26/06/2014 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today with me, Zeinab Badawi.

Its star player Luis Suarez is banned

from nine international matches and all football for four months.

Uruguay is to appeal against the ban imposed by FIFA on Suarez

for biting an Italy defender in a World Cup group match on Tuesday.

I'm Peter Okwoche, live in Rio with all the latest

I will also have the latest update on the pitch.

Iraq's Prime Minister confirms Syrian warplanes targeted ISIS

jihadist forces on the border with his country.

He tells the BBC he welcomes the attack.

The radical preacher, Abu Qatada, is found not guilty of terrorism

offences by a court in Jordan, but he's not a free man yet.

And, nearly a century after Europe went to war, its leaders unite to

But fresh battles lie ahead as they begin to decide who will lead

He was one of the major attractions of the World Cup, but now Luis

Suarez finds himself and from playing at the tournament in Brazil

after receiving the biggest penalty in World Cup history. Uruguay's star

striker is to be suspended for nine international matches, starting with

Uruguay's Matt later this week against Colombia. It has sparked a

huge upset in Uruguay, where the country's Football Association says

it will oppose the ruling. My colleague joins us now live from

Rio. A lot of upset fans, I should imagine. Yes, a lot of upset

Uruguayan fans. It is that third time Luis Suarez has done this and I

think the punishment tries to take that into consideration. Nine

matches, he has been banned from playing for the Uruguayan team, and

he has been banned from all the falling activity for the next four

months, meaning he cannot play for his club side, Liverpool, or the

next four months. This is how the spokesperson, Delia Fisher, made the

announcement. The player Luis Suarez is to be

suspended for nine official matches. The first match of the suspension is

to be served in the upcoming FIFA World Cup fixture between Colombia

and Uruguay on 28th June 2014. The remaining match suspensions will

be served in Uruguay's next FIFA World Cup matches, as long as

the team qualifies, and/or in the representative team's subsequent

official matches in accordance with article 38 paragraph 2A of the FIFA

disciplinary code. The player Luis Suarez is banned

from taking part in any kind of football-related activity,

administrative, sport or any other for a period of four months

in accordance with article 22 Peter, so that is the fate of Luis

Suarez for the moment, but just tell us about some of the other matches

going on and I am thinking in particular of the United States

versus Germany. That game ended one nail in favour of the Germans. Both

side needed a draw to make it through, but luckily for the

Americans, they also go through simply because in the other game,

Garnett needed to win if they were going to progress -- it ended one

nail. Our gives you a shot of opposite us on the Copacabana beach,

American fans celebrating the fact they have made it through to round

16. Thomas Muller scored for the Germans in the first half of their

game, he has now scored a total of nine goals at the World Cup, and in

the other game, Donna considered a first-half own goal -- Danner. They

equalised to become the highest scorning African at the World Cup

with six goals, but Cristiani Ronaldo put Portugal ahead as that

game ended 2-1. Ghana have been hit with a lot of problems at this World

Cup. This morning it was announced two of their star players had been

expelled from the team, suspended indefinitely from what began a

Football Association is calling gross abuse of behove -- behaviour.

