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Spanish lawmakers are set to vote Tuesday to shoot down Catalonia’s quest for an independence referendum, setting the stage for a bitter sovereignty struggle. In a showdown in the Spanish parliament, more than 80 percent of lawmakers will reject Catalonia…

11:42 GMT – Big questions – Some big questions have emerged from Pistorius’s testimony about the night of the shooting, writes AFP’s southern Africa news editor Andrew Beatty. “If he shouted why did Steenkamp not answer? “If the room was dark — the…

Under mounting pressure from Moscow, a defiant group of pro-Ukrainian activists, journalists and minority representatives in Crimea continue to protest the annexation of the peninsula by Russia. “We know very well that we are being watched,” said Anna…

England and the Republic of Ireland will play a friendly at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on June 7 next year, the Football Association and Football Association of Ireland announced on Tuesday. “It will be a significant moment for England to play in Dublin…

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney allayed concerns about his fitness by taking part in training on Tuesday ahead of his side’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at Bayern Munich. The 28-year-old missed United’s 4-0 win at Newcastle United…

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet says that his side need “a miracle” to avoid Premier League relegation after a 5-1 thrashing by Tottenham Hotspur left them seven points from safety. “I think we need a miracle,” the Uruguayan said after Monday’s game at…

Norwich captain Russell Martin insisted the team hadn’t ‘stopped playing’ for Chris Hughton after the Canaries manager was dramatically sacked by the Premier League strugglers. Hughton was dismissed on Sunday after Norwich’s 1-0 loss at home to West…

Cristiano Ronaldo is doubtful for Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final, second-leg against Borussia Dortmund after breaking off Monday’s final training session with a knee injury. Ronaldo completed just 20 minutes of Real’s final training session…

Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc declared on Monday that his side will go on the offensive against Chelsea as they seek to secure a place in the Champions League semi-finals. “We try to win with fairly attacking football; having the ball, causing…

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson is eyeing winning the Championship title rather than just luxuriating in the fact they’ve won promotion to the Premier League. The Midlands club’s return to the elite was sealed on Saturday but Pearson wants his…

Holders Bayern Munich will bid to bounce back from their shock Bundesliga defeat at the weekend by reaching the last four of the Champions League on Wednesday by beating Manchester United in their Champions League quarter-final, second-leg, clash. Having…

Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood insisted it was “business as usual” on Monday despite fresh reports he would be replaced at White Hart Lane come the end of the season. The former Spurs midfielder replaced the sacked Andre Villas-Boas in December…