Trump’s revised travel ban denounced by over 130 experts

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Demonstrators gather near The White House to protest President Donald Trump's travel ban on six Muslim countries on March 11, 2017 in Washington, DC. PHOTO: Tasos Katopodis / AFP

Over 130 US foreign policy experts have denounced President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban, saying it undermines America’s national security and interests as much as the original order barring travelers from some Muslim-majority countries and refugees.

“To Muslims — including those victimized by or fighting against ISIS (Islamic State) — it will send a message that reinforces the propaganda… that falsely claim the United States is at war with Islam,” read the letter by former government officials and experts.

“Welcoming Muslim refugees and travelers, by contrast, exposes the lies of terrorists and counters their warped vision,” added the document dated Friday.

Among the 134 signatories were some who served in either or both Republican and Democratic administrations were former senior diplomat Nicholas Burns, ex-National Security Council counter-terrorism director Richard Clarke and ex-undersecretary of defense Michele Flournoy.

Most served under Democratic presidents, including former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, former Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano, ex-national security advisor Susan Rice and ex-National Counterterrorism director Matthew Olsen.

Their comments echo those being made in court by US states claiming the modified measures discriminate against Muslims and are detrimental to US interests.

“Bans like those included in this order are harmful to US national security and beneath the dignity of our great nation,” the letter read.

The executive order “weakens this country’s ability to provide global leadership and jeopardizes our national security interests by failing to support the stability of our allies that are struggling to host large numbers of refugees,” it added.

The letter was also sent to Trump’s Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary James Mattis, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Homeland Security chief John Kelly and Acting Director of National Intelligence Michael Dempsey.

The revised directive temporarily closes US borders to all refugees and citizens from six mainly-Muslim countries.

It denies US entry to all refugees for 120 days and halts for 90 days the granting of visas to nationals from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

The new order, unveiled Monday, is due to go into effect March 16 and replaces the previous Trump directive that was blocked in federal court.

The blocked order included an indefinite Syrian refugee travel ban and its blacklist of barred countries included Iraq.

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Venus battles back to beat Jankovic, advance at Indian Wells

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Venus Williams of the United States celebrates after defeating Jelena Jankovic of Serbia on Center Court at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 11, 2017 in Indian Wells, California. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/AFP/ KEVORK DJANSEZIAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

Venus Williams saved three match points as she roared back for a 1-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 victory over old foe Jelena Jankovic on Saturday and a place in the third round at Indian Wells.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion, her right arm bandaged and her serve speed down, surrendered the first set in just 20 minutes and was quickly down a break at 3-1 in the second.

“I definitely wasn’t able to do everything I wanted to,” she said. “Took me some time to kind of get my head around that.

“You have to get disciplined and just try to deal with what’s at hand and try to use the tools you have on this particular day,” said Williams, who did so with a vengeance.

She broke Jankovic twice to take a 5-4 lead in the second set before the Serb veteran, like Williams a former world number one, broke in the 10th game to pull level at 5-5.

Serving to save the match, Williams was on the ropes in the 12th game but she saved three match points to force the decider.

Once she came through it, she ran away with the third, buoyed by an enthusiastic crowd.

“It ain’t over til it’s over,” she told her ecstatic fans of her determination to stick with it until the end. “And I didn’t see no fat lady singing.”

Williams next faces Czech Lucie Safarova, a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 winner over American Coco Vandeweghe.

Safarova denied Vandeweghe a chance to avenge her semi-final loss to Williams at the Australian Open, where Williams fell in the championship match to her sister Serena.

Jankovic, meanwhile, could only regret her missed opportunities, especially her first match point that Williams saved with a volley winner.

“When she was at the net I was supposed to play that cross forehand but I played down the line and right to her and she made a winner,” Jankovic said. “I had everything under control and I just let it slip away.”

– Kerber in control –

There was no such drama for second-seeded Angelique Kerber, who raced into the third round with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over fellow German Andrea Petkovic.

Kerber, who is assured of reclaiming the number one world ranking when the tournament ends thanks to Serena Williams’ injury withdrawal, reversed a run of poor fortune in the California desert, where she hadn’t made it out of her tournament opener since 2011.

