Tuesday 12 January 2016

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Larkana: Two dacoits killed in police encounter

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LARKANA (Dunya News) – According to details, dacoits opened fire at a police patrol party near Joya Bridge in tehsil Rato Dero of Larkana on Tuesday night. On getting information, a heavy contingent of police under ASP Larkana, Tauqeer Naeem reached the spot. An exchange of fire between dacoits and police resulted in killing of notorious dacoit Wajid alias Waju Joyo and one of his accomplices.According to police sources law and order situation in the area will improve after the death of Waju Joyo. Sources further informed that Waju Joyo was wanted by police in more than 100 cases of robberies and murders.

Football: FIFA investigators to seek longer Blatter, Platini bans

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ZURICH (AFP) - FIFA corruption investigators will demand an extension to the eight-year bans ordered against world football leaders Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini last month, a spokesman said on Tuesday.The anti-corruption investigators had originally sought a life ban against the two most powerful men in football over a two million Swiss franc ($2 million/1.8 million euro) payment that Blatter authorised for Platini.The investigatory chamber intends to appeal against the decision for Mr Blatter and Mr Platini at the FIFA appeal committee, said FIFA ethics committee spokesman Andreas Bantel.The case is the latest in an escalating series of scandals since Swiss investigators detained several FIFA officials in Zurich on May 29.Blatter and Platini were suspended from all football activity for eight years by a FIFA tribunal on December 21. The ethics judges rejected corruption charges but said the pair had abused their positions in making the controversial payment.The ethics committee is split in two. The investigatory chamber looks into corruption cases while its adjudicatory chamber acts as judges. Blatter and Platini have denied any wrongdoing and vowed to make appeals to FIFA as well as the Court of Arbitration for Sport and even Swiss courts if necessary. Platini lodged his appeal at FIFA on Monday, his entourage said.Blatter, who has led FIFA for 17 years, said the payment to Platini, the president of Europes governing body UEFA, was for consultancy work carried out between 1999 and 2002.They have said there was only an oral contract for the accord but insisted it was legal.There was no evidence of any corrupt conduct and the FIFA Adjudicatory Chamber got it right in that regard, said Blatters US lawyer Richard Cullen.Some members of the Investigatory Chamber were disappointed that their theory was rejected for lack of evidence and we remain confident that the facts demonstrate Mr. Blatter and Mr. Platinis conduct was appropriate in all respects and that the appeal committee will agree, he added.Blatter, 79, was to stand down at a FIFA congress on February 26 when a special election is to be held. He wants to clear his name so he can officiate at the assembly.The suspension devastated 60-year-old Platinis hopes of becoming FIFA leader. The Frenchman announced last week that he was withdrawing from the FIFA race to concentrate on clearing his name.FIFAs appeal committee rarely reduces sanctions imposed by the governing bodys ethics or disciplinary panels.In 2013 the appeals committee increased an eight year term ordered against Vernon Manilal Fernando, a former FIFA executive committee member from Sri Lanka, to a life ban.The withdrawal of Platini has left five candidates for the FIFA presidency: Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino, South African tycoon Tokyo Sexwale, former FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin al Hussein from Jordan and a former FIFA official Jerome Champagne.The corruption scandals have grown with 39 individuals and two companies now facing charges in the United States over more than $200 million in bribes paid for sports contracts.

