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Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Indian Foreign Minister to meet PM Nawaz, Sartaj Aziz today

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ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) -In a bid to mend relations between Pakistan and India, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz on Wednesday.Sushma arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday on a two-day official visit to attend the Heart of Asia 5th Ministerial Meeting on Afghanistan.In her arrival statement, the Indian FMexpressed optimism and desire to improve ties which have witnessed strain in the past few months, maintaining the effort will be to carry forward the engagement.She said relationship between the two countries should be better and that she will hold talks with Pakistani leaders to find ways to improve bilateral relations.I have come with the message that ties between the two countries should be good and move forward, said Swaraj.EAM @SushmaSwaraj makes arrival statement in Islamabad pic.twitter.com/gMPn3L3D57— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) December 8, 2015 Later in the night, Sushma attended a dinner hosted by Aziz for the heads of delegates participating in a multilateral conference on Afghanistan.The fifth Heart of Asia conference, an annual gathering of Asian and other countries, is aimed at enhancing cooperation for countering security threats and promoting connectivity in the region.The high-ranking delegations from 14 participating states, 17 supporting countries and 12 international and regional organisations are participating in the two-day conference.Sushma Swaraj’s visit comes after the collapse of talks in August that raised questions about the ability of the neighboring countries to overcome animosity that has festered since their independence from British rule almost seven decades ago.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sharif resumed high-level contacts with a brief conversation at climate change talks in Paris last week and their national security advisers met in Bangkok on Sunday.Indian Foreign Minister’s visit comes three years after former external affairs minister SM Krishna travelled to Islamabad in 2012 when the countries also inked a visa liberalisation pact.

India, Pakistan series to be held from December 24: Indian media

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(Web Desk) -The short bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan will be held between December 24 and January 5 as much-anticipated rubber got the green signal from the Indian government, reported NDTV.The decision came as Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived in Islamabad to attend Heart of Asia Conference with the message of peace and stronger ties with Pakistan.The tentative dates discussed for the series is meant for a short series of three ODIs and two Twenty20 matches.The series will be played probably in Sri Lanka in such a manner that both the teams leave for their tours to New Zealand and Australia straight from Colombo, stated Indian media.Pakistan head coach Waqar Younis had also informed the PCB that if the series against Indian goes ahead then he would like to have a week-long camp in Sri Lanka before the matches.Also Read:Indo-Pak cricket series announcement likely soon, claim Indian MediaThere was also a possibility that the series could be reduced to two ODIs and two T20 matches since time is running out fast to complete logistical and organizational details by the PCB.The PCB also has to contend with the fact that it is rainy season in Colombo in December and they will have to select venues in consultation with the Sri Lanka Cricket carefully so that bad weather does not affect these matches, Indian media stated.

Dollar slips on low oil prices

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar weakened Tuesday as falling oil prices renewed low inflation concerns ahead of the Federal Reserves interest rate decision next week.Benchmark oil prices sank to fresh 2009 lows for the second straight session amid a commodity rout that rattled US and European equity markets.The dollar fell to $1.0892 per euro around 2200 GMT from $1.0835 at the same time Monday.Most analysts and investors expect the Fed will raise its benchmark federal funds rate on December 16 from near zero, where it has been pegged since December 2008 to underpin the economys recovery from the Great Recession.The statement accompanying the rate decision may produce near-term headwinds for the US dollar should the central bank largely endorse a wait-and-see approach for 2016, said David Song, currency analyst at DailyFX.Weak energy prices accompanied by the disinflationary environment across the major industrialized economies may become a greater concern for the central bank doves and spur a heavily split vote to raise borrowing-costs for the first time in nearly a decade.Fed Chair Janet Yellen and the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee have long said that tepid US inflation was due to transitory factors such as low oil prices, and that inflation was expected to move back toward the Feds 2.0 percent target for price stability.Ryan Sweet of Moodys Analytics took an upbeat view on sinking oil prices.From the Federal Reserves perspective, we believe the lift to GDP growth from lower oil prices would trump the downward pressure on inflation, keeping the central bank on track to raise rates further next year, Sweet said.

