Dozens Killed As Deadly Blasts Hit Iraq

 

Several people have been killed in Iraq in bomb attacks targeting police and pilgrims, according to police and medical sources.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s attacks, which coincided with the holy ritual of Ashura, when Shia Muslims commemorate Imam Hussein who died more than 1,000 years ago.
The 10-day ritual ends on Thursday. The AFP news agency reported 23 deaths while Reuters put the figure at 19 citing its own sources.

Israeli Soldier Killed In Bus Stabbing

 

A 16-year-old Palestinian has stabbed an Israeli soldier to death on a bus in an attack apparently motivated by the jailing of his relatives in Israel, police said.
The killing, in the northern Israeli town of Afula, follows a surge in violence in the nearby occupied West Bank, where 10 Palestinians have been shot dead by troops and three Israelis killed since peace talks resumed in July.

Former Australian PM Kevin Rudd Resigns Cries As He Resigns From Parliament

 

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has resigned from politics in a shock announcement to Parliament.
Rudd, with tears in his eyes, said he would leave before the end of the week.
Claiming the “slings and arrows” of political life had taken its toll, Mr Rudd, who was elected as the member for Griffith in 1998, said it was time to give something back to his family.
“My family have given their all to me in public life,” he said. “It’s now time I gave something back to them.

California Gold Mining Ghost Town On Sale For $225,000

 

A California property owner is literally sitting on a goldmine and is selling the land on Craigslist for just under a quarter of a million dollars.

Seneca is a 12-acre gold mining ghost town in Northern California about 100 miles northwest of Lake Tahoe and complete with three small cabins, a bar called the Gin Mill and a liquor license. The town is very close to or contains a historic gold mine, the ad reports, and was home to the “Woodstock of the West” in the 1970s.

India’s CBI Boss Under Fire For Comparing Legalisation Of Betting To Enjoying R*pe

CBI Director Ranjit Sinha

India’s chief investigator has inflamed the nation’s r*pe debate by comparing the legalisation of sports gambling to ‘enjoying’ s*xual assault.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director Ranjit Sinha was involved in a debate on sporting ethics. His position was that the laws should be lightened after a review.

Looting Of Aids As Desperation Grips Philippines Typhoon Survivors

 

The expected death toll from Typhoon Haiyan’s rampage through the Philippines is much lower than the 10,000 previously estimated, President Benigno Aquino has said, as attention shifts to a quickly deteriorating security situation.

Aquino said an initial UN estimate of 10,000 people killed in in the city of Tacloban was “too much”, five days after one of the strongest tropical storms on record destroyed tens of thousands of houses.
“The figure I have right now is 2,000 … so far about 2,000, 2,500 is the figure we’re working on,” he said, adding that the death toll still could rise.

Tragedy hits ASUU as Iyayi dies

 

Hope of a possible suspension of the ongoing strike by university teachers  this week dimmed on Tuesday as a former National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Festus Iyayi, died in an accident involving a vehicle in the convoy of the Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada (retd.).

Iyayi, a professor of Business Administration and Head of the  Department of Business Administration, University of Benin, died at 66.

His death made  ASUU  to postpone  its National Executive Committee meeting scheduled for  the Bayero University, Kano to discuss the position of its over 50 branches on the offer made to the union by the Federal Government.

Ahly suspend goal hero over Islamist salute

Ahmed Abdel-Zaher

Egypt’s Al-Ahly football club on Tuesday suspended forward Ahmed Abdel Zaher from next month’s FIFA Club World Cup for celebrating a goal with a salute in support of Islamists.

Al-Ahly said they would also sell the 28-year-old at the end of the season and deprive him of prize money from the Cairo club’s victory Sunday in the final of the African Champions League.

Abdel Zaher held up four fingers when he scored Al-Ahly’s second goal in the 4-0 win over South Africa’s Orlando Pirates.

Uche unfazed by Nigeria snub

 

Ikechukwu Uche

In-form Villarreal striker Ikechukwu Uche says he is not concerned by his continued omission from Stephen Keshi’s Nigeria squad.

He is not part of Keshi’s plans for the second leg of their World Cup play-off against Ethiopia despite three goals in his last four matches in Spain.

“Sometimes it (snub) crosses my mind but I remain a fan of the Super Eagles.”

“If I get another chance I’ll honour the call,” he told BBC Sport.

Nigeria hold a 2-1 lead from the first leg of the World Cup play-off ahead of Saturday’s second leg in Calabar.

The shame called Murtala Muhammed International Airport

 

Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos

How much does a country need to keep its busiest international airport from running like an oven? The Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos has to be the hottest airport in the world. 