Football: Dummett stuns United in St James' Park thriller

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NEWCASTLE (AFP) - Left-back Paul Dummett eclipsed two-goal Wayne Rooney with a last-minute equaliser as Newcastle United secured a pulsating 3-3 home draw against Louis van Gaals Manchester United on Tuesday.Rooney appeared to have settled the game with a magnificent 79th-minute strike from the edge of the area after Memphis Depays run and shot ended with the ball ricocheting off Dummett into the path of the forward.But the Newcastle full-back had the last word after Daryl Janmaats cross into the United area was headed out by Chris Smalling, allowing Dummett to unleash an unstoppable drive from the edge of the area that flicked off Smalling and flew high into the visitors goal.Rooney and Jesse Lingard had apparently put the visitors in control before Georginio Wijnaldum ended Newcastles run of 453 minutes without a goal to reduce the arrears.Aleksandar Mitrovic equalised with a 67th-minute penalty, awarded after Smalling wrestled him to the ground at a Newcastle corner.Rooney had proved Uniteds saviour with a last-minute penalty in the weekend FA Cup victory over Sheffield United and he was on the mark from the spot again in the ninth minute at St James Park.Referee Mike Dean judged that Chancel Mbemba had deliberately handled after Marouane Fellaini headed the ball against his outstretched arm. Rooney ignored the protests of the home team and supporters to calmly score for the third consecutive game, low into the right-hand corner.There was nothing controversial about Uniteds second goal in the 38th minute, a textbook example of counter-attacking football started when Fellaini won the ball just inside his own half.He found Rooney, who powered into the Newcastle area before feeding Lingard with a magnificent reverse pass, allowing the youngster to steer his second goal for United between goalkeeper Rob Elliots legs.But Newcastle had already shown flashes of attacking prowess that suggested they were capable of avoiding a fifth consecutive defeat on an evening that began with an emotional tribute to their former goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek, who died recently of a heart attack.Their first goal was just as impressive as Uniteds second effort four minutes earlier as Fabricio Coloccinis chip into the area was headed away by Fellaini, only for Wijnaldum to volley past David de Gea from 12 yards.Given the scoring problems experienced by both teams of late, it was an unexpected opening, and there was more to come.A Daley Blind corner found Fellaini, whose shot was blocked by Dummett, and Rooney rolled a shot inches wide after a good Fellaini challenge allowed Lingard to send his captain free.But Newcastle had appeared capable of forging a path back into the contest well before the Wijnaldum goal, with De Gea saving well from the Dutchman and Coloccini showing great technique with a 25-yard shot that just missed the target.The timing of Wijnaldums goal saw Newcastle carry new-found belief into the second half and it was not long before Coloccini found Moussa Sissoko, who darted into the area and beat Ashley Young impressively, only to see his shot blocked by the ever-alert De Gea.Within minutes, however, Lingard should have scored his second goal of the evening after Anthony Martial and Ander Herrera combined. But with the goal at his mercy, the youngster curled over.Van Gaal could not conceal his disgust at that error and might have been further incensed after 63 minutes when Wijnaldum played Jack Colback into a shooting position, only for the midfielder to tumble far too easily under contact from Fellaini.That proved a signal of things to come, with Mitrovic equalising from the spot two minutes later and Wijnaldum having a goal ruled out for a clear offside soon after that.But as chances were carved out at both ends, Fellaini wasted the best remaining opening with a close-range header that he directed too close to Elliot.

Football: Messi named ambassador for Dubai Expo 2020

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DUBAI (AFP) - Fresh from being awarded a record fifth Ballon dOr, Lionel Messi was on Tuesday named as global ambassador for the Dubai World Expo in 2020.Lionel Messis performances on the football pitch bring people together, and as a result his influence reaches far beyond it, said the Dubai events general manager Reem al-Hashimy in a statement.He is the ideal person to be our first global ambassador. He overcame youthful health challenges to achieve his dreams of international excellence through hard work; making him an inspiration. He is perfectly placed to reach out to young people around the world, bringing them together to join us as we work towards hosting our World Expo in 2020.Dubai plans to recruit other ambassadors for its world fair from a variety of fields including sport, arts, music, culture and the media.Argentina and Barcelona superstar Messi, 28, is widely regarded as one of the top footballers of all time, and by many as the very best.On Monday he was picked ahead of great rival Cristiano Ronaldo to win FIFAs Ballon dOr for the world player of the year for 2015.He previously won that award four times in a row from 2009 to 2012.He has also won many trophies with his Spanish team including the Champions League four times, the Spanish league seven times, and three Spanish Cups.At international level, he helped his country win the Olympic Games gold medal in 2008, although they lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.

