Switzerland

Four European tourists kidnapped in Mali

Four European tourists kidnapped in MaliNairobi/Bamako  - Four Europe

CAS dismisses Rasmussen appeal against two-year doping ban

CAS dismisses Rasmussen appeal against two-year doping ban Lausanne, Switzerland  - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Thursday dismissed cyclist Michael Rasmussen's appeal against the two-year ban he received for doping from the Monegasque Cycling Federation (FMC) last June.

"Consequently, Michael Rasmussen is suspended for a period of two years, starting on 26 July 2007," said CAS in a statement.

Rasmussen was kicked out of the 2007 Tour while leading after lying about his whereabouts in connection with doping tests. He told the International Cycling Federation

Number of cholera dead in Zimbabwe shoots past 2,700

ZimbabweGeneva - The spread of cholera continues unabated in Zimbabwe, where the death toll has risen to 2,755 since August, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Thursday.

The UN update issued in Geneva, which reflects the situation as of January 21, showed a total 48,623 people in the beleaguered southern African country, were infected with the waterborne disease.

On Wednesday alone, 36 deaths and 1,125 new infection cases were recorded, OCHA said.

Hansen goes to CAS to get bronze medal back

Hansen goes to CAS to get bronze medal back Lausanne, Switzerland  - Norwegian horse rider Tony Andre Hansen has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an attempt to get back the bronze Olympic medal that he lost last month.

The sport's ruling body FEI disqualified him from the Olympics last month after ruling that he had been guilty of a doping violation after his horse Camiro tested positive for capsaicin on the day of the team jumping final of the Olympic Games.

Red Cross begins distribution of aid in Gaza

ICRC LogoGeneva - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) began Monday the distribution of aid material to around 8,000 families in the Gaza Strip following the cessation of military activity there, a spokeswoman said in Geneva.

The Red Cross is now providing cooking utensils, tarpaulins, hygiene articles and blankets for families that lost their homes in the three-week Israeli military offensive, said spokeswoman Dorothea Krimitsas.

Access to the families in the worst-affected parts of Gaza was proving difficult, with many houses completely destroyed or heavily damaged. Unexploded ordnance was also proving a particular hazard.

Shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist to seek asylum in Switzerland

Switzerland Shoe-throwingGeneva, Jan. 19 : The Iraqi journalist who threw shoes at U. S. President George W. Bush during the latter''s surprise visit to Baghdad last month, will seek political asylum in Switzerland, his Geneva-based lawyer has said.

According to a foreign news agency report, lawyer Mauro Poggia says Muntadhar al-Zeidi''s life is in danger in Iraq.

Al-Zeidi is currently in an Iraqi jail awaiting trial on charges of assaulting a foreign leader for his December 14 shoe-throwing incident at a news conference in Baghdad.

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