Xabi Alonso retiring in June…See full details

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Bayern Munich's Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso celebrating scoring during the UEFA Champions League semi-final, second-leg football match between FC Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid in Munich, southern Germany.<br />Bayern Munich's Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso announced on March 9, 2017 thta he will end his football career at the end of the current season. / AFP PHOTO / Christof Stache

Spanish World Cup winner and double European champion Xabi Alonso, 35, confirmed Thursday that he will retire at the end of the season when his Bayern Munich contract expires.

“It was not an easy decision but I think it’s a good time,” Alonso told Bayern Munich’s TV channel.

“I want to finish my career at the highest level, and Bayern is the highest level,” added the 2010 World Cup winner.

Defensive midfielder Alonso is the oldest member of the Bayern team, but can still command a first-team place under Carlo Ancelotti alongside Chile’s Arturo Vidal.

Bayern are into the Champions League’s quarter-final draw on March 17 and are bidding to repeat their 2013 treble of European, Bundesliga and German Cup titles.

“FC Bayern are grateful to a man and a great player, who has been superb for Bayern both on and off the pitch,” said club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Alonso arrived in Bayern for the 2014/15 season after playing for Liverpool and Real Madrid.

He was part of two historic Champions League title wins.

He played in Liverpool’s 2005 fight-back in Istanbul and was involved in Real Madrid’s 2014 triumph when they won ‘la Decima’ — the European Cup for the tenth time.

So far with Bayern, he has won two Bundesliga titles and one German Cup title with Bayern with the Bavarians currently dominating both competitions.

Alonso has won 16 titles for clubs and country, including the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European championships with Spain, making 114 international appearances.

He retired from international duty in August 2014.

Confirmation of Alonso’s retirement means the German giants will lose significant experience for next season.

Club captain and ex-Germany skipper Philipp Lahm has also confirmed he will hang up his boots in June.

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Women with ‘abortion ship’ go to countries, advocate, perform abortions

NNPC secures N126m daily reduction in rig rate

U.K. inflation rate rises less than expected

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The increase in the rate to 1.8 percent from 1.6 percent in December fell short of the 1.9 percent estimated in a Bloomberg survey.

U.K. inflation picked up less than economists forecast in January as clothing-store discounts kept the rate from reaching the Bank of England’s target.

The increase in the rate to 1.8 percent from 1.6 percent in December fell short of the 1.9 percent estimated in a Bloomberg survey. The pound weakened and traders pared bets on a Bank of England interest-rate hike by the end of 2017.

While less than anticipated, inflation is still running at the fastest pace in more than two years. Rising fuel costs coupled with a weaker pound are set to push it above the BOE’s 2 percent goal soon, with some economists forecasting it will hit 3 percent by the end of the year. In a sign of the upward pressure, annual growth in factory input costs surged to the fastest since 2008.

In January, clothing prices fell 4.2 percent on the month, pulling annual inflation in that category back to zero, the Office for National Statistics said. The biggest upward effect on headline inflation came from motor fuels. Food prices fell the least in more than two years.

“The downside surprise entirely reflected a pull back in clothing inflation,” said Samuel Tombs, an economist at Pantheon in London. “We continue to expect inflation to rise sharply over the coming months.”

Sterling was down 0.4 percent at $1.2481 as of 10:05 a.m. London time. The odds on a BOE rate hike by the end of the year slipped to 24 percent from 29 percent on Monday.

BOE Forecasts
The BOE sees inflation accelerating through this year and peaking at 2.8 percent in early 2018 after the U.K.’s vote to leave the European Union slashed the value of the pound. The central bank kept interest rates unchanged this month as policy makers said they could look through a period of faster price gains as long as they don’t get out of hand.

Import costs rose more than 20 percent year-on-year, the most since 2008. Crude oil has surged 88 percent, the biggest jump since the turn of the century.

Higher inflation rates will mean a reduction in households’ spending power if wage growth — currently running at 2.7 percent — doesn’t also pick up. Wireless-speaker maker Sonos said on Monday it will raise the cost of its products in the U.K. by as much as 25 percent, becoming the latest in a string of companies to blame the weaker pound for a price hike.

Based on CPIH, which includes some housing costs, inflation was 2 percent in January. It will become the headline measure next month, though the BOE will continue to target the CPI figure.

While the BOE has a “neutral” stance on interest rates, some policy makers have begun to raise concern about the pickup in price growth after the economy performed better than expected in the second half of 2016.

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Brother of North Korean leader killed in Malaysia (Read full details)

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Kim Jong-Un / AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS / STR

The oldest half-brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un was murdered in Malaysia on Monday, according to a South Korean government official.

