Nia Sanchez, Miss Nevada, Crowned Miss USA 2014

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Miss Nevada Nia Sanchez, a fourth-degree black belt in the Korean martial art of taekwondo, was crowned Miss USA 2014 on Sunday night.

She beat out 50 other contestants from all the states and the District of Columbia for the title of 63rd Miss USA. First runner-up was Miss North Dakota Audra Mari.Erin Brady, of South Glastonbury, Connecticut, the 2013 winner, gave up her crown to Sanchez after a three-hour telecast from the Baton Rouge Civic Center in Louisiana.

Other runner-ups, judged on interviews, evening gowns and swimsuits were: home state beauty queen, Miss Louisiana Brittany Guidry; Miss Georgia Tiana Griggs, Miss Florida Brittany Oldehoff and Miss Iowa Carlyn Bradarich.

Bradarich got a second chance when the viewing audience gave her the most votes on Twitter in the pageant's first-ever "Save the Queen" option.

Sanchez will go on to represent the U.S. at the Miss Universe competition later this year.

In a vibrant red floor-length fishtail gown, Miss Nevada talked about the importance of women being able to defend themselves when asked a question about the high rate of sexual assaults on college campuses. Judge Rumer Willis, the 25-year-old daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, said 19 percent of U.S. undergraduate women are victims of sexual assault and asked Sanchez why she thinks this is being swept under the rug and what should be done about it.

Sanchez said bringing awareness to the issue was important, as well as women taking it upon themselves to learn how to defend themselves.

The subject of sexual assault was also on the mind of Miss Pennsylvania Valerie Gatto. She made headlines this week when she said she was the product of rape. During a taped segment that aired when her name was called, Gatto said her mother was 19 when she was attacked leaving work in Pittsburgh and became pregnant.

Gatto said she is living proof "that your circumstances do not define your life."

First runner-up Mari said she overcame being bullied in high school by competing in ice hockey. The Fargo, N.D., native wore a green floor-length evening gown and in her final interview talked about the importance of getting an education and going to college.

Contestants entered the stage on a glitzy float as Louisiana native singer-songwriter Marc Broussard sang the New Orleans hits "Iko Iko" and "Hey Pocky Way" to kick off the 2014 contest. The women introduced themselves while holding Mardi Gras masks in their hands as purple, green and gold confetti fell in the background.

The pageant also included musical acts by the country music duo Florida Georgia Line, rapper Nelly and Latin pop band Camila.

Celebrity judges walked a red carpet in evening gowns and tuxedos before the start of the show, posing for pictures and talking about the qualities they would be looking for in the beauty they crown the winner.

"It's very important that she has confidence," said Barbara Palacios, Miss Universe 1986 and a coach and judge for the new Telemundo reality show, "Miss Latina Universo." ''The right attitude and perseverance are also very important."

"It's all about the eyes," said Lance Bass of the pop singing boy group NSYNC. "I just want to see a girl that is just really having a good time up there."

Others who walked the red carpet were former NBA star Karl Malone; actors Ian Ziering, Melissa Peterman and Rumer Willis; pageant show host Jeannie Mai; and Donald Trump, who owns the Miss Universe Organization, which includes the Miss USA pageant.

Football: FIFA 'confident' about World Cup - Blatter

 

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said that World Cup 2014 would be a success.

SAO PAULO (AFP) - FIFA President Sepp Blatter threw his support behind Brazil's troubled World Cup preparations on Thursday, insisting he was "confident" the tournament would be a success.
"We at FIFA, we are confident, it will be a celebration," Blatter told reporters in Sao Paulo, the city which will host the opening match of the finals on June 12.
Blatter's comments came as Sao Paulo was plunged into transport chaos after a strike by subway workers on Thursday.
It was the latest in a series of strikes and protests which have plagued Brazil in the build-up to the World Cup.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke also vowed to stage a successful tournament.
"We have everything ready for June 12, we have the best base camps for the teams," Valcke said.
"There are no risks for the opening weeks of the competition which are the most challenging because there are the most teams," he added. "We are in control, we have nothing to fear in the coming days."
Blatter meanwhile said he believed the febrile atmosphere of social unrest which has gripped Brazil in the build-up would subside once the competition got under way.
"I'm an optimist," Blatter said. "After the tournament kicks off I think there will be a better mood."
 

Afghan election front-runner Abdullah escapes assassination attempt

KABUL (AFP) - Afghan presidential election front-runner Abdullah Abdullah said he had escaped an assassination attempt Friday when an explosion hit his campaign motorcade in Kabul, just days ahead of a hotly-contested run-off election.
"A few minutes ago, when we left a campaign rally our convoy was hit by a mine," he told another election rally in quotes broadcast on Afghan television. He added that some of his guards were mildly wounded, while he was unhurt.
The attempt came ahead of the second-round presidential election on June 14, with Taliban insurgents threatening to disrupt the polls.
No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.
Abdullah fell short of the 50 percent threshold needed for an outright victory in the April first round and will face former World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani in the run-off.
"We condemn the attack on respected presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah," Ghani said on Twitter. "This is the act of the enemies of Afghanistan to disrupt the democratic process in the country."
 

