Iraq's Electoral Commission has decided to bar nearly 500 candidates from contesting parliamentary elections in March in a move that could increase sectarian tension. The commission has declined to confirm reports that many of those facing bans are Sunni Arab politicians.
In a clash between two of Africa's top footballing nations, Ivory Coast have beaten Ghana by 3 goals to 1 in their group B match in the Angolan enclave of Cabinda. The teams are in the same group in which Togo would have played had they not pull out following the gun attack on their bus in Cabinda a week ago. Here is Matthew Cannon in Cabinda.
A packed crowd watched the entertaining game in the Chiazi Stadium in Cabinda with the locals providing vocal support, especially for Ivory Coast. There was a celebratory atmosphere with security well in evidence after what happened to the Togo team, but not overbearing. As normal in the last few days, helicopters flew over head with armed police on board. But Ivory Coast's 3:1 win over Ghana was celebrated loudly by the local fans, delighted at last, they'll be talking about football.
A plant making nuclear weapons in Texas has been ordered to temporarily shut down due to a security alert. The plant run by the Pantex group in the town of Amarillo received reports of people dressed in camouflage sneaking around the facility. However, they turned out to be hunters stalking ducks. A spokesman for the plant told the BBC the huntsmen had a permit to be there, but had failed to remind security staff of their whereabouts.