Friday 31 July 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Al Qaeda in Syria attacks US-trained rebel base

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BEIRUT (AFP) - Al Qaedas Syria affiliate launched a fierce assault on the headquarters of a US-trained rebel group Friday, while claiming responsibility for capturing members of the moderate force earlier this week. Al-Nusra Front unleashed its offensive on the base of the Division 30 unit in northern Aleppo province, a monitor said, sparking clashes and air raids by a US-led coalition that killed at least 18 of the jihadists.Seven rebels died defending the base, which Al-Nusra failed to capture, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In a statement on Facebook, Division 30 said five of its members had been killed and 18 wounded in the fight for the base.It called on rebels to come to its aid in defending the base, and demanded that Al-Nusra stop spilling the blood of Muslims.Al-Nusra accused Washington of recruiting forces from what it calls the moderate opposition... to undergo a training and rehabilitation programme run by the Central Intelligence Agency. A few days ago, one of these groups called Division 30 entered Syria... so Al-Nusra arrested several soldiers of this division, the group announced. It did not specify how many rebels had been captured, or where or when the incident took place.The Observatory had reported that Al-Nusra captured eight rebels from Division 30 in a village in the northern province of Aleppo late Wednesday.Combined with the seven rebels killed on Friday, this would mean at least 13 of the 54 original Division 30 members who entered Syria in mid-July have been neutralised.On Thursday, a US defence department spokeswoman denied the rebels reported capture.Al-Nusra accused Division 30 of being agents of American interests and projects in the area, to fight the terrorist organisations, as they (the US and its rebel allies) described it.The jihadist group said Division 30 had coordinated with aircraft from the US-led coalition attacking jihadists in Syria to strike Al-Nusra positions.We warn the soldiers of this division not to proceed with the American plan... Their return to the truth and the right way will be more beneficial, the statement said.Al-Nusra has previously attacked US-backed groups in northern Syria, including the Syrian Revolutionaries Front and the Hazm Movement, leading to the dissolution of both factions. Charles Lister, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Centre think-tank, said the capture of its fighters could deal a mortal blow to the reputation of the USs train-and-equip programme in Syria. The simple reality here is that any explicitly US-trained rebels effectively have a target set on their backs, he said.Syrias conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests, but has devolved into a multi-front civil war among rebels, regime forces, Kurdish fighters and jihadist groups.The war, in which various fighting groups have carved out what are fluid areas of control, has killed at least 230,000 people. Al-Nusras jihadist rival, the Islamic State group, has seized territory in Syrias north and centre, as well as along the countrys border with Iraq.Since July 2014, IS has used the border town of Albu Kamal in the eastern Deir Ezzor province to link the Syrian and Iraqi parts of its so-called caliphate.On Friday, the US-led coalition destroyed two bridges linking Albu Kamal to the Iraqi border, which the Observatory called strategically important for ISs movements. The two bridges leading out of Albu Kamal -- one to the east, and one to the southeast -- were ISs main routes to the Iraqi border, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman said.Using these bridges, it would take IS only a few minutes to reach the Iraqi border from Albu Kamal, Abdel Rahman said.The strikes do not cut off ISs route to Iraq, but they make IS movements there more difficult, because it will take them longer and they will be in view (of the coalition) for a longer period of time, he added.The Pentagon confirmed strikes in the area, and a senior US officer said they will have a profound impact on IS abilities to carry out operations in the neighbouring and strategically important Iraqi province of Anbar.

