Tuesday 12 May 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Mediterranean migrants should be turned back: UK minister

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LONDON (AFP) - Migrants who attempt to reach the European Union by crossing the Mediterranean should be turned back, the British interior minister wrote in an article on Wednesday.The comments come amid a European Union row over how to address a crisis that has seen thousands of migrants drown fleeing conflict and poverty in North Africa and the Middle East.Home Secretary Theresa May said a mooted proposal for European countries to accept a binding quota of refugees would only encourage more to make the dangerous sea crossing.The EU should work to establish safe landing sites in North Africa, underpinned by an active programme of returns, May said in an opinion piece in The Times.It is wrong to say that no migrants should be returned against their will, as asserted by the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, May wrote.I disagree with the suggestion by the EUs high representative, Federica Mogherini, that no migrants intercepted at sea should be sent back against their will.Such an approach would only act as an increased pull factor across the Mediterranean and encourage more people to put their lives at risk, May wrote.EU executive the European Commission on Wednesday will consider whether to ask member countries of the 28-nation bloc to accept refugees under a quota system, calculated by their wealth, size and other factors.Britain and Hungary are opposed to the plan, and special arrangements under which Britain, Ireland and Denmark could choose not to participate mean the proposal may be sunk, European sources have said.Up to now, EU states have admitted refugees on a voluntary basis.A rule that asylum requests are processed in the first country of arrival means that countries close to crossing routes such as Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Malta have borne the brunt of a surge of migration across the Mediterranean.

Football: Sevilla on brink of return to Europa League final

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PARIS (AFP) - Holders Sevilla are on the brink of a return to the Europa League final as they take a 3-0 lead to Italy for the second leg of their semi-final against Fiorentina on Thursday.It would take a remarkable turnaround in Florence for Unai Emerys side to miss out on reaching the final again as they look to retain the trophy they won by defeating Benfica on penalties in Turin 12 months ago.A brace by Aleix Vidal and a Kevin Gameiro strike last week have the Spanish side in control and Sevilla are a team in form too, having lost just once in 18 games in all competitions, with that loss coming at the hands of Real Madrid 10 days ago.Currently fifth in La Liga with two games left, three points adrift of Valencia in the fourth and final Champions League qualifying berth, winning the Europa League may be their more likely route into the continents elite club competition for next season.Emery named goalkeeper Beto, who has been on the sidelines with a shoulder problem, in a squad of 22 for the match at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, where Sevilla right-back Coke is expecting the hosts to throw the kitchen sink at them.It is going to be a long 90 minutes. Despite beating them 3-0, Fiore played very well in the first half and had two or three clear chances, Coke told the Sevilla website.Winners of the competition in successive years in 2006 and 2007 in its former guise as the UEFA Cup, Sevilla are attempting to become the first club to lift the trophy four times.These are historic moments for the club, in your professional career. This competition means a lot to us and you can see the results we have been getting, added Coke.Fiorentina, who are fifth in Serie A, must do what they have never done in Europe to overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit if they are to keep alive their chances of reaching the final in Warsaw and winning a European trophy for the first time since the 1961 Cup Winners Cup.I think the team did not deserve such a heavy defeat, Viola coach Vincenzo Montella said of the first leg.On Thursday we will above all need great inner belief, the fans pushing us on and a bit of luck. It is my duty to transmit my belief to the team. It will be a huge task, but I believe we can do it against Sevilla.Napoli with work to doThe prospect of an all-Italian final appears slim, with Napoli also having work to do if they are to progress past Dnipro of Ukraine.The sides played out a 1-1 draw at the San Paolo last week, with Yevhen Seleznyov snatching an away goal for Dnipro after David Lopez had given the 1989 UEFA Cup winners the advantage.While Napoli coach Rafa Benitez is seeking to win the trophy for the third time after previous triumphs with Valencia and Chelsea, Dnipro are aiming to reach a first European final.The path has not been easy for them -- Myron Markevychs side have already played 17 games in Europe this season with their continental campaign beginning with a 2-0 defeat to FC Copenhagen in the Champions League third qualifying round in August.They will host Napoli in Kiev, which is 450 kilometres further away from the conflict in eastern Ukraine than Dnipropetrovsk.Nevertheless, Seleznyov is hoping Dnipro can emulate the performance of compatriots Shakhtar Donetsk, who won the UEFA Cup in 2009.Seleznyov, who was on the books at Shakhtar six years ago but did not play in their 2-1 final victory over Werder Bremen, told UEFA.com: I didnt appreciate the importance of that triumph for the city of Donetsk and for Shakhtar.Winning a European trophy was very significant back then -- and thats still the case.Europa League semi-final, second-leg fixtures (1905GMT)At Florence, ItalyFiorentina (ITA) v Sevilla (ESP)Sevilla lead 3-0 after first legAt KievDnipro (UKR) v Napoli (ITA)Tie level at 1-1 after first leg

