SAARI NEWS: AFP

Tendulkar appointed UNICEF ambassador

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<b>MUMBAI: He has already helped sell apartments, concrete and even the health benefits of eggs, and on Thursday the recently retired cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar began a new role -- promoting toilets and hygiene.</b></div>
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The Indian batsman was appointed UNICEFs ambassador for South Asia, helping promote sanitation in a country where more than half of the 1.2 billion population defecate in the open.</div>
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Tendulkar told a packed press conference it was a "second innings for him", adding: "This innings is important and dear to me, so I will do my best here." Karin Hulshof, regional director of UNICEF, the UN children’s fund, said 681 million people lack toilets in South Asia. In India, 53 percent of the population or about 640 million people lack toilets and defecate in the open, the country’s 2011 census data showed. "Another statistic which baffles me and I was disheartened to know that 1,600 children die everyday worldwide because of diarrhea infected diseases," Tendulkar said.</div>
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Recounting childhood memories, Tendulkar said: "I would play cricket downstairs with my friends, with a tennis ball, and occasionally did not bother washing my hands and (would) want to eat after coming back home." "My mother made sure that I washed my hands properly and ate with clean hands," he said, stressing the need for personal hygiene. </div>
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Tendulkar, the worlds leading scorer in both Test and one-day cricket, made a tearful final departure from the sport earlier this month after his 200th Test match, ending a glittering career spanning 24 years.</div>
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Tendulkar, a member of parliament, has been involved in several social causes in India relating to health care and education.</div>
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He has endorsed everything from BMW cars to energy drinks and biscuits to travel portals, but has not promoted tobacco and liquor-related products.</div>
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Tendulkar has yet to disclose his professional plans post-retirement. (AFP)</div>
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MUMBAI: He has already helped sell apartments, concrete and even the health benefits of eggs, and on Thursday the recently retired crick...

India’s squads for South Africa tour

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<b>NEW DELHI: India’s squads announced on Monday for next months Test and one-day series in South Africa:</b><br />
Test squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kolhi, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Ambati Rayudu, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha.<br />
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One-day squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ambati Rayudu, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra.<br />
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AFP</div>

AFP CRICKET SPORTS India’s squads for South Africa tour

NEW DELHI: India’s squads announced on Monday for next months Test and one-day series in South Africa: Test squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni ...

AFP Ashes test 2013 Brisbane first test match Mitchel Johnson SPORTS world England all out for 136 in 1st Ashes Test

BRISBANE: England were all out for 136 to trail Australia by 159 first innings runs late on the second day of the first Ashes Test on Fri...