Nigeria attacks kill 16 as force chief promises to crush Boko Haram

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KANO (AFP) - A female suicide bomber and Boko Haram gunmen killed 16 people in Nigeria as the commander of a new multinational force tasked with fighting the Islamists pledged on Friday to crush the insurgency very soon.Major General Iliya Abbahs appointment in an Abuja ceremony as chief of the 8,700-strong force came as a woman bomber on a tricycle killed six people in a busy market in Maiduguri, the largest city in Nigerias restive northeastern Borno state.Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who won the election in March this year on a promise to defeat the jihadists, said Friday the new task force would lead to the speedy defeat and elimination of Boko Haram, according to a statement.Meanwhile reports emerged that the jihadists had struck neighbouring Yobe state, killing at least 10 people including two women on Wednesday evening in a revenge attack against local vigilantes, a local official told AFP on Friday.The suicide attack in Maiduguri was the latest in a wave of Boko Haram bombings -- often by female bombers -- targeting markets in Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon that have killed and wounded scores in the past month.Boko Haram has kidnapped thousands of civilians, including women and children, with many either forced or indoctrinated into joining the extremists, rights groups say.The attack (on the Gamboru) market happened around 6:30 am (0530 GMT) as the grocers were arriving, Babakura Kolo, a vigilante in Maiduguri, told AFP.From accounts we gathered from people around, the woman arrived on a taxi tricycle, as every woman grocer does. She blew herself up as soon as the tricycle stopped in the midst of other tricycles dropping traders off, Kolo said.Another local resident was at home when he heard the blast, and he rushed to the scene immediately afterwards.The place was littered with victims and burning rickshaws, he told AFP.Gamboru market is the second largest in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state and birthplace of Boko Haram, which has killed at least 15,000 people since its bloody insurgency began in 2009.The extremist group, whose name roughly translates as Western education is forbidden, has carried on its campaign of attacks on security forces, suicide bombings and bloody raids on villages across Nigerias north and eastern borders despite a major regional military campaign against them.The new multinational force, whose troops Abbah said would be deployed any time from today, is expected to be more efficient than the regional offensive launched in February.The force will contain troops from Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad, with Benin also committed to help.I assure (you), by the will of God, that I will live (up) to expectations and we will see the end of this menace very soon, Abbah said in Abuja.However Buhari has recently complained of a lack of resources, raising concerns over the forces chances of defeating Boko Haram once and for all.The Chadian army has gone ahead and waged a vast offensive of its own in the past fortnight, targeting Islamists holed up around Lake Chad and claiming to have killed 117 terrorists.Two soldiers have died and two were injured, a military spokesman said.Alayi Wari, who fled his home in Fitinewa on Lake Chad for Nigeria, told AFP Boko Haram had stormed 10 villages in the past month, and that the army has since recaptured seven.But Bullu Dagi, who has fled his home in Midi, said the villages were still virtually deserted.Although most of the these villages have been reclaimed, residents are still afraid to return, Dagi said.Boko Haram has used the Lake Chad region as a hideout to fall back from offensives by Nigerian and Chadian troops inside Nigeria. The lake lies where the borders of Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria converge.The region has seen a surge in violence since Buhari took office in May vowing to crush Boko Harams campaign for an Islamic caliphate.The latest attacks follow a visit this week by Buhari to Cameroon to discuss a stronger regional alliance in the wake of an unprecedented wave of five suicide bombings there.Two of those attacks killed at least 33 people in the northern market town of Maroua, where a police officer on Friday confirmed a report that they had arrested three youths on Thursday, one allegedly carrying a plastic bag full of explosives.