They had problems coming into this game and unfortunately it is their

last game at this World Cup. Tell us, who are the fancied teams for

those who have gone through to the next age? Quite a few good teams

have gone through to the next round. Brazil are still in there, Argentina

are in, Holland or by their as are France, so people will look to see

which of those teams, who are the big teams left in this competition

you are still in with a chance to win the World Cup, but my colleague

now takes a look at the action on the pitch today. Many would agree

with this sentiment, although not perhaps Portugal after their defeat

to Germany, organic, who suspended two players. -- or Danner. Portugal

had most to do. Rinaldo fought the early pace, nearly scoring one of

the best goals of the tournament. His powerful header produced one of

the best saves. Portugal took the lead on the half-hour. John boy was

the unlucky gamma defender slicing into his own net. Both teams needed

more goals to have a chance of progression, and although Ronaldo

scored his 50th international goal and secured the win, it was not

enough. Portugal and Ghana are both out. Meanwhile, Germany secured top

spot with a narrow win over the US. Juergen Klinsmann, a World Cup

winner with Germany in 1990, was powerless as Tomas Mejias scored the

winner. But the Americans do qualify. I was telling you earlier

about the American fans celebrating on the beach. We can now talk to my

colleague who was out there. Julia, what is the atmosphere like? I think

we had, but I can tell you that looking at it from up here it is a

great atmosphere down there, with the Americans really celebrating

their passage through to round 16. Later I will be talking about this

apparent football fever that seems to affect people in the US. For the

moment, Peter, thank you. Don't forget you can also keep up to

date with all the news on our website, including all the

latest on Suarez and those bans. And don't forget

the actual football - we have all The Iraqi Prime Minister,

Nouri al-Maliki, has confirmed to the BBC that Syrian

fighter jets bombed Sunni rebel The attack on the insurgents, who

are linked to the jihadist group ISIS, was carried out on Tuesday

in the border town of al-Qaim. Mr al-Maliki says Iraq did not

request the raid but welcomed He added that Iraq and Syria are now

co-operating over border security. The aftermath of a Syrian attack

from the air on a building in the border area between Iraq and

Syria, according to the commentary Now Iraq's prime Minister,

Nouri al-Maliki, has confirmed there were some strikes, saying they were

on the Syrian side of the border. There was no coordination involved

but we welcome this action, we welcome any serious strike

against ISIS, because this group They carry out their strikes

and we carry out ours, and the And against the background of this

development, Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague visiting

Baghdad, stressing the importance of political unity in Iraq and offering

British diplomatic, counterterrorism We urge all Iraq's leaders

and communities to unite. The Iraqi state faces an existential

threat in the growth and expansion of the area controlled by ISIS with

huge implications for the future stability and freedom of this

country and many other countries. Batches

of recruits have been turning up at this military camp north

of Baghdad, declaring themselves Today we brought about 1000 men,

says their chief, we have more than 20,000 people

willing to join the Army and some They are recruiting

and training down in the southern city of Basra too - not, they say,

solely in defence of the Shi'ites but in defence of all Iraqis,

Shi'ite, Sunni and Christian. Arriving on foot as well as by car,

these are among the latest Iraqis to flee their homes in the face

of the Sunni insurgent attacks, Christian families seeking sanctuary

in Kurdish controlled territory. The checkpoint queues reveal

the growing tide of the displaced, as the conflict continues with

the new element of the Syrian involvement, the region's conflicts

overlapping through ISIS and now Now a look at some

of the day's other news. The World Health Organisation says

drastic action is needed to fight the outbreak of the deadly Ebola

virus in Guinea, The WHO says 399 people have died

since the start of the outbreak and more than 600 cases have been

reported, making it An investigation into the former BBC

radio and TV presenter Jimmy Savile has revealed that he sexually abused

patients at hospitals around Britain, with victims ranging

from five to 75 years old. Reports covering nearly 30 hospitals

found that attacks took place over five decades in wards,

corridors and offices. Allegations that Savile was

a prolific sex offender only came to light after his death in 2011,

at the age of 84. Experts advising the British

government on nutrition have recommended halving the daily limit

for added sugar in our diets. They say sugar should make up no

more than 5% of the daily calories consumed - that's equivalent to

one can of fizzy drink. They suggest children should drink

water with meals rather than juice. It looks increasingly likely that

the former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker,

will be given the post of president of the EU commission.

That's despite the best efforts of Britain's Prime Minister,

David Cameron, to try and block the appointment.

He believes that Mr Juncker might oppose fundamental reform of the EU.

Today, Mr Cameron and other EU leaders are in the Belgian city

of Ypres, where earlier they paid tribute to those who died in World

Europe's leaders came here to remember at the start of World War I

100 years ago. The leaders arrive in a town that once had been totally

destroyed by artillery fire. For David Cameron, today's solemn

ceremony marks the start of a critical summit where he will almost

certainly be defeated in his opposition to Jean-Claude Juncker

taking the top job in the U. I am unapologetic about standing up for

an important principle, which is that elect and heads of government

should make these choices, and also about the need for people that will

carry forward badly needed reform in Europe. The German Chancellor Angela

Merkel knows the focus of the summit will be a split with David Cameron,

but she was conscious that this date was about the heavyweight of

Europe's history. A van lead Europe's leaders along the main

road, which so many troops had marched upon, heading for battle. --

a ban -- a band led them. The leaders were determined that

argument to date over who should run Europe would not overshadow this day

of remembering, but tomorrow David Cameron faces a vote that he is

expected to lose heavily. Earlier, Jean-Claude Juncker had appeared

optimistic of victory. Is your job a done deal? Angela Merkel signals

that after tomorrow's vote she would extend her hand and good compromises

could be found with Great Britain. Joining me

from Brussels is the Europe analyst and senior adviser to the European

Policy Centre, Jacki Davis. Is this snub for David Cameron, or

does this tell us more about the direction of the European Union?

David Cameron has described this as a first step in a long campaign. He

is making it part of the re-negotiation of our membership of

the European union and the referendum. There are two battles

going on. One is the principal of who gets to choose who runs the

European Commission, the EU's executive arm that proposes

legislation. Is it EU leaders are the European Parliament? That is an

issue that many people are concerned about, but they feel that the

bandwagon is rolling so fast bind John Claudette Eurocar, they could

not backtrack. -- Jean-Claude Juncker. Now that the conditions

attached, does that mean that any federalist ambitions he might have

would be contained or limited? I think it is more where you put the

focus. The focus for many of these European leaders is on the economic

situation, the need to restore competitive notes --

competitiveness, jobs. So it is not so much putting a ring fence aren't.

