911naija.com

RAMADAN STARTS TODAY

<h1 class="entry-title posttitle" itemprop="name headline">
<br /></h1>
<br />The
 Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar has declared that the moon has 
been sighted, thus, signaling the commencement of Ramadan.<br />
The declaration which came about 12 midnight caught many Muslims unaware due to the delay in the sighting the moon.<br />
Earlier
 report in the media including Vanuard indicated that Sha’aban had to be
 counted 30 days before the commencement of the Glorious month on 
Sunday.<br />
Addressing journalists, on behalf of the Sultan, after a 
very long meeting collating the reports of people earlier dispatched 
Friday to look out for the new moon, Chairman of National Moon sighting 
Committee and Chairman Advisory Council to the Sultanate, Prof. Sambo 
Wali, said the moon was sighted in Birnin Kebbi and Gwandu in Kebbi 
State.<br />
By this development, Professor Wali said Saturday would be the first day of Ramadan and urged Muslims to begin to fast.<br />
“As
 a result, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme 
Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, had 
asked Muslims in the country to commence Ramadan fast of 1435AH on 
Saturday June 28, 2014,” Wali said.<br />
we wishes all Muslims Ramadan Kareem!

RAMADAN STARTS TODAY

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar has declared that the moon has been sighted, thus, signaling the commencement of Ramadan. T...

15:10:00

Iraq in crisis

<p dir="ltr"><br>
Sunni fighters, among them the jihadists of Isis, have been fighting across<br>
northern Iraq<br>
Iraq's government is struggling in its battle against militants, diplomats<br>
and politicians have told the BBC.<br>
Fighters from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis) said they<br>
seized a border crossing to Syria and two towns in north-west Iraq on<br>
Saturday.<br>
Correspondents say Isis appears to be better trained, better equipped and<br>
more experienced than the army.<br>
The Sunni extremists attacked the city of Mosul in June and have since<br>
seized large swathes of territory across Iraq.<br>
There is deep pessimism in Baghdad about the way the government's war<br>
against Isis is going, says the BBC's World Affairs Editor John Simpson,<br>
who has been speaking to senior politicians and diplomats in the capital.<br>
The Iraqi air force ran out of American Hellfire missiles two weeks ago, and<br>
in any case only has two Cessna planes capable of firing Hellfires, he adds.<br>
Experts say Isis has established secure safe havens, including some in<br>
neighbouring Syria, which will be difficult to target.<br>
Sectarian tensions<br>
On Saturday, Iraqi officials admitted that Isis had seized a border crossing<br>
near the town of Qaim, killing 30 troops after a day-long battle.<br>
Rebels also said they had taken the towns of Rawa and Aneh along the<br>
Euphrates river.<br>
Correspondents say a campaign along the river may eventually lead to an<br>
assault on Baghdad from the west.<br>
The capture of the Qaim crossing in western Iraq could also help Isis<br>
transport weapons and other equipment to different battlefields, analysts<br>
say.<br>
Extremist fighters claim to have seized parts of Iraq's largest oil refinery, at<br>
Baiji, and have also taken a disused chemical weapons factory in<br>
Muthanna, 70km (45 miles) north-west of Baghdad.<br>
The government denied that militants had gained access to parts of the<br>
Baiji refinery but said the army was facing "violent attacks" from gunmen.<br>
Also on Saturday, thousands of Shia militia loyal to the powerful cleric<br>
Moqtada al-Sadr paraded through the streets of Baghdad.<br>
The cleric, whose Mehdi Army fought the US in Iraq for years, had called for<br>
a military parade across the country.<br>
Correspondents say the show of force will be seen as a very disturbing<br>
development by the Baghdad government as the parade will only raise<br>
sectarian tensions at a time when the government is under pressure to rally<br>
the country together against the extremists.<br>
US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to travel to Iraq soon to press<br>
for a more representative cabinet, hoping this could ease tensions between<br>
the country's rival Muslim sects.<br>
The US, which pulled out of Iraq in 2011, is sending some 300 military<br>
advisers to Iraq to help in the fight against the insurgents there.<br>
But in the face of Iraqi calls for US air strikes, the White House is insisting<br>
that there is no purely military solution to the crisis.<br>
Correspondents say Mr Obama believes Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has<br>
endangered the country by ignoring Sunni concerns and governing in the<br>
interests of the Shia majority.<br>
Iraq's sectarian split<br>
Mehdi Army fighters have rallied in Baghdad, and as here, in Najaf to the<br>
south of the capital<br>
Sunnis and Shia share fundamental beliefs, but differ in doctrine, ritual,<br>
law, theology and religious organisation<br>
The origins of the split lie in a dispute over who should have succeeded<br>
the Prophet Muhammad as leader of the Muslim community<br>
Sunnis are the majority sect in the Muslim world, but Shia, most of them<br>
ethnic Arabs, form between 60% and 65% of Iraq's population; Sunnis<br>
make up 32-37%, split between Arabs and Kurds<br>
Sunni Arabs dominated Iraq under Saddam Hussein and their persecution<br>
of the Shia stoked sectarian tensions; the US-led invasion in 2003 gave<br>
the Shia an opportunity to seek redress<br>
Nouri Maliki has been accused of denying Sunni Arabs meaningful<br>
representation and pursuing security policies that target them</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuUyHuPNkv6qZsTgo85tex7_ajnEmzwT_K69ML7Xnh4ro3qz8YWoOzM96gqBJUBPekAZSqztxDSS-3Hq-mxWVV_eljkVJEh9piD1vBK_fHPqcX_246nKA6d_gL6gmU0MUs3BBTtUOmuqX/s1600/_75719353_022777795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuUyHuPNkv6qZsTgo85tex7_ajnEmzwT_K69ML7Xnh4ro3qz8YWoOzM96gqBJUBPekAZSqztxDSS-3Hq-mxWVV_eljkVJEh9piD1vBK_fHPqcX_246nKA6d_gL6gmU0MUs3BBTtUOmuqX/s640/_75719353_022777795.jpg"> </a> </div>