Triple murderer put to death in Texas

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - The state of Texas late Tuesday executed a man convicted in the triple murder of his girlfriend, her mother and her grandfather, officials said.Derrick Charles, 32, was put to death by lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Huntsville at 6:36 pm (2236 GMT), according to spokesman Jason Clark.His last words before being injected with the lethal drugs were Im ready to go home, Clark said.The US Supreme Court earlier on Tuesday denied a last minute appeal by the condemned man, allowing the execution to proceed.Charles was just 19 at the time of the murders, which anti-death penalty activists had hoped would be taken into account in appeals that sought to spare his life at trial.His attorneys also argued in vain that a family history of mental illness should have been taken into account.Charles execution comes as a growing number of Americans say they opposed capital punishment, and with an increasing number of US states making the decision to end the practice.Meanwhile, the US Supreme Court is due next month to rule on the constitutionality of lethal injection -- the most common form of execution in the United States, but one that has become increasingly controversial.In 2008, the court ruled that lethal injection was constitutional, but that was before recent shortages in the most commonly used drugs prompted state officials to come up with lethal medication cocktails that appeared to cause pain and suffering in inmates during some recent executions.The execution was the seventh this year in Texas, the US state that has killed more Death Row inmates than any other.It was the 14th execution this year in the United States.

Tokyo stocks open down 0.29%

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TOKYO (AFP) - Tokyo stocks opened 0.29 percent lower on Wednesday following drops in US and European markets and the yens uptick as investors were jittery over Greek debt talks.The Nikkei 225 index on the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell 56.08 points to 19,568.76 at the start.The dollar drifted lower after falling Tuesday as the market viewed recent lacklustre US economic data as likely to delay the Federal Reserves plan to raise near-zero interest rates.The greenback was quoted at 119.78 yen early Wednesday, down from 119.90 yen in New York late Tuesday.The Japanese currency hardly moved immediately after official data showed the nations surplus in the current account -- the broadest measure of the countrys trade with the rest of the world -- posted a more than 20-fold jump in March from a year earlier thanks to lower energy costs and higher returns on overseas investments.The euro bought $1.1219 and 134.44 yen against $1.1213 and 134.44 yen in US trade.The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished 0.20 percent lower Tuesday as worries over higher US Treasury bond yields offset Verizons $4.4 billion takeover of AOL.Europes main stock markets slumped on Tuesday, as Greece warned that it could run out of cash in two weeks with debt repayments looming, raising fears about its eurozone future.