Tennis: Serena says she's 'feeling great' for Aussie Open

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - World number one Serena Williams insists she is fit and ready for a tilt at a seventh Australian Open title, downplaying a knee injury that forced her out of the Hopman Cup.The world number one retired due to soreness in her left knee during a singles match on January 6 at the mixed-team tournament in Perth, casting doubt over her ability to defend her title at the opening Grand Slam of the season.But the 34-year-old told the Melbourne Herald Sun she was ready for it.My body is feeling great now, she said.Obviously I had a hiccup but right now it is doing much better. Ive had a few days of training so its looking good.The 34-year-old, who battled knee problems in the latter half of 2015 and has barely played since October, trained at Melbourne Park on Monday.I know what I need to do on and off the court to win big tournaments, she added to the newspaper late Monday. That is what I like to do.At the time of her retirement in Perth, Williams said: I just have some inflammation thats been going away very slowly.Its still there, its going away, but just needs a little more time. A little rest, a little treatment.Melbourne Park has been a happy hunting ground for the American 21-time major winner. She won the Australian Open for the first time way back in 2003, and made it title number six last year when she toppled arch-rival Maria Sharapova in the final.Williams owned womens tennis in 2015, winning three Grand Slams (Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon) and triumphing in 53 of the 56 matches she played.She was on track for a rare calendar-year Grand Slam until she was beaten by Italian Roberta Vinci in the US Open semi-final in early September, before bringing an early halt to a season that took a heavy physical toll.

Tennis: Fit and happy Azarenka primed for Aussie Open run

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MELBOURNE (AFP) - Rejuvenated former world number one Victoria Azarenka believes she is primed for a solid run at the Australian Open after an injury-wracked two years, with the pain-free star happy and in form.The Belarusian won the opening Grand Slam of the season at Melbourne Park in 2012 and defended the title the following year before injuries stalled her high-flying career.She struggled with foot and knee problems in 2014 and only played nine tournaments, also battling depression and a split from long-term boyfriend Stefan Gordy, better known as Redfoo, the US musician and reality TV star.Then a painful thigh strain in 2015 sent her spiralling down the world rankings.But she is again fighting fit and won the build-up Brisbane International last weekend, dropping just 17 games in four matches for her first title since Cincinnati in August 2013, propelling her back into the world top 20 at number 16.It sets up her as a legitimate threat at the Australian Open, starting Monday, with a host of other top players struggling with injuries or illness.Definitely a lot more comfortable, a lot more calm, a lot more aware. Happy. Very happy, Azarenka told the Herald Sun late Tuesday as she prepares for another title shot.I was hurt the whole year actually, she added of her troubled 2015 campaign.There was not a moment where I felt good. (Now) I have no pain. There was a lot of medication last year which made me feel crazy actually at some moments.I dont respond well to medication. It was a constant battle with pain, with my own fear. Like, is it going to hurt again?I dont want to go through that. But it took me to a point where I decided, Ok, I got to stop and try to figure out and actually change my life around the tennis court.Nicknamed Vika and renowned in the past for fiery on-court outbursts, Azarenka is now coached by Wim Fissette after splitting with long-time mentor Sam Sumyk and said it had taken time to adjust.I had a lot of changes last year, so it took a little bit of time to regroup, reorganise, mature a little bit, understand how to organise yourself, she said, adding that she was once again enjoying her tennis.I think being an athlete we always think about physical performance tennis and tactical performance. I think mental preparation is very important -- feeling happy on the court.We have such a long season. To have that sense of just enjoyment, joy on the court, I think is important, too.