Iraq in crisis

Sunni fighters, among them the jihadists of Isis, have been fighting across northern Iraq Iraq's government is struggling in its batt...

10:22:00

Sunni militants invade Iraq's biggest oil refinery

<br />
<br />
<br />
Islamist-led militants have invaded Iraq's biggest oil refinery, after pounding it with mortars and machine guns from two directions.<br />
<br />
An official quoted by Reuters said the militants now controlled 75% of the Baiji refinery, 210km (130 miles) north of Baghdad.<br />
<br />
Government forces have made new air strikes on militants advancing towards the capital.<br />
<br />
Fighting is also reported in the western city of Ramadi.<br />
<br />
The government is battling to push back ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and its Sunni Muslim allies in Diyala and Salahuddin provinces, after the militants overran the second city, Mosul, last week.<br />
<br />
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appeared on television with Sunni Muslim and Kurdish leaders on Tuesday to issue a call for national unity in the face of the advance - they demanded that non-state forces lay down their arms.<br />
<br />
<br />
However, such a call is unlikely to have much effect as Mr Maliki has openly sponsored the formation of Shia Muslim militias to fight alongside regular Iraqi troops, the BBC's Jim Muir reports from Irbil in northern Iraq.<br />
<br />
Hundreds of people have been killed since the start of the militant offensive last week, many of them believed to be captured soldiers publicly shot by ISIS-led firing squads.<br />
<br />
During fighting in the city of Baquba this week, 44 prisoners were killed inside a police station in unclear circumstances.<br />
<br />
In other developments:<br />
<br />
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran would not "spare any effort" to defend Shia holy shrines in Iraq against "mercenaries, murderers and terrorists"<br />
Saudi Foreign Minister Saud bin Faisal warned that Iraq faced the risk of civil war<br />
Turkey is investigating reports that 15 Turkish builders were abducted by ISIS on Tuesday; 80 Turks were abducted in Mosul last week<br />
US President Barack Obama is to brief top congressional leaders on Iraq while in the UK, Prime Minister David Cameron will hold talks with his senior security advisers<br />
Oil stores attacked<br />
<br />
The attack on the refinery started at 04:00 (01:00 GMT) from outside two of the three main entrances to the refinery, according to Reuters.<br />
<br />
<br />
A view of the refinery in 2009<br />
<br />
Smoke rose from a spare parts warehouse and some stores of oil were reportedly destroyed.<br />
<br />
Foreign personnel were evacuated earlier but local staff reportedly remained in place, with the military defending the facility.<br />
<br />
Baiji accounts for a little more than a quarter of the country's entire refining capacity, all of which goes toward domestic consumption for things like petrol, cooking oil and fuel for power stations, an official told AP news agency.<br />
<br />
Militants in the western province of Anbar, where the capital is Ramadi, said they had made advances, with a number of police stations near the town of Hit going over to dissident tribes.<br />
<br />
Further north, the Iraqi government said it had recaptured the citadel in the strategic town of Tal Afar, where militants were said to have taken control on Monday.<br />
<br />
Using unusually strong language, Mr Maliki accused Saudi Arabia - which is largely Sunni - of backing ISIS.<br />
<br />
He also fired four army commanders for failing to halt the sweeping advance by the militants. They included the top commander for Nineveh, the first province where ISIS fighters made major gains.<br />
<br />
With Shia areas of the capital bombed almost daily, correspondents say inhabitants of Baghdad have developed a siege mentality.<br />
<br />
People with enough money have started to stockpile essential items of food, correspondents say, which has increased prices dramatically.<br />
<br />
<br />
The government has insisted that food supplies are not in danger and that ISIS will not be able to take Baghdad<br />
<br />
Young Iraqis have been volunteering to serve in the battle with the militants<br />
<br />
Shia militiamen (pictured) have been showing their strength in Baghdad<br />
<br />
Correspondents have warned that Iraq could be on the brink of outright sectarian war between Sunnis and Shias (seen marching here)<br />
<br />
ISIS in Iraq<br />
<br />
<br />
The rebels now control the northern cities of Mosul and Tikrit<br />
ISIS grew out o<br />