Football: Arsenal to return to Sydney after 39 years

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SYDNEY (AFP) - Arsenal on Wednesday locked in two 2017 pre-season friendlies in Sydney, continuing the growing trend of top clubs choosing Australia as a warm-up destination.The Gunners will play A-League sides Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers, following in the footsteps of a string of clubs including Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid which have visited Australia in recent years.Arsenal last came to Sydney in 1977, well before long-time manager Arsene Wengers days, losing 3-1 to an Australian XI.Next years games are part of a two-year deal with tourism agency Destination New South Wales, which will also feature on perimeter signage at the Premier League sides home ground, Emirates Stadium.We look forward to working with our new partner to promote NSW, before bringing our first team to Sydney for two games in 2017 in front of our passionate Australian fans, said Arsenals chief commercial officer Vinai Venkatesham.The games will be in July 2017, although exact dates have yet to be announced.

Football: River face Barca deluge at Club World Cup

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YOKOHAMA (AFP) - Barcelona contest the Club World Cup in Japan boasting arguably the most devastating strike-force the game has seen and as red-hot favourites to lift the trophy for a third time.Barring any shocks, Argentinas River Plate will await the European champions in the final in Yokohama on December 20.But Los Millonarios face an almost impossible task in stopping Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, who have plundered a jaw-dropping 126 goals for Barca in 2015 -- more than Spanish rivals Real Madrid.River touched down in Japan on Tuesday following a 30-hour journey after thousands of fans had lined the streets to see them off in Buenos Aires.It was unique, said midfielder Carlos Sanchez.Its great to see the fans so excited. It really moves you. Weve got a big responsibility, added Sanchez.Its a dream to play against a team as great as Barcelona, said midfielder Matias Kranevitter, who is poised to join Atletico Madrid in January. I have always dreamed of winning this competition in a River Plate shirt.Barcelona, who have captured the Champions League, Spains La Liga, the Copa del Rey and European Super Cup this year, first have to negotiate a semi-final against either Mexicos Club America or Luiz Felipe Scolaris Guangzhou Evergrande, the Asian champions.River Plate, holders of the South American Libertadores Cup, face either Congolese side Mazembe -- surprise finalists five years ago -- or the winners of Thursdays opening game between newly crowned J-League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Auckland City.Barca have won the Club World Cup twice since the revamped FIFA format was launched in 2000, beating Argentinas Estudiantes 2-1 in 2009 and thrashing Brazils Santos 4-0 two years later.European teams have won the title seven times of the 11 years the competition has been played.- Riot protection -===================We are flying to Japan with the aim of delivering two strong performances and returning home as champions, said Barcas Javier Mascherano, who began his career with River Plate in Buenos Aires.But we have got to win our semi-final first. Its a very important tournament for us.The arrival of Barcas superstars is set to trigger wild scenes in celebrity-obsessed Japan, where superstars such as David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo have been mobbed in the past.Barca fly to Japan after taking on Deportivo La Coruna at the Nou Camp at the weekend, while River Plates club season has ended, giving coach Marcelo Gallardo extra time to devise a plan to prevent Messi, Suarez and Neymar from running riot.Their task may be eased as Neymar -- who has scored 16 times in 18 appearanced this season -- could be ruled out after limping away from training for Barcas European Champions League clash at Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday with what was described as a small muscle strain.Last years final also pitted teams from Spain and Argentina with Real Madrid beating San Lorenzo 2-0 in a match marred by some industrial tactics from the South Americans.Estudiantes took Barca to extra time in 2009 but Suarez has added a new dimension to the Catalan giants, giving them a more direct option with his darting runs opening up space for Neymar and Messi.River possess a threat of their own in striker Lucas Alario, but faced by Barcas wizardry he could be forced to plough a lonely furrow on what is likely to be a long, chilly evening in Yokohama, where gloves and stockings will be in order.

