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Death row convict hanged in Lahore
Tennis: Serena coach hints at rest after US Open heartache
Tennis: Dizzy Wozniacki, Azarenka join Wuhan casualty list
Tennis: Rising Venus reaches hallowed 700 club
Football: Suarez inspires Messi-less Barca fightback
Football: Chelsea beaten on Mourinho's return to Porto
Football: Lewandowski nets hat-trick as Bayern crush Dinamo
Football: Ospina howler leaves Arsenal facing Euro crisis
Football: Valencia ease to victory over lacklustre Lyon
Football: Platini to stay in FIFA race despite new inquiry
Turkish man dies after spending 47 years in hospital
Oil prices rise as equities stabilize
Dollar drifts lower as market awaits Yellen rate comments
Gates richest American, 3 tech chiefs join top 10: Forbes
Bangladesh women cricketers 'comfortable' in Pakistan

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LAHORE (Dunya News) – A death row convict has been sent to the gallows at the Kot Lakhpat Jail Lahore on early Wednesday morning, Dunya News reported.Death row prisoner Mushtaq had killed a man named Abdullah in 2000. The body Mushtaq was later handed over to the relatives.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lifted the moratorium on the death penalty on December 17, 2014, a day after Taliban gunmen attacked a school and killed 134 students and 19 adults. The killings put pressure the government to do more to tackle the insurgency.

Tennis: Serena coach hints at rest after US Open heartache

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Serena Williamss coach raised the prospect of the world number one skipping the remainder of the season on Tuesday as she struggles to come to terms with her failure to clinch a calendar Grand Slam. Patrick Mouratoglou told ESPN that Williams was intensely disappointed after missing out on a fifth consecutive Grand Slam crown and probably should wait until next year before returning to competition if she is not properly motivated to play.She was two matches away from something really big, so it was very painful, said Mouratoglou. Any loss is very painful for her, but this one even more than usual. So it just takes time to recover from it, and when the motivation comes back, which I dont doubt it will, then it will be time to start tournaments again.Williams, who has already clinched the year-end world number one ranking, is scheduled to play in next weeks China Open and the WTA Finals at Singapore next month. She has not played since losing to Italys Roberta Vinci in the US Open semi-finals earlier this month, one of the most shocking upsets in tennis history.After this year and the three Grand Slams, the question is how high her motivation is to play those tournaments. I dont think she should play if the motivation is not really high, Mouratoglou said in a posting on ESPNs website.Williams was down after her defeat.Because she lost match, she says to me her season is not good, her coach said. But I like that because its just about having high expectations and thats what champions have and I think the same way.Mouratoglou took blame for not having Williams better prepared to face Vinci.I dont think the strategy was wrong, but I think she was not in the right mindset that day for her tennis, which happens, but usually I find a way to make her be better on those days, he said. And on this day, I did not.Williams has won 21 career Grand Slam titles, one shy of Steffi Grafs Open Era record and three off the all-time record set by Australian Margaret Court.I dont doubt she will have the motivation to win more Grand Slams and reach records, Mouratoglou said. Im just thinking about the end of the season, and I dont know how high the motivation is, and I dont think she should go play competitions if her motivation is not high enough.Mouratoglou does not see Serena running out of time just a few days after her 34th birthday.Its not time to doubt whether age will affect her, he said. She has a lot of time left.

