutes and the time when we conceded makes you a little bit down.But that is good. It shows you have confidence and are moving in the right direction. It is difficult to play here in front of 75,000 fans. It will be different at Upton Park.

Thousands march in London housing crisis protest

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LONDON (AFP) - Thousands of Londoners marched through the British capital on Sunday in protest over a government housing bill as residents feel the pinch of soaring rents and house prices. Demonstrators have marched repeatedly against the Conservative governments Housing and Planning Bill, which critics describe as an attack on those living in public housing.Carrying banners reading Youre heartless, were homeless and Im not moving, the crowds marched to the houses of parliament, where they held a rally addressed by activists and trade union representatives.Its a bill which destroys social housing. The Tories (Conservatives) are going to socially cleanse the centre of London so poor people and middle income people cant afford to live there anymore, said Diane Abbott, a lawmaker for the opposition Labour party.Changes include a rule to force local councils to charge the same rents as private sector landlords if their tenants earn above a certain income level, and to make tenancies reviewable after a few years rather than indefinite.Prime Minister David Camerons government has been accused of worsening a shortage of affordable housing by forcing councils to sell high-value housing, which is only partially replaced.The government is just going to sell our houses. You either pay or you move, said protester Samyia Walji, who lives in social housing.Weve been told to move along because you know, we are not rich enough to stay in these places anymore.As homelessness rises, the average London house price has risen 13.9 percent in the last 12 months, according to figures released in January, reaching an average price of 530,409 pound ($762,000, 684,000 euros).While Londons population is growing by around 100,000 people a year, just 25,994 new homes were built in the capital in 2015, a nine percent fall on the previous year.A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government defended the bill, saying more council housing has been built since Cameron became prime minister in 2010 than in the previous 13 years.The Housing Bill makes sure we make the best use of social housing based on need and income, the spokesman said.We have set out the biggest, boldest and most ambitious plan for housing in a generation.

Refugee misery reaches peak at crowded Greek camp: UN

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IDOMENI (AFP) - The human misery being endured by refugees has reached a deplorable peak at the overcrowded Idomeni camp on the Greek border with Macedonia, a UN refugee agency spokesman said Sunday. More than 14,000 people are stuck in and around the overflowing camp, with basic living conditions deteriorating as they wait for a border closed last week to be reopened.We are seeing human misery at its peak in Europe. These conditions here at the Idomeni border site are just unliveable, said visiting UNHCR head Babar Baloch.It has just gone beyond imagination how bad it can get and each day we are getting more rain, people are suffering, added Baloch after getting a first-hand view.Greek authorities say there are some 12,000 people in the camp. NGOs say more than 2,000 others are having to survive in fields beyond its perimeter.Conditions have become unhygienic in the extreme -- toilets have oveflowed while dozens of children have been hospitalised suffering from breathing difficulties and an assortment of viruses.One nine-year-old Syrian girl with hepatitis A was hospitalised at nearby Thessalonika, where the Keelpno disease prevention centre reported her condition as stable. The Greek government said Saturday it would deal with the crisis at Idomeni within a week by transferring refugees there to other reception centres.But the UNHCR underlined the situation required urgent attention.We as UNHCR hope that the Greek authorities move fast ... because remaining here even one minute is not an option, said Baloch.They cannot be kept here for long in these inhumane conditions. They need to be offered a way out of here and they are desperate. You see children shivering, walking barefoot on the road here in this misery. It is just unimaginable.Sunday saw a 200-strong group of Syrians and Iraqis, including many children, demonstrate at Idomeni, demanding the border be re-opened, just the latest in a succession of daily protests.The refugees are clinging on, despite the atrocious conditions, in the hope that an EU summit on Thursday will bring decisions to aid their plight and lead to the border being reopened.