“Of course, it was not so easy to play against her, we know each other very long,” Kerber said.

“I was trying today just to focus more on my side of the tennis court. Just being focused on my game, because I think the last three years I lose here in the first round, so that was also something in my mind that I would like to change this year and just go through it.”

Kerber next faces France’s Pauline Parmentier, who ousted 27th-seeded Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-2, 6-3.

Women’s fourth-seed Simona Halep of Romania cruised through her opener, downing Croatian wild card Donna Vekic 6-4, 6-1.

Sixth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska beat Spain’s Sara Sorribes 6-3, 6-4 and ninth-seeded American Madison Keys made a successful return to competition with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Colombian Mariana Duque.

Keys was playing in her first match of 2017 after missing two months in the wake of left wrist surgery.

“It felt really good,” Keys said. “I really, really missed competing and being able to go out there and get a win on top of it was amazing.”

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Dutch expel Turkish minister as police break up protests

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Turkish police cars block the main gate of the consulate of the Netherlands in Istanbul as protesters wave flags during a demonstration late on March 11, 2017. The Dutch embassy in Ankara and consulate in Istanbul have been sealed off for "security reasons", Turkish foreign ministry sources said on March 11, as tensions soar between Turkey and the Netherlands after a Dutch ban on the Turkish foreign minister's visit. PHOTO: YASIN AKGUL / AFP

Dutch police used water cannon and horses early Sunday to break up protests outside the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam as the city expelled a Turkish minister, amid an escalating diplomatic row with Ankara.

After several hours of calm demonstrations, police moved in to disperse over 1,000 people gathered close to the consulate, charging the crowd on horseback and using dogs to regain control.

Protesters hit back, throwing rocks at riot police, while hundreds of cars jammed the streets blaring their horns and revving their engines.

Tensions finally tipped over into violence after a day of fast-moving events, triggered when Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he planned to attend a pro-Turkish government rally in Rotterdam.

The Netherlands, which holds general elections on Wednesday, had repeatedly said Cavusoglu was not welcome to campaign for Turkey’s April referendum in the country and refused his plane permission to land.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted angrily accusing the Dutch — who were once under Nazi occupation — of being “the vestiges of Nazis”.

The Dutch decision to ban Cavusoglu from visiting came after Germany and other European nations also blocked similar campaign events.

“They are the vestiges of the Nazis, they are fascists,” Erdogan told an Istanbul rally on Saturday, days after he angrily compared moves to block rallies in Germany to “Nazi practices”.

“Ban our foreign minister from flying however much you like, but from now on let’s see how your flights will land in Turkey,” Erdogan said.

– Minister expelled –

But later, Turkey’s Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya appeared at the scene after reportedly travelling by car overland from Germany.

She was stopped just outside the consulate by Dutch police, and after several hours of negotiations escorted back to the German border.

Kaya was “on the way from Rotterdam to Germany”, mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb told reporters, adding: “She has been expelled back to the country she came from.”

The Dutch government criticised Kaya as “irresponsible” for attempting to visit after being told she was not welcome and said it told Turkey it could not compromise on public order and security.

“The search for a reasonable solution proved impossible, and the verbal attacks that followed today from the Turkish authorities are unacceptable,” it said in a statement.

“In this context Minster Kaya’s visit was irresponsible. Through contacts with the Turkish authorities, the message was repeatedly conveyed that Minister Kaya is not welcome in the Netherlands… nevertheless she decided to travel.”

Kaya complained of her treatment, and could be seen in images on Dutch NOS television appearing to argue with Dutch police about the situation.

“We’ve been here for about four hours. We were not even offered water,” she told the NTV television channel.

“I was told to leave the country and return to Germany as soon as possible,” she added.

Cavusoglu meanwhile flew to France where he is expected to address a rally on Sunday in the eastern city of Metz. A French official said the visit had been cleared by the foreign ministry in Paris.

As the row raged, Turkish foreign ministry sources said the Dutch embassy in Ankara and consulate in Istanbul had both been sealed off for “security reasons”.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Erdogan’s criticism was “crazy”.