Tennis: Dizzy Wozniacki, Azarenka join Wuhan casualty list

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WUHAN (AFP) - Caroline Wozniacki complained of dizzy spells on Tuesday as she joined Victoria Azarenka on the long list of casualties at the Wuhan Open, which has been badly hit by upsets and retirements.A day after Maria Sharapova and Eugenie Bouchard both withdrew with injuries, Wozniacki, Azarenka and Belinda Bencic all had medical problems as the end of a long season nears.Wozniacki, the former world number one from Denmark, called the doctor on court to take her temperature as she lost to Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) in round two.I started feeling dizzy already in the second set and I just tried to push through it, said Wozniacki, whose chances of reaching the eight-player WTA Finals are fast receding.Wozniacki lasted a lot longer than Azarenka and break-out Swiss star Bencic, who both retired in the second set of their matches against Johanna Konta and Camila Giorgi respectively.Two-time major-winner Azarenka stopped play when she was one set and one game down to Brit Konta, saying she picked up a thigh injury in training on Tuesday morning. Its always not easy to make the decision. You know, I dont know if it was the right way to play that long because I started feeling it right in the beginning of the match, Azarenka said.Swiss teenager Bencic retired after just 38 minutes with a left thigh injury, after losing the first set 6-2 to unseeded Italian Camila Giorgi.The 11th seed Bencic had looked visibly tired in her first round match on Monday, which came just a day after she lost the final of the WTA Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo to Agnieszka Radwanska. I have a left thigh injury and played a lot of tennis in Tokyo... I obviously did not want to retire but that was my only option, Bencic said.With Serena Williams skipping Wuhan and Sharapova (left forearm) and Bouchard (continuing effects of a head injury) pulling out on Monday, the tournament is starting to have a threadbare look.However, Venus Williams contributed the feel-good story of the day when she celebrated her 700th career win -- only the ninth player to do so.Williams, 35, who suffers from the immune system disorder Sjogrens Syndrome, beat Julia Goerges 6-4, 6-3 to join her sister Serena as the only active players in the 700 club.I didnt know. Im glad nobody told me before (the match). I would have been a little bit nervous, the seven-time Grand Slam title-winner said.The draw could also be opening up nicely for Simona Halep, the world number two and top seed who strolled past Russias Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 6-1 to reach the third round.Next up for Halep is a first career meeting with Britains Konta, the world number 66 who reached the US Open last 16 as a qualifier.I expect a tough match. I heard she has a good serve, strong serve, so I have to be focused for the return, and to keep my serve, Halep said.One player to survive a dance with elimination was defending champion Petra Kvitova, who came from 5-3 down in the final set to beat Russian Daria Gavrilova 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.The Czech was diagnosed with glandular fever this year but was been given medical clearance to compete, although she looked exhausted as she ended the match.I got really tired during the second set already. I dont know how I won it, but I did. Its kind of surprise for me, as well, said the double Wimbledon champion.

Tennis: Rising Venus reaches hallowed 700 club

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WUHAN (AFP) - Venus Williams beat Julia Goerges at the Wuhan Open to reach 700 career wins on Tuesday, the only active womens player to achieve the milestone other than her sister Serena.The 35-year-old, still winning despite her ongoing fight with Sjogrens Syndrome, said she had no idea she was approaching the milestone before her 6-4, 6-3 victory in China.I didnt know. Im glad nobody told me before. I would have been a little bit nervous, the American told reporters.She added, with a smile, that her first thought now was how long would it take her to get to 800.Williams, who is the oldest player at Wuhan and turned professional in 1994, when Goerges was not yet six, becomes only the ninth player to reach 700 wins.Martina Navratilova (1,442 wins), Chris Evert (1,309) and Steffi Graf (902) head the list, while Serena Williams hit 700 in April and is now on 737.Williams was diagnosed with Sjogrens Syndrome, an immune system disorder, in 2011 and later switched to a vegan and raw foods diet to curb its symptoms.This year she won her 46th career title in Auckland and reached both the Australian Open and Wimbledon quarter-finals, losing to Serena in New York. Williams shows few signs of slowing down and she said she now had her sights set on next years Rio Olympics, where she will hope to add to her haul of four gold medals.The Olympics -- that will be awesome to be able to play there, represent the US again. That will be an honour, she said.During her career Williams, now ranked 24th, has spent 11 weeks as the world number one and won seven Grand Slam singles titles, the last one in 2008.