Pattinson in Australia team, Coulter-Nile left out

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HOBART (AFP) - James Pattinson was named in the Australia team on Wednesday to play the first Test against the West Indies in Hobart, with Nathan Coulter-Nile missing out.Pattinson, who played the last of his 13 Tests against South Africa in March 2014, comes into the side for the injured Mitchell Starc after recovering from chronic back and hamstring issues.He will join Adelaide Test man-of-the-match Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle in the new-ball attack.I think he has played enough, he has been bowling really well, he deserves his chance, captain Steve Smith said of Pattinson. He just needs to go out and do what he does well. He is similar to Hazlewood the way he bowls. Hopefully those two can lead the attack well.But there was no place in the 11 for Western Australia quick Coulter-Nile, who was included in the initial 12-man squad despite not playing any domestic Sheffield Shield matches so far this summer because of a shoulder injury.Australia - David Warner, Joe Burns, Steve Smith (capt), Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, Peter Siddle, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon12th man: Nathan Coulter-Nile

Maternal hormonal imbalance linked to child autism

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STOCKHOLM (AFP) - Children born to mothers with a hormonal imbalance run a much higher risk of developing autism, according to a new study released by Swedens Karolinska Institutet on Tuesday.The findings, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, link an imbalance called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children.ASD represents a range of neurodevelopmental disorders in children.We found that a maternal diagnosis of PCOS increased the risk of ASD in the offspring by 59 percent, said Kyriaki Kosidou, lead researcher at Karolinskas Department of Public Health Sciences. The causes are not entirely clear, but evidence suggests that exposure to certain sex hormones early in life -- from mothers with PCOS who are producing excessive amounts of androgens -- can play a role in the development of autism in children. The risk was further increased among mothers with both PCOS and obesity, Kosidou said in the press release.Between 5 and 15 percent of women of child-bearing age are affected by PCOS.The researchers conducted a population-based nationwide study of all children born in Sweden from 1984 to 2007. They identified around 24,000 ASD cases. ASD is about four times more common in boys than girls, but there were no observed differences in risks between boys and girls in the study. The mechanisms that explain the link between maternal PCOS and ASD in the children were not fully explored in this epidemiological study.Further studies are necessary to fully explain the findings, according to researchers. It is too early to make specific recommendations to clinicians in terms of care for pregnant women with PCOS, said Renee Gardner, senior investigator on the study.

Fleeing burglar killed by gator in Florida lake: police

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MIAMI (AFP) - An 11-foot- (3.5 meter-)long alligator killed a burglary suspect who apparently jumped into a Florida lake to evade arrest, police said on Tuesday. Police said Matthew Riggins, 22, went missing on November 13, after telling his girlfriend that he planned to go to the town of Barefoot Bay to commit burglaries with another suspect.Ten days later, divers found Riggins body -- missing parts of both legs and an arm -- in a lake in the town.Authorities also determined that an alligator in the water appeared to be behaving aggressively.After the reptile was removed from the lake and euthanized, authorities analyzed the contents of the gators stomach and confirmed the remains were Riggins.The night he went missing authorities had received calls about two suspicious men trespassing near homes in Barefoot Bay, which led police to hypothesize that Riggins had jumped into the water to avoid arrest.Tod Goodyear, from the local sheriffs office in Brevard County, called Riggins death unfortunate.The person was at the wrong place at the wrong time, he told local TV.Florida wildlife officials say that since 1948, there have been 22 known deaths caused by alligators in the state.