Altered landscape for Sony, Microsoft consoles

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<b>NEW YORK: Remember a time before "Angry Birds," the iPad and the iPhone? No?</b><br />
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When Sony and Microsoft last came out with new video game consoles — seven and eight years ago, respectively, the companies touted the machines' high-definition graphics, powerful processors and ability to play DVDs, and in Sony's case, Blu-ray discs.<br />
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But a lot has changed since then. People are playing games on a broader array of devices than ever before, and they have more options to stream movies, TV shows and music. Connecting with friends online is the norm, not an obscure activity for young people.<br />
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That's the world the Sony's PlayStation 4 and Microsoft's Xbox One enter. The PlayStation 4 goes on sale Friday and the Xbox One will be released next week. As Sony and Microsoft once again spar this holiday season over who has the brawnier machine and more enticing online features, hardcore gamers are all but certain to fall for the shiny, powerful new consoles. But what's less clear is how the gadgets will compete for the attention of people who now look to their tablets, smartphones and other devices for entertainment.<br />
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"It's turning out that these consoles, in fighting each other for the love of the hardcore gamer, run the risk of failing to capture people in their homes," says James McQuivey, an analyst with Forrester Research.<br />
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Both Microsoft and Sony position their gaming systems as entertainment devices meant to take over the living room. The Xbox 360 started streaming movies from Netflix in 2008 and the PlayStation 3, which already served as a Blu-ray player, soon followed, along with a bevy of other entertainment options. Experts wondered whether gaming systems would soon replace cable set-top boxes.<br />
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Not so fast, was the reply from a host of other gadget makers. Along came Google's Chromecast, the Roku player, Apple TV and, of course, a slew of tablets. There are many ways to stream movies, TV and music into the home now. In that sense, the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 are no longer in a traditional, head-to-head battle.<br />
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While game console sales have been falling in the U.S., the worldwide video game market is growing, helped by mobile and online games and downloadable console games. Those sales are more than making up for a declining demand for game discs. Gartner Inc. expects the total video game market to hit $93.3 billion this year, up from $78.9 billion in 2012. The research firm sees the market rising to $111 billion by 2015.<br />
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Both new gaming systems are expected to be in brisk demand around the holidays. Sony expects to sell 5 million units of the PlayStation 4 by the end of its fiscal year in March. The PlayStation 3, in comparison, sold 3.5 million units in that time period seven years ago. Microsoft declined to offer a sales outlook for the Xbox One through the holidays, but demand should be comparable, says Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter. He expects 3 million Xbox Ones to be sold through December and 4.5 million through March.<br />
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Why does the PlayStation get a slight edge? Price could be one reason. The Xbox One, which includes an updated Kinect motion sensor, will cost $500, which is $100 more than the PlayStation 4. In contrast, the PlayStation 3 went on sale at $500 or $600 depending on the model in November 2006 while the Xbox 360 cost $400. Most new game software costs $60.<br />
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Dan Perkins, a gamer who's on the fence about which console to buy, says the "price is certainly a factor" nudging him toward a PS4 purchase — even though he was previously an Xbox man.<br />
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"I bought the Xbox 360 primarily because I preferred the titles it offered to the PS3. A major contributor to this decision was the 'Mass Effect' trilogy, which was initially unavailable on the PS3 at the time of my purchase," says Perkins, 40, a librarian from Syracuse, N.Y. "Neither platform has the edge on games in my opinion," he says. "In the end though, a big factor will be which system my friends adopt."<br />
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The friend factor is why Pedro Amador-Gates decided to stick with the Xbox. The 37-year-old first-time father says he did consider switching, but the PlayStation didn't have a chance. He likes his interface, his username is already set up and his gaming achievements will carry over to the new machine.<br />
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"Ninety percent is because I am already established in the Xbox community," he says.<br />
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Then again, neither the Xbox One nor the PlayStation 4 is backward compatible, meaning the machines don't play games that were made for their predecessors. That gives players a clean slate to start with a whole new set of games.<br />
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"Everyone is starting over to some extent," Stein says.<br />
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The console makers' challenge will be to ensure that everyone does start over, instead of sticking with their own game console or perhaps buying an iPad instead of a new game machine. Tony Bartel, the president of the world's largest videogame retailer, GameStop, expects the new consoles will be in "high demand and short supply" due to a huge pent-up demand for new gaming. After all, unless they bought the Wii U last year, people have been playing the same consoles since before the iPhone came out.<br />
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"There's tremendous demand for innovation," Bartel says.<br />
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Given the choice between an iPad and a PlayStation 4, Sony believes its consoles have an advantage during the holiday shopping season.<br />
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"One purchase offers something that everyone in the family can enjoy together," says Andrew House, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment. "Whereas the other is a single-person experience." (Reuters)<br />
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<b>AFP</b></div>

AFP Altered landscape for Sony Business Microsoft consoles new york reuters world Altered landscape for Sony, Microsoft consoles

NEW YORK: Remember a time before "Angry Birds," the iPad and the iPhone? No? When Sony and Microsoft last came out with new v...

