Barcelona and Spain midfield star Andres Iniesta has indicated this summer's World Cup in Russia could signal his international swansong.
Iniesta, 33, also hinted he could finally be lured from a rarely-seen 'contract for life' with the Spanish league giants, signed last year, to cap his sparkling club career with a stint in China's Super League.
"At the moment, given my age, it could be my last international appearance," Iniesta told Radio Cadena Ser Thursday when asked about the 2018 World Cup to be held in Russia from June 14 to July 15.
"It's quite similar to what could happen to me at club level. I don't want to be there just to make up the numbers, I don't need to be there (at Barcelona and Spain) just so I can say I'm there."
Iniesta, considered one of world's greatest creative midfielders, has been increasingly linked with a move to China despite signing a deal with Barcelona last autumn that effectively allowed him to decide when he would finish his career with the Catalan ...

Potential Russian swansong for Iniesta as China draws closer

PTI Automatic

The main suspect in a recent bomb attack against the Palestinian prime minister in the Gaza Strip died from his wounds today after his arrest in a raid, Hamas said.
One of the suspect's accomplices also died following the raid that had resulted in a clash with Hamas security forces, the interior ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said.
Officials had announced earlier that two members of the Hamas security forces were also killed.

Main suspect in Gaza bombing dies from wounds after arrest raid: Hamas

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen lifted a 45-day state of emergency today, a day after senior political opponents were locked up indefinitely for allegedly trying to topple him last month.
Yameen chose not to extend the draconian laws he had invoked on February 5 following a Supreme Court ruling that threatened to lead to his impeachment.
"Though there still exists a diminished threat to national security... in an effort to promote normalcy, the president has decided to lift the state of emergency," Yameen's office said in a statement.
He initially declared the state of emergency for 15 days after the country's top court ordered him to free high-profile dissidents from jail.
It was later extended for another 30 days, deepening the political crisis in the Indian Ocean archipelago of 340,000 Sunni Muslims.
The dissidents' release would have paved the way for former leader Mohamed Nasheed to return from self-imposed exile in London and contest presidential elections later this ...

Maldives lifts state of emergency with dissidents locked up

An asylum seeker claiming to be from Afghanistan was today sentenced to life in jail in Germany for the rape and murder of a student that stoked a public backlash against a mass influx of migrants.
Hussein Khavari, of uncertain age and origin, was found guilty of the deadly night-time attack on medical student Maria Ladenburger, 19, in October 2016 in the university town of Freiburg.
Khavari pushed her off her bicycle as she was riding home alone from a party, then bit, choked and repeatedly raped her and left her on the bank of a river where she drowned.
Presiding judge Kathrin Schenk condemned the extreme "lack of empathy" of Khavari, who was handcuffed and wearing a black hooded jumper, before reading out the verdict and sentence, which were greeted with applause in the courtroom.
She handed down the maximum sentence of life in prison, which under German law means 15 years behind bars, with no chance of parole and the possibility of "security detention" afterwards if the convict is 

Asylum seeker jailed for life in Germany for rape, murder

An avalanche in Spain's Aran Valley in the Pyrenees mountains killed two people and left a third seriously injured today, firefighters said.
A helicopter was dispatched to the area where firefighters "found three people, two of whom had died and another who was seriously hurt with multiple injuries," they said in a statement.
A spokeswoman for the firefighters told AFP she did not yet know the identity or nationality of the victims, but said they were doing "scientific" research in the area.
The injured person has been taken to hospital in Viella, some 300 kilometres northwest of Barcelona.

Avalanche in Spain kills two, another seriously hurt

At least six people died and several others were seriously injured in an explosion today at a Czech chemical plant in the northern town of Kralupy-nad-Vltavou, fire fighters said.
"We have received information about six dead and several others seriously injured," regional fire fighter spokeswoman Vladimira Kerekova said, quoted by the CTK news agency.
The Prague-Vinohrady hospital has triggered its emergency plan and is getting ready to receive a "significant number" of patients, she added.
Emergency services spokeswoman Petra Effenbergerova said six people were injured.
Kerekova said the factory belongs to the Polish firm Synthos, which manufactures synthetic rubber and polystyrene.
Two people were injured in an explosion at the same factory in 2015.
"We have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances and causes," police spokeswoman Marketa Johnova said.
She said police had learnt of the explosion at 10 am local time.