Football: Suarez inspires Messi-less Barca fightback

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MADRID (AFP) - Luis Suarez rounded off a stirring fightback by European champions Barcelona as they shrugged off the absence of the injured Lionel Messi to beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 on Tuesday.Kyriakos Papadopoulos had headed the visitors into a deserved half-time lead as Barca struggled to open up the Germans without Messis magic touch.However, despite also losing Andres Iniesta to a hamstring injury, Suarez turned the game around in the final 10 minutes as Sergi Roberto tapped home the rebound after the Uruguayans initial effort had been saved.And the former Liverpool striker thumped home a stunning effort to hand Barca a hard-fought three points, two minutes later.Victory takes Barca top of Group E, a point ahead of Leverkusen and BATE Borisov, the latter being 3-2 winners over Roma on Tuesday.We believed in ourselves until the end, Suarez told beIN Sports.We couldnt play great football, but we had to win the game. We had to show we are the champions.Messi was in attendance at the Camp Nou, but his teammates made a shaky start without him on the field as former Real Madrid striker Javier Hernandez forced Marc-Andre ter Stegen into a smart save at his near post inside two minutes.Ivan Rakitic had Barcas first effort on target, but the Croatian placed his header too close to Bernd Leno.Sandro Ramirez was the man given the unenviable task of replacing Messi and nearly repaid coach Luis Enriques faith as he played a lovely one-two with Suarez before Leno pulled off a spectacular save to turn the 20-year-olds effort behind.However, Leverkusens speed on the break was a constant threat and Kevin Kampl should have done better on two occasions as he curled the ball wide and was then denied by a brave block from Gerard Pique with an even clearer sight of goal.Leverkusen finally took a deserved lead on 22 minutes when Hakan Calhanoglus brilliant in-swinging corner caught Ter Stegen off guard and Papadopoulos nodded home.The German international made amends moments later as he stood up to prevent Karim Bellarabi from doubling the visitors lead.Much had been expected of Neymar in Messis absence, but the Brazilian had been kept very quiet until his deflected effort hit the post six minutes before the break and Sandros follow-up effort somehow deflected off Papadopoulos and behind for a corner.Hernandez had a golden chance to put the game beyond the hosts at the start of the second-half but blazed over when unmarked just 12 yards out.At the other end, the chances began to arrive for Barca as Sandro again fired wide before Neymar pushed an effort off target.However, the bad news continued for Enrique when Iniesta pulled up just after the hour mark to add to the Catalans mounting injury crisis.Enrique was forced to turn to youngsters Munir El Haddadi and Roberto from the bench to turn things around.Both made a big impact as Barca reacted like champions in the final 10 minutes.Roberto pounced after Leno had saved Suarezs initial effort to net his first European goal.And moments later substitute Munir squared for Suarez to smash the ball high past the helpless Leno for a memorable winner.

Football: Chelsea beaten on Mourinho's return to Porto

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PORTO (AFP) - Jose Mourinho endured a miserable return to face his old club FC Porto on Tuesday as Chelsea slumped to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Portuguese side in a rousing Champions League encounter.Andre Andres opener for Porto late in the first half was quickly cancelled out by a superb Willian free-kick, but Maicons 52nd-minute header proved to be the difference in this Group G clash played at a rip-roaring pace.Porto were worthy winners, and Mourinho has now failed to win in three trips back to the Estadio do Dragao as Chelsea manager, following another 2-1 loss in 2004 and a 1-1 draw in 2007.More importantly, Chelsea slip to third in Group G, a point behind Porto and Dynamo Kiev, who beat Maccabi Tel-Aviv 2-0 in Israel in the nights other game.It was a good performance with two ridiculous mistakes, said Mourinho.The second goal is a really bad mistake. We watch dozens of repetitions of Porto taking corners. I thought we were completely ready for that.But apart from that it was a balanced performance. The defenders played well and had no problems, but two ridiculous mistakes and we were punished.Porto coach Julen Lopetegui said: We are especially happy because of the attitude and mentality of the players. In the second half we wanted to keep attacking and creating and managed to win the game.It was always going to be an emotional occasion for Mourinho as he went back to face the club he coached so successfully over a decade ago and led to Champions League glory in 2004. However, Mourinho also needed a positive result from his side to divert attention away from their stalling Premier League form, and he acted decisively when it came to his team selection. Eden Hazard and Nemanja Matic were both on the bench at kick-off in Portugal, while Oscar, Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao -- the former Porto striker -- were missing from the squad entirely. Instead, John Obi Mikel, Ramires and Willian all started, as did Diego Costa, who is currently suspended in domestic competition. Iker Casillas, who became a sworn enemy of Mourinho as the two fell out when working together at Real Madrid, started in goal for the hosts and made a record 152nd Champions League appearance. And the Spaniard thwarted Chelsea twice in the opening exchanges, first turning behind a powerful shot from his international colleague Cesc Fabregas after good work by Costa. Then, Casillas rushed out to save from another compatriot, Pedro Rodriguez, who had been played in by Willian. Meanwhile, Portos formidable attack, featuring the brawn of Vincent Aboubakar and the mesmerising skill of Yacine Brahimi, were only showing flashes of their potential. But when Brahimi finally took on Chelsea right-back Branislav Ivanovic, who has endured a troubled start to the season, it brought instant reward in the 39th minute. He jinked into the box and tried a shot which Asmir Begovic saved. Begovic could not, however, keep out the follow-up from Andre Andre. The Dragao roared, but it was silenced on the stroke of half-time. Ramires won a free-kick just outside the box and Willian stepped up to curl a beauty past a motionless Casillas for his third goal in as many games. Porto were stunned, but Chelsea were unable to build on that moment of Brazilian brilliance as the home side regained the lead just seven minutes after the restart, their captain Maicon stooping to head a Ruben Neves corner low past Begovic at his near post. Costa was desperately unlucky not to equalise virtually from the restart with a superb strike from wide on the left that looked to be arrowing into the far corner of the net but crashed back off the woodwork. Nevertheless, the second goal galvanised a youthful and energetic Porto front six and they threatened to run riot as Giannelli Imbula stung the palms of Begovic and Aboubakar was denied by a crucial last-ditch block.Mourinho sent on Hazard and Matic, as well as Kenedy, but still Porto looked stronger. Indeed, they deserved to win by a greater margin, but Danilos header from a Miguel Layun corner agonisingly came back off the far post.

