Japan's Sony Group has sent a termination letter to Zee Entertainment to call off a $10 billion merger of their India operations following an impasse over who will lead the combined entity, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing sources.

Sony cited unmet conditions of the merger agreement as the reason for the termination in a letter sent to Zee early on Monday, Bloomberg reported. The company is expected to disclose the letter to the exchange later, the report added.

Sony declined to comment, while Zee did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for a comment.

The merger, announced more than two years ago, hit a stalemate over who will lead the combined company. Zee proposed CEO Punit Goenka, but Sony disagreed in light of a market regulator probe into Goenka.

On Friday, Zee had said it was committed to the merger and was working to close the deal through "good faith negotiations". It was seeking to discuss an extension to a January 20 deadline to close the deal.

The deal was perceived as crucial for the survival of the companies in a highly competitive market, given the impending merger between Disney's Indian businesses and the media assets of billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries .

"A deal collapse will have a negative impact on both parties as they were looking at scaling up in the Indian market which is going through a digital disruption and a potential threat of increased competition intensity if the Reliance-Disney deal goes through," said Karan Taurani, an analyst at Elara Capital.

Zee is also contending with declining profits, advertising revenue and cash reserves in a market where global streaming giants such as Netflix and Amazon.com are also jostling for share.

Zee's four-year pact with Disney's Star for TV broadcasting rights of certain cricket events will also be at risk if the deal collapses, as Zee would have to pay $1.32 billion to $1.44 billion over the tenure of the agreement, analysts have said.

The broadcaster missed an early-January deadline to pay $200 million, Bloomberg News reported on January 9.

Zee shares closed 1.5 percent lower in a Saturday trading session in Mumbai. The market is closed on Monday for a public holiday in Maharashtra state.

Sadio Mane scored a hat-trick as Senegal overcame Benin 3-1 on Saturday in the first match of their Africa Cup of Nations title defence, and hinted that he will not be at Liverpool next season.

Speaking to the media before the Group L clash, Mane said: "I will do what they (the Senegalese people) want.

"Like everyone else, I am on social media and see the comments. Is it not between 60 and 70 percent of Senegalese want me to leave Liverpool?"

Mane, who forms a deadly strike partnership with two-time African Footballer of the Year Mohamed Salah from Egypt, has been linked to German giants Bayern Munich.

He had said he would reveal his future plans after Liverpool lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League final last weekend, but did not do so.

"We will see soon," he told the media conference in Senegal. "Do not be in hurry because we will see this together."

The 30-year-old reigning African Footballer of the Year converted a 12th-minute penalty at the national stadium in Diamniadio near Dakar.

Mane struck again on 23 minutes, bursting into the box and scoring at the second attempt after goalkeeper Saturnin Allagbe blocked his initial shot.

Benin had Sessi D'Almeida sent off early in the second half of the 2023 qualifier and Mane completed his hat-trick on the hour from another penalty before Junior Olaitan reduced arrears.

Next up for Senegal is a trip to Rwanda on Tuesday, and it is hard to imagine any result other than another victory for the Teranga Lions.

Rwanda drew 1-1 away to Mozambique and they share second place behind Senegal and ahead of Benin, who were guided by caretaker Moussa Latoundji after the departure of French coach Michel Dussuyer.

- Dream debut -
Eric Chelle, whose coaching experience has been limited to French lower-league clubs, made a dream debut as boss of Mali, who hammered Congo Brazzaville 4-0 in Bamako.

Mohamed Camara put the Malians ahead with just one minute on the clock and they were four goals ahead by half-time as El Bilal Toure netted twice and Kalifa Coulibaly once.

Mali top Group G on goal difference from the Gambia, who edged South Sudan 1-0 through a goal from Ablie Jallow at the end of the opening half.

Gambia debuted in the Cup of Nations this year and beat higher ranked sides Tunisia and Guinea and held Mali before bowing to hosts Cameroon in the quarter-finals.

Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi made sweeping squad changes after the then defending champions made a stunning first-round Cup of Nations exit, then lost a 2022 World Cup play-off against Cameroon.