Bolt, Fraser-Pryce named as IAAF athletes of year

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<b>MONACO: Jamaican sprint duo Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce were on Saturday named as the IAAF's male and female World Athletes of the Year for 2013.</b><br />
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The 27-year-old Bolt, who also won the award in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012, successfully defended both his 100 and 200m titles at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow this summer, winning the latter in a 2013 world-leading time of 19.66 sec.<br />
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He concluded his world championships by anchoring a Jamaican quartet to the gold medals in the 4x100m relay.<br />
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Bolt also won 10 out of his 11 100m races (including heats), and was unbeaten in his five races over 200m.<br />
He beat off strong competition from British distance runner Mo Farah, who followed up on his 5,000-10,000m double at the London Olympics with two golds at the Moscow worlds.<br />
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"Wow..another IAAF athlete of year award. I'm beyond honoured...Jamaica this one is for you guys," tweeted Bolt.<br />
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Fraser-Pryce, 26, regained her 100m title at those world champs, her winning time of 10.71sec the fastest of the year.<br />
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She also clocked the fastest 200m time of the year (22.13) at the Jamaican championships in June and went on to win world gold in Moscow.<br />
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Like her compatriot Bolt, she also anchored the Jamaican 4x100m team to victory, a national record and the second fastest time in history.<br />
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Both athletes received a prize of $100,000.<br />
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The sole consolation for Farah was that his coach Alberto Salazar won the IAAF's coaching achievement award.<br />
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The Cuban-born American has guided the career of Farah as the Somali-born Briton stormed to a famous distance double-double. (AFP)</div>

AFP iaaf jamican sprinter monaco shelly ann fraser SPORTS sprinter usain bolt world Bolt, Fraser-Pryce named as IAAF athletes of year

MONACO: Jamaican sprint duo Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce were on Saturday named as the IAAF's male and female World Athlet...

Curfew imposed in parts of Rawalpindi following riot at Ashura procession

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<b>RAWALPINDI: Authorities have imposed a curfew for 24 hours in parts of Rawalpindi after sectarian clashes erupted at a Muharram 10 procession near Fawara Chowk, that left at least eight people dead and over 80 injured.<span id="more-297119"></span>
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Considering the hapless situation, Commissioner Rawalpindi and IG Punjab had requested the authorities to impose a curfew. Reports indicate that cellular services in Rawalpindi might also remain suspended for two additional days.</div>
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The 24 hour curfew has been imposed within the the limits of 19 Rawalpindi police stations. The curfew will also extend to Rawal Town and Potohar Town. Rawalpindi city police and a large number of army troops are now patrolling various areas in the city.</div>
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The tragedy occurred as mob turned against the police in the procession passing through Raja Bazaar in Pindi. As Shia muslims massed to mourn, a group of miscreants at 3:00pm reportedly snatched guns from police personnel installed in the area for security, and opened fire.</div>
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As panic spread, unknown people set a portion of the cloth market in Raja Bazaar on fire. The situation soon got out of hand and the army was called in to control the situation.</div>
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“The clashes started when a sermon was being delivered from a Sunni mosque on the way of the procession route. The infuriated Shias attacked the mosque and also put a cloth market at fire,” police official Waseem Ahmed claimed.</div>
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Media personnel were assaulted by unknown men. A large contingent of fire brigades, rescue teams and as many as six army companies were summoned to control the situation. According to Rescue 1122 sources‚ the injured have been admitted in District Headquarters Hospital.</div>
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Reports also indicate that a mosque and madrassah were burned down. Ten buildings are known to have been destroyed. Although the firing stopped, the fire at Raja Bazaar could not be extinguished for a long time.</div>
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<b>Chief Minister takes notice</b></div>
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Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has taken a notice of the incident and asked the City Commissioner and RPO Rawalpindi to submit report.</div>
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<b>AFP</b></div>
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AFP curfew imposed incident in rawalpinid moharram PAKISTAN rawalpindi Curfew imposed in parts of Rawalpindi following riot at Ashura procession

RAWALPINDI: Authorities have imposed a curfew for 24 hours in parts of Rawalpindi after sectarian clashes erupted at a Muharram 10 pr...