Sunni militants invade Iraq's biggest oil refinery

Islamist-led militants have invaded Iraq's biggest oil refinery, after pounding it with mortars and machine guns from two directions....

10:29:00

Akunyili: Jonathan, others shower encomium at tribute session

<div class="featured">
      
    <a href="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Dora-ForAward.jpg" itemprop="image" rel="prettyPhoto" title="Akunyili: Jonathan, others shower encomium at tribute session">
    
        
          
      <img alt="Dora-ForAward" class="attachment-main-slider wp-post-image no-display appear" height="336" src="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Dora-ForAward-700x336.jpg" title="Akunyili: Jonathan, others shower encomium at tribute session" width="700" />     
          
        
    </a>
    
     </div>
<h1 class="post-title" itemprop="name">
<br />
  </h1>
</header><div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/lifelines/?utm_source=SunNewsOnline&utm_medium=468x60_Banner&utm_campaign=Lifeline"><img alt="468x60" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-64167 no-display appear" height="90" src="http://sunnewsonline.com/new/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/468x60.jpg" width="700" /></a></div>
The Federal Executive Council held special tribute in honour of 
former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, 
who died in an Indian hospital last Saturday.<br />

They agreed that Akunyili who died of ovarian cancer left indelible mark in the sands of times of the nation’s history.<br />

At the special tribute session, council members took turn to extol 
the virtues of the former Director General of National Agency for Food 
and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) whom they described as an 
exemplary public servants and a patriotic Nigerian who was devoted to 
national development.<br />

They further recalled that the prevalent rate of fake drugs in 
circulation dropped from 60 per cent to 16 per cent during her tenure at
 NAFDAC.<br />

President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo rounded 
off the session with their special tributes in which they recollected 
memorable moments with the late former minister.<br />

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, who served as Minister of
 State, Information under Akunyili moved a motion to condole the 
President, Nigerian women, the Igbos and indeed all Nigerians on her 
demise.<br />

Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, seconded the 
motion. A minute silence was thereafter observed in her honour while 
the Minister<br />

of State, Federal Capital Territory, Olajumoke Akinjide; and the 
Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Nurudeen Muhammed, prayed for the 
repose of her soul.<br />

In his tribute, Jonathan who said Akunyili was role model per 
excellence who was ready to do the right thing, no matter whose ox is 
gored, recalled his first encounter with her as NAFDAC DG and he as a 
deputy governor of Bayelsa State.<br />

He said he decided to invite Akunyili, through the state Commissioner
 for Health, to a breakfast with him in his official residence.<br />

He said he was surprised that the first thing she did at the 
breakfast table was to condemn the loaves of bread provided, saying they
 were too cold.<br />

He said, “My governor was outside the country then and he asked me to represent him at the opening session of the health event.<br />

“I was looking forward to meeting Akunyili at the event but she did 
not attend the session. I was told she would arrive in the evening. I 
therefore directed the state Commissioner for Health to ask her to join 
me for breakfast the following day.<br />

“The first thing she did at the breakfast table was to condemn the 
bread that was provided for breakfast. She said the bread was cold.<br />

“She summoned my stewards and admonished them to ensure that loaves 
of bread are warmed so that some molds do not cause stomach upset.”

Akunyili: Jonathan, others shower encomium at tribute session

The Federal Executive Council held specia...