At least six dead in Czech chemical plant blast

At least six people died and several others were seriously injured in an explosion today at a Czech chemical plant in the northern town of Kralupy-nad-Vltavou, fire fighters said.
"We have received information about six dead and several others seriously injured," regional fire fighter spokeswoman Vladimira Kerekova said, quoted by the CTK news agency.

At least six dead in Czech chemical plant blast: fire fighters

The World Cup is not immune from the threat of match-fixing, experts have warned, with sophisticated monitoring systems in place to identify suspicious activity during the tournament in Russia.
Jake Marsh, head of integrity at digital media group Perform, which supplies live sports video to bookmakers, said there was no room for complacency despite the global nature of the event.
He said factors such as national pride and the impression -- sometimes false -- that all the players are well-paid, did not mean the World Cup would not be targeted.
"We have had World Cup qualifiers that have been proved as fixed," said Marsh, who was speaking at the Betting on Football conference at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground on Wednesday. "So why wouldn't they go into the main tournament?
"We looked at a friendly match last year between two international sides, one of whom couldn't afford to pay their hotel bill and might be featuring at the World Cup."
"The vulnerabilities are there even though they 

World Cup at risk from match-fixing, say betting experts

Two Hamas security force members were killed today as they carried out a raid that resulted in the arrest of a suspect in a recent bomb attack against the Palestinian prime minister, officials said.
Senior Hamas official Salah al Bardawil issued a statement announcing the arrest of the suspect and two accomplices as well as the deaths of members of the security forces during the raid in the Gaza Strip.
An AFP correspondent saw the bodies of two security force members at the hospital and a senior police officer at the scene also confirmed the deaths on condition of anonymity.
A clash had erupted earlier in the day in Nuseirat in central Gaza as Hamas security forces engaged in a manhunt for the suspect.
Dozens of new checkpoints were also erected throughout the Palestinian enclave and armed security forces were searching cars, an AFP correspondent said.
Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah was unhurt by the roadside blast that struck his convoy on March 13, in what Palestinian ...

Two members of Hamas security forces killed as Gaza bomb suspect arrested

Internet giants Facebook and Google today warned Singapore against introducing new laws to combat "fake news", saying that existing legislation is adequate to address the problem.
Their warnings were made to a parliamentary committee which is examining possible measures, including legislation, to tackle false online information which the government says could threaten national security.
Executives from Facebook, Google and Twitter appeared before the committee Thursday, and are among scores of experts, academics and activists called to testify over eight days.
The financial hub is among several countries looking at legislation to rein in fake news but critics have cautioned this could be used to curb free speech. The Singapore government has denied it is trying to restrict free speech.
In a submission given to the committee before testifying, Alvin Tan, Facebook's head of public policy in Southeast Asia, said: "We do not believe that legislation is the best approach to addressing the .

Facebook, Google warn Singapore against 'fake news' law

Scoreboard at stumps on day one of the first Test between New Zealand and England in Auckland today:
England first innings
A Cook
c
Latham
b Boult
5
M Stoneman
c Watling
b Southee  11
J Root
b Boult
0
D Malan
c Watling
b Boult
2
B Stokes
b Boult
0
J Bairstow
c and b Southee
0
M Ali
b Southee
0
C Woakes
b Boult
5
C Overton
not out
33
S Broad
c Williamson b Southee  0
J Anderson
c Nicholls
b Boult
1
Extras: (LB-1)
1
Total: (20.4 overs)
58
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-6, 3-16, 4-18, 5-18, 6-18, 7-23, 8-23, 9-27, 10-58.
Bowling: Boult 10.4-3-32-6, Southee 10-3-25-4
New Zealand first innings
J Raval
c Bairstow
b Anderson
3
T Latham
c Woakes
b Broad
26
K Williamson
not out
91
R Taylor
c Woakes
b Anderson
20
H Nicholls
not out
24
Extras: (LB-6, W-5)
11
Total: (for 3 wickets; 69 overs)
175
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-92, 3-123.
To bat: BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Todd Astle, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult.
Bowling: Anderson 13-4-32-2, Broad 15-4-24-1, Overton 15-4-43-0, Woakes 15-5-36-0, ..