Damascus bombs, mortar fire kill three: state media

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<b>DAMASCUS: Twin bombings and mortar fire killed three people and wounded 22 near the Syrian capital's famed Ummayad mosque on Thursday, state news agency SANA reported.</b><br />
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"Three people were killed and 22 wounded in terrorist attacks with mortar rounds and the explosion of two bombs," SANA said, citing police officials.<br />
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The attacks took place on Mardam Bek Street and in the Kalassa district, near the outskirts of the historic mosque and the bustling Hamidiyeh market.<br />
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Rebels in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Damascus have regularly fired rockets and mortar rounds into the centre of the city.<br />
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In recent weeks, the attacks have caused increasing numbers of casualties, with four children and a man killed on Monday when a shell hit a school bus in the Bab Sharqi neighbourhood.<br />
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<b>AFP</b></div>

AFP bab sharqi damascus rebels sana news agency syria war war in syria world Damascus bombs, mortar fire kill three: state media

DAMASCUS: Twin bombings and mortar fire killed three people and wounded 22 near the Syrian capital's famed Ummayad mosque on Thursday...

29 killed in South Africa bus accident

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<b>JOHANNESBURG: A bus collision in South Africa late Monday killed 29 people and severely injured 11 others, on a road notorious for deadly accidents, a government spokesman said.</b><br />
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"The number is now 29," said Mpumalanga province safety department spokesman Joseph Mabuza, updating an earlier tally of 26 dead.<br />
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The bus collided with a truck near the town Kwaggafontein 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of the capital Pretoria.<br />
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Three of the injured had died in hospital, while eight others were still critical and another 12 slightly hurt.<br />
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The bus was traveling from Pretoria when it collided with a truck which had swerved out of its lane, said Mabuza.<br />
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"The truck driver was trying to avoid a stationary vehicle and collided with the oncoming bus," he told AFP.<br />
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"We are not sure if the truck driver and the bus driver survived the accident," he added.<br />
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The injured were taken to hospital in nearby KwaMhlangu.<br />
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The bus company's name was not immediately available.<br />
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Known as the Moloto road for one of the towns along its way, the route is notorious for deadly collisions.<br />
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Around 50,000 people commute to work in Pretoria daily along the narrow and potholed route, using 635 buses.<br />
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Transport vehicles using the road are often overloaded and unroadworthy while drivers are prone to speeding.<br />
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Last month 18 people were injured in a collision on the route, while news reports about deadly accidents are frequent.<br />
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Last year religious leaders held a prayer service for the safety of the road. A radio station also dedicated a day to profile its dangers during which a provincial minister committed to improve conditions.<br />
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In September 27 people died when a heavy-duty truck crashed into traffic near eastern city Durban, while 24 were killed when a double-decker bus crashed into a mountainous pass near Cape Town in March.<br />
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<b>(AFP)</b></div>

AFP bus accident in south africa johannesburg bus accident pretoria relagious leader transport vehicles world 29 killed in South Africa bus accident

JOHANNESBURG: A bus collision in South Africa late Monday killed 29 people and severely injured 11 others, on a road notorious for deadl...