Rallying: Sainz takes control in the heat, Loeb suffers in the sand

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BELEN (AFP) - Carlos Sainz moved atop the overall standings of the Dakar Rally in winning Tuesdays ninth stage as Sebastien Loeb fell further behind after struggling in sandy conditions.The stage around Belen was cut short because of searing heat and the many difficulties encountered by competitors between Belen and Fiambala.For the motorbikes the stage was halted after 179km of the days planned 436km run with the riders continuing on in convoy to the finish line, apart from some 30 competitors who had already reached that point.For cars the race was also shortened to the 179km mark, of the planned 396km, of which 285km were timed. Temperatures were between 37 and 40 degrees celsius (98-104 degrees fahrenheit).Spanish veteran Sainz, driving a Peugeot, held off the Minis of Erik van Loon and Mikko Hirvonen by 10 and 17sec respectively.It was a very demanding course, physically speaking, with a lot of off-road, navigation and vegetation, said Sainz.It was very hot, the 2010 winner added shortly after being cooled down with blocks of ice.Stephane Peterhansel, who finished 9:12 behind Peugeot teammate Sainz, lost the command of the overall standings to the Spaniard, the latter now leading the Frenchman by 7:03.After rolling his Peugeot on Monday, Loeb struggled in the dunes, becoming stuck in the sand on several occasions.The nine-time world rally champion from France eventually limped home in 18th spot, 1hr 13min behind Sainz.It was very tough and very sandy in places, Loeb said. We wanted to try to follow the roadbook closely so as not to get lost.In the end, there were some spots we couldnt pass. The sand is so soft, we got stuck several times.Its a bit depressing, but its a learning process.After the arrival of just 10 motorbikes at the finish line, Australian KTM rider Toby Price, the overall race leader, had clocked the fastest time of 3hr 55min 51sec.But organisers could decide to recalculate the times at the 179km mark where Price also had the best time.There was more drama for departing French competitor Lionel Baud.On Saturdays stage seven, Baud hit and killed a 63-year-old Bolivian shepherd, an accident that saw the tearful Frenchman withdraw from the gruelling event.But on Tuesday a convoy leading Bauds car back to Buenos Aires was hit by a goods lorry in an accident also involving four other vehicles, the Cadena 3 television station reported.An Argentinian car driver was reported killed in the accident.Wednesdays 10th stage is from Belen to La Rioja, with similarly hot temperatures predicted and the notorious Fiambala dunes to be negotiated.

Obama tells US to embrace time of 'extraordinary change'

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday will tell Americans nervous about terror and the changing economy that they should not fear the future, in a farewell State of the Union address designed to draw sharp contrast with Republicans.In the election-year address before he leaves office, Obama will hail a period of extraordinary change that is only set to quicken and which has the potential to broaden opportunity, or widen inequality.Attempting to cast himself as an optimistic foil to Republicans, who warn the country is going in the wrong direction after his seven years in office, Obama will say America has been through big changes before.Each time, there have been those who told us to fear the future; who claimed we could slam the brakes on change, promising to restore past glory if we just got some group or idea that was threatening America under control. And each time, we overcame those fears. Tuesdays primetime address is perhaps Obamas last big opportunity to sway a national audience and frame the 2016 election race.Around 30 million viewers are expected to watch live, a nationwide audience that may only be matched in political terms during the Democratic nominating convention later this year.But it risked being overshadowed by news that 10 US Navy personnel have been taken to an Iranian naval base in the Gulf.Senior US officials said they had received assurances the crews would sail onwards come first light, but Republicans have held the crisis up as evidence that Obama was naive to engage with Tehran.As they try to limit the damage, Obama aides say the commander-in-chief will push ahead with an unorthodox speech that lifts the countrys gaze beyond the next year, and beyond his presidency.Traditionally, State of the Unions -- a president gets up and they give a long laundry list of things that they want to accomplish legislatively, Obama himself said in a preview message.I want to identify three or four big ideas, three or four big things that we have to focus on.The speech, in the works since the autumn, will mark achievements, from health care reform to gay rights to a pending trans-Pacific trade deal to the controversial nuclear deal with Iran.But it will also focus on generational challenges like tackling partisan politics, economic inclusiveness, race, justice reform and defining Americas role in the world.A lot of what we can do is to change the political environment and change peoples attitudes and start a process where change begins to happen, Obama said.Its a relay race, and its important you get started.It is a high-risk strategy for Obama who, with just a year left in office, could look cripplingly out of touch if he misjudges the nations mood.Amid poisoned politics, terror threats and middle-class malaise, some 67 percent of Americans believe the country is going in the wrong direction, according to a recent Rasmussen poll.While unemployment rates are low, the economy is growing and the tumult of the financial crisis has passed, wage growth is lackluster and the gap between rich and poor is cavernous.The presidents record has often fallen far short of his soaring words, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is expected to say in her rebuttal of Obamas address.As he enters his final year in office, many Americans are still feeling the squeeze of an economy too weak to raise income levels.She will also cite chaotic unrest in many of our cities and the most dangerous terrorist threat our nation has seen since September 11th.