Muslims in C. Africa 'forced to abandon religion': Amnesty

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LIBREVILLE (AFP) - Many Muslims returning to western areas of the Central African Republic after last years intercommunal massacres are being threatened and forced to abandon their religion, Amnesty International said Friday.Having forced tens of thousands of Muslims to flee western CAR, anti-balaka militias are now repressing the religious identity of the hundreds of Muslims who remained or who have returned, said Joanne Mariner, the London-based rights groups senior crisis response adviser.Thousands died in violence and hundreds of thousands remain displaced from their homes following a March 2013 coup. Atrocities committed by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels led to reprisals by vigilantes, so-called anti-balaka, from the Christian majority. The Amnesty report, entitled Erased identity: Muslims in ethnically cleansed areas of the Central African Republic, said that Muslims who have returned to their homes in large swathes of the west of the country following the 2014 killing spree and mass forced displacement are barred by armed anti-balaka militia from practising or manifesting their religion in public.Some have been forcibly converted to Christianity on the threat of death, the report added.In areas where UN peacekeepers remain notable by their absence, Muslims are targeted with impunity, Amnesty asserted.A 23-year-old former Muslim in the Sangha-Mbaere prefecture told Amnesty International: We had no choice but to join the Catholic Church. The anti-balaka swore theyd kill us if we didnt.Amnesty said that outside of areas where Muslims live under the protection of UN peacekeepers, Muslims in the western areas have no freedom to practise their religion in public. Prayers are effectively banned, traditional Muslim clothing cannot be freely worn, and the reconstruction of mosques, an estimated 400 of which were destroyed across the country, is not allowed.It is effectively illegal for us to pray, said a Muslim trader in Mbaiki in the southwest. We have to hide, do it quickly, and do it by ourselves. Collective Friday prayers are impossible.Amnesty called on the government in Bangui, the UN mission to the country, and the international community to support Muslims efforts to reintegrate into towns and villages across western CAR, and to strengthen the presence of peacekeeping forces to better protect communities from anti-balaka militias.

'Qaeda' suicide bombing kills nine in Yemen

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ADEN (AFP) - A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-packed car into a Yemeni army checkpoint Friday, killing nine soldiers, a military source said, blaming Al Qaeda for the attack.Elsewhere, Riyadh said four Saudi security personnel were killed in cross-border rocket fire and shelling, while Yemeni sources said nine rebels were killed in clashes with pro-government forces in Dhaleh province.The suicide bombing took place near the city of Qoton in southeastern Yemens vast desert province of Hadramawt, where Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) operates.The source said the dead soldiers were members of the armys First Division, loyal to exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.Hadi was forced out of the country earlier this year after Shiite Huthi rebels seized the capital and large chunks of Yemen.Separately, the source said AQAP militants flogged eight people in the Hadramawt provincial capital of Mukalla, a port city of more than 200,000 people that they control.Charged with offences including adultery and drug and alcohol use, the eight received between 80 and 100 lashes each in a punishment carried out in a public square before hundreds of witnesses.In March, a Saudi-led coalition launched an air campaign against the Huthis and allied forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh in a bid to restore the authority of Hadi, who has taken refuge in Riyadh.AQAP, which Washington views as the extremist networks most dangerous branch, has taken advantage of the chaos gripping Yemen to make territorial gains in the south, including the seizure of Mukalla in April.The Saudi interior ministry, meanwhile, said cross-border rocket fire and shelling killed three soldiers and a member of a paramilitary force in the Asir and Jazan regions.The bombardment came during a day of relative calm in Yemen itself.Government-aligned forces have since last week been expanding their area of control after recapturing the southern port city of Aden.Nine rebels were killed in a clash with pro-Hadi forces in Dhaleh province on Friday, military sources said.The clash and the border barrage came on the final day of what was supposed to be a ceasefire to allow in aid for Yemens stricken civilians.The humanitarian pause, declared by the coalition, began Monday but collapsed the next day.According to the United Nations, the war has killed 3,984 people inside Yemen, nearly half of them civilians.On the Saudi side of the frontier, about 50 people have been killed in skirmishes and shelling. Most casualties were members of the armed forces, but civilians have also died.

Four die in plane crash in Britain

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LONDON (AFP) - Four people died when a private jet crashed into a car auction site and burst into flames in southern England on Friday, police said.The pilot and three passengers died when the Phenom 300 jet attempted to land at Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire and crashed into the nearby site.We can confirm that there were four people on board, including the pilot, said Olga Venner, acting chief inspector of Hampshire police.Sadly, there were no survivors. No one on the ground has been injured.Footage of the aftermath of the crash showed plumes of black smoke rising into the sky and several cars on fire in the outdoor area of British Car Auctions, where vehicles were parked awaiting sale.I saw it when it had just happened, and could see the plane and cars in flames, said Andrew Thomas, who was buying a car when he witnessed the accident.The plane nosedived into the cars and exploded on impact.British broadcaster the BBC reported that the aircraft had taken off from Milan Malpensa airport in Italy. No comment was immediately available from Malpensa.