Venezuelan crowned Miss Universe in Moscow ceremony

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<b>MOSCOW: A 25-year-old Venezuelan television presenter, Gabriela Isler, on Saturday was crowned Miss Universe in Moscow in a glittering ceremony.</b><br />
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Judges, including rock star Steven Tyler from Aerosmith, picked the winner from a total of 86 contestants at the show, watched by millions of viewers around the world.<br />
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Last year's winner Olivia Culpo of the United States placed a diamond crown on the head of Isler, who wore a silver rhine-stone studded evening dress.<br />
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Isler's triumph was the seventh Miss Universe win for Venezuela, where beauty pageants are a major source of national pride.<br />
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After the show, she beamed and waved to journalists, wearing the Miss Universe sash and standing next to the show's owner, US tycoon Donald Trump.<br />
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"I feel a lot of emotions," she said. "I'm still in shock. I feel so blessed, so happy to be here." "It's been a lot of fun and a great success," said Trump.<br />
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In the decisive interview round that concludes the competition, Tyler asked Isler, who won Miss Venezuela last year, what her greatest fear was.<br />
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She did not give any details, but said: "I believe we should overcome all our fears and this in turn will make us stronger," speaking in Spanish through an interpreter.<br />
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Isler is now set to pose on Sunday in a specially created jewelled swimsuit that the organisers said was worth $1 million. <br />
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The previous Miss Universe, Culpo, earlier appeared on stage wearing the white cutaway swimsuit studded with diamonds, rubies and emeralds.<br />
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"That swimsuit travels with an armed security guard 24/7," commented co-host Thomas Roberts, an American television presenter.<br />
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Roberts, who co-hosted the final with ex-Spice Girl Melanie Brown, dedicated the show to the people suffering from the typhoon in the Philippines.<br />
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"We send our very best, our thoughts. We dedicate tonight's show to you" he said. <br />
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The presenters greeted the audience in unison in Russian: "Privet!" or hi.<br />
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The show included a performance by Tyler, who sang "Dream on, dream until your dream comes true," while standing on top of a white grand piano.<br />
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All 86 contestants initially appeared on stage in red and black cocktail dresses. They then changed into red and black bikinis.<br />
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The judges then whittled down the contestants to a final 16, who faced off in a bikini round, carrying white fur stoles. <br />
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Then a final 10 women strutted on the stage in elaborate sequinned evening gowns, before the final five answered questions in the interview round.<br />
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Host country Russia was eliminated immediately, prompting boos in the audience.<br />
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The contest, whose slogan is "confidently beautiful," was first held in 1952 in Palm Beach in the United States. It still requires the women not to be married or pregnant.<br />
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Complete with a swimsuit round, the contest remains hugely popular, particularly in Central and South America. (AFP)</div>

aerosmith AFP ceremony Entertainment gabriela Isler miss universe moscow steven tyler Venezuelan crowned Miss Universe in Moscow ceremony Venezuelan crowned Miss Universe in Moscow ceremony

MOSCOW: A 25-year-old Venezuelan television presenter, Gabriela Isler, on Saturday was crowned Miss Universe in Moscow in a glittering c...

S.Africa win 4th ODI and series

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<b>ABU DHABI: South Africa beat Pakistan by 28 runs in the fourth day-night international in Abu Dhabi on Friday to take an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.</b><br />
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Chasing a challenging 267-run target, Pakistan were bowled out for 238 in 49.2 overs with Dale Steyn taking a career best 5-25.<br />
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Misbah-ul Haq top-scored with 65 while debutant Sohaib Maqsood made 56.<br />
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For South Africa, opener Quniton de Kock hit a maiden hundred with 112 while Hashim Amla(46) and AB de Villiers (30) were other contributors.<br />
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The fifth and final match is in Sharjah on Monday.<br />
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<b>AFP</b></div>

2013 cricket 4th odi abu dhabi AFP dale steyn multan paksitan vs south afric S.Africa win 4th ODI and series sohaib maqsood south africa in uae SPORTS S.Africa win 4th ODI and series

ABU DHABI: South Africa beat Pakistan by 28 runs in the fourth day-night international in Abu Dhabi on Friday to take an unbeatable 3-1 l...

13 dead in Indonesian army helicopter crash: military

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<b>JAKARTA: Thirteen people were killed Saturday when an Indonesian army helicopter carrying construction workers crashed in the jungles </b><b>of Borneo as it came in to land, an official said.</b></div>
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<b>"Thirteen people died in the crash while the rest suffered burn injuries," military spokesman Iskandar Sitompul told AFP. There were 21 people on board, he said.</b></div>
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<b>Earlier reports said nine people had been injured in the crash, in the Malinau district of North Kalimantan province in the Indonesian part of Borneo island.</b></div>
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<b>Sitompul said earlier that the aircraft had burst into flames when it crashed.</b></div>
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<b>The Russian-made, Mi-17 aircraft was carrying eight crew, who were military personnel, 13 civilian construction workers and materials weighing 500 kilos (1,100 pounds).</b></div>
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<b>AFP</b></div>
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JAKARTA: Thirteen people were killed Saturday when an Indonesian army helicopter carrying construction workers crashed in the jungles o...