Kim Jong Nam, the eldest son of former leader Kim Jong Il, had lived outside the country for years. The official, who asked not to be identified, citing government policy, said poison was involved in his death, but provided no other details.

Two unidentified women killed Kim Jong Nam at Kuala Lumpur’s airport with a poison needle before fleeing in a taxi, YTN television station reported, citing a government source. Malaysia’s police didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Kim Jong Nam, aged in his mid 40s, fell out of favor with his father after he was caught trying to enter Japan using a fake Dominican Republic passport in 2001, according to Japanese reporter Yoji Gomi, who wrote a book about him in 2012. Kim Jong Nam had been critical of Kim Jong Un, reportedly saying in 2012 that he “ won’t last long” because of his youth and inexperience. The two brothers have different mothers.

News of the murder comes two days after Kim Jong Un test-fired a ballistic missile as part of efforts to develop North Korea’s nuclear-weapons capability. The provocation drew a rebuke from the United Nations Security Council, with U.S. President Donald Trump vowing to deal with the threat “ very strongly.”

Kim Paranoia
North Korea remains largely cut off from the world, with information tightly controlled by the government. Kim has carried out a series of executions since taking power in 2011, the most high profile of which was the 2013 killing of his uncle and one-time deputy Jang Song Thaek.

If Kim Jong Nam was killed by a North Korean spy, it indicates that Kim Jong Un felt a sense of paranoia about his own future and wanted to remove any potential successors, according to Namkoong Young, who has been teaching inter-Korean politics at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies for more than 25 years.

“Jong Nam has been in exile for years away from North’s politics for a long time but he is still the eldest son of Kim Jong Il,” Namkoong said. “And if there was any move or plan by some elite there to have him replace Jong Un, he probably should be removed.”

A spokesperson for South Korea’s unification ministry declined to comment. Malaysia’s foreign ministry is still waiting for information from the police on the identity of the deceased man, a spokeswoman said via text message. The death is under the purview of the home affairs ministry, she said.

Kim Jong Un had about 50 officials executed in 2014 on charges ranging from graft to watching South Korean soap operas. Two senior officials were executed with an anti-aircraft gun in August last year on Kim’s orders, South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported, citing people it did not identify.

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Germany elects ‘anti-Trump’ Steinmeier as new president

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New elected German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (L) is congratulated by German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere after the presidential election at the Bundesversammlung federal assembly Bundestag (lower house of parliament)on February 12, 2017 in Berlin. Germany's former foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier of the centre-left Social Democrats was elected as the country's ceremonial president in a vote held in the national parliament.<br />Odd ANDERSEN / AFP

Billed as Germany’s “anti-Trump”, centre-left former foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was elected Sunday as the new ceremonial head of state.

The 61-year-old, who regularly polls as Germany’s most popular politician, will represent the EU’s top economy abroad and act as a kind of moral arbiter for the nation.

His Social Democrats (SPD) hope the appointment will boost their fortunes just as their candidate Martin Schulz, the former European parliament president, readies to challenge Chancellor Angela Merkel in September elections.

Steinmeier received 931 of 1,239 valid votes after Merkel’s conservatives, lacking a strong candidate of their own, agreed to back him to replace incumbent Joachim Gauck, 77, a former pastor from ex-communist East Germany.

The vote was held in Berlin’s glass-domed Reichstag building by a special Federal Assembly, made up of national lawmakers and electors sent from Germany’s 16 states — among them deputies but also artists, writers, musicians and national football coach Joachim Loew.

With his snowy white hair, round glasses and dimpled smile, Steinmeier is one of Germany’s best-known politicians, having twice served as top diplomat under Merkel for a total of seven years.

Though the trained lawyer is usually measured in his speech, in the thick of last year’s US election campaign Steinmeier labelled Donald Trump a “hate preacher”.

After the billionaire won the White House, Steinmeier predicted relations would get “more difficult” and said his staff were struggling to detect any “clear and coherent” foreign policy positions from Trump.

– ‘Antidote to populists’ –
As Steinmeier has prepared for the new post, which he assumes on March 19, he has vowed to serve as a “counterweight to the trend of boundless simplification”, calling this approach “the best antidote to the populists”.

The Berliner Morgenpost newspaper judged that Steinmeier looks set to be “the anti-Trump president”.

Steinmeier is only known to have lost his cool once, in 2014, when he yelled at Berlin protesters who had accused him of being a “warmonger” over his Ukraine policy. The outburst was so unusual it became a minor YouTube hit.

A policy wonk by nature, Steinmeier served as advisor and then chief of staff to Merkel’s predecessor, the SPD’s Gerhard Schroeder.