Auckland, Mar 22 (AFP) Scoreboard at stumps on day one of the first Test between New Zealand and England in Auckland today:

Captain Kane Williamson's unbeaten 91 set New Zealand up for a commanding lead after England were skittled for one of the lowest scores in their history in the first Test in Auckland today.
At stumps on day one in the first day-night Test in New Zealand, the Black Caps were 175 for three and 117 runs ahead with seven wickets in hand.
England were left red-faced when they failed to cope with a swing bowling masterclass by Trent Boult and Tim Southee to be all out for just 58 after a mere 20.4 overs in Auckland.
They were flirting with the world-record low of 26, set by New Zealand on the same ground against England in 1955, until number nine batsman Craig Overton spared their blushes with an unbeaten 33 at the end.
Apart from Stuart Broad taking his 400th Test wicket it was a bleak day for the tourists, who registered their sixth lowest total in Tests.
But for New Zealand, Williamson commanded the Test from the moment he won the toss and opted to bowl.
He featured in the field with a ..

Williamson stars as England hit embarrassing low

Top Russian media have launched a rare boycott of a senior lawmaker after a parliamentary commission cleared him of sexual harassment despite claims from several journalists.
Several reporters including one of the BBC Russian Service have accused Leonid Slutsky, head of the foreign affairs committee in parliament's lower house, the State Duma, of making lewd sexual comments and groping.
But yesterday a parliamentary ethics commission said it had not found any violations in the behaviour of the 50-year-old lawmaker from the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party.
The commission questioned the journalists' motives, saying their claims had appeared in the runup to a presidential election.
The boycott is a rare campaign of solidarity in a country where all major television channels are state-controlled and toe the Kremlin line.
RBC media holding said Wednesday evening its journalists would no longer work in the State Duma, while Kommersant publishing house said it would no longer quote ...

Russian media boycott lawmaker cleared over sexual harrassment

A man who used a stolen samurai sword to attack a guard outside Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's office last year -- carrying notes threatening to behead her -- was sentenced today to seven years in prison for attempted murder.
Carrying the flag of China, Lu Chun-yi slashed the military police guard, who was trying to prevent him from entering the complex, in the neck, face, and hands with the sword before being arrested.
Lu -- in detention since the August 18 attack -- has said he wanted to fly the Chinese flag in the presidential office, and was carrying hand-written notes threatening to "behead" Tsai.
In the notes, prosecutors said, Lu also expressed the hope that Beijing will make Taiwan a part of China again.
Beijing still sees self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification even though they split in 1949 after a civil war.
The island's relations with China have deteriorated since Tsai took power in 2016 as she has refused to agree to Beijing's stance that ...

Taiwan samurai sword attacker jailed for seven years

Buses waited outside a bombed-out town in Syria's Eastern Ghouta today after a deal was announced to evacuate rebels and civilians following weeks of regime bombardment.
The deal, announced on Wednesday and brokered by regime ally Russia, could mark a major step forward in government efforts to secure the nearby capital Damascus.
The evacuations from Harasta had been scheduled to start at 0500 GMT, but an AFP correspondent at a government checkpoint on the edge of the town said they were running late.
A spokesman for hardline Islamist rebel group Ahrar al-Sham, which controls the town, said they would go ahead nonetheless.
A member of a committee involved in the negotiations said 1,600 fighters and thousands of members of their families were expected to leave.
Eastern Ghouta has faced a blistering assault by the army and allied militia since February 18 that has taken back most of the enclave and sliced what remains into three pockets held by different rebel groups.
The evacuation ...

Rebels expected to evacuate Syria's Eastern Ghouta

China warned today that it was ready to retaliate as US President Donald Trump prepared to announce sanctions against Beijing for the "theft" of intellectual property.
"China will not sit idly by and let its legitimate rights and interests be harmed, and will certainly take all necessary measures to resolutely defend its legitimate rights and interests," the commerce ministry said in a statement.