Obama makes 'no apologies' for Taliban hostage deal

BRUSSELS (AFP) - President Barack Obama vehemently refused to apologise Thursday for doing a prisoner trade with the Taliban to free a US soldier, despite a fierce political storm over the deal in Washington.
Critics, both Republican and Democratic, have asked whether the transfer of five Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo Bay for the release of US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was even legal, and question both the price paid and the principle of a swap.
But Obama, asked about the row raging in Washington at the G7 summit in Brussels was unapologetic, repeating that he had a duty as commander-in-chief to get Bergdahl home.
"We have a basic principle, we do not leave anybody wearing the American uniform behind, Obama said, adding that he had acted last week because the health of Bergdahl, held captive for nearly five years was deteriorating.
"We saw an opportunity and we seized it and I make no apologies for that."
Obama referred to the huge controversy on Capitol Hill which has drawn Bergdahl and his family into the political crossfire.
"I'm never surprised by the controversies that are whipped up in Washington," Obama said.
"That's par for the course."
The president also defended his decision to announce Bergdahl's release in a televised appearance in the White House Rose Garden with the soldier's parents at his side.
"This is not a political football -- you had a couple of parents whose kid volunteered to fight in a distant land, who they hadn't seen in five years," Obama said.
"I make absolutely no apologies for making sure that we get back a young man to his parents and that the American people understand this is somebody's child."
Some of the president's critics have warned that Obama, already burdened by a series of crises, has sunk deeper into political quicksand by negotiating with terrorists, keeping Congress in the dark or manufacturing a military success story in order to mask other scandals.
Democratic Party, Senate Intelligence Committee chair Dianne Feinstein, has even accused Obama of breaking US law by failing to provide lawmakers 30 days' notice before transferring prisoners out of Guantanamo.
The White House has offered several explanations for acting without congressional notification to recover Bergdahl.
At first, it argued his health and safety were in immediate jeopardy.
Later, it said a delay would interfere with the president's constitutional function of protecting Americans.
On Thursday, a senior US official embroidered the tale even further, saying that a video showing Bergdahl appearing in poor health in January added extra urgency to the bid to free him.
The official said it was not possible to divulge contents of a classified briefing for senators, but did say they were told that Bergdahl's recovery and his life would be in danger "if the detainee exchange proceedings were disclosed or derailed."
A Senate aide told AFP meanwhile that the government had "obtained credible information that, if anything about the swap became public, Bergdahl would be killed."
Complicating the defense of the swap are the questionable circumstances of Bergdahl's capture, with some soldiers accusing the 28-year-old of desertion and the US military announcing it will investigate whether he should be disciplined.
"It doesn't look good," Senator Joe Manchin winced on Wednesday ahead of a classified briefing for all 100 senators in which officials provided details on the exchange.
 

Cameron tells Putin to end Ukraine meddling

British PM David Cameron told Vladimir Putin to end Moscow's military meddling in Ukraine.

PARIS (AFP) - British Prime Minister David Cameron told Vladimir Putin to end Moscow's military meddling in Ukraine as he became the first western leader to meet the Russian president since Moscow's annexation of Crimea.
Putin, who has been cold-shouldered by the United States and its allies since the March seizure of the peninsula, met Cameron in Paris on Thursday ahead of talks later with French President Francois Hollande.
The Russian leader's return to the international centre stage, ahead of Friday's D-Day anniversary ceremony in Normandy, came on a day when Ukraine's government admitted it had lost control of part of its eastern border to pro-Russian separatists that the West suspects are being actively backed by Moscow.
Cameron arrived for his meeting with Putin directly from a Brussels meeting of G7 leaders which issued a warning that Russia faced further sanctions if it does not stop what they see as efforts to destabilise its southern neighbour.
"This was a meeting with a very clear and firm set of messages, which is that there is an opportunity for a successful, peaceful and stable Ukraine especially now there's been a presidential election," Cameron told the BBC.
"But the status quo, the situation today, is not acceptable and it needs to change."
"Russia needs to properly recognise and work with this new president. We need de-escalation. We need to stop arms and people crossing the border. We need action on these fronts but if that happens there is a diplomatic path that is open to have proper relations between Ukraine and Russia and a successful future for the people of Ukraine, which is what they deserve."
Putin will also meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday before the D-Day ceremony. No formal meeting is scheduled with Barack Obama but the US president signalled in Brussels that he was likely to have some kind of exchange with his Russian counterpart.
"I have no doubt that I'll see Mr Putin," Obama said. "Should we have the opportunity to talk, I'll deliver the same message as I have throughout this crisis.
"If Russia's provocations continue, it's clear from our discussions here the G7 nations are ready to impose additional costs."
The G7 leaders said they were united behind a common position on the crisis but there have been clear differences of emphasis all week over the balance between pursuing dialogue with Putin and signalling to him, and the Russian people, that they are isolated.
There is concern among some western officials that Putin's trip to France could be seen by his domestic audience as him returning to the international top table.
Obama, who had a rushed dinner with Hollande in a Paris restaurant before the French leader's late-night 'supper' with Putin, called on Russia to take concrete steps to demonstrate it was willing to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The US leader said Russia had to recognise Ukraine's president-elect Petro Poroshenko, withdraw troops from the Ukrainian border and stop backing pro-Moscow rebels who are destabilising eastern Ukraine.
"We will have a chance to see what Mr Putin does over the next two, three, four weeks. If he remains on the current course we've already indicated the actions we are prepared to take."
The diplomatic shuttling in France came as the Ukrainian authorities admitted they had been forced to abandon three checkpoints on the border with Russia after nightly assaults by pro-Russian separatists.
AFP reporters in the area said at least one had been taken over by the rebels.
In a signal the situation in the country's east may be about to deteriorate sharply, the government vowed to beef up its security presence to counter the rebels amid reports of continued fighting.