Football: United crash out as Wolfsburg reach last 16

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WOLFSBURG (AFP) - Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday with a 3-2 defeat at Wolfsburg, who made club history by reaching the knock-out stages.German Cup holders Wolfsburg advanced to the last 16 for the first time as Group B winners thanks to their come-back win at the sold-out Volkswagen Arena.The defeat puts United manager Louis van Gaal under pressure with his side now winless in their last four games.PSV Eindhovens 2-1 win at home to CSKA Moscow allowed the Dutch to claim second place at Manchesters expense as third-placed United now drop into the Europa League.It was a crazy match, said Van Gaal.We twice gave away goals within two minutes after we had scored, that was difficult to understand.I am happy that we scored, but I am not happy why we defended so poorly and its something I have to analyse.Of course, I am disappointed that we are out of the Champions League.The Red Devils suffered a repeat of their 2011/12 European campaign when defeat in their final group game at FC Basel also denied them a place in the last 16.Anthony Martials early strike for the Red Devils was cancelled out by first-half goals from Brazils Naldo and Portugals Vieirinha for hosts Wolfsburg.United drew level when Wolfsburgs French midfielder Josuha Guilavogui scored a late own goal seconds before Naldo claimed his second by heading the winner.Its a special moment for us, said Naldo, who picked up a yellow card and is suspended for the first-leg of the last 16 clash.The team put in a great performance against a super team like Manchester.Its a pity that Im suspended for the next game, but tonight well celebrate.The result was an ideal tonic for Wolfsburg after suffering their first home defeat in 29 home games last Saturday when they lost 2-1 against Borussia Dortmund. United arrived in Wolfsburg without injured striker Wayne Rooney and short on goals after scoring just once in drawing their three previous games.But that problem was solved inside the opening ten minutes as the Red Devils took an early lead.The game started at a blistering pace as Wolfsburgs Germany winger Andre Schuerrle cannoned his shot over the bar with only David de Gea to beat in the opening minutes.United went ahead when Juan Mata thread a superb pass through the Wolfsburg defence for Martial to fire past Wolfsburgs Diego Benaglio on 10 minutes.The hosts replied just four minutes later when left-back Ricardo Rodriguez, who injured himself in the process, fired in a free-kick which centre-back Naldo guided into the back of the United net.Wolfsburg took the lead with a superb goal when Julian Draxler beat two United players and played a one-two with Max Kruse to offer Vieirinha a simple tap-in on 29 minutes.Draxler should have made it 3-1 when he smacked his shot at De Gea moments later.United looked to have equalised just before the break when Jesse Lingard curled home a cross from outside the area, but the linesman spotted Mata was offside and obscuring the vision of Benaglio.The Red Devils got the goal they craved on 82 minutes when Marouane Fellaini headed down from a corner and Guilavogui steered the ball into his own net in an attempt to clear.Manchester were level for just a matter of seconds though as Naldo was left unmarked from a corner and headed inside the near post on 84 minutes for the winning goal. Only desperate defending from Wolfsburg in the dying stages kept United out as the Premier League side piled on the pressure, but to no avail.

Football: Ronaldo sets group stage record in 8-0 Madrid rout

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MADRID (AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldo struck four times to set a new record for goals scored in the Champions League group stage as Real Madrid also equalled the record victory in the competition with an 8-0 mauling of Malmo on Tuesday.Troubled French striker Karim Benzema also scored his first hat-trick for five years, whilst Mateo Kovacic added his first goal for the Spanish giants.Ronaldos tally of 11 goals in the group stages surpasses the previous record of nine held by himself in 2013/14 and Luiz Adriano for Shakhtar Donetsk last season.The scoreline equalled Liverpools 8-0 thrashing of Besiktas in November 2007 with current Madrid boss Rafael Benitez then in charge of the English side.And Benitez said that fact dispelled suggestions he is a defensive minded coach.I have said it many times, but people forget these things and today is a further demonstration that this is a team that attacks, he told beIN Sports.With top spot in Group A already assured, Benitez took the chance to rest some of his stars including Gareth Bale, but Madrid were still in a different league to a Malmo side that ended their domestic season over five weeks ago.Benzema will learn on Thursday if he is to be suspended from the French national team due to his alleged involvement in a blackmail scandal involving a sex tape of international teammate Mathieu Valbuena.However, he remains in fine form for Madrid as he scored his first hat-trick since another 8-0 Real win over Levante in December 2010 to take his tally to five in his last two games.The opener arrived on 12 minutes when Benzema was on hand to sweep home into an empty net after Iscos initial effort had been cleared off the line.Poor defending allowed Benzema to double the hosts advantage midway through the first-half as he headed in unmarked from Ronaldos cross.Ronaldo then had two fierce efforts well saved by Malmos veteran goalkeeper Johan Wiland, but the 34-year-old was to blame when the World Player of the Year opened his account for the evening with a free-kick that bobbled into the far corner.Unlike in recent matches when Madrid have eased off in the second-half after accumulating a comfortable half-time lead, Benitezs men went for the kill after the break as they sensed history.Ronaldo took advantage of a loose ball inside the area to make it 4-0 and then fired across Wiland into the far corner to register his record-breaking 10th goal of the group stage inside the first four minutes of the second-half.Not content with 10, Ronaldo side-footed home Iscos cross 10 minutes later for his 88th Champions League goal with all 11 in the group stage coming in just four matches as he failed to score in two games against Paris Saint-Germain.Croatian international Kovacic smashed home his first Madrid goal since a big money move from Inter Milan to pile on the misery for Malmo coach Age Hareide in his final match in charge.With the visitors clearly tiring, Madrids pressing teed up Benzema to continue putting his off-field troubles behind him with his 12th goal of the season.Real could easily have gone on to set a new record as Wiland made a series of saves in the final 15 minutes and Denis Cheryshev clipped the post.However, referee Daniele Orsato took pity on the visitors as he blew up for full-time without adding any stoppages as Madrids recovery since being thrashed 4-0 at home by Barcelona last month continued in fine style.