China vows to respond to US tariffs with 'necessary measures'

A controversial Sri Lankan opposition legislator today said US authorities prevented him from taking a flight to Texas from Moscow where he was an observer for the Russian presidential election.
Namal Rajapakse, son of former strongman president Mahinda Rajapakse, said the airline had been instructed not to allow him to board the flight to Houston.
Rajapakse said on Twitter that he had been informed by Emirates Air "I won't make my Houston Flight as #US Officials instruct them to not let me board.
"Sure it has nothing to do with my name, being part of #lka opposition or my travel from #Russia."
The 31-year-old was invited by the Russian government to be a monitor of the presidential election won by Vladimir Putin.
US authorities do not comment on individual cases, but official sources said his name was likely on a travel watch list as a result of money laundering charges he faces at home.
Namal Rajapakse and a sibling have been charged with money-laundering. Other family members face .

US denies entry to son of former Sri Lankan president

Stuart Broad became just the second England bowler to reach 400 Test dismissals when he captured the wicket of Tom Latham on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand in Auckland on Thursday.
In the gathering dusk in the first over after the dinner break, the 31-year-old Nottingham bowler had Latham caught at midwicket by Chris Woakes during the day-night Test
The England players rushed from all corners of the field to congratulate Broad for what was one of the few bright spots of their day.
England, batting first, were all out cheaply for 58 while the fall of Latham's wicket had New Zealand at 92 for two.
The right-arm quick, who started his 115th Test with 399 dismissals, had a chance early in the New Zealand innings to bring up the milestone when he found the edge of Jeet Raval's bat.
However, the chance was put down by skipper Joe Root at slip.
The most successful England Test bowler is Broad's new-ball partner James Anderson with 523 from 134 matches.

Broad reaches 400 milestone

Indonesian villager Mama Hasria swims upstream with about 200 empty jerry cans tied to her back, a daily trip she and other local women make to get clean water for their community on Sulawesi island.
As a scorching sun beats down, Hasria makes the four kilometre, hour-long trip along the murky Mandar river to clean water wells built along the riverbank.
There, the 46-year-old fills up her cans with clean water made drinkable by the surrounding soil which acts as a natural filter and purifier.
The work of Hasria and her fellow water collectors, who get paid about 500 rupiah (3.5 US cents) for each can, or $7 for the whole load, is vital for some 5,800 families in Tinambung district.
Today is World Water Day, a UN initiative which this year focuses on "nature-based" solutions for sourcing potable water globally.
It is a challenge in Tinambung where residents have complained for years about limited access to clean water in the remote fishing village.
"We have to collect water from ...

Indonesia women face daily swim for clean water

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been charged with corruption for allegedly accepting funding from late Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi towards his 2007 election campaign, has denounced the lack of "physical evidence" against him, in his court statement published by French media today.
"I stand accused without any physical evidence because of declarations made by Mr Kadhafi, his son, his nephew, his cousin, his spokesman, his former prime minister," Sarkozy told judges in remarks published by the Figaro website, a day after he was charged.
"I've been living the hell of this slander since March 11, 2011" when Khadafi first made the allegations, he added.

Sarkozy blasts lack of 'physical evidence' in corruption case: French media

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern received parenting tips from Barack Obama when she met the former US president in Auckland today.
Ardern, who is expecting her first child in June, held discussions with Obama after he received a traditional Maori welcome at Government House.
"I asked him about parenthood and he had tips that I will probably long remember," the centre-left leader told reporters, without giving further details.
Obama and his wife Michelle have two children, Malia and Sasha.
Ardern said they also discussed the state of progressive climate change and engaging young people in politics.
Obama is in New Zealand for a three-day trip centred on a corporate speaking function on Thursday night organised by the NZ-US Council.
He has also played golf with former prime minister John Key.
Obama's corporate-sponsored speech, for which is reportedly being paid NZ$400,000 (US$290,000), is being held behind closed doors and he has largely avoided the media during his trip.

AFP

AFP

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