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BBC NEWS with Jerry Smit.
The long-serving president of the governing body of world football Depp Blatter has recognized the corruption scandal engulfing the organization has brought shame and humiliation to football. But addressing the opening of FIFA's annual congress in Zurich, Mr. Blatter distanced himself from the senior officials against whom charges have been filed. He said he couldn't keep an eye on everyone.
I know many people hold me ultimately responsible for the actions and reputation of the global football community, whether it's a destination for the hosting of a world cup or a corruption scandal. We, or I, cannot monitor everyone all of the time. If people want to do wrong, there will be a lot of try to hide it.
Our sports news correspondent Alex Capstick has this assessment of the day's event.
This was vintage Depp Blatter, blaming others for the wreckage then make a pledge to fix it. Not for the first time he's tried to distance himself from a scandal. He did say the next few months will be difficult and to expect more bad news. But he seemed determined to fight on. His speech at the opening of FIFA congress followed a grueling day. The head of UEFA, Michel Platini, asked him to step down, an offer he rejected. One of the main sponsors, VISA, threatened to review its relationship with the organization.
Alex Capstick.
In a whirlwind tour of European capitals aimed at securing support for his proposed reforms, the British prime minister David Cameron has met President Francois Hollande in Paris. At a joint news conference, Mr. Hollande said they will discuss Mr. Cameron's proposals. Mr. Cameron said the status quo was not good enough.
I believe there changes we can make that will not just benefit Britain but the rest of the Europe too. Of course, the priority for Francois is to strengthen the euro zone to ensure successful single currency, and Britain supports that. We want to help the euro zone work better, and we don't stand in the way of closer integration. So we have different priorities but we share a common objective, which is to find solutions to these problems.
Researchers in Britain say trials in Africa have shown that a mobile phone can provide the same test as optician's clinic. The team from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine have modified a smart phone to carry out eye tests. The test is portable and can be used with little training in remote parts of the world where no access to specialist services.
World News from the BBC.
Two car bomb explosions which appear to have been coordinated have targeted high-profile hotels in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Police and doctors in Baghdad say at least 10 people have been killed and dozens injured in the explosions, which went off near the newly refurbished Babylon and Ishtar hotels just before midnight.
The Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed a decree, making military losses in special operations during peacetime a state secret. The decree is thought to be aimed at stamping out leaks on the death of Russian soldiers across the border in Ukraine. From Moscow, here's Sarah Rainsford.
President Putin has said time and again that Russian forces are not fighting in eastern Ukraine, yet evidence of the contrary has been mounting as have reports of an increasing number of Russian soldiers returning home in body bags. Attempts by activists to confirm those deaths with official sources have failed. From now on, who does has that information and discloses it will be committing a criminal act. Moscow says the only Russians fighting in Ukraine are volunteers.
Federal prosecutors in the United States has indicted the former speaker of the US House of Representatives Dennis Hastert on fraud charges. The US attorney's office says Mr. Hastert was charged of withdrawing almost $1 million in cash from a bank in an attempt to evade the requirement that banks disclose any large cash transactions. The alleged misconduct involved payment to an unnamed individual.
Police in Ecuador have seized around 200 thousand Shark fins which were about to be illegally exported to Asia. The fins, often used to make soup, were discovered after raids of main locations in the port city of Manta. Six people, including a Chinese national, have been arrested on charges of damaging wildlife. The interior minister said at least 50 thousand sharks have been killed by the traffickers.
BBC News.