Surfing event opens in Rio amid water pollution worries

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - Many of the worlds top surfers were in Rio de Janeiro for a major surfing competition that kicked off Tuesday amid persistent worries about the citys polluted waters.Kelly Slater of the United States and Brazilian star Gabriel Medina were among those competing at the Oi Rio Pro event, which is taking place through May 22 on Rios Barra da Tijuca beach. The Barra neighborhood is one of the main sites for competitions at next years Olympics.The surfing events main venue is near the spot where a raw sewage-filled lagoon empties into the Atlantic. The latest water quality report, issued Tuesday by the state environmental authority, said the area was inappropriate for swimming due to the concentration of fecal coliforms.Rio has poor sewage treatment infrastructure, and much of the sewage from the city of 12 million people empties untreated into its lakes, rivers and beaches. Of the 32 water quality reports issued this year for Rio, only eight found water in the area appropriate for swimmers.Biologist and environmental activist Mario Moscatelli has warned that pollution could become particularly problematic during low tides at Barra da Tijuca, when the lagoons fetid waters spill out into the ocean.Winds could potentially push the sewage along the beach, contaminating the competition site, said Moscatelli, who has been flying over the area for years as part of an environmental monitoring project. Recent photos taken by Moscatelli showed a brown stain spreading over much of Barra beach.The events organizer, the World Surf League, recently canceled a backup venue on the neighboring beach of Sao Conrado due to what the organization deemed pollution issues.In a statement emailed to The Associated Press last week, World Surf League spokesman Dave Prodan said the organization was confident that our primary site at Postinho, Barra da Tijuca will deliver excellent conditions.Water quality has become a hot-button issue ahead of the 2016 Olympics, with state and local authorities repeatedly acknowledging they will not be able to make good on longstanding promise to clean up the citys blighted waterways ahead of the games. Olympic sailing, canoeing, rowing and other aquatic events are slated to take place in the polluted waters, prompting worries about athletes health and safety.The start of competition at the surfing event coincides with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseffs meetings in Rio with local Olympic organizers as well as members of the Swiss-based International Olympic Committee.

N. Korea defence minister executed: S. Korea intelligence

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SEOUL (AFP) - North Korean Defence Minister Hyon Yong-Chol has been executed by anti-aircraft fire for disloyalty and showing disrespect to leader Kim Jong-Un, South Koreas intelligence agency said Wednesday.Hundreds of officials watched Hyons execution on April 30, Han Ki-Beom, the deputy director of the National Intelligence Agency (NIS), told a parliamentary committee, the Yonhap news agency reported.Hyon, who was appointed to the post of Minister of the Peoples Armed Forces less than a year ago, was apparently caught dozing off during formal military events and also talked back to Kim Jong-Un on several occasions, Yonhap said.The Yonhap report was based on a briefing by a ruling Saenuri party lawmaker who attended the parliamentary committee meeting.Han told the committee that Hyon was executed with anti-aircraft fire -- a method cited in various unconfirmed reports as being reserved for senior officials who the leadership wishes to make examples of.In North Korea, the defence minister is mainly in charge of logistics and international exchanges. Policy-making is handled by the powerful National Defence Commission and the party Central Military Commission.

Activists say at least 28 killed in Syria government attack

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BEIRUT (AP) - Syrian government helicopters dropped a barrel bomb Tuesday in a neighborhood in the northern city of Aleppo, hitting a busy bus depot and killing at least 28 people, activists said.The attack on the Jisr al-Haj neighborhood killed at least 28 people and wounded nearly 30, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. It said the count may rise because many wounded are in critical condition.The Local Coordination Committees, another monitoring group, said some 50 people were believed killed in the attack. It provided the names of only 13, saying the bodies were hard to identify.Both groups are based abroad and rely on an activist networks in Syria. The Aleppo Media Center, based in the city, said over 40 people were killed. Differing casualty figures are not uncommon.The Aleppo Media Center posted an online video that purportedly showed rescue workers extinguish fire-engulfed buses as civilians scrambled to untangle bits of cars and motorcycles from the dead.Aleppo, once Syrias largest city, is a major battleground in the countrys civil war, carved into rebel- and government-held neighborhoods. Insurgents mostly control the countryside.Earlier this month, Amnesty International sharply condemned the governments reliance on barrel bombs, saying they killed over 3,000 civilians in Aleppo last year.Meanwhile Tuesday, international aid group Handicap International warned Syria is so awash with weapons and bombs that the 5.1 million people living there, including 2 million children, are at constant risk. It called on all parties in the conflict to abide by international humanitarian law and immediately end the use of explosives in highly populated areas.Syrias conflict, now in its fifth year, has killed more than 220,000 people. At least 1 million have been wounded.Underlining the danger civilians face, two explosive-rigged motorcycles blew up in the central city of Homs, killing at least four people and wounding 28, Syrian state media said. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility, saying it targeted neighborhoods home to members of President Bashar Assads minority Alawite sect.