Tennis: Nadal sets up Seppi semi-final clash in Hamburg

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HAMBURG (AFP) - Top seed Rafael Nadal defeated fifth seed Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 6-2 on Friday to set up a Hamburg semi-final clash against Italian veteran Andreas Seppi.Nadal, 29, broke the Cuevas serve five times on his way to a second triumph over the Uruguayan this year, having also beaten the South American in the Rio quarter-finals in February.Nadal is playing in Hamburg for the first time since 2008, when he won the trophy with victory over Roger Federer, as the left-hander looks to breathe life back into his flagging season.I played I think 90 per cent of the match doing the right things, doing the right shots every time and waiting for my moment, said Nadal, who is chasing his 47th clay-court title.Seppi, who knocked Federer out of the Australian Open this year, enjoyed a walkover into Saturdays semi-finals when compatriot Simone Bolelli withdrew due to gastroenteritis. Seppi trails Nadal 5-1 in career clashes with his only win coming in 2008 in Rotterdam.Hes a great player, said Nadal of the Italian. Hes a very consistent player that has very, very solid shots from the baseline and changing very well the direction.The other semi-final sees French qualifier Lucas Pouille face Italys Fabio Fognini.World number 85 Pouille defeated countryman Benoit Paire, who was champion on clay at Bastad last weekend, 6-3, 6-2.Eighth seed Fognini beat Britains Aljaz Bedene 6-4, 7-5.

Tennis: Serena withdraws from Stanford with elbow injury

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STANFORD (AFP) - World number one and defending champion Serena Williams withdrew Friday from next weeks WTA hardcourt tournament in Stanford with a right elbow injury, organizers said.Im disappointed to have to withdraw from the Bank of the West Classic, but I need to get my elbow back to 100 percent, Williams said in a statement released by tournament officials.The tournament is one of my favorites and the fans have always been so generous and supportive of me. I wish all of the players much success and I hope to return next year.The 33-year-old American had planned to start her buildup to the US Open in Stanford.Shes coming off a Wimbledon triumph that marked her fourth straight Grand Slam victory -- and which gives her a shot at completing an elusive calendar Grand Slam.Its the second planned start since Wimbledon that Williams has skipped because of her right elbow.She was forced out of the Swedish Open earlier this month.Williams next scheduled US Open warm-up is at the hardcourt tournament in Toronto in two weeks.Serena is having a historic season and we wish her a speedy recovery as she prepares for the US Open, said Stanford tournament director Vickie Gunnarsson.Unfortunately injuries are part of sports and the health of the players is always the number one priority.In Williams absence, Denmarks Caroline Wozniacki will be the top seed.