Football: Lewandowski nets hat-trick as Bayern crush Dinamo

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MUNICH (AFP) - Robert Lewandowskis phenomenal goal-scoring run continued on Tuesday with a hat-trick in Bayern Munichs 5-0 mauling as Dinamo Zagrebs 45-match unbeaten run was halted in emphatic fashion.Lewandowski again ran riot in the Champions League home match as Mario Goetze and Douglas Costa also netted to put Bayern top of Group F following their 3-0 win at Olympiakos a fortnight ago before facing Arsenal away in three weeks.We played in a very concentrated fashion from the start and when you take your goal chances, the game was over after 30 minutes, said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm.The Poland hot-shot has now scored 10 goals in his last three games after netting five in just nine spectacular minutes of Bayerns 5-1 hammering of Wolfsburg last Tuesday before claiming two more in Saturdays 3-0 win at Mainz.I am happy to get three more goals, but the main thing is that we won 5-0, said Lewandowski.It doesnt matter how many goals I score as long as we keep picking up points.The whole team played well, which creates opportunities for me.But with 10 goals in eight days, Lewandowski is in incredible form.Hes had an unbelievable week behind him, admitted Lahm, who joked that he expects at least three goals from Lewandowski per game from now on.The thrashing of Zagreb left Bayern three points clear of second-placed Olympiakos in the table following their shock 3-2 win over Arsenal in London.This was Zagrebs heaviest away defeat in Europe as the five-goal difference superseded their 6-2 loss at Real Madrid in the group stages four years ago.Lewandowski now has 17 goals for club and country as Bayern enjoyed an easy win.Zagrebs performance made a mockery of their 10-month unbeaten run in all competitions as they only created their first clear shot on goal with an hour gone after Bayern had raced into a 4-0 lead at the break.Costa opened the floodgate on 13 minutes by skipping past a defender to beat Zagreb goalkeeper Eduardo at the near post.The second followed on 21 minutes when Dinamos 18-year-old centre-back Filip Benkovic slipped after heading the ball down, Thiago Alcantara pounced on the error and his pass found Lewandowski in acres of space.Eduardos night went from bad to worse when he failed to deal with Goetzes weak shot after an exchange of passes with Kingsley Coman and the ball bobbled over the line to the 33-year-olds dismay on 25 minutes.Lewandowski claimed his second on 28 minutes when he met Costas cross and his shot cannoned off the underside of the bar to bounce over the line with the Dinamo defence cut to ribbons.Lewandowski saved his best goal of the night to claim his hat-trick.Costa showed off his dazzling skills with a deft flick to Thiago, who put Lewandowski in behind the defence and the Poland striker scooped the ball over the hapless Eduardo on 55 minutes.Only a good save from the Portugal national goalkeeper prevented Lewandowski getting his fourth when he dived at the strikers feet on 75 minutes.Shortly after the Croatian double champions had their first corner as they found themselves completely outgunned as Bayern fired in 27 shots on goal to just seven in reply as Lewandowski fired wide with two clear chances.