10:09:00

Hong Kong's gay marriage objection

<h1 class="story-header">
Hong Kong's gay marriage objection<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-china-blog-27790389#dna-comments"><span class="dna-comment-count-number"></span> <span class="gvl3-icon gvl3-icon-comment"></span></a></h1>
<div class="has-icon-comment dna-comment-count-simple">
 </div>
<span class="byline byline-photo">
            <img alt="Juliana Liu" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/52344000/jpg/_52344242_julianaliuphoto.jpg" />
           <span class="byline-name">By Juliana Liu</span>
    <span class="byline-title">Hong Kong correspondent, BBC News</span>
   </span>
  
        <div class="caption full-width">
  <img alt="File photo: Rally participants take part in a gay and lesbian rally through the streets in Hong Kong on 13 December 2008" height="351" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75440000/jpg/_75440263_84017794%281%29.jpg" width="624" />

<span style="width: 624px;">Sexual discrimination is not banned in Hong Kong</span>
  </div>
<div class="story-feature related narrow">
  <a class="hidden" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-china-blog-27790389#story_continues_1">Continue reading the main story</a>  <h2>
Related Stories</h2>
<ul class="related-links-list">
<li>
 <a class="story" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-26254137" rel="published-1392872600778">How Gigi Chao sparked HK debate</a>

</li>
<li>
 <a class="story" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-25940522" rel="published-1390974616172">Tycoon's daughter defends sexuality</a>

</li>
<li>
 <a class="story" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-china-blog-27329823" rel="published-1399582814143">Gay arrests link to Tiananmen</a>

</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1">
News
 that Hong Kong's government has objected to plans to allow same-sex 
couples to wed at the British consulate in the Chinese city has angered 
gay rights activists.</div>
Hong Kong's best-known lesbian, <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-26254137" title="How Gigi Chao sparked Hong Kong gay rights debate">Gigi Chao</a>,
 whose billionaire father famously offered $100m (£60m) to any man in 
the world who can marry her, said the refusal was a "disgrace".<br />

"Yes, we are disappointed, but the news is not unexpected as 
this former colony is clearly intent on governing from the depths of 
denial and siding with the populist ochlocracy [mob rule] of homophobic 
groups," she says.<br />

She says she hopes the right will be extended, but it may not be so simple, legally speaking.<br />

<span style="width: 624px;">Gigi Chao made headlines when her father offered $100m to any man who would marry her </span>
  </div>
After years of debate, same-sex marriage <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-26793127" title="Gay couples celebrate first weddings">became legal</a> in England and Wales in March.<br />

Starting in June, the legislation was extended to cover British nationals overseas.<br />

British embassies and consulates are allowed to conduct 
same-sex marriages for couples in which at least one partner is a UK 
national. <br />

The marriage service is offered only in countries where gay 
marriage is not normally allowed, and can only take place if the host 
government does not object.<br />

"Unfortunately, the Hong Kong government has raised an 
objection to the solemnisation of same-sex marriages in Hong Kong," said
 a spokeswoman at the British consulate.<br />

<span style="width: 624px;">Gay marriage is openly accepted in Asian societies like Japan</span>
  </div>
<div class="caption full-width">
  <img alt="Participants dress in various shades of pink, pose for a photo during the 'Night Pink Dot' event arrange to increase awareness and understanding of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Singapore at Hong Lim Park on 30 June, 2012 in Singapore" height="351" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75440000/jpg/_75440062_147462614.jpg" width="624" />

<span style="width: 624px;">The Pink Dot gay movement first began in Singapore</span>
  </div>
<div class="caption full-width">
  <img alt="Participants hold a flag during the gay pride parade in Hong Kong, 9 November 2013" height="351" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75440000/jpg/_75440264_73079100.jpg" width="624" />

<span style="width: 624px;">Gay activists have held parades and protests in Hong Kong before  </span>
  </div>
Countries seen as less cosmopolitan and progressive than Hong Kong have allowed the marriages.<br />

They include the Philippines, Vietnam, Russia and even 
mainland China, whose domestic policies are generally run separately 
from Hong Kong.<br />

<div class="story-feature wide ">
 <a class="hidden" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-china-blog-27790389#story_continues_2"></a>  <h2>
BBC China Blog</h2>
The BBC China blog is where our teams across the country will provide a flavour of their latest insights.  <br />

We'll focus on the new and newsworthy, but also use our 
journalists' expertise to shine fresh light on China's remarkable 
transformations and upheavals.  <br />

Most of the posts will be written or filmed by journalists in
 our main bureau, in Beijing, or in our other bases in Shanghai and Hong
 Kong.<br />

Please let us know what you think and send us your ideas. You
 can also use #BBCChinablog to keep up to date with our reports via 
Twitter.<br />

</div>
<div id="story_continues_2">
Australia, under the socially 
conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott, has agreed to allow the 
ceremonies to go ahead, even though the marriages would not be legally 
recognised.</div>
When asked, the protocol department of the Hong Kong government declined to comment directly on its objection.<br />

"It would be for individual consulates general to decide what
 functions and services they would wish to provide their nationals," it 
said in a statement.<br />

"Although Hong Kong does not have laws on same-sex marriage, 
the government is firmly committed to promoting equal opportunities on 
the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity."<br />

The controversy comes in the same week that gay and lesbian 
rights activists like Ms Chao are preparing to launch the Pink Dot rally
 in Hong Kong.<br />

Sexual minorities and their families and friends have been 
invited to the public event, featuring free concerts by some of the 
city's well-known gay and lesbian entertainers.<br />

The Pink Dot movement actually began in 2009 in Singapore, 
another former British colony where UK nationals will not be allowed to 
marry their same-sex partners.

