Conmebol World Cup Qualifying Round-up: Matias Fernandez inspires Chile to a late win in Venezuela

Paraguay succumbed to the altitude of La Paz as they were defeated 3-1 by Bolivia with two strikes from Pablo Escobar providing the difference.

The pitch at the Hernando Siles stadium was in terrible condition but that did not stop Gustavo Quinteros’ side from taking the lead after just 10 minutes. Alcides Pena’s volley from inside the box seemed…

Jorge Sampaoli: I will not abandon Universidad de Chile during the season

EXCLUSIVEBy Andres Roman

Universidad de Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli has promised the club’s supporters he will not abandon the side during the season amidst talk of a potential move to his homeland Argentina or Brazil.

The U qualified for the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals this week after overturning a 4-1 first leg deficit to Deportivo Quito, winning the second…

Deportivo Quito 4-1 Universidad de Chile: Alustiza double gives Los Azulgrana a commanding first-leg lead in the Copa Libertadores

Deportivo Quito secured a huge result as they defeated Universidad de Chile 4-1 in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores last 16 tie at the Olimpico Atahualpa stadium.

Los Azulgrana went ahead through Matias Alustiza but the game parity was restored by Matias Rodriguez after the hosts were reduced to 10 men. Carlos Ischia’s side showed great character to…

Multiple Bomb Blasts In Kano!

Bombs kill at least two Nigerian police officers in Kano.

Nearby residents are frightened, a pastor says The region has been the site of religious violence. At least two police officers died and others were injured Friday when bombs exploded at three locations in the northern Nigeria city of Kano, authorities said.

At least one of the bombs exploded at a police barracks and another near the…

Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez Has Cancer

Argentina’s reelected President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner after her inauguration in Buenos Aires, on December 10, 2011.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner’s surgery is scheduled for January 4 Medical exams indicate the cancer has not spread beyond the thyroid, a spokesman says Spokesman: A routine medical exam uncovered papillary carcinoma in the president’s thyroid Doctors detect papillary carcinoma, the most common type of thyroid cancer Buenos…

‘Anonymous’ hackers hit security group

A Twitter account associated with “Anonymous” celebrated the Christmas-Day hacking of security group Stratfor.

‘Anonymous’ hackers hit security group. Apparent hack is part of promised Christmas week web attacks One report says plan is to steal $1 million and give it to charity ( Mashable ) —

Hacker group Anonymous began its promised week of Christmas hacks, assaulting a long list of targets. The first Anonymous…

Five Nigerian churches bombed

The devastating scene outside St Theresa Catholic Church near the Nigerian capital Abuja on Sunday.

The U.N. condemns the attacks and calls for an end to sectarian violence in Nigeria

Nigeria’s president vows to bring those responsible to justice The bombing in the city of Madalla killed 18, a government spokesman says The blasts follow attacks on churches during last year’s Christmas season Jos, Nigeria (CNN)…

N. Korea is ‘world’s least democratic’

Kim Jong Il votes in North Korea’s 2009 parliamentary elections at a polling station in Pyongyang.

Norway is listed as the most democratic nation in the British report The United States ranks 19th, down two spots from 2010 Canada is eighth and the United Kingdom is 18th.

North Korea, whose leader Kim Jong Il died over the weekend, is the least democratic nation on Earth, according to…

Tunisia swears in new president

Moncef Marzouki has been sworn in as Tunisia’s new president. He is well-known for his firebrand style and his opposition to the old regime.

The presidency is more of a ceremonial role Marzouki is the founder of a center-left party The new president had lived in exile The Arab Spring started in Tunisia Tunis, Tunisia.

Tunisia has sworn in a new president, a milestone in the North…

Obama to Iran: Give us back our drone aircraft

Iranian officials display what they say is an unmanned U.S. spy plane brought down in Iran last week.

“We’ve asked for it back. We’ll see how the Iranians respond,” Obama says An Iranian military general says Iran won’t send back “the spying equipment”

Iran says that it downed an American drone on December 4. The Pentagon says it lost contact with a drone and has not…