Attacks in Iraqi capital kill at least 19 Shiite pilgrims

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BAGHDAD (AP) - Attacks on Shiite pilgrims commemorating the death of revered 8th century Shiite Imam Moussa al-Kazim killed at least 19 people and wounded more than 50 across the Iraqi capital, police officials said.The largest of the attacks happened in central Baghdad when a suicide bomber attacked pilgrims buying food and drinks on their way back from the al-Kazims shrine located in the capitals Kazimiyah neighborhood. Officials said at least 10 people were killed in the attack and another 25 wounded.In eastern Baghdad, another two pilgrims were killed and nine wounded when a roadside bomb exploded on Palestine Street. On the northeastern edge of the capital, in the town of Bab al-Sham, at least three mortars targeted Shiite pilgrims, killing four and wounding at least 12.Also in Mashahidah, just north of Baghdad, at least three pilgrims were killed and eight wounded by an improvised explosive device.Hospital officials confirmed the casualties. All officials spoke anonymously because they are not authorized to brief the media.No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks on the pilgrims, but the Islamic State militant group has been behind attacks in several of the capitals predominantly Shiite neighborhoods.

Third secular blogger hacked to death in Bangladesh

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DHAKA (AFP) - A masked gang wielding machetes hacked a secular blogger to death Tuesday in northeastern Bangladesh in the third such deadly attack by suspected Islamists since February.Police said Ananta Bijoy Das was murdered in broad daylight as he headed to work at a local bank in the city of Sylhet, an attack that fellow writers said highlighted a culture of impunity.Kamrul Hasan, commissioner of Sylhet police, said a group of around four masked men had attacked Das with machetes at around 8.30am on a busy street in Bangladeshs fifth largest city.They chased him down the street and first attacked his head with their machetes and then attacked him all over his body, Hasan told AFP.After the attackers fled into the crowds, Das was rushed to hospital but declared dead on arrival, police and medics said.Police commissioner Hasan would not comment on the motive for the attack but fellow writers said Das had been on a hit-list drawn up by militants who were behind the recent killing of blogger Avijit Roy.Imran Sarker, head of a Bangladeshi bloggers association, confirmed to AFP that Das was an atheist who regularly blogged for Mukto-Mona.The website used to be moderated by Roy, a Bangladeshi-born US citizen who was hacked to death in the capital Dhaka in February.We condemn this heinous killing. It once again confirms our fear that there is a culture of impunity in Bangladesh. Anyone can now get away with killing a progressive free thinker, Sarker said.Washington also condemned the killing and called on the Bangladeshi authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.The United States condemns the brutal murder of writer/blogger Ananta Bijoy Das in Bangladesh, the latest in a recent string of attacks against writers and bloggers in Bangladesh, State Department Spokesman Jeff Rathke said. We offer our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.Police chief Hasan said they were investigating an announcement by an unknown group that Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) was behind the killing.AQIS has already claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on Roy on February 26 in which his wife was badly injured. An Islamist has been arrested over his murder.A group called Ansar Al-Islam said on Twitter that AQIS was responsible for Dass murder and warned of more to come.Debasish Debu, a friend of Das, said the 33-year-old banker was an editor of a quarterly magazine called Jukti (Logic) and headed the Sylhet-based Science and Rationalist Council. In recent months he received threats from Islamist extremists for his writings. He was on their hit-list, Debu told AFP from Sylhet.He was hacked on the head repeatedly, the same way Roy was attacked by the assailants, Debu added.According to the Mukto-Mona site, Das won the publications annual Rationalist Award in 2006 for his deep and courageous interest in spreading secular and humanist ideals and messages.While most of Dass output for Mukto-Mona focused on science and evolution, he wrote a number of blogs that criticised some aspects of Islam and also of Hinduism.He also wrote a poem eulogising the famed Bangladeshi secular writer Taslima Nasreen, who fled to Europe in 1994 after protests by Islamists and now lives in India. In comments on Facebook posted early Tuesday, Das slammed the local member of parliament from the ruling Awami League party for criticising one of the countrys top secular and science fiction writers. The murder came less than two months after 27-year-old atheist blogger Washiqur Rahman was hacked to death in Dhaka in March. Two madrassa students have been arrested over that attack.Bangladesh is an officially secular country but more than 90 percent of its 160 million population are Muslims.The country has seen a rise in attacks by religious extremists in recent years. Supporters of Bangladeshs largest Islamist party, which is banned from standing in elections, have been accused of being behind a spate of firebombings since the beginning of the year aimed at toppling the government.Since 2013, at least five bloggers have been attacked by Islamists after another hardline group, Hefazat-e-Islam, publicly sought the execution of atheists who organised mass protests against the rise of political Islam.Hefazat, led by Islamic seminary teachers, also staged a massive counter protest against the bloggers in May 2013 that unleashed violence, leaving nearly 50 people dead.