Football: Ospina howler leaves Arsenal facing Euro crisis

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LONDON (AFP) - Arsenals Champions League campaign was plunged into crisis as a horrendous mistake from goalkeeper David Ospina helped Olympiakos claim a stunning 3-2 win at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.Arsene Wengers side paid the price for an error-strewn display that condemned them to a second successive Group F defeat and could ruin their hopes of qualifying for the last 16.After falling behind to Felipe Pardos deflected opener, Arsenal equalised through Theo Walcott.But Wengers surprise decision to select Ospina instead of regular first choice Petr Cech backfired in spectacular fashion late in the first half when the Colombian allowed a Kostas Fortounis corner to slip through his grasp for an embarrassing own goal.Alexis Sanchez dragged Arsenal back into it with a second half equaliser, but incredibly the north Londoners imploded again with more slack defending gifting Iceland striker Alfred Finnbogason the winner.Beaten on all 12 visits of their previous visits to England, Olympiakos had caused one of the great European upsets and Arsenal, who face group leaders Bayern Munich in their next two Champions League fixtures, are in severe danger of being eliminated from the tournament by early November.After losing their opening group game at Dinamo Zagreb, Wenger acknowledged there was no more margin for error.Yet he still made five changes from Saturdays win over Leicester, including the gamble on Ospina that would prove so costly.Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain almost made an immediate impact as he fired into the side-netting, while Walcott wasted a good opportunity when he shot tamely at Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto.After that spritely start, Wengers side lost their rhythm and it wasnt long before their always-fragile defence began to creak.Centre-backs Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel made a hash of dealing with a routine cross, leading to a Fortounis shot that deflected over.And from the resulting corner, Olympiakos took a 32nd minute lead as Arsenals lack of concentration was punished.When the set-piece was pulled back to Pardo on the edge of the area, the winger was left with enough time and space to unload a powerful effort that hit Oxlade-Chamberlains heel and deflected past Ospina.Arsenals response was instant and emphatic and they drew level three minutes later.Sanchez slalomed away from two defenders and slipped a clever pass towards Walcott, who kept his composure from a tight angle to guide home a first-time finish that Roberto should have done better with.Yet Arsenals relief was short-lived, with Olympiakos regaining the lead in comical fashion in the 40th minute.There shouldnt have been any cause for alarm when a Fortounis corner drifted harmlessly towards Ospina but, under no pressure, the keeper let it drop through his hands as though he was handling a grenade and the extra official behind the goal ruled it had gone over the line before he could recover.There was more urgency about Arsenal in the second half and Per Mertesacker saw his powerful shot saved by Roberto, with Santi Cazorlas goalbound strike from the rebound bravely headed off the line by Omar Elabdellaoui.Cazorla was denied once more, this time by a good stop from Roberto, and Arsenals pressure paid off in the 65th minute when Walcott chipped a cross towards Sanchez in the six-yard box and the Chilean buried his header into the corner of the net.Astonishingly, Wengers team contrived to shoot themselves in the foot yet again just 59 seconds later.Esteban Cambiasso clipped an astute pass over the Arsenal defence to the unmarked Pardo and he drilled a low cross to substitute Finnbogason, who eased in front of the flat-footed Mertesacker to flick his shot past Ospina from close-range.Roberto produced a fine save to keep out Mesut Ozils free-kick and Sanchez headed narrowly wide, but it wasnt long before Arsenals shell-shocked players were trudged off with the sound of jeers ringing in their ears.

