Visa, MasterCard $7.25 bln settlement with retailers is rejected

MasterCard and VISA credit cards are seen in this picture illustration taken June 9, 2016. REUTERS/MAXIM ZMEYEV/ILLUSTRATION

A federal appeals court on Thursday threw out a $7.25 billion antitrust settlement that Visa Inc (V.N) and MasterCard Inc (MA.N) had reached with millions of retailers that accused the card networks of improperly fixing credit and debit card fees.

The settlement had been the largest all-cash antitrust accord in U.S. history, although its value shrank to about $5.7 billion after roughly 8,000 retailers "opted out." [nL1N11Y1SE]

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York said the accord was unfair to retailers that stood to receive no payments, and in the court's view, little or no benefit at all. It also decertified the case as a class action.

"This is not a settlement; it is a confiscation," wrote Circuit Judge Pierre Leval, a member of the three-judge panel that unanimously struck down the settlement.

Thursday's decision is a blow to the credit card industry, which hoped the settlement would end a decade of litigation brought on behalf of about 12 million retailers against Visa, MasterCard and banks that issue their cards.

It was intended to resolve claims that the card networks overcharged merchants on interchange, or swipe fees, when shoppers used credit or debit cards, and banned them from directing customers toward cheaper means of payment.

The settlement may need to be renegotiated, or else the case could go to trial.

"Swipe fees are an improper and unnecessary hidden tax on consumers," said Jeffrey Shinder, a Constantine Cannon partner representing Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), Costco Wholesale Corp (COST.O), Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N) and other opponents of the accord. "The structure of swipe fees is back on the table."

Visa spokeswoman Connie Kim said the Foster City, California-based company is reviewing the decision.

MasterCard spokesman Seth Eisen said the company, based in Purchase, New York, is disappointed in the decision and will review its next steps.

In afternoon trading, Visa shares were down $2.49, or 3.2 percent, at $74.25, and MasterCard fell $2.66, or 2.9 percent, to $89.47.

'BACKROOM DEAL'

U.S. District Judge John Gleeson in Brooklyn had approved the settlement in December 2013, saying it offered "significant" damages and meaningful protections against future harm.

But thousands of retailers and several trade groups objected. Some said the payout should have been higher, while others said the accord would have made it too hard for retailers to sue Visa and MasterCard over fees and rules.

Mallory Duncan, general counsel of the National Retail Federation trade group, in a statement called the settlement a "backroom deal" that would have harmed consumers if left intact.

"This is not just a business-to-business dispute," he said. "These fees drive up the price of retail merchandise, costing the average family hundreds of dollars a year."

Card issuers American Express Co (AXP.N) and Discover Financial Services (DFS.N) also objected to the settlement.

Paul Clement, who led the appeal for retailers supporting the accord, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Card-issuing banks would have funded much of the settlement. JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) and Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) had estimated they were responsible for roughly one-fifth and one-tenth, respectively, of a payout. Both declined to comment.

The settlement had called for retailers that accepted Visa or MasterCard from January 2004 to November 2012 to share in as much as $7.25 billion, with the ability to opt out.

Retailers that accepted the cards from then on, meanwhile, were to get injunctive relief in the form of rule changes, expiring in July 2021, and could not opt out.

Writing for the appeals court, Circuit Judge Dennis Jacobs said the divergent interests of these groups meant they should not have been represented by the same law firms, which were awarded $544.8 million of fees.

While making clear he did not question the firms' motives, Jacobs said the conflict sapped their incentive to zealously represent the retailers obtaining injunctive relief, and led to terms that benefited other retailers at their expense.

The case will return to the Brooklyn federal court. It is now overseen there by U.S. District Judge Margo Brodie.

The case is In Re: Payment Card Interchange Fee and MerchantDiscount Antitrust Litigation, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 12-4671.

Istanbul airport attackers 'Russian, Uzbek and Kyrgyz'

CCTV has emerged of the three suspected attackers at Istanbul's Ataturk airport
(Image: Reuters)

The three men who carried out Tuesday's deadly attack on Istanbul's Ataturk airport were all from parts of the former USSR, Turkish sources say.

One is said to be from Russia's North Caucasus region and the others from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Turkey believes so-called Islamic State (IS) was behind the suicide gun and bomb attack that left 44 people dead and some 240 injured.

Police detained at least 13 suspects in Istanbul and more in Izmir on Thursday.

Family, friends and colleagues of victims gathered at the airport on Thursday for a memorial service as funerals continued.