In 2009, Steinmeier ran against Merkel and lost badly, only to return years later to serve in her cabinet.

Political scientist Michael Broening of the SPD’s think-tank the Friedrich Ebert Foundation said that “as foreign minister, Steinmeier often acted as a voice of reason, bridging gaps and bringing people together”.

“It is hardly surprising that Steinmeier has branded himself as the essential anti-Trump,” he added.

Steinmeier is well known in the world’s capitals, but his appointment worries some in eastern Europe, who see him as too soft on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He raised eyebrows with NATO partners last year when he criticised a military exercise in Poland as “sabre rattling”.

– ‘Changed equation’ –
Having Steinmeier move into the presidential Bellevue Castle in Berlin has emboldened the SPD.

After years in the shadow of Merkel, the Social Democrats are smelling blood as the chancellor faces deep divisions within her own conservative camp, and the rise of the hard-right populist party Alternative for Germany (AfD) after opening German borders to a million asylum-seekers since 2015.

Since Schulz took over the candidacy in late January, the SPD has risen sharply in the opinion polls.

It scored 32 percent — its highest in a decade and only one point behind Merkel’s conservatives — in an Emnid poll for the Bild am Sonntag newspaper, which asked in a headline: “Is this the beginning of the end of the Merkel era?”

The election may still be more than seven months away, but the SPD finally hopes to have a realistic shot at toppling Merkel.

“For Germany’s Social Democrats, Steinmeier’s election is a prelude to something bigger to come: a victory in September’s elections against Merkel,” said Broening.

“While this seemed impossible only a few days ago, the recent rise in polls has changed the equation.”

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I’ll love to marry a Nigerian, says winner of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon female category…See full details

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Rhoda Jepkhorir winner of<br />Access bank Marathon female category<br />Photo: Twitter/Access bank lagos city marathon

Rhoda Jepkhorir of Kenya, the first female elite athlete to cross the finish line in Saturday’s 2nd Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, said she would not hesitate to marry a Nigerian if approached.

Jepkhorir told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the finish point that she would not hesitate due to the kind nature of Nigerians.

“If a Nigerian man should ask for my hand in marriage, I will marry him because Nigerians are nice people.

“Nationality is no barrier, so far he is committed and caring, I will have no option,’’ she said.

She also said that she loved watching the duo of Nigerian actors, Aki and Pawpaw, saying that she was so attached to Nigeria.

“Aki and Pawpaw are my best actors in Nigeria, I have so much love for the Nigerian movie industry,’’ the runner said.

The athlete, who is visiting Nigeria for the first time, said that winning the race was a dream comes through for her.

“The race has given me the opportunity to come to my dream country, I will come over and over again,’’ she said.

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38 Killed by Avalanches After Heavy Snow in Afghanistan – Afghan Official

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At least 38 people have been killed over the course of three days in Afghanistan by avalanches caused by heavy snow, officials said on Sunday.

Omer Mohammadi, spokesman for the Afghan state minister for disaster management and humanitarian affairs, said that more than 20 others have been injured.

Mohammadi said that 22 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces have experienced heavy snow.

Approximately 20 homes have been destroyed by avalanches and nearly 50 others heavily damaged.

Mohammad Aseem, provincial governor in northern Parwan province, said that 16 people were killed and eight others injured in avalanches in two districts. He said a team had been dispatched to affected areas but that many roads had been blocked by snow.

Naweed Frotan, spokesman for the provincial governor in Badakhshan province, said initial reports showed at least 18 people killed, but added that the numbers were expected to rise.

Mohammadi added that so far more than 550 animals have been killed and more than 1000 hectares of agricultural lands destroyed in the affected provinces.

On Sunday, the government declared a public holiday due to the heavy snowfall.

Source: ABC NEWS

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Bolt leads his All Stars to victory in Nitro meet

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Olympic champion Usain Bolt (front C) poses with his team members (from L-R) Ryan Gregson of Australia, Matthew Wyatt of New Zealand, Christine Ohuruogu of England, Wataru Yazawa of Japan, Zhao Xinghai of China and Gen LaCaze of Australia during a press conference in Melbourne on February 3, 2017, ahead of the Nitro Athletics meet in Melbourne. / AFP PHOTO / MARK PETERSON

The world’s fastest man Usain Bolt led his Bolt All-Stars to victory on the opening night of the inaugural Nitro Athletics teams event in Melbourne on Saturday.

The world record holder for the 100m and 200m sprints led the Bolt All Stars — including athletes from Jamaica, the USA and Kenya — against teams representing Australia, England, New Zealand, Japan and China.