US working to recover 10 US sailors from Iran

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - US officials were scrambling Tuesday to recover US Navy personnel who lost radio contact and were apprehended after straying into Iranian waters.Senior US officials said they had received assurances from Tehran that the crews -- take to Farsi island -- would be allowed to sail onwards come first light.But it appeared likely that the embarrassing crisis would last at least until after President Barack Obamas State of the Union address later Tuesday.Secretary of State John Kerry called his Iranian counterpart Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, with whom he struck the Iran nuclear deal.Washington has no diplomatic relations with Tehran, but Kerry and Zarif forged a tie during the long negotiations for the pact and are in regular contact. He has a close relationship with foreign minister Zarif and that would be a natural point of contact, White House communications director Jen Psaki told CNN.We have been in touch with the Iranians. We have been assured of their safety and that they will be able to move forward on their journey promptly, she said.Obviously, any situation like this we take very seriously, and thats why we acted very quickly to get in touch and determine as much as we can.A US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said one or both of the vessels -- small patrol boats -- may have had a mechanical incident.Farsi Island lies in the Gulf, roughly midway between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and houses a base of Irans Republican Guard Corps, which has its own naval units.The tiny territory extends Iranian waters deep into one of the worlds most important shipping lanes, an oil superhighway and potential military flashpoint.Earlier today, we lost contact with two small US naval craft en route from Kuwait to Bahrain, a senior US administration official said.American officials did not dispute that the vessels appeared to have been in Iranian territorial waters when they were intercepted by Tehrans forces.At this early stage, another senior administration official said, there is nothing to indicate that Iran had committed a hostile act.Ben Rhodes, a top national security aide for Obama, said the administration was hopeful we will be able to resolve the issue.Obama is expected to use his much-heralded final State of the Union address to burnish his legacy, hailing, among other things, the nuclear deal with Iran.The deal foresees the Islamic republic scaling back its nuclear program to put a bomb outside its immediate reach in exchange for relief from international sanctions.The deal is to be implemented very soon -- Kerry has said in the coming days -- but has been criticized by Obamas US opponents as too soft on Tehran.Psaki refused to comment on whether the naval incident could derail the nuclear deal at the 11th hour, and said Obama had no plans to address it in his speech.The situation has been further complicated in the New Year by an angry breakdown in relations between Iran and US ally Saudi Arabia, inflaming regional tensions. Irans hardline Revolutionary Guard often takes a tough approach to perceived and real territorial violations in what it considers the Persian Gulf.Last year, Iranian patrol boats seized the Maersk Tigris, a cargo ship sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, which meant it was under US protection.And in March 2007, Iranian patrols captured 15 British Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel, interrogated them and held them for 13 days before releasing them.