Olympics: Beijing clinches historic 2022 Winter Games vote

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KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Beijing on Friday narrowly won a historic International Olympic Committee vote for the 2022 Winter Games that secured its place in sporting history.The Chinese capital beat Almaty in Kazakhstan by just 44 votes to 40, with one abstention, to become the first city to be awarded both the summer and winter Games.Beijings mayor Wang Anshun hailed the win, saying it had been a remarkable day for China.Beijing held the summer Olympics in 2008 in what was then seen as China sealing its place on the world stage as an emerging superpower.This time it had been the strong favourite, presenting itself as an experienced pair of hands against underdog Almaty.But the former capital of the Central Asian republic ate into Chinas support with a Keeping It Real campaign that played on Beijings reliance on artificial snow and the vast distances between its venues.International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said Chinas win was a safe and historic decision, adding: We know China will deliver on its promises.Bach had ordered a revote with paper ballots after voting with electronic tablets produced doubtful results. Bach reacted tersely to suggestions of voting irregularities insisting it was a technical issue.IOC members were surprised by the narrow victory when it was declared.I always said Almaty would get more support than people had expected, but I never thought it would be that close, said Craig Reedie, a British member of the IOC.He said members had been impressed by the final presentation by Kazakh prime minister Karim Massimov.Chinas President Xi Jinping promised rock solid government support for Beijing.Let me assure you that if you choose Beijing, the Chinese people will present to the world a fantastic, extraordinary and excellent Olympic Winter Games, Xi said in a video message to the meeting.After the result, Chinese bid officials, including basketball legend Yao Ming, hugged each other in celebration. In Beijing, performers and uniformed volunteers erupted into orchestrated dancing and flag-waving.Finally - we won, but it was not easy, Yao acknowledged.I was very confident about this campaign, but when the moment came I was still very excited about what we have done, the former Houston Rockets center told reporters.Some of Beijings 2008 venues, including its iconic Birds Nest national stadium will be reused for the 2022 Games.But it will also make widespread use of machine-made snow for outdoor events and some of the venues are 200 kilometres (125 miles) from Beijing. All of Almatys proposed venues were within 30 kilometres (18 miles) of the city, which the delegation portrayed as a winter wonderland with abundant natural snow.Beijing has said it will spend $3.06 billion on running the Games and special infrastructure for the event. That does not include $5 billion for a high-speed train link from Beijing to Zhangjiakou, where many mountain events will be held.Kazakhstan, which became independent from the former Soviet Union in 1991, had sought the Games as a way to mark its place on the world map.We are a golden opportunity to prove that smaller advancing nations can successfully host the Olympic Games, Kazakhstans prime minister told the IOC.Almaty would stage a Games that are centred on the needs of athletes and sport, not on the needs of (the) host countrys global image, said Andrey Kryukov, vice chairman of the Almaty bid committee in a veiled dig at China.Both countries human rights records have been condemned by activist groups, but no mention of rights was made in the IOC debate.However, following the vote Human Rights Watch called the decision a slap in the face to Chinas besieged human rights activists.Six cities were originally in the race to follow 2018 hosts Pyeongchang in South Korea.But after Russia spent more than $50 billion to stage the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Oslo, Stockholm, Krakow in Poland and Lviv in Ukraine withdrew because of cost fears and local politics.