“I understand that they are angry but this is way out of line,” he said. “I really think we made the right decision here.”

– ‘Don’t return’ –

Cavusoglu, speaking in Istanbul, said the ban was “unacceptable”.

“Why are you taking sides in the referendum?” he said, adding: “Is the foreign minister of Turkey a terrorist?”

The Turkish foreign ministry said the Dutch charge d’affaires in Ankara was summoned and told Turkey did not want the Dutch ambassador — currently on holiday — to return “for a while”.

The Netherlands is home to some 400,000 people of Turkish origin, and Ankara is keen to harness votes of the diaspora in Europe ahead of the April 16 referendum on creating an executive presidency.

The Turkish government argues the changes would ensure stability and create more efficient governance, but opponents say it would lead to one-man rule and further inflame tensions in its diverse society.

The latest row came after NATO allies Turkey and Germany sparred over the cancellation of a series of referendum campaign events there.

Germany is home to 1.4 million people eligible to vote in Turkey — the fourth-largest electoral base after Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.

Although Berlin insisted the cancellations by local authorities were for logistical reasons, Turkish officials repeatedly hit back.

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North Korea hits out at US over possible terror listing…Read full details

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This picture taken on February 22, 2017 and released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on February 23 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un (C) visiting the People's Theatre to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the State Merited Chorus in Pyongyang. / AFP PHOTO / KCNA VIA KNS / STR / South Korea OUT / REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT

North Korea warned Saturday the US will “pay dearly” if it puts Pyongyang on a terror list over the killing of its leader’s half-brother, as a suspect in the murder claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy.

Kim Jong-Nam, 45, was poisoned in Malaysia last month with VX, a nerve agent so deadly that it is classed as a weapon of mass destruction.

The dramatic killing at Kuala Lumpur airport prompted an international probe, lurid stories of North Korea’s Cold War-style tradecraft and a bitter war of words between Malaysia and Pyongyang.

South Korean and Japanese media, citing diplomatic sources, have since reported that the US has been mulling placing the North back on its terror list, which includes Iran and Syria.

“The US will keenly realise how dearly it has to pay for its groundless accusations against the dignified” North if it puts it back on the terror list, the regime’s foreign ministry spokesman told state-run newswire KCNA.

The spokesman maintained that Pyongyang opposed “all forms of terrorism” and accused the US of trying to tarnish its reputation.

South Korea has blamed the North for the murder, citing what they say was a standing order from leader Kim Jong-Un to kill his exiled half-brother who may have been seen as a potential rival.

However, the only North Korean arrested over the assassination on Saturday denounced Malaysia’s probe into the murder as “a conspiracy to impair the dignity of the Republic (North Korea)”.

Ri Jong-Chol, who was released and deported Friday due to lack of evidence, said that police had offered him a comfortable life in Malaysia in return for a false confession.

“But no way. No matter how good a life it could be, it is still not as good as my own motherland. How could I forget the motherland that raised me and fed me to this point?” he said to media in Beijing.

– Airline employee wanted –
Ri’s release came days after two women — one Vietnamese and one Indonesian — were charged with murdering Kim Jong-Nam. Airport CCTV footage showed the women approaching the heavyset 45-year-old and apparently smearing his face with a cloth.

Police say he suffered a seizure and died less than 20 minutes later. Swabs of the dead man’s face revealed traces of VX nerve agent. On Friday police issued an arrest warrant for a North Korean airline employee, Kim Uk Il, 37, in connection with the murder.

They also requested that Hyon Kwang Song, second secretary at the North Korean embassy, assist the probe. Both are believed to be in Malaysia. Four others are thought to have fled to Pyongyang on the day of the assassination.

North Korea, which has not acknowledged the dead man’s identity, has vehemently protested the investigation, saying Malaysia is in cahoots with its enemies.

In response, Malaysia has cancelled a rare visa-free travel deal with North Korea — a key conduit to the outside world — and recalled its envoy to Pyongyang.

The nuclear-armed North was first designated a state sponsor of terrorism by the US in 1987 when its agents bombed a South Korean plane killing all 115 on board.

But it was taken off the list in 2008 after Pyongyang took steps toward freezing its nuclear facilities.