Among those axed was West Ham United forward Said Benrahma, while Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, the Desert Foxes' captain, missed out due to an undisclosed injury.

Despite the introduction of young blood it was an old hand -- centre-back Aissa Mandi -- who set up a 2-0 Group F victory over Uganda in Algiers.

Islam Slimani nodded a free-kick against the crossbar and the rebound struck the Villarreal defender on the shoulder and fell into the net after 28 minutes.

The boost of a first-minute headed goal by George Mwaigomole was not enough to produce a win for Tanzania in the same group with Niger levelling through Daniel Sosah to force a 1-1 draw.

In other matches, Mauritania hammered Sudan 3-0, Namibia and Burundi drew 1-1 and the match between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon started four hours late.

A jet carrying the Gabonese delegation from Paris to Kinshasa developed problems and had to make an emergency landing in Barcelona.

On Sunday, Salah-inspired Egypt host Guinea while Qatar World Cup qualifiers Ghana and Tunisia are away to the Central African Republic and Botswana respectively.

In spring, the world is an exquisite place. The days are longer with endless opportunities for adventure, the flowers are in full bloom, and the sun is beaming. So, there is no doubt that it is one of the finest seasons for vacations. While there are many destinations to visit in spring, a few stand out. So, take a look at these 5 best places in the world, which are ideal for springtime travel!

Photo: Collected / Yusheng Deng / Unsplash

Kyoto, Japan

Spring in Japan can bring to mind the image of lush pink cherry blossoms. Well, Kyoto is among the greatest locations in the world to see the wonderful cherry blossom trees that are a hallmark of the Land of the Rising Sun.

Wandering around the city's historic temples and gardens, especially at the Ryoanji Temple, one may take in the exquisite pink petals of the blossoms in all their splendour. Another option to enjoy the captivating city view would be to wander along the Philosopher's Path, which is a walkway bordered by cherry blossom trees that circle a canal and give life to pink magnificence.

Photo: Collected / Despina Galani / Unsplash

Istanbul, Turkey

Often referred to as the "city between two continents," Istanbul presents a distinctive fusion of Asian and European cultures, and in spring it is a traveller's paradise. Its many attractions include wonderful buildings such as the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia, as well as excellent shopping options in its vibrant bazaars.

However, nothing is more brilliant than seeing its several parks, such as Gulhane Park and Emirgan Park, in their full glory during the spring, while enjoying börek or köfte. Travellers should be sure to get an accommodation featuring a view of the Bosphorus Strait since it provides unmatched views of Istanbul's skyline!

Franschhoek, South Africa

When springtime in the north approaches, one may escape to Franschhoek, a town renowned for its cuisine and a centuries-old winemaking legacy. Here, visitors have the opportunity to discover the intricacies of grapes, which are regarded as nature's most adaptable fruit.

Moreover, Stellenbosch, a university town with bustling streets brimming with shops, galleries, and cafés is only a short drive away. Travellers may explore the roads in the Franschhoek Valley, which curve around multi-coloured floral meadows bathed in mild sunshine, from March to May and spend pleasant days at Maison Cabrière — Boutique rooms, that open directly onto private terraces, each patio overlooking a manicured garden.

Photo: Collected / Josh Hild / Unsplash

Cinque Terre, Italy

In spring, the Cinque Terre seaside towns are a sight to behold. Visitors may choose from a variety of activities, such as wandering down the cobblestone streets or riding the train to tour each of the five towns, all of which provide stunning sunrise and sunset views of the Mediterranean Sea and hilly landscapes.

Additionally, visitors may spend some beach time at Monterosso al Mare or take a boat trip down the Italian Riviera to see the raw and rugged scenery. While in Cinque Terre, visitors should try various Italian cuisine as the region produces an abundance of mouth-watering seafood!

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The ideal time for travelling to Amsterdam is probably in the spring when the whole nation blossoms. The fields that stretch between Amsterdam, Leiden, and Haarlem come alive with a burst of colour as the landscape emerges from the enchantment of winter. The horizon is filled with breath-taking flowering, such as tulips and hyacinths, which one may easily explore by bicycle, vehicle, or on foot.