One image on Turkish media purported to show the three men together at the airport moments before the attack, wearing dark jackets and carrying holdalls. Two are wearing caps, one is smiling.

An unnamed Turkish official confirmed for Reuters news agency the dead attackers' countries of origin after Turkish media reports.

Some agencies named one of the men as Osman Vadinov, said to have crossed into Turkey from the IS stronghold of Raqqa in Syria in 2015.

Reports that he was a Chechen have been denied by an unnamed police source in the North Caucasus, Russia's Interfax news agency reports.

The organiser of the attack has been named by Turkish media as Akhmed Chatayev, a Chechen believed to have acted as an IS recruiter, who is on a US counter-terror sanctions list. His fate was not immediately clear.

People wept at the memorial ceremony    (Image: AP)

IS has long recruited members from mainly Muslim parts of the former USSR, with Russian President Vladimir Putin putting the overall number at between 5,000 and 7,000 in October.

However, data published by the Soufan Group security consultants in December suggests the numbers are lower: 2,400 from Russia and 500 apiece from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Ex-London mayor halts bid to be UK prime minister, upends race

Vote Leave campaign leader, Boris Johnson, waves as he finishes delivering his speech in London, Britain June 30, 2016. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Former London mayor Boris Johnson abruptly pulled out of the race to become Britain's prime minister that he was once favored to win, upending the contest less than a week after he led a campaign to take the country out of the EU.

Johnson's announcement, to audible gasps from a roomful of journalists and supporters on Thursday, was the biggest political surprise since Prime Minister David Cameron quit after losing last week's referendum on British membership of the bloc.

It makes interior minister Theresa May, a party stalwart who backed remaining in the European Union, the new favorite to succeed Cameron.

May, seen as a steady hand, announced her own candidacy earlier on Thursday, promising to deliver the withdrawal from the EU voters had demanded despite having campaigned for the other side.

"Brexit means Brexit," she told a news conference. "The campaign was fought, the vote was held, turnout was high and the public gave their verdict. There must be no attempts to remain inside the EU, no attempts to rejoin it through the back door and no second referendum."

The decision to quit the EU has cost Britain its top credit rating, pushed the pound to its lowest level against the dollar since the mid-1980s and wiped a record $3 trillion off global shares. EU leaders are scrambling to prevent further unraveling of a bloc that helped guarantee peace in post-war Europe.

The International Monetary Fund indicated that uncertainty over Brexit would hurt economic growth in Britain, the rest of Europe and the wider world. The governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, said monetary policy would probably be eased over the summer.

'PUNCHLINE'

Johnson, whose backing for the Leave cause was seen as essential to its victory, saw his leadership bid suddenly crumble after his Brexit campaign ally, Justice Secretary Michael Gove, withdrew support and announced a bid of his own.

"I must tell you, my friends, you who have waited faithfully for the punchline of this speech, that having consulted colleagues and in view of the circumstances in parliament, I have concluded that person cannot be me," Johnson said at the close of his speech at a London luxury hotel.

Supporters, gathered for what they thought would be the first speech of his leadership campaign, were stunned. Johnson began by hailing a "moment for hope and ambition for Britain, a time not to fight against the tide of history but to take that tide at the flood and sail on to fortune".

But by the time he spoke his bid had already been undermined by Gove, a close friend of Cameron's despite differences with the prime minister over Europe, who had previously said he would back Johnson.

In an article on Thursday in the Spectator, a magazine Johnson used to edit, Gove wrote that he had come "reluctantly, to the conclusion that Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead".

The main opposition Labour Party also faces an acrimonious leadership battle, with lawmakers having overwhelmingly voted to withdraw confidence in left-wing party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn's party critics say his campaign to remain in the EU was half-hearted. He has refused to go, saying he was chosen by grassroots activists not politicians.

The vacuum at the top of both major parties has added to the uncertainty at a time when Britain faces its biggest constitutional change since the dissolution of its empire in the decades after World War Two.

'DIES BY THE SWORD'

Conservative lawmakers said Johnson may have been undone by supporters of Cameron exacting revenge for his decision to defy the prime minister and back the Leave campaign.

"He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword," said one lawmaker, describing internal party conflict on condition of anonymity. The lawmaker told Reuters Johnson had realized his bid would fail after lawmakers defected from his campaign overnight.

Johnson is the latest political casualty of a civil war in the ruling party unleashed by Cameron's decision to hold the referendum on membership in the EU, an issue that divided the Conservatives for decades and now divides the country.