Three Palestinians shot dead by Israelis during unrest

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RAMALLAH (AFP) - Israeli forces shot dead two Palestinians during an attempted stabbing attack in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday while a third was killed in unrelated clashes, officials said.Two young Palestinians were killed after one of them attempted to stab an Israeli soldier near the southern West Bank city of Hebron, the army said, the latest in more than three months of such attacks.A Palestinian attacker, armed with a knife, attempted to stab a soldier securing the Beit Hanoun junction near Hebron, a statement said. Responding to the imminent threat, forces at the scene fired towards the assailant, resulting in his death.A second man, who the army said had driven the attacker to the scene, was shot and injured as he fled.Palestinian security sources said he later died, with the health ministry identifying the two as 23-year-old Mohammed Kowazba and 17-year-old Adnan al-Mashti.Earlier a 21-year-old was shot and killed during protests near Bethlehem.Young man killed after being shot in the chest by (Israeli) forces in Beit Jala, a Palestinian health ministry statement said, referring to a town south of Jerusalem in the West Bank.It identified him as 21-year-old Srur Ahmad Abu Srur from Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem.The Israeli army confirmed forces had fired on a violent riot in Beit Jala. A hit was confirmed, a spokeswoman said.Hospital sources said a second person was shot in the leg during the clashes.Twenty-three Israelis and an American have been killed in Palestinian attacks including stabbings, car rammings and gunfire since October 1. An Eritrean was also killed.At the same time, 149 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, most while carrying out attacks.The Palestinian Prisoners Club rights group says more than 3,000 Palestinians have been arrested since the start of the violence, with most of them minors. It says a total of more than 7,000 Palestinian prisoners are currently held by Israel.

UN Syria envoy to meet Security Council powers

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GENEVA (AFP) - The UNs Syria envoy will meet ambassadors from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday in Geneva, ahead of planned talks to end the countrys civil war, a statement said.Envoy Staffan de Mistura has been trying to secure support for a fresh round of negotiations, which are provisionally scheduled to start on January 25, and are aimed at resolving the brutal conflict.His meeting with Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States will be at the ambassadorial level, and will take place at the UNs European headquarters in Geneva, UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi said.No details were given as to the agenda of the talks.Speaking to journalists earlier on Tuesday, Fawzi said De Mistura was going to spend this week trying to nail down... the timing and the framework for the talks.Last week, Damascus pledged to take part in the negotiations, but key opposition groups have withheld such commitments.The Security Council has endorsed an ambitious 18-month plan to end Syrias nearly five-year war which has killed more than 260,000 people and forced more than 4 million others to flee the country, with a negotiated political solution seen as essential to ending the violence.

Two Iraqi journalists shot dead north of Baghdad

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BAGHDAD (AFP) - Gunmen shot dead two Iraqi television journalists north of Baghdad on Tuesday who had been on a reporting trip with a top security officer, the channel said.Iraq is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, especially those from the country, who are far more exposed to attacks than their foreign colleagues.Armed militias assassinated correspondent Saif Tallal and his cameraman Hassan al-Anbaki near Baquba, the capital of Diyala province, a Sharqiya news presenter said on the air.The journalists were killed while returning to Baquba from a reporting trip with Staff Lieutenant General Mizher al-Azzawi, the head of security command responsible for the province, the channel said.Minas al-Suhail, a colleague from the channel, told AFP that the two journalists were driving some distance behind the commanders convoy on their way back from covering violence in the Muqdadiyah area.Masked militiamen in three SUVs stopped their vehicle in the village of Abu Saida, took the journalists out and executed them with Kalashnikov assault rifles, Suhail said.Shiite militia groups, some of which have been repeatedly accused of serious abuses, wield huge influence in the eastern province of Diyala.Sharqiya is a Sunni-owned TV channel viewed as sympathetic to the countrys Sunni minority.The murders took place within sight of a police checkpoint, but the police did not intervene, he said.Twin bombings in Muqdadiyah killed 20 people at a cafe the night before, and attackers subsequently blew up multiple Sunni mosques and burned houses and shops, officers said.The United Nations issued a statement condemning the mosque bombings.Once again, places of worship are being attacked. The perpetrators want to incite sectarian violence, in a desperate attempt to take the country back into the dark days of sectarian strife, UN Iraq representative Jan Kubis said.Iraq declared victory over the Islamic State jihadist group in Diyala early last year.But the province remains a hotbed of violence by both the jihadists and powerful Shiite militia forces that have played a major role in the fight against IS.IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in June 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes have since dealt the jihadists significant defeats.