Football: Valencia ease to victory over lacklustre Lyon

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PARIS (AFP) - Valencia eased some of the pressure on under-fire coach Nuno Espirito Santo with a clinical defensive display to win 1-0 away to misfiring Lyon in Champions League Group H on Tuesday.The victory took Valencia, beaten by Zenit St Petersburg in their first outing, into second place in the group behind the Russians who won again 2-1 at home over Belgian side Gent.Lyon carved out a number of chances in an open first half, but with some poor finishing still found themselves a goal down at the break.Their best attempt came on 27 minutes when Mathieu Valbuena saw his blistering 25-yard free kick turned on to the bar by Valencias French goalkeeper Jaume Domenech.But Valencia rode their luck and opened the scoring three minutes before the interval when Sofiane Feghouli met a Pablo Piatti cross from the left at full speed as he ran into the box and his blistering shot cannoned off the underside of the bar into the net.I think that we had a lot of chances in the first half and then defended well in the second half and I believe the victory was deserved, said Nuno.The defence were well organised and played with soliarity. We managed to neutralise Lyons strong points, especially in midfield and weve taken three points in a very balanced group so Im proud of the teams work. added the Valencia coach. In stoppage time at the end of the half, under-performing striker Alexandre Lacazette broke into the Valencia area, veered to his right and sent in a shot which Aymen Abdennour deflected over Domenech but the ball struck the underside of the bar and bounced out before Jeremy Morel unleashed a piledriver which flew high over the bar.Then, with time running down, Aldo Kalulu laid the ball off for substitute Jordan Ferri, who seemed to have only to tap it in but inexplicably missed the target.This result now forces us to pick up points in our away matches, explained Lyon coach Hubert Fournier. Its a definite handicap to lose at home in this competition but if we can reproduce performances of this level, we will get results. Last season, we didnt play our best matches but we were more efficient, more than this season in any case. Looking at the match, we put ourselves in a position to win or get a draw but we didnt score. added the French coach.Lyon continued to press after the break, with Lacazettes shot being saved by Domenechs legs, Valbuena blazing a shot over the bar and Valbuenas free kick headed narrolwy over by Corentin Tolisso.Lyon, held 1-1 by nine-man Gent in their opening game, now boast a single point from their two outings and are bottom-of the four-team group.

Football: Platini to stay in FIFA race despite new inquiry

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PARIS (AFP) - UEFA president Michel Platini has insisted he will stay in the race for the FIFA presidency despite being named in a Swiss criminal investigation into the world football body.The French football legend told AFP on Tuesday he had done nothing wrong and defended a $2 million payment approved by FIFA president Sepp Blatter.Platini, who had been favourite to win an election for the FIFA president in February, spoke out amid reports that he and Blatter will soon be put under investigation by FIFAs independent ethics committee.I am still determined to present myself as a candidate for the FIFA presidency so I can introduce the governance reforms that are necessary to restore the order and credibility to world football, Platini told AFP.Swiss prosecutors say they are investigating whether Blatter approved a disloyal two million Swiss franc ($2 million) payment to Platini, to FIFAs prejudice.The money was paid for work carried out between 1998 and 2002 but the payment was only made in 2011. The Frenchman, who has led UEFA since 2007, said the delay was because FIFA could not afford to pay him earlier.There is no doubt about my integrity. I have done nothing wrong. That is why I have made myself fully available to cooperate with the relevant bodies and authorities to clarify whatever may be necessary, he said.I was employed by FIFA as a special advisor to president Sepp Blatter, working on various matters related to football, such as the international football calendar. It was a full-time job, Platini said.Like I explained to the Swiss authorities, I received only part of the agreed salary between 1998 to 2002.This occurred because, at the time, FIFA informed me that they would not be able to pay me the total agreed amount.Platini said all of the money received was declared to the pertinent authorities.The 60-year-old Frenchman said he did not fear a suspension by the FIFA ethics committee because I have done nothing wrong.I am calm and totally serene since I dont have reasons to be concerned, said Platini who said he had received messages of support from around the world.I have known for a long time that I would be the target of many unfounded attacks and I am conscious that these attacks will continue until the FIFA elections take place.Switzerland on Tuesday ordered the extradition of another fallen FIFA official and the world bodys ethics committee ordered a life ban from football against former vice-president Jack Warner.But South Korean tycoon Chung Mong-Joon, a rival candidate to Platini in the FIFA race, called for a task force to run FIFA because of the total meltdown at the world body.He said FIFA should organise an emergency congress to set up the task force leadership.The most urgent task at hand is to root out corruption from within FIFA, he said. Justice must be served.FIFA has been in its worse crisis since US prosecutors charged 14 FIFA officials and sports business executives in May over involvement in more than $150 million of bribes.Four days after winning a fifth term in office on May 30, Blatter announced that he would stand down when a new election is held on February 26.The Swiss investigation -- coming just days after FIFA suspended its secretary general Jerome Valcke over allegations of involvement in tickets sold at inflated prices -- intensified pressure on remaining FIFA bosses.The ethics committee on Tuesday ordered a life ban on 72-year-old Warner, who previously led CONCACAF, the confederation of North and Central America and the Caribbean.He was a key player in schemes involving the offer, acceptance, and receipt of undisclosed and illegal payments, said a FIFA statement.Warner is one of the most prominent figures among the 14 facing charges in the United States.The Trinidad politician faces 12 charges of wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering.He is fighting extradition from his homeland in Trinidad and Tobago to the US, with a hearing set for December.Warner is also central to the Swiss probe targeting Blatter, which is focused in part on a 2005 television rights sale to the Caribbean Football Union, allegedly at a hugely deflated price.In parallel, the Swiss justice ministry approved the extradition of former Costa Rican federation boss Eduardo Li, another of the 14. Li is accused of taking bribes in connection with the sale of sports marketing rights.He has 30 days to file an appeal against the extradition order.