Known for a jokey public persona and mop of unkempt blonde hair, Johnson became a popular national figure during eight years as London mayor, and used his charm to aid the Leave cause after deciding only late in the day to push for Brexit.

But in the week since his side won, several leading Conservatives questioned whether Johnson had the gravitas to run tough talks to mend the broken relationship with the EU.

In an article in the Times newspaper, May took aim at Johnson's persona by saying government was not "a game".

Britain's new prime minister faces a huge task to unite the party and country, and persuade the EU to offer a deal balancing the desire expressed by voters to reduce immigration with London's aim of maintaining access to EU markets.

A new British leader will also need to reassure financial markets, which have plummeted since the referendum. The pound GBP=D4 briefly rose after Johnson's announcement.

"The market reaction was that it makes Theresa May a shoo-in, which is less confrontational, less damaging," said Marc Ostwald, strategist at ADM Investor Services.

But some Conservative lawmakers said it was too early to crown May. Conservative members of parliament will first narrow a field of five candidates down to two, and then party members will elect the leader by Sept. 9.

POLITICAL VACUUM

In addition to May and Gove, the candidates are Stephen Crabb, the cabinet minister responsible for pensions, who campaigned to stay in the EU, and two pro-Brexit figures, Liam Fox, a right-wing former defense secretary, and Andrea Leadsom, a minister in the energy department.

Leadsom suggested the next prime minister should come from the Brexit camp. Crabb, who like May has vowed to carry out Brexit despite having opposed it, has said control over immigration should be a red line in talks with the EU.

Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon blamed the Conservative government for recklessly holding the referendum "purely for internal leadership purposes".

Scots voted by a margin of nearly two to one to stay in the EU, and Sturgeon has said they must not be dragged out against their will, raising the prospect that the United Kingdom itself could break apart.

"Each and every one of you should be deeply, deeply ashamed of yourselves," Sturgeon said to Conservative lawmakers in the Scottish parliament.

Russia's Putin lifts ban on charter holidays to Turkey

Turkey's tourist business slumped this year as Russians and others stayed away
(Image: AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has lifted curbs on tour firms selling holidays in Turkey, brought in after a Russian jet was downed last year.

The move was announced in a decree (in Russian), in which Mr Putin also ordered trade talks with Turkey.

The ban on charter flights hurt the tourist industry in Turkey, a favourite destination for many Russians.

The Kremlin accepted a letter from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as an apology this week.

Mr Putin spoke to Mr Erdogan by phone on Wednesday, telling him he planned to lift the travel sanctions.

The lifting of non-travel trade sanctions will depend on the outcome of the trade talks, the Russian leader said in his decree.

Mr Putin also condemned Tuesday's gun and bomb attack on Istanbul's Ataturk airport, one of the busiest in the world.

Mr Erdogan had expressed "regret" earlier this week to Mr Putin and to the family of the Russian pilot killed in the incident.

The fighter jet was shot down near the Syria-Turkey border in November. Turkey said the jet had been warned repeatedly after entering Turkish airspace, a claim fiercely denied by Russian officials.

Mr Putin said he had been stabbed in the back and accused Mr Erdogan of collaborating with so-called Islamic State.

Russia responding by hitting Turkey with a raft of sanctions, stopping the Russian package holidays and banning the import of Turkish foodstuffs.

The Russian Su-24, an all-weather attack aircraft, was flying in skies above the Turkey-Syria border area on 24 November when it was shot down by Turkish F-16s.

The plane crashed in the mountainous Jabal Turkmen area of the Syrian province of Latakia, killing the pilot.

A Russian marine involved in a helicopter rescue attempt was killed when the helicopter came under fire from local fighters.

The navigator in the jet, Capt Konstantin Murakhtin, survived the crash and was taken to Russia's Hmeimim airbase in Latakia by Syrian government forces.

Turkey said planes were warned 10 times during five minutes via an "emergency" channel and asked to change direction.

The Russian defence ministry insisted that the aircraft remained within Syria's borders throughout its mission and did not violate Turkish airspace and received no warnings.

Turkish police detain 13 people over Istanbul airport attack: official

Police officers patrol at the country's largest airport, Istanbul Ataturk, following yesterday's blast in Istanbul, Turkey, June 29, 2016. REUTERS/MURAD SEZER

Turkish police have detained 13 people, including three foreigners, in connection with the triple suicide bombing at Istanbul's main airport which killed 42 people, a Turkish official said on Thursday.

Police conducted simultaneous raids on 16 places in Istanbul, the official told Reuters.