Kerry holds 'frank' talks with Putin in bid to improve ties

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SOCHI (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian President Vladimir Putin held four hours of rare face-to-face talks on Tuesday as the two nations sought ways to cooperate after a sharp deterioration in relations.The meeting during the highest level US visit to Russia since the Ukraine crisis erupted in late 2013 did not appear to result in any major breakthrough, though both sides expressed hope it could lead to improved ties.Kerrys visit in itself was seen as a sign of the countries willingness to improve relations.A post on his Twitter account called the meeting with Putin frank and productive.Speaking after the talks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kerry said Moscow and Washington should continue dialogue to try to resolve their differences.Todays meetings allowed us to better understand each other, Lavrov told reporters after talks on Ukraine and Syria.Kerry, who also held another four hours of negotiations with Lavrov, said there was an urgent need for the United States and Russia to cooperate on confronting global challenges.There is no substitute for talking directly to key decision-makers, particularly during a period that is as complex and fast-moving as this is, he said.He reiterated that biting US and EU sanctions on Russia could be rolled back, if and when the terms of a shaky Ukraine ceasefire were fully met.Kerry insisted that all the terms of the truce had to be implemented -- something Lavrov agreed with at a joint press conference.While there were certain contradictions and divergences as regards to the origins of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, we definitely shared the view that it is only possible to resolve the crisis by implementing the truce, Lavrov said.Pointing to the success of an earlier deal on eliminating Syrias chemical weapons, Kerry said: There is an urgent need, we agreed, for that same kind of cooperation ... the same kind of effort is now necessary on some other challenges that we face together.Kerry warned all sides, including Ukraines pro-Western government, that any further recourse to force would be extremely destructive.Despite badly damaged relations, Lavrov said: We have an understanding of the need to avoid steps which can inflict long-term damage on bilateral ties in various fields.Especially if we take into account the fact that the solution of many pressing modern problems depends on our well-coordinated joint efforts on the international arena.The Ukraine crisis is also likely to top the agenda at NATO foreign ministers talks on Wednesday in Antalya, Turkey -- Kerrys next destination after leaving Sochi late Tuesday.On Syria, Kerry said that the two countries had agreed to share more information about continuing chlorine gas attacks by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which have raised alarm in Washington.US officials said Kerry wanted to gauge whether Moscows support for Assad may be on the wane as the rebels appear to be gaining the upper hand in the four-year civil war.They also discussed Yemen and Libya, and Kerry briefed Putin on the negotiations on curtailing Irans nuclear programme, saying it was important to maintain their unity on the issue.He was accompanied by chief US negotiator Wendy Sherman, who will travel to Vienna on Wednesday for a new round of Iran talks.Ties between Moscow and Washington were shredded when Russia seized the southern Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea in early 2014 and buttressed separatists in eastern Ukraine.But signs are now emerging that both Russia and the West may be ready for a detente.