Turkish man dies after spending 47 years in hospital

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ISTANBUL (AFP) - A Turkish man died at 70 after spending nearly half a century in a hospital in Turkey because he had nowhere else to go, media reported Tuesday.Abdullah Kozan, who had asthma and diabetes, was first admitted to a state hospital in western Bursa province with a severe headache back in 1968 when he was doing his military service.He died on Friday in his room, where he had spent the past 47 years, Dogan news agency said.Kozan had been allowed to stay because he had no place to go and he got on very well with hospital staff, workers told Dogan. The hospital administration registered Kozan as a new patient each time he was discharged at the end of a treatment.He was like a member of our hospital. We protected him. But we couldnt save him when he got worse during the recent Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday, one staff member said.An undated picture published by Dogan showed Kozan, still alive, wearing beige and burgundy pyjamas as he sat on his hospital bed, with a doctor standing beside him.

Oil prices rise as equities stabilize

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices rose Tuesday, benefiting from a more benign outlook for commodities as shares of mining giant Glencore rose and equity markets stabilized.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for November delivery advanced 80 cents to $45.23 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. European benchmark Brent oil for November delivery added 89 cents at $48.23 a barrel in London.On Monday, oil prices sank along with US and European equities following dismal Chinese industrial data that reignited doubts about the worlds second-biggest economy and petroleum market.Especially hard-hit was Swiss mining giant Glencore, which plummeted 29 percent as an analyst questioned the companys prospects given its heavy debt load. But Glencore shares rallied Tuesday after the company said its business is operationally and financially robust and that it faced no solvency issues.Other markets were also more benign. Copper prices rose for the first time in six days and US stocks spent much of the day in positive territory.The whole Glencore situation has stabilized a bit, said Bart Melek, head of commodity strategy at TD Securities.I think theres probably a view out there that the commodity correction might have been overdone a little bit.Analysts said traders were also looking ahead to Wednesdays US oil inventory report, which is expected to show lower supplies, in part due to an anticipated drop in US crude production.Analysts expect price action in the oil market to remain choppy.We find ourselves in a highly volatile day-to-day price environment, as prices are unwilling to push too much higher given the backdrop of oversupply, but are unwilling to push too much lower given an ongoing narrowing of the imbalance amid strong demand, said Matt Smith, analyst at ClipperData.