This is an important and powerful job, but the commission president is

not decide anything. Decisions are taken by the European leaders and

the European Parliament. But it does set the direction and tone. It does

matter, but the reason this is important is what it tells us about

written's relationship with the European and what might happen

afterwards. David Cameron is telling us that everything in life has

consequences, he is not playing down speculation that this will be linked

to be negotiation and referendum. Is the UK going to get a plum job at

the commission? David Cameron says this is not about deals and

sweeteners, but they will be looking for some way to save some face in

the long run. Thank you. That vote expected tomorrow on the new

president of the European Commission.

The radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada has been found not guilty

of terrorism offences by a court in Jordan.

But he'll stay in custody until September

when the court delivers verdicts on further terrorism charges.

His trial follows a decade-long legal battle

Our security correspondent Gordon Correra is in Amman.

Abu Qatada walked into an iron cage in Jordan's state

security court with a wave and a smile to his family and supporters.

As the verdict on a charge of being linked to an 1988 bomb plot

When news came of his acquittal, there were chaotic scenes and Abu

Qatada himself could be glimpsed through the bars clearly emotional.

After nearly a decade of legal battles, first in Britain

are now in Jordan, the controversial preacher Abu Qatada is now one step

Abu Qatada had been linked to at bomb plot in 1988. For family and

friends, today's decision shows the evidence was not strong. He is an

Islamist, but he does not support violence and terror. Abu Qatada fled

Jordan and received asylum in Britain. He developed a reputation

as a controversial and radical preacher. That eventually led to an

eight year legal battle to send him back to Jordan. He was deported last

July. His family today said they were disappointed that he remained

in detention. That is because one further charge against him remains.

For now, this influential preacher remains in custody. But within

months, he could be free. But officials in London say he will not

be allowed to return to Britain. It's nearly four months since the

Malaysian plane MH370 vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing

with 239 passengers on board. The Australian government has now

announced that the search will no -- now move to an area 1,800km

off the west coast of Australia. With the details here's

our Transport correspondent It is the biggest search

operation in history. Covering millions

of square kilometres and using Hypersensitive microphones to

fish for sound, sonar submarines Investigators thought they had heard

pings from the plane's black boxes, So now there is

a new underwater search area, hundreds of miles further south,

but still huge, the size of Norway. This site is the best available

and most likely place where The search will still be

painstaking, of course, we could be fortunate and find it in

the first hour or the first day, but Experts are working

on the thinnest of clues. Basic satellite pings that were

never meant for finding aeroplanes and educated

guesswork on how quickly the Just look at where they think

the airliner flew. The data suggests that

for five or more hours, flight MH370 was being flown,

not by a pilot, but by a computer. It is highly likely that

the aircraft was on autopilot, otherwise it could not have

followed the orderly path that has been identified through

the satellite sightings. That could mean everyone

on board was unconscious. Even if it is true, it does not rule

out an accident or a deliberate act. Ships are now mapping

the seabed before they begin a In the United States, more people

than ever before were expected to have watched the match which has

just ended. In fact, so large was the TV

audience last Sunday that viewing figures were more than for the NBA

finals or the World Series. So has America finally welcomed

the so-called beautiful game? One man who should know the answer

is Chris Harris, the editor and He writes about TV ratings

and the growth of soccer He joins us via webcam from

West Palm Beach in Florida. Football mad Americans? A bit of a

contradiction? Yes, you would think so, but that is the stereotype of

yesteryear. This support is growing exponentially. For people under the

age of 24, it is the second most popular sport in the United States.

For the Hispanic population, it is the most popular sport. It is the

coming together of several different things. Demographics, age groups, as

well. Is it different from the figures we had for the World Cup

four years ago? It is. Four years ago, the United States played Ghana

and the TV figures were about 19 million. For the game against

Portugal last Sunday, it was almost 25 million. With this game coming up

next Tuesday against Belgium or all of Julia, that promises to break

that number. -- or Algeria. It is going to be absolutely huge. Is it

going up across the United States fairly evenly across age groups,

across the demography? I would say so except for middle America. The

West Coast of the United States and the east coast, that is really

taking off. Middle America is still rapidly growing, but not at the rate

of the Coasts. But we have had other games involving Mexico with

recognised is as well. It is not just United States focused, it is

across the board. People are watching all the games in recognised

's. It is interesting because the US Germany match, their coach is

German. How far is this popularity growing? No matter where people come

from in the United States, they have ancestors from other countries

whether it is Latin America or Europe or beyond. There is that

emotional tie in terms of ancestry. But there is that excitement in

terms of these matches. It is just one of the most exciting World Cups

we have seen in many years. There is a combination of factors but it is

on the way up. And one big factor is it is being held in Brazil which is

relatively easy for them to get to from the United States? Very much

so. And it is better TV times. The TV coverage has been better. But for

those US fans going to Brazil, the supporters groups sent down three

planes, record numbers. Thank you. Goodbye.

After seeing a lot of fine and sunny weather across England and Wales so

far this week, Friday will bring a very different story, heavy,

thundery rain. Scotland and Northern Ireland will be the driest and

brightest prospects. But Northern Ireland could get some rain on