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  • Washington (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 23:11

    Trump wants Congress to fix 'lax' immigration after NY attack

  • Sydney (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 23:10

    ANZ Bank sells life insurance arm to Zurich for US$2.14 bn

  • Washington (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 21:25

    Trump tells NASA to send Americans to Moon

  • New York (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 18:34

    Apple to buy song recognition app Shazam

  • London (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 17:05

    Brexit deal shows UK can leave EU in 'smooth and orderly' way: May

  • United Nations (United States) (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 15:55

    China fails to block UN meeting on North Korea human rights

  • New York (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 15:25

    Four hurt in New York explosion, none life-threatening

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 15:11

    Man held over jihadist murders of French police couple

  • Cairo (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 15:11

    Putin calls for Mideast talks to resume, including on Jerusalem

  • Los Angeles (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 14:55

    'The Shape of Water' leads Golden Globe nominations with seven

  • Cairo (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 14:35

    Cairo, Moscow sign contract for Egypt's first nuclear plant

  • New York (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 14:03

    Police responding to explosion of 'unknown origin' in Manhattan

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 11:18

    Putin orders partial withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria: agencies

  • New Delhi (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 11:10

    India's Congress party names Rahul Gandhi president

  • Moscow (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 11:06

    Putin in surprise visit to Russia's airbase in Syria

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    Saudi Arabia lifts ban on cinemas: government

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    Recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital 'makes peace possible': Netanyahu

  • Brussels (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 08:46

    EU's Mogherini condemns 'all attacks on Jews everywhere'

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    Philippines' Duterte seeks martial law extension for south

  • New York (AFP) - 12/11/2017 - 00:28

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    Main opposition parties barred from next presidential vote: Venezuela's Maduro

  • Jerusalem (AFP) - 12/10/2017 - 21:49

    Palestinians 'walking away' from talks with Pence snub: US

  • Doha (AFP) - 12/10/2017 - 18:20

    Qatar signs $8-bln deal to buy 24 Typhoon fighters from UK

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/10/2017 - 17:24

    Macron urges Netanyahu to freeze Israeli settlement building

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/10/2017 - 17:08

    Netanyahu accuses Erdogan of helping 'terrorists'

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/10/2017 - 17:03

    Macron urges Netanyahu to show 'courage' with Palestinians

  • Aden (AFP) - 12/10/2017 - 16:22

    Air raids on Yemen rebel training camp kill 26: security sources

  • Calais (France) (AFP) - 12/10/2017 - 14:24

    Ferry runs aground at France's Calais port: official

  • Vatican City (AFP) - 12/10/2017 - 13:33

    Pope renews call for 'wisdom and prudence' over Jerusalem: Vatican

  • Istanbul (AFP) - 12/10/2017 - 13:13

    Erdogan calls Israel 'terrorist state'

  • Paris (AFP) - 12/10/2017 - 12:57

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    Israel says demolishes tunnel from Gaza into its territory

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    US hails end of IS 'vile occupation' in Iraq

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    Palestinian president will not meet Pence: adviser

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    'National homage' to French rocker Johnny Hallyday begins in Paris: AFP

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    Iraqi PM declares 'end of war against IS' in Iraq

  • Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - 12/09/2017 - 08:46

    Israel strike kills 2 Palestinians: Gaza officials

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Mata rallies United in wake of Mourinho defeatism

AFP/File / Oli SCARFF Manchester United's Juan Mata, seen in action during their English Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion, at Old Trafford in Manchester, on November 25, 2017

Manchester United players will have to motivate themselves at home to Bournemouth on Wednesday after manager Jose Mourinho suggested their Premier League title challenge was probably over.

The 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester City on Sunday leaves United second in the table but a daunting 11 points behind their city rivals.

However, United's Spanish forward Juan Mata issued a stirring rallying call in the wake of the defeat.

"We must carry on, knowing there's still a long way to go," said Mata.

"The calendar gives you no time for mourning and we have to focus on what's next.

"The list of fixtures is very demanding this month so it's important to get to each game in the best condition possible.

"I think we have the ability to do it, even though we know these are the toughest weeks of the season.

"We are Manchester United and we have experience in playing every few days."

United's fixture list is indeed a hectic one -- Wednesday's match is the fourth of nine games they face during December.

It does not help that they will once again be without France midfielder Paul Pogba, who serves the second game of a three-match ban incurred for his sending-off at Arsenal on December 2.

Pogba's influence was undoubtedly missed during Sunday's derby, although Bournemouth should be far less of a test for Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera than Manchester City were.

