Algeria: hostages feared dead after troops storm gas field

The BP plant in Algeria, where up to 30 hostages may have died as troops attacked their jihadist captors. Photograph: Demotix/Corbis A large number of western hostages, including Britons, were feared dead after Algerian troops stormed a desert gas field seized by a jihadist group, in a bloody end to the worst international hostage crisis of recent years. Reports from the remote outpost on the country's eastern border were conflicting: the Algerian government said six foreign hostages had been killed – while the militant hostage-takers...

Quran verse posted at US Harvard varsity

Faculty of law says verse is one of the greatest expressions for justice The US Harvard University has posted a verse of the Holy Quran at the entrance of its faculty of law, describing the verse as one of the greatest expressions for justice in history, a Saudi newspaper reported on Sunday. Verse 135 of Sura Al Nisa (women chapter) has been posted at a wall facing the faculty’s main entrance, dedicated to the best phrases said about justice. A Saudi student who studies at Harvad published a picture of...

Need for speed: Swedish cleaning lady steals train, crashes into house (PHOTO, VIDEO)

In a massive joyriding accident, a young cleaning lady stole a train and crashed into a house in the suburbs of Sweden’s capital, and was then taken to hospital hours later with serious injuries. No one else was hurt in the accident. On Tuesday morning, the 20-year-old cleaner managed to start the train, breaking her way through a line barrier after driving for about a mile only to derail and crash into a nearby house 25 meters further. Luckily, no passengers were inside the locomotive at the time. The train, which destroyed the building’s...

Chelsea FC considering bid for Malaga CF starlet Isco - report

Chelsea are reportedly considering launching a bid for Malaga starlet Isco. Isco has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs over the past few months, with Liverpool, Manchester City, rivals Manchester United, and Tottenham all believed to be keen. It is thought Man City could be preparing to launch a bid for the 20-year-old during the current transfer window, with the club's newly appointed director of football Txiki Begiristain a big fan of the youngster. But Chelsea have also been monitoring Isco for some time, and according...

Zambia held by Morocco

African champions Zambia had the better of a 0-0 draw with Morocco at the Rand Stadium on Tuesday in a warm-up match for the 2013 Cup of Nations tournament. But Chipolopolo (The Copper Bullets) wasted several scoring chances and when Mukuka Mulenga unleashed a powerful shot eight mintues from time, goalkeeper Nadir Lamyaghri deflected it on to the woodwork and the ball was cleared. The result came as a relief to France-born Zambia coach Herve Renard, who has come under media fire after friendly losses in Saudi Arabia and Tanzania last month...

Lionel Messi: a fourth Ballon d'Or and dominance looks unstoppable

source:the guardian Another record falls. Lionel Messi finished 2012 on 91 goals in 69 games. He began 2013 by winning the Fifa Ballon d'Or (with 41.6% of the votes), Cristiano Ronaldo (23.7%) came second and Andrés Iniesta (10.9%) third. It is the fourth time Messi has won it and no one else has won it so often. Because the award is a merger of the old European Footballer of the Year and the Fifa World Player of the Year which was inaugurated only in 1991, Diego Maradona never won it and nor did Pelé but it is doubtful...

Morocco’s Engagement with the Sahel Community

The Arab Spring’s echoes in sub-Saharan Africa are more complex than initially imagined; for example, much has been made of how Libya’s crisis has led to Mali’s crisis, but rather less has been said about how the transitions in North Africa may set the stage for new forms of security cooperation in the Sahel. Such possibilities are quietly taking shape now, even as the world struggles to find a multilateral response to northern Mali. A prime example is the upcoming January 2013 meeting of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD)...

Catalonia, with 9 FC Barcelona players, tie Nigeria (1-1)

All nine FC Barcelona that were called up to the Catalan national team featured in today's match against Nigeria  Sergio González scored for Catalonia (3'), Nigeria equalised through Bright (54') The Cornellà-El Prat stadium hosted the Catalan national team’s traditional holiday match this year. The match against Nigeria, Johan Cruyff’s final match at the helm of the Catalan national team, ended in a one-all draw. Nine Blaugrana featured for Catalonia in the Dutchman’s farewell game. 27,234 spectators attended the match.  Possession...