Hong Kong's gay marriage objection

Hong Kong's gay marriage objection By Juliana Liu Hong Kong correspondent, BBC News ...

10:00:00

Brazil ready for the opening ceremony

</div>
</div>
<div class="aside" id="article-sidebar">
   <div id="toolbar">
 
 <div class="page-timestamp">
 <span class="date">12 June 2014</span>
   Last updated at 
  <span class="time">00:21 GMT</span>
 </div>
<div class="share-tools-sidebar blq-clearfix">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="headline">
         
 <h1 class="story-header" itemprop="headline">
World Cup 2014: Brazil set to kick-off tournament</h1>
</div>
<div class="event-info">
 <h2>
2014 Fifa World Cup: Brazil v Croatia</h2>
<ul>
<li class="first">Venue: <span>Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo</span></li>
<li>Date: <span>Thursday, 12 June</span></li>
<li>Kick-off: <span>21:00 BST</span></li>
</ul>
<div class="event-coverage">
<span>Coverage:</span> Live text commentary on the BBC Sport website, live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live; live on ITV</div>
</div>
<div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1" itemprop="description">
    The 2014 Fifa World Cup begins on Thursday as hosts Brazil open the tournament against Croatia.
</div>
The month-long tournament sees 32 nations compete for a place in the final in Rio on Sunday, 13 July.
<br />

The opening match will be preceded by a ceremony in Sao Paulo that pays tribute to nature, people and football.
<br />

"Let me tell you the time has arrived. We are going 
together. This is our World Cup," said Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari 
on Wednesday.
<br />

<div class="videoInStoryC story-feature">
<a class="switch-emp blq-hide" href="http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27779059#"><span>Play media</span></a>
    <div class="emp" id="emp-27806286-35734">
    
          
        
        
            
            
                    
                
                    
     
       
              
            
            
            
            
              
                
            
        
                    
            
            
        
        
        
        
            </div>
<div class="  bbccom-advert bbccom_visibility_hidden bbccom_companion" id="bbccom_companion_27806286">
    
   </div>
<div class="caption">
Lineker's four teams to win World Cup </div>
</div>
Last year 
    
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-22992410">more than a million people took to the streets</a>

of major Brazilian cities to protest against what they see as excessive spending on the World Cup.
<br />

The host country's government is keen to prevent a 
repeat of some of the violence seen at those protests, and Brazilian 
president Dilma Rousseff has said she will not allow violent 
demonstrations to mar the World Cup.
<br />

Thousands of extra police and soldiers will be deployed to ensure the matches get under way smoothly.
<br />

England open their World Cup campaign against Italy on Saturday, 14 June - a game 
    
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25326647">you can see live on the BBC in the UK.</a>

<br />

Roy Hodgson's team will also play Uruguay and Costa Rica in their Group D fixtures. 
<br />

Hosts Brazil start as favourites to win the World Cup 
for a sixth time, while holders Spain are aiming to win a fourth major 
tournament in a row after 
    
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18355496">winning the European Championships two years ago.</a>

<br />

<div class="videoInStoryC story-feature">
<a class="switch-emp blq-hide" href="http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27779059#"><span>Play media</span></a>
    <div class="emp" id="emp-27689706-35735">
    
          
        
        
            
            
                    
                
                    
     
       
              
            
            
            
            
              
                
            
        
                    
            
            
        
        
        
        
            </div>
<div class="  bbccom-advert bbccom_visibility_hidden bbccom_companion" id="bbccom_companion_27689706">
    
   </div>
<div class="caption">
World Cup 2014: BBC Sport pundits make their picks</div>
</div>
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27388351">The other seeded teams</a>

are Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Argentina, Germany and Belgium.
<br />

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker believes there are four teams with a realistic chance of winning the tournament.
<br />

"I have a feeling it will come down to four countries, 
although unfortunately I do not think one of them will be England," said
 former England striker Lineker.
<br />

"I'm going for Germany, Spain, Argentina or Brazil but I
 feel that the pressure may well be a little too much for the host 
nation."  
<br />