Football: Birthday boy Sterling sends Man City top

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MANCHESTER (AFP) - Raheem Sterling marked his 21st birthday with a decisive brace as Manchester City secured top spot in Champions League Group D by overpowering in-form Borussia Moenchengladbach 4-2 on Tuesday.With 10 minutes left City trailed, goals from Julian Korb and Raffael having cancelled out David Silvas 16th-minute opener, but a stunning late surge by the hosts saw Sterling strike twice in two minutes to put City in charge before substitute Wilfried Bony added a fourth.It lifted Manuel Pellegrinis side above Juventus, beaten 1-0 by Sevilla in Spain in the other group game, and meant that Gladbach missed out on even the consolation of a Europa League berth.Citys failure to secure top spot in the group cost them dearly in the past two seasons, when they lost twice to Barcelona in the last 16, but they will now approach Mondays draw safe in the knowledge that neither Barcelona, Real Madrid nor Bayern Munich will await in the next round.Gladbach had beaten Bayern 3-1 on Saturday, becoming the first team to do so in the Bundesliga this season, but three days on they find themselves out of all European competition after the first defeat of coach Andre Schuberts 13-game reign.With Sergio Aguero still nursing a heel problem and Bony starting on the bench, Sterling led the line for City at the Etihad Stadium and after an early scare when Korb shot over, he created the games opening goal.Receiving the ball on the left-hand corner of the area, Sterling released Silva with a cunning back-heel and the Spaniard lashed the ball high past Yann Sommer at the near post for his first goal since August 10.But it took the visitors just three minutes to draw level as Fabian Johnson swapped passes with Lars Stindl before driving into the box and squaring for Korb, who bludgeoned home right-footed.Fabian Delph gave City a chance to restore their lead with an inviting cross from the right, but it evaded Sterling at the far post and a minute later Gladbach were in front, albeit in slightly fortuitous circumstances.Oscar Wendts pull-back from the left was mishit by Johnson, but Raffael, ambling across the balls trajectory, managed to nudge it past Joe Hart with his knee.City made a slow start to the second half, but before long the visitors goal was under siege.Nico Elvedis attempt to chest Fernandinhos cross back to Sommer almost let Sterling in, obliging the Swiss goalkeeper to block with his legs.Sommer also fielded shots from Silva and Sterling, before a crisp volley from the latter obliged him to spring to his left and produce a fine one-handed save.Pellegrini introduced Bony and Jesus Navas for Delph and Kevin De Bruyne and after Nicolas Otamendi had headed over, Sterling equalised, finishing coolly with his left foot after Gael Clichy had wriggled to the byline and crossed.In a flash City were in front, Silva improbably flicking on a high ball for Bony, who nutmegged Elvedi and teed up Sterling to sweep an assured finish inside the right-hand post from the edge of the box.Four minutes later it was all over, Bony finishing at the second attempt after his initial shot was blocked by Havard Nordveit, and Harts save from Thorgan Hazards deflected shot spared the home fans an anxious final few minutes.