England a 'laughing stock' over Pietersen says ex Proteas skipper

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LONDON (AFP) - Former South Africa captain Graeme Smith was among several pundits who slammed Andrew Strausss decision to maintain Kevin Pietersens international exile, saying it had made English cricket a laughing stock.Strauss, one of several England captains whose time as skipper came to an end after a series against a Proteas side led by Smith, has recently been installed as Englands director of cricket.On Tuesday, Strauss said Pietersen would remain in the international wilderness, with the South Africa-born batsman exiled from the England squad ever since the team returned from a 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia last year.Strauss, whose final months as England captain in 2012 were clouded by provocative texts sent by Pietersen to Proteas players, said a massive trust issue lay at the heart of his decision.Pietersen, 34, had been given hope of a Test return when new England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves said he would be considered if he made enough runs in county cricket.But just hours after he scored a maiden triple century for Surrey on Monday, Strauss met with Pietersen to tell him to forget about playing for England this season.Yet Tuesday also saw Strauss announce that hed offered Pietersen a role as an advisor to the one-day side which the star batsman had turned down.I see the head boy is making English cricket the laughing stock again StraussLogic, tweeted Smith.Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who played in the same 2005 Ashes-winning side as Pietersen, said players became more mature as they got older.I have no agenda in this, Flintoff tweeted. I thought If @KP24 (Pietersen) was to play again he should fight his way back in which he has, as for personality he can be high maintenance then again so was I, but you do grow up and change .I wish I had the chance to play in my mid 30s reckon Id have been better, added Flintoff, whose international career was cut short by injury.Meanwhile several former England captains criticised the way in which Pietersen had been given the incentive of a recall only to have it taken away.I dont often feel sorry for Kevin Pietersen - but having been told by the chairman-elect to go and score runs in the County Championship if he wants to get back in the England side, Kevins been sent on a wild goose chase, Bob Willis told Sky Sports.Its incredible. (Pietersen) is getting one set of guides from the new chairman of the ECB and clearly the new director of cricket doesnt want him anywhere near the team.Williss view was endorsed by Nasser Hussain, who said there had been a shambles of mixed messages coming out of the ECB.Strausss announcement came just days after the botched sacking of Peter Moores as England coach. After the appalling way the Peter Moores sacking was handled, that he was the last to know, I think this is another faux pas by the ECB and they need to get their act together, Willis added.Alec Stewart, Pietersens director of cricket at Surrey, questioned how a new-look ECB hierarchy could have lost faith in the star batsman.Id like to know who at the ECB doesnt trust him because from when that (original) decision was made 14, 15, 16 months ago, there is now a new chairman (Graves), new chief exec (Tom Harrison), director of cricket and there now will be a new coach, so which individual or individuals dont trust him?

Humanitarian ceasefire in Yemen has begun: coalition

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RIYADH (AFP) - A ceasefire after weeks of Saudi-led coalition bombing in Yemen began on Tuesday night, but the coalition warned Iran-backed rebels it would strike back at any violation.Absolutely. 11 Oclock, coalition spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri said when asked whether the ceasefire had begun on schedule at 11:00 pm local time (2000 GMT).We are committed to respect this, he said, but the coalition will continue its intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance in case it has to respond.We will be ready to react to any violation of the pause, he told AFP. We are very clear. If they do not respect... we will continue.The coalition intensified its air strikes, conducting a record of more than 130 sorties from Friday to Saturday, after declaring the rebels had crossed a red line with deadly mortar and rocket bombardments of Saudi Arabia.Those attacks have killed 12 people on the Saudi side of the frontier since last week.Assiri did not yet have any data on the number of sorties carried out on Tuesday in the leadup to the ceasefire.He said rebels fired several Katyusha rockets over the border on Tuesday, causing injuries.Using unmanned aerial vehicles and artillery, coalition forces hit back and destroyed the vehicles which launched the rockets, he said.A maritime exclusion zone, enforced by the Arab-dominated coalition, remains in effect around Yemen. Assiri said an Iranian ship purportedly carrying aid to Yemen should deliver it to the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti.They can give it to the United Nations there, he said.The Pentagon earlier said it was tracking the ship after Tehran reportedly said it would send warships to escort it to Yemen.Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steven Warren warned Iran against a stunt that could threaten the ceasefire.Frederic Wehrey, a senior associate in the Middle East programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, told AFP it is difficult to say if the ceasefire will hold.Its an issue of command and control and all it takes is one aggressive battalion commander to undo it, said Wehrey, a US Air Force veteran.