Obama warns on global growth after UK vote

Barack Obama: "There are some genuine longer term concerns about global growth"

US President Barack Obama has said the UK vote to leave the EU raises "longer-term concerns about global growth".

He said Brexit would "freeze the possibilities of investment in Great Britain or in Europe as a whole".

He appealed to the UK prime minister and other EU leaders to ensure an orderly process for the British exit.

Earlier EU leaders warned that the UK must honour the principle of free movement of people if it wants to retain access to the single market.

The leaders of the other 27 EU countries were meeting in Brussels without the UK for the first time in more than 40 years.

Mr Obama was speaking at a summit in Ottawa with the leaders of Canada and Mexico, aimed at strengthening economic ties between North American countries.

He said the preparations by central banks and finance ministers indicated that "global economy in the short run will hold steady".

EU leaders insist that access to the single market depends on freedom of movement of goods, workers, services and capital  (Image: AFP)

But he added: "I think there are some genuine longer-term concerns about global growth if in fact Brexit goes through and that freezes the possibilities of investment in Great Britain or in Europe as a whole.

"At a time when global growth rates were weak already, this doesn't help," the president said.

Catching breath

Mr Obama also strongly defended free trade and promised to press on with plans for a Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Without mentioning Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump - who opposes the plan - he said: "We've had times throughout our history where anti-immigration sentiment is exploited by demagogues. But guess what? They kept coming."

Mr Obama said his main message to Britain and Germany was: "Everybody should catch their breath. I think that will be a difficult, challenging process, but it does not need to be a panicky process,''

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says freedom of movement is essential to the single market. (Image: AP)

The president said he had spoken to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and that her interest was making sure Britain's exit worked, not retribution.

Mrs Merkel was one of many EU leaders to stress again on Wednesday that freedom of movement for EU citizens was an essential part of the single market - and that there would be no negotiations with the UK until the bloc was formally notified of its intention to leave.

After their meeting, the 27 EU leaders said in a statement: "Access to the single market requires acceptance of all four freedoms."

The "four freedoms" that underlie the EU's internal market are the freedom of movement of goods, workers, services and capital.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will have separate phone talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel later on Thursday, Japan's foreign ministry said.

Mr Cameron announced he would resign after the campaign he led for his country to remain in the EU was defeated by 52% to 48% in Thursday's referendum.

Mr Cameron has since the referendum reiterated that the task of negotiating Britain's exit form the EU would be the responsibility of a new prime minister. (Image: AP)

The outgoing leader said that he would attempt to "steady the ship", but that it would be for the new prime minister to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which would give the UK two years to negotiate its withdrawal.

He told parliament in London that the issue of freedom of movement would be difficult to resolve.

"Frankly, it's a difficult issue inside the EU, where you've got all the negotiating ability to try and change things, and I think it will be in many ways even more difficult from outside," he said.

MUSIC: Tobe Black – Ghetto EP (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Tobe Black is an Afro-German rapper from Bielefeld, Germany. In 2015 he released his first EP SiebenPlusEins. The rapper from Bielefeld is featured on albums of popular German Christian rappers like Davee, WORD and Kevin Neumann. Now he dropped his second EP, titled Ghetto. Tobe wrote most of the songs while being imprisoned for drug trafficking. The tracks on the project are actually written before he completely turned his life to Christ. The Ghetto EP is a project about the ghetto within oneself, a believer’s conflicting relationship with sin.

The whole project has been produced by Jewish, 17 years old, producer BenEl.

Listen and Download Below

Skillet Releases Music Video For 'Feel Invincible' Unleashed due out August 5

Yesterday 29 June 2016, Skillet released a music video for "Feel Invincible," the lead single off their upcoming tenth studio album Unleashed, due out August 5th.  Watch The Video Below:

Singer John Cooper says the song "represents the album in one facet really well: [Unleashed] is full of crowd-chanting anthems. The album is very exciting to listen to. Driving beats and melodic choruses, whether it's hard rock or leaning toward pop." Cooper describes Unleashed as "quite diverse -- there are more extreme songs on both sides of the spectrum, meaning harder rock and even metal, but also pop and atmospheric tunes/sounds."

"Feel Invincible" is just the beginning of a hot year for Skillet. The song already gained national attention when it was named the theme song for TBS' E-League, an eight-week live competitive video game tournament broadcast in over 80 countries. In the fall, the band will support Unleashed by headlining The Unleashed Tour with Thousand Foot Krutch, Sick Puppies, and Devour The Day. 