It is easily the hottest I have travelled through and I have been through quite a lot of airports. Even the Nairobi airport in Kenya that was engulfed by fire is not as hot as the MMIA. You should not even get started with comparing it with the airport in Cape Town or Johannesburg, South Africa.

 Ghana’s Kotoka International Airport, Accra may be small but it does not meet you with the repulsiveness the MMIA greets you with. Even the Eyadema airport in Togo has a better atmosphere. The Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport in Dakar, Senegal trumps ours by light years.

 This is speaking of African countries. We dare not try to compare with airports outside Africa. As soon as you descend from the plane to go through the immigration point, the feeling is as though you were being punished for daring to travel to Nigeria – if a foreigner – or you were being punished for daring to leave the country – if a Nigerian. 

The saddest part of this reality is that money is not the reason why we have an airport that makes us look like we are a people without shame. Or, are we?

There is a chance you are busy during the week. If you find time this Sunday, please pay a visit to the MMIA. Find your way to the Departure Hall. If it does not remind you of the old Oshodi in Lagos, I’d write an apology for everyone who says it doesn’t. Of course, there is a chance they quickly react to this piece to make a few cosmetic changes.

Mikel, Moses, others hit Calabar

 

Victor Moses and Mikel Obi

Mikel Obi, Shola Ameobi, Bright Dike, John Ogu, and James Okwuosa are some of the Super Eagles players that had arrived in Calabar by noon on Tuesday for the World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes. The match is billed for the U.J. Esuene Stadium on Saturday.

A close associate of Mikel spoke with The bignews24hours soon after the Chelsea midfielder arrived at the Transcorp Metropolitan Hotel where the Eagles are accommodated.

Iceland's old master takes on Croatian novice

Football | Europe

Lars Lagerback @ Getty Images

A coaching novice takes on a wily veteran when Iceland meet Croatia in the first leg of their World Cup playoff in Reykjavik on Friday with the Nordic country in touching distance of a first appearance at a major finals.

Iceland's Swedish coach Lars Lagerback brings a wealth of major tournament experience to the home side while, in contrast, Croatia coach Niko Kovac has been thrown in at the deep end after the sacking of Igor Stimac last month.

Lagerback, 65, took Sweden to the finals of five major championships during an 11-year stint, first as assistant and then as head coach.
He also led Nigeria at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the Icelandic football faithful will hope he can deliver them to the promised land of a major finals for the first time.
Kovac's coaching history is modest by comparison.

He was only appointed as Croatia's under-21 coach in January before stepping up when Stimac was fired after taking just one point from their final four qualifiers and ending up in the playoffs.
Lagerback has been blessed while leading Iceland because a golden generation of under-21 players has made it into the senior team.

France look to erase bad memories

Football | France

France need to play without fear in their World Cup playoff against Ukraine to avoid the fate that befell the team 20 years ago when a last-gasp home defeat by Bulgaria cost them a place at the 1994 finals.
That was the last time France failed to qualify for a major tournament and Didier Deschamp's men will hope Friday's first leg in Ukraine gives them the opportunity to go into the return at the Stade de France in a calm state of mind.
Four years ago they had to rely on Thierry Henry's infamous handball to see off Ireland in a World Cup playoff and they will be determined not to cut it that close this time.
"We need a good away result so we can deal with the return leg," said Franck Ribery, who has scored six and set up nine of France's last 24 goals.

"These (playoff) games are special. They are surrounded by a difficult context. We need to play without pressure. We should not be afraid," he added.
The Bulgaria defeat in a group game on Nov. 17, 1993, when Emil Kostadinov's last-minute goal earned a 2-1 win at the Parc des Princes, will never be forgotten by the French.
Deschamps played in that match and probably had that evening in mind when he locked down France's Clairefontaine training centre from Tuesday onwards.

Spain upbeat on WCup defence

Football | Spain

Spain have what it takes to defend their title at next year's World Cup in Brazil, four of the team's key players said on Wednesday.
Captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas, centre back Sergio Ramos, midfielder Xabi Alonso and forward David Villa all sounded an upbeat note at the unveiling of the all-red kit the world and European champions' will wear at the finals.

Casillas said Spain were determined "to make history again" after securing their maiden World Cup in South Africa in 2010, while Villa insisted "La Roja" had the talent to become only the third country to retain their world crown after Italy in 1938 and Brazil in 1962.
"Our national team is feeling full of confidence, with a great deal of desire," Ramos said.

"We managed it before and who's to say we cannot repeat that success," added the Real Madrid defender.
"We cannot live on past achievements, there is no point dwelling on them, instead we want to repeat them."

Spain finished top of their qualifying group ahead of France with six wins and two draws from their eight matches and will be one of the favourites next year along with the hosts and the likes of Argentina and Germany.