Football: Platini vows to tell 'truth' at ban appeal

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LAUSANNE (AFP) - FIFA vice-president Michel Platini vowed to tell nothing but the truth before appearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a bid to halt a 90-day suspension by footballs world body.The appeal is part of a campaign by the 60-year-old Frenchman to get back into the election for a new leader of scandal-tainted FIFA to be held on February 26.Platini appeared before the CAS tribunal in Lausanne with his lawyers in a bid to get the suspension ordered in October provisionally lifted.I will say nothing more than I have already told you: the truth, all the truth and nothing but the truth, Platini told reporters with a half smile before entering the tribunal.He was accompanied by his Paris-based lawyers Thibaud dAles and Thomas Clay. FIFA was represented by Swiss lawyer Antonio Rigozzi.Sports highest appeal court has promised a decision by Friday at the latest.FIFAs ethics committee suspended the boss of European confederation UEFA in October after he was linked to a criminal probe by Swiss prosecutors.According to Platinis lawyers, FIFAs ethics watchdog wants the French football legend banned for life.Platini has gone to CAS in a bid to get the suspension temporarily lifted. The Frenchman and FIFA president Sepp Blatter will appear before a FIFA appeal committee on December 16-18 for the main challenge against their 90-day suspensions.Blatter is the target of a criminal mismanagement investigation by Swiss prosecutors. Platini has been questioned over a two million Swiss france ($2 million) payment he received from FIFA in 2011 for work done a decade earlier.Both men deny any wrongdoing, insisting there was an oral contract for the consultancy work on FIFAs international calendar.Platini plans to use a 1998 UEFA document to back his case that he had a deal with FIFA.The document, seen by AFP on Tuesday, says that Blatter had announced during his campaign for the FIFA presidency in 1998 that Platini would be the future sports director of FIFA. Platini would therefore become an employee of FIFA.The document even adds: One has to have doubts about Platinis qualifications as sporting director, which would require him to manage all sports related matters, including competitions and to guide the personnel in question.Platini only became UEFA president in 2007.Platinis entourage say the document is proof that there was nothing underhand about the deal between Blatter and Platini and that it was well known to world footballs top leaders.The FIFA suspension has prevented Platini taking part in the campaign for the leadership of the crisis-stricken world body.The current suspension would finish on January 5 but if that is lifted by the FIFA watchdog, he would then have to pass an integrity test.Five candidates -- Asias football chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, UEFA secretary general Gianni Infantino, former FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan, South African business tycoon Tokyo Sexwale and former FIFA official Jerome Champagne of France -- have been campaigning for months.Infantino has said he would stand down if Platini is allowed to run in the election.If the CAS does lift the FIFA suspension, Platini will at least be allowed to attend the draw for the 2016 European Championships in Paris on Saturday. Euro 2016 will be in France next June.For me, it is a lot more important to know if he (Platini) will be at the Euro than (Karim) Benzema, said chief organiser Jacques Lambert.We have been preparing this event for five years with Michel Platini, the UEFA president.Star striker Benzema could be kicked out of the French team after he was charged with complicity over a bid to blackmail teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex-tape.

Tennis: Nadal 'happy to keep going' after disastrous year

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MANILA (AFP) - Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal said Tuesday he was more than happy to keep playing on after his worst season in a decade.The former world number one ended his reign as French Open king at the quarterfinal stage this year and also failed to reach the semifinal of the US Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon.This has led to growing speculation that the 29-year-old Spaniard, one of the most exciting and tenacious competitors of his generation, was past his best.Today I am more than happy to keep going. I start another year in one month and Im very excited about it and I have the motivation to keep going, he told reporters in Manila.He said he had no idea how long he will be able to compete at the sports top level.For me it doesnt matter if its one, two, three, four, five, six years. I really dont think about it. I go day by day, he said.After embarrassingly early exits from Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows and dropping to number 10, Nadal rallied in the latter part of the year to end 2015 as the worlds fifth-ranked player.He said he was happy with his form in the last three months of the season.Earlier on Monday he said he was hopeful of carrying this form over to the Australian Open, which starts on January 18 next year. His last two seasons were plagued with injuries and last year he had surgery to remove his appendix.Nadal is in the Philippine capital this week to play in a parallel International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) tour, which promotes a shortened, speeded-up version of the game that organisers said is more television-friendly than the traditional format.The IPTL tour began in Japan last week and will also have stops in India, Dubai and Singapore later this month.