You can pre-order Unleashed here.

Leeland Releases First New Album In 5 Years, Invisible, July 22

Leeland's (Left) first Bethel Music album features co-writes with Brian Johnson, Darlene Zschech, Steffany Gretzinger

Multiple GRAMMY, Dove Award nominated Leeland internationally releases its fifth full-length album and first new album in nearly five years, Invisible, July 22 from Bethel Music and through Provident Distribution. The album also marks the first album since Leeland, consisting of Leeland Mooring and Casey Moore, joined the Bethel Music Artist Collective in 2015.

Leeland has been a creative presence in Christian music for a decade, contributing multiple well-known worship songs ("Tears of the Saints," "Follow You," "Count Me In," etc.) to the global church.

For the new album, which was inspired by Philippians 3:12, Leeland takes a unique and intentional, yet light-hearted step into new territory. Co-writing for the first time on songs for the album with Brian Johnson, Darlene Zschech and Steffany Gretzinger, the jovial, pop-leaning production of Invisible wraps themes of identity, joy and freedom. The album also explores with energy and conviction new ways of expressing the simple gospel that Jesus has made a way for authentic relationship with his people.

"Jesus said that we are called to seek Him in the secret place," says Leeland. "We can know God, encounter Him at church, in conferences, at concerts, but ultimately where we're really going to meet Jesus face to face, be changed day by day, is in a personal, hidden relationship with Him. Our hope for you listening to Invisible is that some of these songs help push you into that secret place with Him, and that He begins to change every part of your life."

The album's title track was created following a revelation about the disciple, Thomas. "When Jesus showed up, showed him His hands, Thomas knew in that moment that Jesus was not invisible," shares Casey. "There are moments in our walk with Him that are just like that, when we have an amazing, real encounter with God, and then there are times when He calls us to walk in faith. God sees you and knows you, and loves you where you are. You're not invisible."

As "Invisible" presents a fresh perspective toward one's relationship with an unseen God, "Perfect Love," co-written with Gretzinger, is centered around the story of the prodigal son, "Beloved," co-written with Zschech, is about waiting on God in your circumstances and "Son was Lifted Up," co-written with Brian Johnson, is a passionately crafted account of the cross in all its magnitude. Johnson also co-wrote the celebratory song, "Lion and the Lamb."

"Invisible is a unique record for us," sums up Leeland. "This album is colorful, it's bright in some parts and in others very dark. It's a very dynamic and emotional record musically for us."

Invisible track listing:

1) Bells of Notre Dame (Intro)

2) Invisible

3) King of My Heart

4) Perfect Love

5) Lion and the Lamb

6) 139/Dead of Night

7) Ever Love You

8) The War

9) Son Was Lifted Up

10) Carry It All Away

11) Beloved

12) For Your Glory

13) Bells of Notre Dame II (Outro) 

Transfer News: Man Utd Zlatan Ibrahimovic deal close to completion

The only club at which Ibrahimovic has not won the league title was his first, Malmo in Sweden

Zlatan Ibrahimovic should complete his long-anticipated move to Manchester United by the end of the week.

The Swedish striker, 34, is a free agent after leaving Paris St-Germain and is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Old Trafford club.

He will become the second signing for United boss Jose Mourinho, who replaced Louis van Gaal as manager in May.

Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly, 22, has already completed a £30m move to United from Spanish side Villarreal.

United have also made an improved offer for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 27, and are now waiting for his German club, Borussia Dortmund, to make a decision on the Armenian playmaker's future.

Ibrahimovic removed the final barrier to his switch to the Premier League when he said he did not wish to be considered for Olympic duty at the 2016 Games in Rio following Sweden's exit from Euro 2016.

It will be his first spell in England after winning titles in four countries.

Although the Swede repeatedly refused to confirm his plans during the Euros, Old Trafford was widely assumed to be the next destination in a career that has seen him win league championships in 13 of the last 15 seasons.

Ibrahimovic was top scorer in France's Ligue 1 last term with 38 goals but did not score as Sweden went out of Euro 2016 at the group stage.

EgyptAir crash: Flight MS804 black box 'confirms smoke'

The two flight recorders were recovered from the Mediterranean  (Image: EPA)

A black box recording from crashed EgyptAir flight MS804 confirms smoke on board, Egyptian investigators say.

The flight from Paris to Cairo plunged into the Mediterranean Sea on 19 May, killing all 66 people on board.