A destination on many people's bucket lists is the Keukenhof. From March on, this enormous floral garden is a sight to see. However, if a tourist is interested in seeing tulips in their native environment, then they need to consider going to the charming village of Lisse. Located near the tulip fields, the Hotel Restaurant de Engel allows guests to begin their spring adventure as early as possible with the best views to offer!

Starting line-ups for the World Cup third place playoff between Belgium and England in Saint Petersburg on Saturday (1400 GMT kick-off):

Belgium (3-4-3)

Thibaut Courtois; Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen; Thomas Meunier, Axel Witsel, Youri Tielemans, Nacer Chadli; Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard (capt)

Coach: Roberto Martinez (ESP)

England (3-5-2)

Jordan Pickford; Phil Jones, John Stones, Harry Maguire; Kieran Trippier, Eric Dier, Fabian Delph, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Danny Rose; Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane (capt)

Coach: Gareth Southgate (ENG)

Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRI)

Newspapers and TV stations hailed France's World Cup victory on Monday, while clean-up crews worked against the clock to tidy up after a crazy night's partying in Paris ahead of a victory parade down the Champs Elysees.

"Our Day of Glory Is Here" declared Le Figaro, referencing a rousing line from the Marseillaise anthem.

"History Made" announced sports daily L'Equipe, while business journal Les Echos went for the more straightforward "Champions of the World". Photos of superstars Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba, as well as shots of the team holding aloft and kissing the trophy, dominated coverage.

The victory has created a sense of national unity, with commentators playing up the fact the squad, the second-youngest in the competition, includes many with central and north African heritage, even if all but two were born in France.

When the country won its first World Cup in 1998, when Zinedine Zidane was its talisman and playmaker, the team was referred to as "Black-Blanc-Beur" (Black-White-Arab), a positive reference to its diverse ethnic make-up.

Gallery: France fans celebrate

But some were keen to push that phrase to one side, seeing in it a sense of separateness, even if it was meant positively.

"We're not in 1998," said Mounir Mahjoubi, the secretary of state for digital affairs, whose parents emigrated from Morocco.

"We're not still celebrating 'Black-Blanc-Beur', we're celebrating brotherhood," he said of the current team.

Videos shot by the players in the frenetic changing room after the win showed them singing, dancing and raising a toast together, while teaching President Emmanuel Macron, who could barely contain his excitement, how to do a "dab".

METRO STATIONS

For Macron, who became president last year at the age of 39, taking his political movement to victory against the odds, the football team's success is likely to have positive repercussions after a slump in the polls.

The Paris metro system got into the celebratory mood, announcing the names of a number of stations were being briefly changed to honour the players and coach, Didier Deschamps.

So Notre-Dame des Champs station was relabelled "Notre Didier Deschamps", and Victor Hugo was switched to "Victor Hugo Lloris" after the captain and goalkeeper.

The 2 km Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe and the vast Place de la Concorde turned into a heaving sea of people on Sunday night, waving red, white and blue flags, setting off firecrackers and blowing horns until early morning.

On Monday, the after-effects were still visible. A number of smashed windows, an overturned car and graffiti scrawled here and there, including the phrase "Liberte, Egalite, Mbappe", a reference to the national motto "Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite".

On Twitter, Brazil legend Pele paid tribute to the exploits of Mbappe, France's standout, 19-year-old superstar, saying that if the teenager kept equalling his goal-scoring records, Pele might have to strap his boots back on.

Mbappe replied to the tweet in English saying "The king will always remain the king", quickly gaining 15,000 retweets.

The team is scheduled to arrive back in France at 1400 GMT, with crowds set to gather at Charles de Gaulle airport to receive them. A parade down the Champs Elysees is scheduled for 1530 GMT, and there will be a formal victory reception with Macron at the Elysee Palace at 1630 GMT.

And it's not just in Paris that the nation has been taken over with football fever. From Nice and Marseille in the south to Lille in the north, Nantes in the west and scores of towns and cities in between, TV stations were full of images of red, white and blue clad fans singing in streets and squares.