Golf: Tiger makes charge as Ishikawa clings to PGA lead

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GAINESVILLE (AFP) - Japans Ryo Ishikawa birdied the last three holes to grab a one-stroke lead Friday at the PGA Quicken Loans National while long-struggling Tiger Woods roared into contention.Ishikawa had four birdies and four bogeys in the first 13 holes but closed with authority to post a three-under par 68 and stand on 11-under 131, one stroke ahead of Americans Rickie Fowler and Kevin Chappell and two atop Swedens David Lingmerth.Im looking forward to the next two days, said Ishikawa, seeking his first US PGA win in his 116th start. Im not sure what the victory number will be. My goal this weekend is 15-, 16-under.Tournament host Woods, a 14-time major champion on a two-year win drought due to injuries and swing changes, fired a 66 to stand in a pack of nine players sharing fifth on 134.Im in a good spot, Woods said. Im looking forward to the weekend. Im looking forward to getting after it.Ishikawa, who made his first US hole-in-one in shooting a 63 on Thursday, nearly added another at the par-3 16th, his 9-iron from 15 yards landing two inches from the cup.It was a great moment, Ishikawa said.The 23-year-old world number 203 added a 13-foot birdie putt at 17 and dropped a 31-foot birdie putt at 18 to grab the lead alone after two rounds for the first time in a PGA event.Surprise putt but that was a nice finish, Ishikawa said. It wasnt a great round through 15 holes but it was a great three shots.Woods, who has slid to 266th in world rankings, sank a 36-foot birdie putt at the par-5 eighth, his penultimate hole.That was a bit lucky but Ill take it, Woods said. I putted pretty aggressively. I felt very comfortable hitting the putts.Woods has 79 career PGA titles, three shy of Sam Sneads all-time record, but has not won a title since the 2013 World Golf Championships Bridgestone invitational and has not won a major since the 2008 US Open.Woods flubbed his tee shot at the par-5 14th hole, a sad 161-yard effort that led to a bogey but prodded him to six birdies from there.Actually it got me going a little bit, Woods said. Got me kick started a little bit. Got me a little fired up. Got me a little more focused.Fowler, coming off wins at the Players Championship in May and the Scottish Open three weeks ago, welcomes Woods being in contention.Its great to see him back on the front page of the leaderboard, Fowler said. Sounds like he hs started to feel better about his game and felt good out there. Hopefully he can get out there and get it going and well have some fun over the weekend.Fowler also birdied the last three holes in a round of 65, giving him seven birdies on the day.When the putter gets going, (confidence) is about as high as it can be, Fowler said. Put myself in a great position.Lingmerth, who also shot 65, won his first PGA title in June, defeating Englands Justin Rose in a playoff to capture the Memorial.That win definitely boosted my confidence, Lingmerth said. Now I feel like I play a bit more relaxed and theres no pressure from anywhere. Dont think Ive done anything special, just staying in the game.The group on 134 includes Woods, fellow Americans Pat Perez, Charles Howell, Brice Garnett, Jason Bohn and Jimmy Walker plus New Zealands David Lee, Englands Greg Owen and South Korean Kim Whee.

Golf: Pettersen leads stormy British Open

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TURNBERRY (AFP) - Suzann Pettersen was out early in the second round of the Womens British Open, shot 69 and set a halfway target that no one else could match on a day of horrendous weather at Turnberry.With wind and rain making it miserable for players and fans, the 33-year-old Norwegian managed to carve four birdies out of her round and finished on an impressive seven under par 137.Lydia Ko (73), the world number two, Ryu So Yeon (72), the 2011 US Womens Open champion, Taiwans Teresa Lu (71) and South Koreas Ko Jin Young were two shots back in joint second.Pettersen, a two-time major winner, feels invigorated this season following a switch in coach from David Leadbetter to Butch Harmon, the Las Vegas guru who steered Tiger Woods through his hugely successful early years as a professional.It was really tough out there today but I played very solid, said Pettersen. I felt I was in control of everything. This ranks pretty high as a good round of golf.I always felt I had a different gear in my body and going to Butch was the right thing. He has made technical changes and it is just much easier. I dont feel like the swing thoughts change from day to day.Its very consistent. Its nice to have somebody that can really push me. Butch has pushed me quite a lot and I feel that some of my best golf is still ahead of me.I thought it would be good to play through (next years) Olympics, but I now have a lot of more goals. I want to be the best that I can be.Last week, Pettersen finished runner-up in the Scottish Open at the nearby Dundonald Links and she is seeking to go one better on Sunday. Pettersens first major was the 2007 LPGA Championship and she added the Evian Championship two years ago. Shes got a decent record in the British Open with top five finishes in the last two years. Im getting older and wiser, she added.You learn something every year and that is what is so great about this game.Ko, who opened with a 66, was mightily impressed by Pettersens effort. Today was like playing a different course, said the teenager.I knew it wasnt going to be another 66 but a day for grinding it out. We were tried to hide behind the signs for shelter. Suzann must have played great.The first round leader, Koreas Kim Hyo Joo followed her 65 with a 78 for one under par.World number one Park Inbee wasnt too delighted with a 73, but the South Korean is still well in the hunt on two under par.Michelle Wie was heading for the exit after failing to get past the 13th hole. At ten over par for the round and 14 over for the tournament, last years US Open champion retired with an ankle injury. Last years victor Mo Martin also missed out. After a promising opening 70, the American slumped to a second day 80.