Google ends mystery: barge to be interactive space

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<b>San Francisco: Google ended nearly two weeks of speculation about an enormous floating barge in San Francisco Bay, saying it would be “an interactive space” for learning about technology.<span id="more-294674"></span></b><br />
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A Google spokesperson dismissed wild conjecture about the barge, which was spotted last month by the technology news blog CNET, which spurred rumors by calling it a “secret project.”</div>
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Early reports said it might be a floating data center, and others said the four-story-tall structure might be a party space.</div>
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“A floating data center? A wild party boat? A barge housing the last remaining dinosaur?” the spokesperson said in the statement emailed to AFP.</div>
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“Sadly, none of the above. Although it’s still early days and things may change, we’re exploring using the barge as an interactive space where people can learn about new technology.”</div>
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The barge is located off Treasure Island, an artificial island between San Francisco and Oakland in the San Francisco Bay.</div>
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CNET said the barge is 250 feet (76 meters) long, 72 feet (22 meters) wide and 16 feet (4.8 meters) deep.</div>
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<b>AFP</b></div>
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AFP barge cnet floating google san francisco secret project Technology world Google ends mystery: barge to be interactive space

San Francisco: Google ended nearly two weeks of speculation about an enormous floating barge in San Francisco Bay, saying it would be “an...

EU to hit banks with huge fines over rate-rigging: FT

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<b>London: The European Union is set to impose multibillion-euro fines on banks alleged to have manipulated key interest rate benchmarks Euribor and Yen Libor, the Financial Times reported on its website Tuesday.<span id="more-294401"></span></b><br />
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Royal Bank of Scotland, Deutsche Bank and Societe Generale are ready to pay penalties next month after reaching an agreement with Brussels.</div>
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JPMorgan, HSBC and Credit Agricole could pay later without signing such an agreement, according to the financial daily.</div>
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Societe Generale and Credit Agricole both refused to comment on the report when contacted by AFP.</div>
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The banks who have agreed a settlement can expect a reduced fine.</div>
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Libor and Euribor are estimates of the rates at which banks lend money to each other and are based on estimates provided by a panel of banks.<br />
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The index is used to set rates on a multitude of contracts and financial products.</div>
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The manipulation of such indices has already led to significant fines for banks.</div>
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The scandal erupted last year when Barclays was fined $290 million ($466 million, 339 million euros) by British and US regulators for attempted manipulation of interbank rates between 2005 and 2009.</div>
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More recently, in late October, the Dutch Rabobank announced it would pay a 774 million-euro fine to settle allegations it manipulated Libor.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>AFP</b></div>
</div>

AFP Business EU to hit banks with huge fines over rate-rigging: FT

London: The European Union is set to impose multibillion-euro fines on banks alleged to have manipulated key interest rate benchmarks Eur...

Nicaraguas dengue death toll rises to 16

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The death is the second in less than 24 hours due to dengue, health authorities reported. The disease has infected some 5,795 people in Nicaragua this year.<br />
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The boy was from Matagalpa, located 127 kilometers (79 miles) north of Managua, said presidential spokeswoman and first lady Rosario Murillo.<br />
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A total of 1,128 people have been hospitalized suspected of having dengue, with 43 of the instances confirmed by laboratories and 36 serious cases, according to official reports.<br />
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Murillo also announced the arrival of specialists from Cuba to assess whether a product, which she did not identify but that has been used in other countries, could be used in Nicaragua.<br />
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She also said she regretted that campaigns to eliminate mosquitos in combination with modern science and technology hadn't made a bigger dent in fighting the disease or ending suffering.<br />
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Dengue results in fever, muscle and joint ache.<br />
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The disease is caused by four strains of virus that are spread by the mosquito Aedes aegypti.<br />
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There is no vaccine, so medical authorities in the region, where poverty is widespread, have been trying to stamp it out by focusing on mosquito control.<br />
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The illness can be fatal, developing into hemorrhagic fever, which can lead to shock and internal bleeding.<br />
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<b>AFP</b></div>

AFP Dengue Virus HEALTH managua murillo world Nicaraguas dengue death toll rises to 16

MANAGUA: A dengue epidemic sweeping Nicaragua has claimed the life of a 13-year-old boy, raising the disease's death toll there to 16 p...

