While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Dec 8 edition

Six dead as Typhoon Hagupit ploughs into Philippines

Typhoon Hagupit ploughed through the central Philippines, bringing heavy rain and gales, tearing apart homes, downing power lines, toppling trees, cutting off communications and blocking roads with debris.

However, a massive evacuation and early deployment of emergency workers and government resources have kept fatalities to just six as of yesterday.

With Hagupit expected to reach Sibuyan Island 150km south of Manila early this morning, schools in the capital and five other affected regions have been ordered shut for the day.

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Thirteen killed, including 10-year-old boy, in failed U.S. hostage rescue bid in Yemen

A woman, a 10-year-old boy and a local Al-Qaeda leader were among at least 11 people killed alongside two Western hostages when US-led forces fought Islamist militants in a failed rescue mission in Yemen, residents said on Sunday. US special forces raided the village of Dafaar in Shabwa province, a militant stronghold in southern

Yemen, shortly after midnight on Saturday, killing several members of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). American journalist Luke Somers, 33, and South African teacher Pierre Korkie, 56, were shot and killed by their captors during the raid intended to free them, US officials said.

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Woman who stabbed US teacher in Abu Dhabi was 'lone terrorist' - agency

A United Arab Emirates woman who killed an American teacher last week has been inspired by "terrorist ideology" acquired through the Internet but investigators have found no links to militant groups, the state news agency WAM reported on Sunday.

Attacks on Westerners are rare in the UAE, a wealthy western allied oil exporter and tourism hub, but concern has been rising following a spate of attacks in neighbouring Saudi Arabia and after a warning in October about a extremist web forum calling for attacks on American teachers in the region.

Police on Thursday said they had arrested the UAE national last week after the kindergarten teacher, identified as Romanian-born Ibolya Ryan, a mother of 11-year-old twins, was stabbed and killed in a toilet at an Abu Dhabi shopping mall.

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Football: Messi follows Ronaldo with another hat-trick to lead Barcelona over Espanyol

A third Lionel Messi hat-trick in four games helped Barcelona keep the pressure on La Liga leaders Real Madrid as they recorded a 5-1 victory over local rivals Espanyol on Sunday.

After falling behind to Sergio Garcia's early strike, Barcelona then took control of the Catalan derby.

Messi's 21st Liga treble, which took him to within two of Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 23 set on Saturday, a Gerard Pique header and neat finish from Pedro, was enough to see Barca take the spoils and leapfrog Atletico Madrid in second place with 34 points.

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Tennis: Dancing Roger Federer hails new IPTL as 'crazy but fun'

World number two Roger Federer hailed the new International Premier Tennis League as "crazy but fun" after sauntering through his debut matches in the Indian capital on Sunday.

A laughing and joking Federer downed Czech world number seven Tomas Berdych as his Indian Aces defeated the Singapore Slammers in the new team competition's third leg in New Delhi, where the Swiss veteran was playing for the first time.

After winning his doubles and mixed doubles matches with Indian teammates Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna, Federer celebrated with a courtside dance, before teammate France's Gael Monfils joined in.

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