FRIDAY WRAP (JAN 8-JAN 14)

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim...

Assalamualaikum.

1.New cream could treat cancer without surgery

Italian scientist have discovered a painless, non-surgical skin cancer treatment using radiaoctive cream that could treat cancer in as little as 2 hours.

According to the report in recent days, the breaktrough treatment was tested on 700 patient with basal cell carcinoma and squamos cell carcinoma, less aggressive form of skin cancer, with success rate of 95 percent.

2.Marine unit in Afghan abuse video identified

Defence chief pledges investigation into video footage of US soldiers in Afghanistan urinating on dead bodies.The US military has identified the marine unit which appears in a video showing troops urinating on dead Afghans, officials said, also acknowledging the authenticity of the footage.Investigators moved to identify and interview at least two of the four marines, the Associated Press news agency reported. They were members of a battalion that fought for seven months in former Taliban strongholds in southern Afghanistan.

The two are still part of the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, based out of Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, according to a Marine Corps official who spoke to the Reuters news agency on condition of anonymity.

3.Eric Cantona runs for French presidency

Footballer-turned-actor Eric Cantona is lining up a long-shot bid for the French presidency, hijacking an as-yet lacklustre election campaign to highlight the housing needs of the poor.After failing in a quixotic bid to destroy global banking, the man known to Manchester United fans as King Eric has written to French mayors to secure the 500 signatures needed to stand in April's election.

But Cantona appears to be applying one of his legendary footballing feints on the political field, using the unlikely presidential run to secure his real aim - help for one of his favoured charities.

4. Liberal party threatens to boycott Egypt poll 

Final phase of voting for lower house has been overshadowed by FEP move to stay away from upper chamber elections.The Free Egyptians Party (FEP) co-founded by telecom tycoon Naguib Sawiris said on Monday it would boycott in protest against what it said were violations committed by Islamist parties in earlier voting rounds.

Islamists of various stripes are expected to win 60 per cent of the 498-seat lower house, with the Muslim Brotherhood taking some 41 per cent, by its own count.

The withdrawal of the FEP could be a major blow to the Egyptian Bloc, an alliance of liberal and leftist groups of which it is a key member and which is expected to win some nine per cent of seats in the lower house, putting it in third or fourth place.