The host nation have never lost their opening World Cup
 game, with the previous 20 opening games producing 14 victories and six
 draws for the hosts.
<br />

Scolari's Brazil side will be expected to win in Sao Paulo on Thursday, in a match that kicks off at 21:00 BST.
<br />

<div class="caption" style="width: 608px;">
Thursday's opening game will be held at the Arena de Sao Paulo
  </div>
</div>
A capacity 65,000 crowd is expected for the match, with their journey to the stadium 
    
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-27761723">eased after metro workers voted not to resume a strike</a>

over pay and the dismissal of 42 colleagues. 
<br />

The host city for the opening ceremony had been braced 
for considerable disruption after traffic chaos was caused by a five-day
 stoppage earlier in the week.
<br />

As one problem eased another began, however, with 
airport workers in Brazil's second largest city Rio de Janeiro 
announcing a 24-hour strike starting at midnight on Wednesday, meaning 
industrial action will continue through the opening day of the World 
Cup. 
<br />

<div class="videoInStoryC story-feature">
<a class="switch-emp blq-hide" href="http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/27779059#"><span></span></a>
    <div class="emp" id="emp-27806285-35736">
    
          
        
        
            
            
                    
                
                    
     
       
              
            
            
            
            
              
                
            
        
                    
            
            
        
        
        
        
            </div>
<div class="  bbccom-advert bbccom_visibility_hidden bbccom_companion" id="bbccom_companion_27806285">
    
   </div>
<div class="caption">
Henry describes host nation pressure</div>
</div>
Governing body Fifa said it had sold more than 2.9 
million tickets, but they were still available for several matches on 
Wednesday, including some involving Germany, Italy and France. 
<br />

There will be 31 matches shown live on BBC television 
and online, starting with Spain v Netherlands on Friday, 13 June, and 
live text commentary on all 64 matches, available on the BBC Sport 
website and app for mobile, tablet and connected TV.
<br />

BBC Radio 5 live will also be providing 24 days of live
 coverage and 61 live match commentaries from football's showpiece 
tournament.

Brazil ready for the opening ceremony

12 June 2014 Last updated at 00:21 GMT ...

09:54:00

Indian woman found hanging from tree in Uttar Pradesh

<span style="width: 624px;">Last month's gang rape of two girls prompted hundreds to march against violence towards women</span>
  </div>
<div class="story-feature related narrow">
  <a class="hidden" href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-27807539#story_continues_1"></a></div>
<div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1">
A 
19-year-old woman has been found hanging from a tree in a village in 
northern India, the third such case in weeks in Uttar Pradesh state.</div>
The body was found in the Moradabad area, three hours' drive 
from Delhi. Her family told police she was raped. A post mortem 
examination is under way. <br />

Another woman was found hanged from a tree in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.<br />

Last month the gang rape and murder of two girls found in similar circumstances sparked outrage in India.<br />

<span class="cross-head">Public anger renewed</span>
 <div class="caption full-width">
  <img alt="Police use a water cannon to stop crowds  from moving towards the office of Yadav, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, during a protest against recent rape and hanging of two girls, in Lucknow" height="351" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75467000/jpg/_75467017_022510400-1.jpg" width="624" />

<span style="width: 624px;">Protesters took to the streets of Uttar Pradesh in fury after last month's case</span>
  </div>
On Wednesday, a 44-year-old woman was found hanging from a tree in the Bahraich area.  <br />

Police said she had been threatened by locals for selling 
liquor in the area and her family filed a case naming five people 
connected to her death.  <br />

Her family alleged she was gang raped, but her post mortem proved inconclusive.  <br />

But it was the case on 29 May of two teenage girls gang raped
 and hanged in Badaun district that renewed a countrywide outcry over 
sexual violence.<br />

<span style="width: 624px;">The  teenage girls were found hanging from a tree in the village after being gang raped</span>
  </div>
Three suspected attackers have been held in that case, along 
with two policemen accused of dereliction of duty and criminal 
conspiracy.<br />

Uttar Pradesh is home to 200 million people, which has led 
some here to describe it as the world's largest failing state, reports 
the BBC's Andrew North in Delhi.<br />

India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said protecting women should be a priority.<br />

Scrutiny of sexual violence in India has grown since the 2012 gang-rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus.<br />

The government tightened laws on sexual violence last year after widespread protests following the attack.

Indian woman found hanging from tree in Uttar Pradesh

Last month's gang rape of two girls prompted hundreds to march against violence towards women A 19-year-old woman h...