Tennis: Berdych ready to step up

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MANILA (AFP) - Czech player Tomas Berdych said Tuesday he is ready to break the stranglehold of the tennis elite who have taken the lions share of the major mens tournaments in the past decade.Only Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open winner, and Juan Martin del Potro at the same tournament in 2009, have broken the stranglehold of the current top five mens players in the past 10 years.Berdych, ranked number six but at 30 surely nearing the final years of his pro career, fell short at the semi-finals of the 2015 Australian Open, his best Grand Slam result this year.I am trying to get myself in the best possible shape next year, the 13-year veteran told reporters in Manila when asked if he thought he would finally break his Grand Slam duck.My preparation, I think, is going pretty well, the hard court specialist added.Berdych is in Manila this week for the second leg of the International Premier Tennis League circuit, which began in Japan last week and will also have stops this month in India, Dubai and Singapore.He reached a record-high ranking of fourth in May during a year in which he got married and also reached the fourth round at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows.But he went furthest in Australia before being beaten in an explosive semi-final against Andy Murray, now the worlds second-ranked mens player.The first Grand Slam of 2016 starts in Melbourne on January 18.For most of his professional career, Berdych has played in the shadow of the now third-ranked Roger Federer, fifth-ranked Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the worlds top player, who together have won 41 Grand Slam titles.Number four Stan Wawrinka and number two Murray, who have three Grand Slam titles between them, are the other two players now ahead of Berdych in the world rankings.Retired former world number one Carlos Moya and former world number two Goran Ivanisevic however said that on current form it would be difficult to bet against the worlds top four at the Australian Open.There are a few guys that I believe will step up next year, Moya added, naming younger players like Milos Raonic, Nick Kyrgios and Grigor Dimitrov.However Ivanisevic said it would take the young guns another five years or six years to break through.I dont see any surprises for 2016, the Croat added.

White House thumps Trump over Muslim comments

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The White House angrily challenged Republicans to denounce their partys presidential frontrunner.The announcement was made against Donald Trump on Tuesday, claiming his toxic plan to ban Muslims from entering the country should disqualify him from office.Painting Trump as a carnival barker with fake hair whose campaign belonged in the dustbin of history, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Trumps plan to refuse even American-born Muslims entry to the United States were patently unconstitutional.What Donald Trump said yesterday disqualifies him from serving as president, said Earnest sharply, describing the 69-year-olds comments variously as offensive and toxic.The unusually strident language from the White House podium reflects concern about the impact of Trumps comments in the wake of a mass shooting that killed 14 in California that is being blamed on Islamic extremists.But it also suggests that the White House spies a political opportunity ahead of the 2016 election.Earnest was quick to pounce on prominent Republicans who condemned Trumps remarks -- including rival presidential contenders Marco Rubio, John Kasich, Chris Christie and Jeb Bush -- saying they would still support him if he were the party nominee.The Grand Old Party has long held fast to president Ronald Reagans so-called 11th commandment: Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.Earnest dared them to break that rule and challenge Trump, or risk being tarred with the same brush.What he said is disqualifying and any Republican whos too fearful of the Republican base to admit it, has no business serving as president either, he said.That poses a dilemma for Republicans who may have little love for Trump: refuse to withdraw support and risk being branded a bigot, or withdraw support with the political risks that entails.The politically savvy real estate mogul took to Facebook Friday to make sure every Republican knows the danger of choosing the latter.A new poll indicates that 68 percent of my supporters would vote for me if I departed the GOP and ran as an independent, he said.Trump currently leads Republican presidential polls by double digits.According to a USA Today/Suffolk survey published Tuesday he is supported by 27 percent of Republican likely voters.His nearest rival Senator Ted Cruz stands on 17 percent, with Senator Marco Rubio on 16.Analysts suggested Trumps latest provocation was a calculated ploy to whip up support before the first primary nomination votes in Iowa and New Hampshire in February.Trump has already galvanized core conservative voters fearful of undocumented workers taking US jobs with his oft-repeated pledge to build a wall along the Mexican border.American University professor of government Jennifer Lawless said it was unlikely Trump would be able to win the nomination entirely on immigration.But if you can link immigration to terrorism and foreign policy and national security, then you have the potential to cast a much wider net.Trump has defied the pundits with his staying power, remaining the frontrunner with just two months until Iowa becomes the first state to vote on the nomination.Spending very little of his fabled billions on advertising, Trumps campaign has been defined by outlandish remarks on television and social media that spur yet further media attention.The question now is about the rest of the Republican party and whether or not theyre going to be dragged into the dustbin of history with him, said the White Houses Earnest.And right now, the current trajectory is not very good.

Posted by IMRAN ALI SOOMRO (DARVESH) at 12/09/2015 10:54:00 AM

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