Dollar drifts lower as market awaits Yellen rate comments

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar drifted lower against most other major currencies Tuesday as traders debated whether Chinas slowdown and its effects on the global economy could delay a US interest rate hike.The US currency was under pressure as questions about Chinas slowing economy fanned skepticism in the Fed raising interest rates before year-end, said Joe Manimbo of Western Union Business Solutions.Investors will be focused on Fed Chair Yellens speech Wednesday at a community banking conference at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, hoping to find clues on the direction of US monetary policy.Yellens remarks last week indicating the first rate hike since 2006 was still on track for 2015 has been echoed by other Fed officials.That left more analysts expecting the Fed to raise its zero-level federal funds rate at the mid-December policy meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), instead of the next one in late October.The dollar fell to $1.1254 against the euro, from $1.1242 late Monday, and dipped to 119.75 yen from 119.93 yen. But it edged up against the British pound, which slipped to $1.5157 from $1.5174.The market also awaited the Labor Departments US jobs report for September, due Friday.This week has a decided look of range-trading as markets simply bide their time ahead of the NFP (nonfarm payrolls) report this Friday, said Boris Schlossberg of BK Asset Management.With so many FOMC members sounding considerably more hawkish than just a few weeks ago, any positive results in payrolls data, especially on the wage front, could finally convince the Fed that rates can be hiked from zero bound. Until then we are likely to see more seesaw action.

Gates richest American, 3 tech chiefs join top 10: Forbes

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Microsoft founder Bill Gates retained his title as wealthiest American, while three founders of online companies joined the top 10, according to the Forbes 400 list released Tuesday.Gates held onto the number-one spot in the annual list of the 400 wealthiest Americans for the 22nd straight year, with net worth of $76 billion, down $5 billion from 2014.Warren Buffett, the head of conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway, ranked second with $62 billion, while former Oracle chief executive Larry Ellison is third with $47.5 billion.Forbes said the average net worth of the 400 members on the list stands at a record $5.8 billion, above the $5.7 billion last year. Total wealth is $2.34 trillion, up from $2.29 trillion in 2014.Entering the top 10 richest rank this year were three founders of e-businesses. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos bolted from 15th to fourth place at $47 billion, thanks to the surging value of Amazon stock.Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who jumped from 11th to seventh place, had net worth of $40.3 billion. And Larry Page, CEO of Google, moved from number 13 in 2014 to land the 10th spot, with $33.3 billion.The business magazine also spotlighted Republican presidential contender Donald Trump, who has claimed wealth of at least $10 billion. Forbes came up with a lower figure, rating the billionaire in 121st place.After interviewing more than 80 sources and devoting unprecedented resources to valuing a single fortune, were going with a figure less than half that -- $4.5 billion, albeit still the highest figure weve ever had for him, Forbes said.

Bangladesh women cricketers 'comfortable' in Pakistan

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KARACHI (AFP) - Bangladesh womens cricket captain Salma Khatun said Tuesday her players feel comfortable in Pakistan as they prepare for a series, even though most foreign teams have shunned the conflict-racked country for years.The series, comprising two Twenty20s and as many one-day matches, was given the green light after a visit by a Bangladeshi security delegation.Major foreign cricket teams have stayed away since Pakistani militants attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009, killing eight people and injuring several visiting players.Pakistans international isolation was overcome earlier this year when Zimbabwe toured for a short limited-over series, but hopes for more cricket remain slim after a bomb went off outside the ground during the last match.Pakistan hosted non-Test playing country Nepal in 2011 but the last high-profile teams to play in Pakistan were India and Sri Lanka in 2006. Khatun said her team was focused on cricket.We are here to play cricket and are comfortable, she said at the launch of the series that will be played entirely in the southern city of Karachi. It is just like our home and we are fully prepared to play against Pakistan, which is a very strong team.Bangladesh twice refused to send their mens team to Pakistan, in 2012 and 2013, over security fears after initially agreeing to play short limited-over series.The first Twenty20 will be played on Thursday followed by the second on October 2. The two one-day matches will be played on October 4 and 6.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has promised foolproof security for the Bangladeshi womens team, with players staying at the same club where they will play their matches.PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan said last week the womens team tour is part of his gradual efforts to revive international cricket in his country.