Football: City aiming to banish England's woes

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PARIS (AFP) - Manchester City are well set to make Champions League history and alleviate the misery engulfing English footballs heavyweights as they take on Dynamo Kiev on Tuesday.City have never yet made it beyond the last 16 in Europes premier club competition but hold a 3-1 lead from the first leg in the Ukraine.Although Manuel Pellegrinis team have already secured the English League Cup this season, beating Liverpool on penalties to do so, it has been a largely inglorious year for Englands top clubs.Barring a near-miracle at the Camp Nou, Barcelona will complete victory over an Arsenal side they defeated 2-0 in London in the first leg.With Chelsea crashing out to French champions Paris Saint-Germain last week and Manchester United crumbling in the group stages, City will almost certainly be Englands only remaining participants in the Champions League when the draw for the quarter-finals is made -- providing they see off Kiev.Yet even victory at Eastlands wont mask what has been a thoroughly depressing season for English giants as Leicester City continue to dominate the Premier League table while United, Chelsea and Liverpool languish outside even the European qualification places.Arsenal and City are eight and nine points respectively behind Leicester and both out of the FA Cup.Even in the Europa League, England look set to be left with one single representative in the quarter-finals.And so success for City would have extra significance in arresting the slide that has swamped the English Premier League since the heady days when for three seasons in a row from 2007-2009, three of the four Champions League semi-finalists were from England.Not that Pellegrini believes the tie with Dynamo is over.If we can get to the quarter-final of the Champions League for the first time, of course that will be another important achievement, said the Chilean, who will leave City at the end of the season.But one of the worst things we can do is to think that we have already qualified.They are a big team who play attacking football in their league so we must be wary about that.Impossible possibleWhile Pellegrini is guarding against complacency, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is trying to motivate his side to keep believing against the Catalan reigning champions.It is very difficult against Barcelona, but we have to see it as a challenge and try to make the impossible possible, said the Frenchman.Barca romped to a 6-0 trouncing of Getafe on Saturday, 24 hours before Arsenal lost 2-1 at home to Watford in the FA Cup.Luis Enrique even rested some of his top players ahead of Arsenals visit on Wednesday, taking no chances against a team they have twice eliminated in the knock-out stages since beating them 2-1 in the 2006 final.It wont be an easy match, but one with a small advantage, said Barcas former Arsenal centre-back Thomas Vermaelen.We must certainly not consider them buried. They have quick and dangerous players who could create us problems.Englands struggles are in stark contrast to Spains success as Atletico Madrid aim to join Real Madrid and probably Barca in the last eight.Atletico drew 0-0 at PSV Eindhoven three weeks ago and are favourites to progress when hosting the Dutch side at their Vicente Calderon home on Tuesday.The final last 16 tie sees Bayern Munich entertain Juventus as Pep Guardiola aims to bow out from three highly successful years in Germany with the Champions League crown that has thus far eluded him.Bayern would already have a foot in the quarters but for Juves stirring comeback from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 in Turin three weeks ago.And Guardiola wants the fans to get behind the 2013 winners.Well need our fans behind us from the first to the last minute in order to reach the quarter-finals, said the Spaniard.

Football: Guardiola feels pressure ahead of Juventus

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BERLIN (AFP) - Pep Guardiola admits feeling the pressure ahead of Bayern Munichs crunch Champions League last 16, second-leg, clash against last years finalists Juventus on Wednesday in his swangsong season in Bavaria.Guardiola has won five titles so far in three seasons with Bayern and is on course for the treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup title.But he is under pressure to win the one title which has so far eluded him in Munich -- the Champions League.After it was announced in February that Guardiola will coach Manchester City next season, there is extra pressure on the Spaniard to cap his three seasons with the European crown.In each of his two previous Champions League campaigns with Munich, Bayern exited at the semi-final stage, coming up short against Real Madrid, then Barcelona respectively.Bayern threw away a two-goal lead three weeks ago against Juventus when the last 16, first leg, finished 2-2 in Turin.Guardiola admits he has given some thought as to whether Wednesdays return at the Allianz Arena could be his last Champions League game with Munich.Maybe it will be, he said before correcting himself.Normally, Im a positive thinker. Never in my life have I thought: this is the last game -- why (would I)?Bayern warmed up for the visit of the Italian champions with a 5-0 trouncing of Werder Bremen on Saturday with Thomas Mueller and Thiago Alcantara both netting twice.Guardiola expects to be hit on the break by Juventus and he took pleasure from watching his side snuff out each of Bremens counter-attacks.Its the hardest thing in football to attack ten players and then prevent any counters, said the Spaniard.We have to implement our game very well, play very intelligently and have our heads in the right place for 90 minutes, he added with an eye on Juventus.Guardiola has kept plenty in reserve for Wednesday.Netherlands winger Arjen Robben was left out of the matchday squad against Bremen.Lewandowski, who has scored a total of 34 goals this season, played only the last 16 minutes and Brazil winger Douglas Costa was kept on the bench.Bayern have taken the draw in Turin as a clear warning.They were cruising into the quarter-finals when Mueller and Robben struck either side of half-time.Juventus roared back with two goals in the last half hour from Paulo Dybala and Stefano Sturaro to extend their unbeaten home record in Europe to 17 matches.Bayern captain Philipp Lahm says the hosts can ill afford to allow the likes of Mario Mandzukic or Dybala much space.Weve been warned. Juventus will capitalise on our mistakes and we cant afford to have any weaknesses in our game, said Lahm.Bayern can certainly take plenty of heart from their impressive display against Bremen as Guardiola set a new club record.The victory was his 75th win of his 94 league games in charge for an 80 percent win-ratio.They dominated Bremen, enjoying 83 percent possession which they converted into twenty shots on goal with just two in reply.Crazy, crazy was Guardiola verdict on the form of France winger Kingsley Coman whose lightning feet and pin-point accurate crosses set up three of the goals.Germanys World Cup winner Mario Goetze returned after five months out after a groin injury and could face Juve, despite picking up an elbow injury.

World T20: Shiv Sena's open criticism against Pak-India match

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – India’s Hindu extremist party Shiv Sena on Sunday came out in open criticism against Pakistan Vs India cricket match of the 2016 World T20 tournament. Shiv Sena’s head Uddhav Thackeray once again threatened the West Bengal Chief Minister Mumta Banerjee stating that she had not done the right thing by making cricket the part of her politics.On the other hand, Thackeray praised Himachal Pardesh Chief Minister (CM) Virbhadra Singhn saying his decision of excusing himself from hosting the match was a patriotic move.Pakistan is up for a warm match against Sri Lanka today and will be playing against India on March 19th in Eden Garden, Kolkata.The venue was earlier shifted from Dharamsala to Eden Garden by International Cricket Council (ICC) amid security concerns for the Pakistani team.
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