- 'Picked up little niggles' -

AFP/File / Glyn KIRK Bournemouth's Jermain Defoe trips during their English Premier League match against Chelsea, at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, on October 28, 2017

Herrera still needs to watch his step, though, as he is one booking away from a one-match suspension, as is wing-back Ashley Young.

Mourinho has given every indication so far that he intends to persist with Romelu Lukaku, despite the Belgium striker's poor run of form in front of goal.

Having scored 11 goals in his first 10 United games, Lukaku has hit just two in 14 appearances since.

Bournemouth's 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace at the weekend left Eddie Howe's side three points clear of the bottom three.

The Cherries had Jermain Defoe to thank for claiming a point with the veteran scoring twice and offering signs he is returning to his best form after an inconsistent start to the season.

"Hopefully it's a start for him, he had a few niggles early on in the season so he was set back a little," said Howe.

"Now he's getting back to where he wants to be and that will give us a big lift."

Defoe concurred with Howe.

"I have picked up little niggles and it's been a bit stop-start," said the 35-year-old England international.

"I thought once I get a run of games and the chances come then I will score goals.

"All I have to do is make sure my recovery is right and be professional, like I have always been. We have a lot of games coming up in a short space of time."

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News

Mata rallies United in wake of Mourinho defeatism

AFP/File / Oli SCARFF Manchester United's Juan Mata, seen in action during their English Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion, at Old Trafford in Manchester, on November 25, 2017

Manchester United players will have to motivate themselves at home to Bournemouth on Wednesday after manager Jose Mourinho suggested their Premier League title challenge was probably over.

The 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester City on Sunday leaves United second in the table but a daunting 11 points behind their city rivals.

However, United's Spanish forward Juan Mata issued a stirring rallying call in the wake of the defeat.

"We must carry on, knowing there's still a long way to go," said Mata.

"The calendar gives you no time for mourning and we have to focus on what's next.

"The list of fixtures is very demanding this month so it's important to get to each game in the best condition possible.

"I think we have the ability to do it, even though we know these are the toughest weeks of the season.

"We are Manchester United and we have experience in playing every few days."

United's fixture list is indeed a hectic one -- Wednesday's match is the fourth of nine games they face during December.

It does not help that they will once again be without France midfielder Paul Pogba, who serves the second game of a three-match ban incurred for his sending-off at Arsenal on December 2.

Pogba's influence was undoubtedly missed during Sunday's derby, although Bournemouth should be far less of a test for Nemanja Matic and Ander Herrera than Manchester City were.

- 'Picked up little niggles' -

AFP/File / Glyn KIRK Bournemouth's Jermain Defoe trips during their English Premier League match against Chelsea, at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, on October 28, 2017

Herrera still needs to watch his step, though, as he is one booking away from a one-match suspension, as is wing-back Ashley Young.

Mourinho has given every indication so far that he intends to persist with Romelu Lukaku, despite the Belgium striker's poor run of form in front of goal.

Having scored 11 goals in his first 10 United games, Lukaku has hit just two in 14 appearances since.

Bournemouth's 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace at the weekend left Eddie Howe's side three points clear of the bottom three.

The Cherries had Jermain Defoe to thank for claiming a point with the veteran scoring twice and offering signs he is returning to his best form after an inconsistent start to the season.

"Hopefully it's a start for him, he had a few niggles early on in the season so he was set back a little," said Howe.

"Now he's getting back to where he wants to be and that will give us a big lift."

Defoe concurred with Howe.

"I have picked up little niggles and it's been a bit stop-start," said the 35-year-old England international.

"I thought once I get a run of games and the chances come then I will score goals.

"All I have to do is make sure my recovery is right and be professional, like I have always been. We have a lot of games coming up in a short space of time."

AFP/File / Oli SCARFF Manchester United's Juan Mata, seen in action during their English Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion, at Old Trafford in Manchester, on November 25, 2017

Manchester United players will have to motivate themselves at home to Bournemouth on Wednesday after manager Jose Mourinho suggested their Premier League title challenge was probably over.

The 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester City on Sunday leaves United second in the table but a daunting 11 points behind their city rivals.

AFP/File / Glyn KIRK Bournemouth's Jermain Defoe trips during their English Premier League match against Chelsea, at the Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth, on October 28, 2017

Herrera still needs to watch his step, though, as he is one booking away from a one-match suspension, as is wing-back Ashley Young.

Mourinho has given every indication so far that he intends to persist with Romelu Lukaku, despite the Belgium striker's poor run of form in front of goal.

12 Dec 2017

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