However, since then the North has resumed its activities, conducting four atomic tests and numerous missile tests despite the fact that they are banned under several UN Security Council resolutions.

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We don’t have Ebute’s letter, says UN

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UN Security Council

The UN said on Friday that it has not received a letter reportedly written by a former President of the Nigerian Senate, Sen. Ameh Ebute.

Ebute’s letter was reportedly calling on the UN Security Council to sanction some of Nigeria’s neighbouring countries for alleged complacency in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

Ebute was reported to have addressed the letter to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and also copied the Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court, Hague.

However, Mr Stephane Dujarric, the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, denied knowledge of the letter.

“I’ve seen the press reports. I have not seen the letter.

“Obviously, the question of sanctions is up for the Council.

“And I think for the UN, for our part, we’ve always counted on the cooperation of all countries in the Lake Chad Basin in the fight against Boko Haram,” Dujarric said.

Ebute had said in the letter “that each time the insurgents strike in Nigeria, they escape into either or all of these countries for refuge, during which time, they recuperate, re-energise, re-arm and surface to attack new targets in Nigeria.

“It must be emphasized that the three countries have always been the entry and exit points for terrorists into and out of Nigeria.

“Since the fall of Sambisa forest, their safest haven in Borno state, residues of insurgents have relocated to these countries, from where they stray into Nigerian territories to launch random attacks on soft and obscure targets,” he said.

The former President of the Senate urged the UN Secretary-General to invoke relevant instruments, particularly Article 99 of the UN Charter.

He added that the Secretary-General should draw the attention of the UN Security Council to investigate the “nuances of the consuming terrorism undercurrents” in Nigeria, which are potent enough to cause international breach of peace and security.

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Tony Wenom – Give And Take (Prod. Mystro) [Mp3 + Lyrics]

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After collaborating with the rap Maven Phyno to deliver his breakthrough hit ‘Show Love’ Tony Wenom returns with yet another hit single titled “Give And Take”.

Promising to sweep you off your feet with this new hit, the Mystro produced single will sure be the favorite on your playlist.

DOWNLOAD “Give and Take”

BUY ON ITUNES

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Dollar, equities stutter in Asia after Trump rally

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Dollars

The dollar dipped on Thursday in Asia as investors brushed off another record Wall Street close and upbeat US data while the rally in stock markets stuttered.

Another positive assessment of the US economy and reassurance over tax reform from President Donald Trump was not enough to spur further buying in Asia after the past week’s rally.

New York’s three main indexes built on their recent surge, racking up a fifth successive day of record closes, after figures showed US inflation hit a four-year high in January, fuelling bets on an interest rate hike soon.

Trump said Wednesday he would release specifics on his new tax plan in the “not-too-distant future”, adding it will be “good and simpler”.

His remarks came less than a week after he promised “phenomenal” reforms to the tax system, spurring a surge in global markets and the dollar.

“The strong numbers highlight that the US economy is in fairly healthy shape,” Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at CFD and FX provider AxiTrader, said in a note.

“The key is the data and president Trump’s recommitment to the release of the tax plan everyone is waiting for,” McKenna said.

Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen also reiterated her view to Congress that the world’s top economy was on a strong growth track, a day after indicating borrowing costs could increase any time soon — leading to speculation of a move as soon as March.

However, the greenback was unable to push on with its gains and was down against its major peers as well as higher-yielding currencies in the Asia-Pacific such as the Australian dollar and South Korea’s won.

In equity trade Tokyo ended 0.5 percent lower as exporters were hit by the stronger yen while Seoul slipped 0.1 percent, Wellington gave up 1.1 percent and Taipei slipped 0.3 percent. Mumbai and Jakarta were also down.

But Hong Kong and Shanghai each ended 0.5 percent higher, reversing morning losses.

Ayako Sera, a Tokyo-based market strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, told Bloomberg News warned of a possible correction after the past week’s performance.

“Can equities sustain this rally from here?” Sera asked. “If the decline today in Japanese shares spill over to European shares and then to New York, things could get serious but we’ll have to see.”

In early European trade London dipped 0.2 percent, Frankfurt shed 0.1 percent and Paris was flat.

