Ivory Coast

Netherlands 5 Ivory Coast 0: Veltman the unlikely hero for Oranje

The Ajax defender had yet to score for the national team coming into the game, but opened his account early on with a good header from a corner.

Arjen Robben doubled the lead with a penalty before Veltman got his second of the evening after another corner, with Davy Klaassen and Vincent Janssen completing the scoring after the break.

The win comes as a welcome boost for Netherlands ahead of Friday's World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg, for which Dick Advocaat will be in charge following Fred Grim's interim stint.

Ivory Coast: Army launches operation 'to restore order' after mutiny

The soldiers took to the streets in several cities over a pay dispute and blocked off the second largest city, Bouaké, on Saturday.

They have said they are willing to fight if the army intervenes.

Popular opposition to the rebellion has been growing, culminating in a march against the soldiers in Bouaké.

Six people were wounded when the soldiers opened fire on protesters during Saturday's demonstration.

 

'Troops advancing'

Ivory Coast bans sale of alcohol sachets

The small plastic bags, containing rum, vodka or other spirits, are popular with those on a budget - costing between $0.35 (£0.28) and $1.65.

The ban was aimed at minimising the impact of alcohol on young people, especially students, government spokesman Bruno Kone said.

A ban on the sale of water in plastic bags led to protests two years ago.

They were banned by the Ivorian authorities in a bid to reduce pollution.

7 suspected in Mali attacks arrested in Ivory Coast

Modibo Naman Traore, a spokesman for the Malian special forces, said Thursday that the suspects had been hiding in the forests of northern Ivory Coast.

The men have been handed over to Malian authorities.

Malian authorities believe that the men are linked with the group Ansar Dine that used to rule portions of the north before a French-led military assault ousted them from power in 2013.