The 30-year-old Jamaican sprint star ran in the final event on the programme, the 4x100m mixed relay, featuring two male and two female athletes from each team, as did fellow Jamaican Olympic gold medallist Asafa Powell.

With their captain running the unfamiliar second leg, handing over to American Jenna Prandini, the Bolt All Stars won that race to notch up their fourth outright win of the night and finish with a total of 1080 points.

“It was just a wonderful night. I was just enjoying myself from the start to the end,” Bolt said.

“Everybody was just having fun. Everybody was trying to support their teammates — going over to the long jump, to the javelin — that’s something were not really used to.”

The Australian team won three of the 12 events to sit second with 1050 points. The two teams finished equal first in two other events while Australia’s Kurtis Marschall also tied for first place with China’s Xue Changrui in the men’s pole vault.

New Zealand won the other two events, while China finished third on the points table with 845.

“At the start (of the night) I was a little bit worried. We started kinda slow and I was talking so much smack that everyone was looking at me like ‘you’re losing’,” Bolt said. “But we won at the end, so that’s the key thing and I’m very happy with how everything turned out.”

The winner of gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the past three Olympics, Bolt said he had never run a competitive race in February before, and was impressed with the form of the local athletes.

“They came out ready. Most people aren’t really at the level that they want because it’s February, but you guys were ready and that’s what we want, competition. So it’s fun and it was loud, so it was good.”

Bolt may have been the main attraction but the Australian athletes enjoyed accolades from the crowd of around 7,000.

Nitro Athletics involves a mixture of traditional and modified events designed to provide non-stop action over a two-hour period, with each team consisting of 12 male and 12 female athletes.

Twelve events, from mixed gender relays, to 60m and 150m sprints awarded points for each placing.

Highlights included the men’s elimination mile, which saw the last-placed runner eliminated at the end of each of the first three laps of the track.

A similar programme will be held on Thursday with the final of the three-event series at the same venue next Saturday.

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Bolt leads his All Stars to victory in Nitro meet…See full details

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Olympic champion Usain Bolt (front C) poses with his team members (from L-R) Ryan Gregson of Australia, Matthew Wyatt of New Zealand, Christine Ohuruogu of England, Wataru Yazawa of Japan, Zhao Xinghai of China and Gen LaCaze of Australia during a press conference in Melbourne on February 3, 2017, ahead of the Nitro Athletics meet in Melbourne. / AFP PHOTO / MARK PETERSON

The world’s fastest man Usain Bolt led his Bolt All-Stars to victory on the opening night of the inaugural Nitro Athletics teams event in Melbourne on Saturday.

The world record holder for the 100m and 200m sprints led the Bolt All Stars — including athletes from Jamaica, the USA and Kenya — against teams representing Australia, England, New Zealand, Japan and China.

The 30-year-old Jamaican sprint star ran in the final event on the programme, the 4x100m mixed relay, featuring two male and two female athletes from each team, as did fellow Jamaican Olympic gold medallist Asafa Powell.

With their captain running the unfamiliar second leg, handing over to American Jenna Prandini, the Bolt All Stars won that race to notch up their fourth outright win of the night and finish with a total of 1080 points.

“It was just a wonderful night. I was just enjoying myself from the start to the end,” Bolt said.

“Everybody was just having fun. Everybody was trying to support their teammates — going over to the long jump, to the javelin — that’s something were not really used to.”

The Australian team won three of the 12 events to sit second with 1050 points. The two teams finished equal first in two other events while Australia’s Kurtis Marschall also tied for first place with China’s Xue Changrui in the men’s pole vault.

New Zealand won the other two events, while China finished third on the points table with 845.

“At the start (of the night) I was a little bit worried. We started kinda slow and I was talking so much smack that everyone was looking at me like ‘you’re losing’,” Bolt said. “But we won at the end, so that’s the key thing and I’m very happy with how everything turned out.”

The winner of gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay at the past three Olympics, Bolt said he had never run a competitive race in February before, and was impressed with the form of the local athletes.

“They came out ready. Most people aren’t really at the level that they want because it’s February, but you guys were ready and that’s what we want, competition. So it’s fun and it was loud, so it was good.”

Bolt may have been the main attraction but the Australian athletes enjoyed accolades from the crowd of around 7,000.

Nitro Athletics involves a mixture of traditional and modified events designed to provide non-stop action over a two-hour period, with each team consisting of 12 male and 12 female athletes.

Twelve events, from mixed gender relays, to 60m and 150m sprints awarded points for each placing.

Highlights included the men’s elimination mile, which saw the last-placed runner eliminated at the end of each of the first three laps of the track.

A similar programme will be held on Thursday with the final of the three-event series at the same venue next Saturday.

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