– Key figures around 0800 GMT –
Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.5 percent at 19,347.53 (close)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng: UP 0.5 percent at 24,107.70 (close)

Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.5 percent at 3,229.62 (close)

London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.2 percent at 7,288.84

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0610 from $1.0602

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2477 from $1.2459

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 113.94 yen from 114.18 yen

Oil – West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 11 cents at $53.00 per barrel

Oil – Brent North Sea: DOWN seven cents at $55.68

New York – Dow: UP 0.5 percent at 20,611.86 (close)

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Thais in the mood for love, as Valentine’s Day fever sweeps the nation…Read full details

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A health worker holds up vitamins for married women who want to conceive, as part of the Thai Health Ministry's "Red-Cheeked Thai Women Bear Children For the Nation with Wonderful Vitamins" campaign, on Valentine's Day at the central post office in Bang Rak, or "Love Village", district in Bangkok on February 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Lillian SUWANRUMPHA

Babies dressed as cupids, underwater weddings and a government vitamin giveaway to encourage procreation were all part of Thailand’s imaginative and bizarre events Tuesday to mark Valentine’s Day.

The Land of Smiles embraces February 14 like few other countries in Southeast Asia, with Bangkok awash with pop-up flower stalls and a roster of romantic gestures unfurling across the country.

The junta government led the love-in, doling out heart-shaped boxes of free iron and folic acid supplements in a bid to help healthy pregnancies and stimulate the kingdom’s birthrate.

“In 1970, a family had an average of six children but now it’s 1.6,” Wachira Pengjuntr, director-general of the Department of Health, told AFP.

“In the past people ate better food, more vegetables and fruits but now lifestyles have changed… so we want to encourage more births.”

In the southern tourist hotspot of Trang, couples were offered the opportunity to marry underwater — in full wedding dress and diving gear — in an annual publicity stunt aimed at boosting visitor numbers.

And babies at one Bangkok maternity ward were dressed up with wings to resemble the god of love.

Even Thailand’s fractious political arena, a stage more accustomed to the delivery of brickbats than bouquets, could not escape Cupid’s arrow.

In a widely trailed “Day of Love”, the junta opened reconciliation talks with some political players in an effort to bridge a decade of conflict that has seen two democratic governments upended by coups.

Thailand’s normally stern Prime Minister Prayut Cha-O-Cha was also in an affectionate mood following a poll saying just over half the country wanted to give him flowers for Valentine’s Day.

“I have love for everyone — all 70 million Thais every day — not only on Valentine’s Day. I have roses for you everyday. Thank you,” he told reporters.

Thai polling data is often criticised as politically slanted.

Still the junta’s unbridled passion for Valentine’s Day was a contrast to more po-faced approaches in previous years — in 2015 the generals urged young people to have a special meal or visit temples instead of having sex.

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Unbelievable! How Nigerian Soldier Raped Married Woman to Death Inside a Bush in Abuja…Shocking Details

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—File photo used only for illustrative purpose—

A Nigerian soldier, Lance Corporal Oge Etudo gave many people the shock of their lives after being found out to have r*ped and killed a woman.

Consequently, an Abuja High Court has okayed the soldier to die by hanging after he was found guilty of the crime.

According to Vanguard, the 30 years old convicted soldier was said to have on March 27, 2014, at Dei-Dei suburb of the FCT, abducted, stabbed and raped a married woman identified as Binta Usman Kadede to death inside the bush.

The randy soldier was previously attached to a battalion of the Nigerian Army at Lungi Barracks in Abuja.

The convict was found to have acted in breach of sections 220 and 221 of the Penal Code law.

Trial Justice A.S. Adepoju who declined plea of allocutus by the defence lawyer, stressed that pictorial evidence adduced before the court showed that the defendant gruesomely murdered his victim.

“I will not also show mercy to him”, the Judge who was almost moved to tears declared.

Consequently, the court convicted the defendant on a two-count criminal charge that was entered against him by FCT commissioner of police.