Seven militants killed in fresh infighting: officials

MIRANSHAH (AFP) - Fresh clashes between the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and a breakaway faction killed at least seven militants in the country's restive northwest on Friday, officials said.
The fighting erupted in the Wacha Mela area 65 kilometres (40 miles) west of Miranshah, the capital of North Waziristan tribal district.
Almost 100 militants have been killed since supporters of commander Khalid Mehsud, alias Khan Said Sajna, and the followers of the slain former Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud began fighting in April.
Khalid Mehsud's group last week split from the umbrella Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a move analysts described as a victory for the Pakistani military's strategy of sowing divisions among insurgent factions.
"The fresh clashes left seven militants dead, five of them belonging to Hakimullah group," a local intelligence official told AFP.
He said at least three rebels were wounded in the clashes.
A militant source also confirmed the clashes and fatalities.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government began negotiations with the TTP through intermediaries in February, with a ceasefire beginning March 1 but breaking down a month later.
North Waziristan is one of the seven rugged semi-autonomous tribal areas along the Afghan border, an area long tagged by Washington as the most dangerous place in the world.
Pakistan has been battling a homegrown insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives for the past decade.

Canada shooting: Manhunt as police officers killed in Moncton

Canada shooting: Manhunt as police officers killed in Moncton

Constable Damien Theriault: "People should stay inside and lock their doors"

A manhunt is under way in the Canadian city of Moncton after three police officers were shot dead and two hurt.

Police said they were searching for Justin Bourque, 24, who was "armed and dangerous", and tweeted a picture of a suspect with weapons.

Officials have warned people to stay inside and lock their doors.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) told the BBC the officers were shot responding to reports of an armed man wearing camouflage clothing.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has offered his condolences to those affected. "The sacrifice of these brave officers will be honoured and remembered." he said.

'Terrible loss'

Witnesses said they heard the first shots in north-west Moncton at about 20:00 local time (23:00 GMT) on Wednesday. More shots were reported about two hours later.

Jump media player

Media player help

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continue.

Moncton resident: "The lady looked like she was really hurt"

Police searched through the night and continued their operations at daybreak, with officers combing wooded areas. Schools are closed and buses are not running.

The two wounded RCMP officers were taken to hospital and are in a stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries, a police spokesman said.

Officers have blocked off a number of roads in Moncton and traffic is reported to be backed up on major routes across the city.

Drivers have been asked to stay away from the area.

Police take cover alongside a vehicle involved in the shooting

Some roads have been blocked off and buses are off the streets

A supermarket in Moncton shuts down early as the area goes into lockdown

In a statement, New Brunswick Premier David Alward said he was "shocked and saddened".

"I would ask New Brunswickers, particularly in those areas identified by police, to follow the situation as it develops and to listen to the advice of police," he said.

Moncton's mayor George LeBlanc said: "This is a terrible loss and a tragedy for the families and for all of us here in the city. [We must] pull together as a family to support those who have suffered."

Mr Harper said the incident was "a stark reminder that our men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the line in Canada every day to protect our citizens and communities".

Rare incident

Moncton resident Heidi James told broadcaster CTV that she and her husband had heard four or five shots.

They then saw a "shot-out" vehicle and what looked like a body covered with a blanket, she added.

Eyewitness Danny Leblanc, 42, said he saw the gunman in the distance wearing a camouflage outfit and standing in the middle of the road with a gun pointing at police cars.

Out of media player. Press enter to return or tab to continueMayor George LeBlanc: "This is a terrible loss and a tragedy for the families"

He said he believed it was a police officer until he heard a burst of automatic gunfire.

"That guy was standing on the road afterwards and he was looking towards us," he said.

Joan MacAlpine-Stiles told CBC she saw the gunman when she opened a window.

"I said, 'Oh my God, there he is with camouflage and the headband and a gun, and it looked like a bow he had with him. And I mean he was just through our backyard.'"

Correspondents say such violence is rare in Canada, particularly on the east coast.

According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Honour Roll, the last incidence of officers being shot dead on duty in New Brunswick was in 1978.