TTP confirm death of Hakimullah Mehsud in US drone attack

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<b>PESHAWAR: A US drone strike on Friday killed Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Hakimullah Mehsud near Miranshah area of North Waziristan, security and insurgent sources said.</b></div>
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Mehsud, believed to be aged about 34, died along with three others when a US drone fired two missiles at a vehicle in a compound in the village of Dandey Darpakhel, five kilometres (three miles) north of Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan, officials said.</div>
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Security and intelligence officials confirmed the death, while a senior Taliban source said Mehsud was killed along with his bodyguard, driver and uncle. Another Taliban commander said the funeral would be held on Saturday.</div>
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It is the second significant blow to the TTP in less than a month, following the capture of another senior commander by US forces in Afghanistan. </div>
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After a bloody six-year TTP insurgency which has left thousands of soldiers, police and civilians dead, the government has been edging towards talks with the militants.</div>
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Mehsud took control of the TTP after a bitter fight for the leadership following the death of founder Baitullah Mehsud in a drone strike in August 2009. Mehsud was widely reported to have been killed in 2010 but later resurfaced.</div>
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Hundreds of civilians have died in the attacks, according to various estimates, prompting outrage in Pakistan and leading critics to accuse the US of breaching international law. </div>
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A major report last week from rights campaigners Amnesty International said the US may be guilty of war crimes, highlighting two attacks which it said appeared to kill only civilians.</div>
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The Pakistani government officially condemns drone strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and last week Sharif urged US President Barack Obama to halt the programme during a meeting in Washington.</div>
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<b>AFP</b></div>
</div>

AFP drone attack drone attack in pakistan drone strike hakimullah mehsud tribe PAKISTAN peshawar news south waziristan TTP claim us drone strike TTP confirm death of Hakimullah Mehsud in US drone attack

PESHAWAR: A US drone strike on Friday killed Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Hakimullah Mehsud near Miranshah area of North W...

Egypt judges withdraw from Brotherhood chiefs trial: AFP

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<b>CAIRO: The three judges presiding in the trial of Muslim Brotherhood chief Mohamed Badie and his aides withdrew from the proceedings at the start of a session on Tuesday.</b><br />
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Prior to their decision to step down the judges ordered that the defendants continue to be held in custody, an AFP correspondent in the court said.<br />
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Badie and his two deputies, Khairat al-Shater and Rashad al-Bayoumi, face charges related to the deaths of protesters who stormed the Brotherhood's Cairo headquarters on June 30.<br />
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A total of 32 other defendants are being prosecuted along with Badie, <br />
Shater and Bayoumi. None of the 35 defendants were in the court on Tuesday.<br />
<br />
<b>AFP</b></div>

AFP badie brotherhood cairo news egypt judges muslim world Egypt judges withdraw from Brotherhood chiefs trial: AFP

CAIRO: The three judges presiding in the trial of Muslim Brotherhood chief Mohamed Badie and his aides withdrew from the proceedings at t...