The charges read: “That you L/Cpl Oge Etudo “M” 27 years of Nigerian Army, Lungi Barracks Abuja on or about March 27, 2014, at about 1600hrs at Dei-Dei, near Conoil filling station, Abuja within the Abuja judicial division did committed culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of one Binta Usman Kadede “f” of Dei-Dei village Abuja by stabbing her on the neck and body with knife which resulted to her death when you know that death will be the probable consequences of your act. You thereby committed an offence contrary to section 220 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 221 of the Penal Code.

“That you L/Cpl Oge Etudo “M” 27 years of Nigerian Army, Lungi Barracks Abuja on or about March 27, 2014, at about 1600hrs at Dei-Dei, near Conoil filling station, Abuja within the Abuja judicial division did rape one Binta Usman Kadade “f” of Dei-Dei village by forcefully having sexual intercourse with her against her wish and thereafter stabbed her neck and body with knife to death you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 282 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 283 of the Penal Code”.

The defendant had earlier pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

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Barca eye return to the top in Cup final rehearsal

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Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (L) celebrates with teamates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs UD Las Palmas at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on January 14, 2017. LLUIS GENE / AFP

Barcelona have the chance to go top of La Liga for the first time since October in a Copa del Rey final dress rehearsal when they visit Alaves on Saturday.

Alaves edged out Celta Vigo on Wednesday to reach the final for the first time, whilst nine-man Barca had to survive a second leg onslaught from Atletico Madrid in midweek to make a fourth straight final.

However, Barca’s quest for a second treble in three seasons faces more severe tests this week as a visit to Mendizorroza is followed by a Valentine’s Day trip to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday in the Champions League.

The champions trail Real Madrid by a point, who also have two games in hand, but, with Madrid not in action until later on Saturday at Osasuna, victory will take Barca top for a few hours at least for the first time since October 22.

Barca boss Luis Enrique has almost a fully-fit squad to choose from as Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta made their return from injury as second-half substitutes in midweek, whilst Neymar returns from suspension.

“We are delighted that Busquets and Iniesta have recovered,” said Barca midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

“They are very important players and (having been out) they can give even more of what they bring to the team now.”

However, Enrique has followed a strict rotation policy throughout a demanding fixture schedule in January and February so the likes of Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto could be rested.

– Real return –
Madrid are in action for the first time in two weeks when they face rock bottom Osasuna, who are still without a home win all season.

The European champions’ clash at Celta Vigo last weekend was called off by wind damage caused to Celta’s Balaidos stadium.

Zinedine Zidane’s men now face having to play half their league season in just over three months.

However, the break has allowed Zidane to recover a series of important players from injury with the visit of Napoli in the Champions League also to come on Wednesday.

Full-backs Marcelo and Dani Carvajal have returned to training along with Luka Modric, James Rodriguez and Pepe leaving Gareth Bale as Madrid’s only injury absentee.

Toni Kroos will be missing, though, through suspension.

Despite languishing eight points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table, Osasuna have shown signs of improvement since Petar Vasiljevic took charge in January.

Osasuna have taken the lead in each of their last three games and captain Oier Sanjurjo believes they are on the verge of turning their season around.

“We are strong. We have begun to show that we are competing,” he said.

“What we want is for all that to come together for once and be rewarded in a win.”

Third-placed Sevilla need to spoil Jese Rodriguez’s home debut for Las Palmas on Sunday after joining his home town club on loan from PSG if they are to remain on Barca and Madrid’s coattails in the title race.

Atletico hold the upper hand in the battle for the fourth Champions League spot, but six sides are separated by just seven points.

Two of them go head-to-head on Friday as Espanyol host Real Sociedad, who can leapfrog Atletico with a win.

Atletico aren’t in action till Sunday when they host Celta Vigo at the Vicente Calderon.

Fixtures (GMT)

Friday

Espanyol v Real Sociedad (1945)

Saturday

Real Betis v Valencia (1200), Alaves v Barcelona (1515), Athletic Bilbao v Deportivo la Coruna (1730), Osasuna v Real Madrid (1945)

Sunday

Villarreal v Malaga (1100), Leganes v Sporting Gijon (1515), Las Palmas v Sevilla (1730), Atletico Madrid v Celta Vigo (1945)

Monday

Eibar v Granada (1945)

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