09:47:00

Iraq in crisis

<p dir="ltr"><br>
As many as 500,000 people have been forced to flee Iraq's second city of Mosul after Islamist militants<br>
effectively took control of it.<br>
Troops were among those fleeing as hundreds of jihadists from the ISIS group overran the city and much<br>
of the surrounding province of Nineveh.<br>
Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki responded by asking parliament to declare a state of emergency to grant him<br>
greater powers.<br>
The US said the development showed ISIS is a threat to the entire region.<br>
ISIS - the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - is an offshoot of al-Qaeda which now controls<br>
considerable territory in eastern Syria and western and central Iraq, in a campaign to set up a militant<br>
enclave straddling the border.<br>
'Chaotic situation'<br>
Residents of Mosul said jihadist flags were flying from buildings and that the militants had announced<br>
over loudspeakers they had "come to liberate" the city.<br>
"The situation is chaotic inside the city, and there is nobody to help us," said government worker Umm<br>
Karam. "We are afraid."<br>
ISIS in Iraq<br>
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ( ISIS ) has 3,000 to 5,000 fighters, and grew out of an al-<br>
Qaeda-liked organisation in Iraq<br>
ISIS has exploited the standoff between the Iraqi government and the minority Sunni Arab community,<br>
which complains that Shia PM Nouri Maliki is monopolising power<br>
It has already taken over Ramadi and Falluja, but taking over Mosul is a far greater feat than anything<br>
the movement has achieved so far, and would send shock waves throughout the region<br>
Critical test ahead for Iraq<br>
How did Iraqi militants take over Mosul?<br>
Many police stations were reported to have been set on fire and hundreds of detainees set free.<br>
"The army forces threw away their weapons, changed their clothes, abandoned their vehicles and left the<br>
city," Mahmud Nuri, a resident fleeing Mosul, told the AFP news agency.<br>
The BBC's Jim Muir says the Iraqi security forces appear to have nothing to fight back against the ISIS<br>
militants.<br>
Dozens of vehicles were destroyed on roads in and around Mosul<br>
Tens of thousands of people have left Mosul, and are heading to Kurdistan<br>
Hundreds of cars carrying Mosul residents caused a giant traffic jam outside the nearby city of Erbil<br>
There are concerns over how Kurdistan will cope with the influx of people<br>
US State department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the situation in Mosul was "extremely serious" and that<br>
the US supported "a strong, co-ordinated response to push back against this aggression".<br>
A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was "gravely concerned" at the situation.<br>
But our correspondent says everything that has happened in Syria indicates that the West would not want<br>
to get involved in another Middle East quagmire.<br>
Heading to Kurdistan<br>
Sources have told BBC Arabic that the tens of thousands of fleeing refugees are heading to three towns in<br>
the nearby region of Kurdistan where authorities have set up temporary camps for them.<br>
Kurdistan Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani issued a statement appealing to the UN refugee agency for<br>
help.<br>
Security sources told the BBC that fierce fighting had erupted between Iraqi forces and ISIS fighters in a<br>
town called Rashad near Kirkuk, south-east of Mosul.<br>
There were also reports that jihadists had seized other areas of Kirkuk and two towns in the neighbouring<br>
Salaheddin province.<br>
In a televised announcement, Mr Maliki said that security forces had been placed on a state of "maximum<br>
alert".<br>
He also said he had asked parliament to declare a state of emergency - which would broaden arrest<br>
powers and allow curfews to be imposed - and a "general mobilisation" of civilians.<br>
Parts of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, and much of the nearby city of Fallujah have been under<br>
the control of ISIS and its allies since late December.<br>
ISIS has also been informally controlling much of Nineveh province for months, and in the past week has<br>
attacked other areas of western and northern Iraq, killing scores of people.<br>
The Iraqi government is struggling with a surge in sectarian violence that killed almost 800 people,<br>
including 603 civilians, in May alone, according to the UN. Last year, more than 8,860 people died.</p>

Iraq in crisis

As many as 500,000 people have been forced to flee Iraq's second city of Mosul after Islamist militants effectively took control of it...