UN chief condemns 'despicable' Istanbul attack

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UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday condemned a suicide bomb attack in Istanbul, calling it a despicable crime and said the perpetrators must face justice.Ten people, mostly foreigners were killed, when a Syrian suicide bomber blew up in the Sultanahmet tourist district.This despicable crime targeting the heart of Istanbuls tourist district has reportedly claimed the lives of ten people and injured at least 15 others, Ban said in a statement.The UN chief added that he expects the perpetrators of this attack to be swiftly brought to justice.Ban offered condolences to Turkey and to Germany after Berlin confirmed that eight Germans were among the dead.Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the suicide bomber was a member of the Islamic State group.

Football: Ronaldo statue in Madeira tagged with Messi's name

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LISBON (AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldos statue in Funchal, capital of his home island of Madeira, has been tagged with the name and shirt number of arch-rival Lionel Messi, according to local press reports.The graffiti was put on the statue overnight on Tuesday, just hours after Barcelonas Argentine star Messi claimed a fifth world player of the year award, beating out Real Madrids Portuguese striker and three-time Ballon dOr winner Ronaldo in the process.The name Messi and the number 10, both scrawled in red, had already been cleaned off the statue, the Diario de Noticias da Madeira said.Its a shameful act committed out of jealousy towards him, said Ronaldos sister Katia Aveiro, with pictures of the tagged statue predictably doing the rounds on social media.Ronaldo unveiled the 3.40-metre-high bronze effigy of himself in December 2014 on the Funchal seafront, a few hundred metres from his own self-financed museum.

Long haul, night repairs for British, US spacewalkers

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MIAMI (AFP) - The first-ever spacewalk on Friday for British astronaut Tim Peake will require a long journey outside the space station to replace a failed power unit while under cover of darkness, NASA said Tuesday.The spacewalk is scheduled to begin Friday at 7:55 am (1255 GMT) and end 6.5 hours later.Hoisting a rectangular voltage regulator that would weigh 200 pounds (90 kilograms) on Earth, Peake will have to maneuver more than 200 feet (60 meters) out of the International Space Station airlock to the worksite, the US space agency told reporters.Its about as far at the space station as you can go from the airlock, which certainly raises the pucker factor for the crew, said Paul Dum, lead spacewalk officer, in a briefing with reporters.Then, along with American astronaut Tim Kopra, who will be making his third career spacewalk, the duo will have to remove the broken voltage regulator in the dark so that they dont get zapped by any electrical shorts from the solar-powered equipment.NASA isnt exactly sure why the power unit -- one of eight on the ISS -- failed, so they want the astronauts to avoid any danger from potential sparks by doing the work when the space station is doing a night pass. We need to protect the crew from the power that would come from the array, said Dum.The space station orbits the Earth every 90 minutes, and spends 31 of those minutes out of the light of the Sun, according to ISS spacewalk flight director Royce Renfrew.The task should only take about 15 minutes.But the astronauts will have to squeeze into a small area to do their work while wearing bulky space suits and gloves.Imagine going out with thick winter gloves on and trying to do anything that takes fine dexterity. That is going to be challenging, said Dum.He added that the team has practiced on Earth in a buoyancy lab, and using virtual reality equipment.The outage is similar to a power failure seen in October 2014 involving a sequential shunt unit at the orbiting outpost, said Kenneth Todd, ISS operations integration manager.From a station perspective, we could live in this state for a while but the reality is if we were to have an additional failure in another channel, we would probably find ourselves a little more strapped, Todd said.We think it is probably about time to go get this work behind us.Peake will be known as EV 2 (extravehicular spacewalker 2) and will be wearing a white spacesuit.His job is to carry the replacement unit out of the station and over to the work site, and tote the faulty unit back to the airlock.Kopra, wearing red stripes on his spacesuit, will carry the tools and do the removal and installation work.US astronaut Scott Kelly will help the two Tims get into and out of their spacesuits inside the ISS.Mission control on Earth will use the mens first and last names when addressing them during the outing to avoid confusion, Renfrew said.The crew has studied hard and they are ready to go, said Dum.
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