Automated electronic messages sent by the plane had shown that smoke detectors went off in a toilet and in the avionics area below the cockpit, minutes before the plane disappeared.

The recorded data are consistent with those messages, investigators said.

The voice and flight data recorders, known as black boxes, were recovered from a depth of about 3,000m (9,800ft) in the Mediterranean.

The second black box, the cockpit recorder, is still being repaired in Paris.

The Egyptian investigation committee also said that part of the front section of the aircraft's wreckage "showed sign of high temperature damage" and soot.

The cause of the crash is so far unknown.

Istanbul Ataturk airport attack: Deaths rise to 42 as Turkey mourns

A relative mourns customs officer Umut Sakaroglu, who was killed in the attack
(Image: EPA)

Turkey is observing a national day of mourning after a gun and suicide bomb attack on Istanbul's Ataturk airport killed 42 people, including 13 foreign nationals.

Three attackers arrived in a taxi and began firing at the terminal entrance late on Tuesday. They blew themselves up after police fired back.

Officials earlier said 239 people were injured, with 41 still intensive care.

A worker cleans blood from the roof of the international departure terminal
(Image: Getty)

PM Binali Yildirim said early signs pointed to so-called Islamic State.

However, no-one has so far admitted carrying out the attack.

Turkish investigators are examining CCTV footage, witness statements and mobile phone video recorded by terrified passengers to try to determine the identity of the attackers.

The Dogan news agency said autopsies on the three dead men suggested they may be foreign nationals but this has not been confirmed.

Mr Yildirim said one of the attackers blew himself up outside the terminal after the group opened fire at a security check, allowing the other two to enter the building and detonate explosives there.

Footage on social media shows one moving through the building as people around him flee. He is shot by police and remains on the ground for about 20 seconds before blowing himself up.

Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag says that 128 people remain in hospital, including nationals of Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Switzerland, the Associated Press reports.

Turkish media said 42 people were killed, with a cafe worker dying late on Wednesday. Thirteen of those who died were foreign or dual nationals.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said there were no reports yet of any British casualties, but the Foreign Office was in contact with Turkish authorities.

Armed police sealed off the area   (Image: AFP)

Nationality of dead so far confirmed (may include dual nationality)

24 - Turkish

5 - Saudi

2 - Iraqi

1 - Chinese; Jordanian; Tunisian; Uzbek; Iranian; Ukrainian; (Palestinian ambassador to Turkey says one Palestinian woman killed)

Cleaners worked through the morning to sweep up shattered glass, while workers repaired cables and ceiling tiles. Heavily-armed security personnel were patrolling the airport.

Flights had resumed in the early morning, though with many cancellations and delays.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Wednesday a national day of mourning and said the attack should serve as a turning point in the global fight against militant groups.

Diego Maradona urges Argentine forward Lionel Messi to change mind about retiring

Messi missed with Argentina's first penalty of the shootout against Chile in a repeat of last year's Copa final

Lionel Messi has been urged to reconsider his international retirement by Argentina legend Diego Maradona and the country's president.

The forward, 29, quit after missing in a penalty shootout as Argentina were beaten by Chile in the Copa America - a fourth major final loss in nine years.

"Those saying he should quit don't want us to see what a disaster Argentinean football has become," Maradona told La Nacion newspaper.

"Messi must go on."

Maradona, who captained Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup and managed the team at the 2010 World Cup, added: "Messi has to stay because he will reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia in conditions to become world champion.

"The lads have to be supported more to help him take the team forward."

Messi said after Sunday's defeat that for him, the national team was "over" and that "it hurts not to be a champion".

According to AFP news agency, Argentine President Mauricio Macri called Messi to tell him "how proud he feels of the national team's performance and asked him not to listen to the criticism".

Messi has won eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues with his club, Spanish side Barcelona.

But his only major international honour is Olympic gold at the 2008 Games.

Many Argentina fans had messages for Messi as they welcomed the team back from the Copa America. The sign on the left reads: "Don't leave me Messi, I love you more than my mum." The sign on the right reads: "I know we don't deserve you, but please don't go Lio."

Defeat on Sunday was the second time in two years Argentina have lost the Copa America final to Chile on penalties, while they were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.

Messi, who was been awarded the Ballon d'Or five times, was also on the losing side against Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final.

Argentina are already six games into their qualification campaign for the 2018 World Cup. They are third in the table, two points behind leaders Uruguay.

The top four teams progress to the finals in Russia, while the team finishing fifth qualifies for a two-legged play-off against the best team from Oceania.