US F-18 fighter crashes in Gulf, crew rescued: Navy

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - A US F-18 fighter jet crashed in the Gulf after taking off from an aircraft carrier on Tuesday but both crew members survived without major injuries, military officers said Tuesday.The Super Hornet aircraft had launched from the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the Arabian Gulf at 1330 GMT before it went down, the US Navy said in a statement.The two personnel aboard the strike fighter ejected from the aircraft, survived the crash and were quickly recovered by search and rescue personnel from the ship, it said.Initial reports indicate both are conscious and alert, and without serious injury.The Roosevelt carriers air wing is taking part in the US-led air war against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.The cause of the crash was under investigation but officials ruled out any hostile activity, it said.The two crew members are part of Strike Fighter Squadron 211, based out of Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia.

ICC ready to investigate Islamic State crimes in Libya

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The International Criminal Courts chief prosecutor said Tuesday that she was ready to investigate crimes committed by the Islamic State in Libya, where the United Nations is pushing for a peace deal.Fatou Bensouda told the UN Security Council that the courts jurisdiction extends to such alleged crimes by terrorist groups aligned with IS.Islamic State fighters have claimed responsiblity for the beheadings in Libya of 21 Coptic Christians mostly from Egypt in February and 28 Ethiopian Christians in April.International alarm over ISs expansion into Libya after Syria and Iraq has prompted the United Nations to redouble efforts to broker a deal in Libya on a national unity government able to confront the jihadists.ICC investigations have mostly focused on crimes related to the regime of Moamer Kadhafi, who was ousted in an uprising in 2011.Bensouda said she was actively considering the investigation and prosecution of further cases, and will not hesitate to take such action as may be needed to contribute to ending impunity in Libya.Human rights organizations are concerned that the focus on accountability for atrocities is losing ground as the United Nations seeks a consensus on the new government makeup.The Security Council is watching Libya descend into chaos as horrendous crimes multiply, said Richard Dicker of Human Rights Watch.Given the Libyan authorities inability to rein in these abuses, much less prosecute those responsible, its time for the ICC prosecutor to expand her investigations.Bensouda spoke to the council a day after holding an informal meeting with the ambassadors on the status of her investigations in Libya.The ICC has charged Moamer Khadafis son Saif al-Islam and his intelligence chief Abdullah Senussi for crimes against humanity.

Football: Barca book Berlin final berth to Enrique's delight

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MUNICH (AFP) - Barcelona remain on course to win the treble after reaching the Champions League final by surviving a second-half, second-leg fight-back at Bayern Munich, to the delight of coach Luis Enrique.Neymar struck twice as Barcelona reached the Berlin final by beating Bayern 5-3 on aggregate in their semi-final despite losing Tuesdays second-leg 3-2 at the Allianz Arena having won 3-0 in Spain.Barca are on the verge of the Spanish league title, face Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Cup final on May 30 and will now face either Juventus or bitter rivals Real Madrid in the Champions League final on June 6.Im happy with the performance of the players. They should be congratulated, beamed Enrique.Its a great achievement to reach the final.Were one win away from winning each of the three competitions.This is our mission.Bayern were facing what looked like an impossible task after going down 3-0 in last weeks first leg at the Camp Nou, but they were given an early glimmer of hope in the return when the unmarked Medhi Benatia headed home on seven minutes.However, the final outcome of the tie was put beyond doubt when Luis Suarez twice set up Neymar to score for the visitors before half an hour had been played.Bayern produced a rousing second-half performance and goals from Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Mueller allowed them to win the game on the night, but Barcelona advance to their eighth European Cup final.With such a good result from the first leg, we knew they had to give more, said Enrique.The second-half was different, because they attacked us more, but we are now in the final and can win the title in each competition we are in.This is what it means to be part of Barca.Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta said Neymars early goals had calmed any early nerves, but it was disappointing not to beat Bayern for the first time in Munich.We knew they would push from the off and we got the two goals that calmed us down, said Iniesta.In the second-half they pushed forward, but we need to celebrate being in another final. We need to finish what we have started.I think we are where we want to be every year, we are one step away from everything and we need to take this step.We cant stop or settle for less. It would be incredible for all the fans and the players.Every year is different, this year we have to enjoy it, we have overcome very strong opponents. We are very close and we need to take the next step.
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