Two mummies found in ancient Peru cemetery

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<b>LIMA: Two pre-Columbian mummies more than a thousand years old were found in a pre-Incan cemetery in a suburb of Lima, archeologists said.</b><br />
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"This is one of the most important finds in more than three decades of excavation, because both mummies are intact," Gladys Paz told AFP at the foot of the Huaca Pucllana tomb, an ancient religious complex in the Miraflores neighborhood.<br />
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The first signs of the tomb were found five days ago, but the process of unearthing the mummies of an adult and child took time.<br />
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The Pacific Ocean and Lima's concrete buildings are visible from part of the huaca -- a Quechua word for religious sites -- that towers more than 20 meters (66 feet) high.<br />
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The grave was found intact with offerings and a sacrificed companion, Paz said in reference to the mummified child.<br />
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"This is the third intact find among more than 70 tombs excavated since 1981," when researchers began their work at the Huaca Pucllana, a pyramid-like temple built on six acres (2.5 hectares) of land between AD 100 and 600. <br />
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In 2010, archeologists discovered the tomb of a woman who was buried with her four children. In 2008, the mummy of a 13-year-old girl was found.<br />
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The two recent mummies remain unopened in the place where they were found. They will be taken to a lab in the next four to six months to determine the age and sex of each individual.<br />
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In the tomb, researchers also found seven vessels with feline designs used to drink a matte tea concoction, 12 fabric bags and the remains of three guinea pigs.<br />
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Dozens of journalists thronged to the site for a chance to catch a glimpse.<br />
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Project director Isabel Flores said archeologists have yet to search through 40 percent of the Huaca Pucllana, built during the pre-Hispanic Wari culture.<br />
There are about 350 huacas in Peru's capital region, interspersed among buildings and homes, hinting Lima's pre-Hispanic ancestors. (AFP)</div>

AFP Amazing ancient lima peru two mummies world Two mummies found in ancient Peru cemetery

LIMA: Two pre-Columbian mummies more than a thousand years old were found in a pre-Incan cemetery in a suburb of Lima, archeologists said...

Iran hangs 16 after deadly border attack: judiciary

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<b>TEHRAN: The Iranian authorities on Saturday hanged 16 "rebels" following overnight clashes in which 14 border guards were killed on the frontier with Pakistan, a judicial official said.</b><br />
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"Sixteen rebels linked to groups hostile to the regime were hanged this <br />
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morning in the prison of Zahedan in response to the death of border guards in Saravan," Mohammad Marzieh, the attorney general of Sistan-Balochistan <br />
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province, was quoted as saying by Fars news agency.<br />
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AFP<br />
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AFP hangs iran iranion authorities judiciary rebels tehran world Iran hangs 16 after deadly border attack: judiciary

TEHRAN: The Iranian authorities on Saturday hanged 16 "rebels" following overnight clashes in which 14 border guards were kille...

Blast, clashes kill at least 16 soldiers near Damascus

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<b>BEIRUT: At least 16 soldiers were killed in a car bomb attack and fighting that followed between Syrian government forces and rebels near Damascus on Saturday, a monitoring group said.</b></div>
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<b>The bombing, carried out by a suicide bomber from the jihadist Al-Nusra Front, triggered heavy fighting at a key checkpoint between the rebel-held town of Mleha and Jaramana, a pro-regime area populated by Christians and Muslim Druze, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. </b></div>
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<b>AFP</b></div>
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AFP beurut war on syria world Blast, clashes kill at least 16 soldiers near Damascus

BEIRUT: At least 16 soldiers were killed in a car bomb attack and fighting that followed between Syrian government forces and rebels nea...

No known impact from mobile phones on health: France

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<b>PARIS: France's safety watchdog on Tuesday said it was standing by existing recommendations for mobile phones, wifi and relay antennas, saying their emissions had "no demonstrated impact" on health.</b><br />
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The National Agency for Health, Food and Environmental Safety (Anses) said that, in lab tests, electromagnetic emissions had had a "biological" effect on cells.<br />
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But it saw no grounds for recommending any changes to existing laws as there was "no demonstrated impact" on health.<br />
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It said, though, it would make a recommendation that children and big users of mobile phones limit their exposure to the devices. AFP<br />
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<b>AFP</b></div>

AFP france health news HEALTH paris world No known impact from mobile phones on health: France

PARIS: France's safety watchdog on Tuesday said it was standing by existing recommendations for mobile phones, wifi and relay antenna...