08:03:00

European Reassurance Initiative: Obama announces

<p dir="ltr"><br>
President Barack Obama has announced plans for a $1bn (£600m) fund to<br>
increase US military deployments to Europe, during a visit to Poland.<br>
Mr Obama, who will meet Nato leaders amid concerns over the Ukraine<br>
crisis, said the security of America's European allies was "sacrosanct".<br>
In April, 150 US soldiers were sent to Poland for military exercises amid<br>
growing tensions with Russia.<br>
Mr Obama will also visit Belgium and France during his tour.<br>
Meanwhile, Nato defence ministers are set to meet in Brussels to discuss<br>
the long-term security implications of Russian actions over Ukraine.<br>
The Kremlin denies Western claims that it is supporting separatists in<br>
eastern Ukraine.<br>
'Step up partnership'<br>
"Our commitment to Poland's security as well as the security of our allies in<br>
central and eastern Europe is a cornerstone of our own security and it is<br>
sacrosanct," Mr Obama said after inspecting a joint unit of US and Polish<br>
F-16 pilots.<br>
Poland saw 150 US troops arrive in April and they will be joined by a<br>
further 450 in the coming days<br>
Mr Obama's emphasis on relations with Asian nations has left some<br>
European leaders feeling neglected in recent years<br>
Speaking at a news conference in Warsaw with Polish President Bronislaw<br>
Komorowski, Mr Obama warned Russia against provoking further tensions<br>
in Ukraine.<br>
He said Moscow should use its influence to call off separatists in Ukraine's<br>
east.<br>
Mr Obama reaffirmed the US commitment to Nato's principle of collective<br>
defence, announcing plans for a $1bn European Reassurance Initiative.<br>
The programme, which will fund additional US military rotations to Europe,<br>
will need congressional approval.<br>
The US would also "step up partnership" with countries such as Ukraine and<br>
Moldova, he added.<br>
Mr Komorowski said Poland would increase its military budget to 2% of its<br>
gross domestic product, a move Mr Obama welcomed as a "reminder that<br>
every [Nato] ally needs to carry their share" in the alliance.<br>
Nato defence spending targets<br>
Nato's members have a target of spending 2% of their GDP on defence.<br>
Countries that met or exceeded the target in 2013 included:<br>
United States - 4.4%<br>
United Kingdom - 2.4%<br>
Greece - 2.3%<br>
Estonia - 2%<br>
Countries that spent less than the target in 2013 included:<br>
France - 1.9%<br>
Turkey - 1.8%<br>
Poland - 1.8%<br>
Germany - 1.3%<br>
Lithuania - 0.8%<br>
Overall, European members of Nato spent 1.6 %.<br>
Source: Nato<br>
In a statement, the White House said the European Reassurance Initiative<br>
would not "come at the expense of other defence priorities, such as our<br>
commitment to the Asia Pacific rebalance".<br>
Mr Obama's emphasis on relations with Asian nations has left some Eastern<br>
European leaders feeling neglected in recent years, the BBC's Adam Easton<br>
in Warsaw reports.<br>
The crisis in Ukraine has been keenly felt in a region that underwent<br>
decades of dominance by Moscow, our correspondent adds.<br>
Western leaders have accused Russia of worsening tensions in east Ukraine<br>
In Belgium, Mr Obama is expected to urge Western leaders to reaffirm their<br>
united position on Ukraine at a G7 meeting of major industrial nations.<br>
The summit was originally to be held in Russia, but Western leaders<br>
decided to change the venue following Moscow's annexation of Crimea in<br>
March.<br>
In France, the US leader will take part in ceremonies to commemorate the<br>
70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.<br>
President Vladimir Putin is also invited, but the White House has already<br>
made it clear that the American and Russian leaders will not hold formal<br>
bilateral talks.<br>
Washington and its European allies have repeatedly urged Moscow to de-<br>
escalate tensions in eastern Ukraine, where fighting has continued between<br>
separatists and government troops.<br>
On Monday, hundreds of rebels attacked a border command centre near<br>
the eastern city of Luhansk.<br>
Analysis: Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent,<br>
Brussels<br>
President Obama's request for $1bn to bolster Europe's defences is not a<br>
lot of money in terms of the overall US defence budget.<br>
But it may be more significant in terms of the kind of things Nato is likely<br>
to do in response to the Russian actions in Ukraine.<br>
This is not about a return to the Cold War. Mr Obama has described Russia<br>
as merely "a regional power".<br>
Indeed it is a moot point how much of a threat it really poses to Nato<br>
territory. But specific Nato allies are worried, so something has to be done.<br>
Modest spending will be needed to improve readiness, to mount exercises<br>
and so on, and the US is showing that it is prepared to stump up cash.<br>
Congress no doubt may make some comments about the Europeans<br>
needing to do the same.</p>

European Reassurance Initiative: Obama announces

President Barack Obama has announced plans for a $1bn (£600m) fund to increase US military deployments to Europe, during a visit to Poland...

17:47:00

RAMADAN STARTS TODAY

Iraq in crisis

Sunni militants invade Iraq's biggest oil refinery

Akunyili: Jonathan, others shower encomium at tribute session

Hong Kong's gay marriage objection

Brazil ready for the opening ceremony

Indian woman found hanging from tree in Uttar Pradesh

Iraq in crisis

European Reassurance Initiative: Obama announces

Comments system

Disqus Shortname

POPULAR POSTS

BLOG ARCHIVE