Football: Liverpool misfit Lambert joins West Brom, scores twice

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LONDON (AFP) - Striker Rickie Lambert joined West Bromwich Albion from Liverpool on a two-year contract on Friday and quickly celebrated with two goals in a pre-season friendly.The 33-year-old England international has signed for an undisclosed fee believed to be around 3 million pound ($4.7 million, 4.3 million euros).After excelling during a five-year spell at Southampton, Lambert joined boyhood club Liverpool in a 4 million pound deal last year, but he endured a frustrating time at Anfield, scoring only three goals.Rickie is a good, strong, solid player who is a great character, good in the dressing room and good on the pitch, West Brom manager Tony Pulis told the club website.We are very pleased to have him on board. Hes a player of great pedigree and we look forward to integrating him into our squad.Lambert didnt take long to begin repaying Puliss faith as he scored twice for the Baggies in their friendly win at Bristol Rovers just hours after completing his switch.He started the match against his old club, opening the scoring with a deflected effort in the 23rd minute and doubling his tally with a close-range finish a minute after the break before being replaced in the 56th minute.Lambert is West Broms third close-season signing after winger James McClean joined from Wigan Athletic and centre-back James Chester arrived from Hull City.Having been released by Liverpool aged 15, Lambert played for Blackpool, Macclesfield Town, Stockport County, Rochdale and Bristol Rovers before helping Southampton rise from the third tier to the Premier League.He made a memorable England debut against Scotland in an August 2013 friendly at Wembley, rising from the bench to head home the winning goal in a 3-2 victory with his first touch as an international footballer.He has since made 10 further England appearances, scoring two goals, and was a member of Roy Hodgsons squad at last years World Cup in Brazil.

Diving: He gets China back in the gold groove

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KAZAN (AFP) - He Chao gave the Chinese mens diving team their fourth gold medal from four world championship events in Kazan with victory in the 3m springboard final on Friday.After North Korean teenager Kim Kuk-hyang had snatched gold with her final dive in the womens 10m platform final on Thursday, He gave the Chinese their seventh diving gold in total here with three events still to come.He, the younger brother of He Chong, the 2008 Olympic champion in the event who failed to qualify, claimed his first world title on his championships debut with a winning score of 555.05 points.Russias Ilia Zhakarov claimed silver with 547.60pts while Britains Jack Laugher, who had led after the second round, claimed his second bronze of the Kazan championships having also finished third in the 3m springboard synchro, with 528.90pts.

Vaccine offers 100% Ebola protection: trial results

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PARIS (AFP) - An Ebola vaccine provided 100-percent protection in a field trial in hard-hit Guinea, researchers and officials said Friday, mooting the beginning of the end of the killer West African outbreak.The world is on the verge of an effective Ebola vaccine, the World Health Organization (WHO) said, hailing the results from the first efficacy test of the VSV-ZEBOV vaccine among people living in a high-danger zone.This is an extremely promising development, added WHO chief Margaret Chan.An effective vaccine will be another very important tool for both current and future Ebola outbreaks.About 28,000 people have been infected in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia in the worst Ebola outbreak in history, according to the WHO, and more than 11,000 have died.VSV-ZEBOV may become the first licensed vaccine against the disease for which there is also no approved treatment or cure.The trial showed that the vaccine offers 100 percent protection against Ebola after roughly one week, said researcher Sven Trelle from the University of Bern.The test, backed by drug firm Merck, the WHO and the governments of Canada, Norway and Guinea, saw 4,123 high-risk people vaccinated immediately after someone close to them fell ill with the deadly haemorrhagic fever. None of the vaccinated group caught the virus, according to study results published in The Lancet medical journal.A second, comparison group of 3,528 people received the vaccine only three weeks after potential exposure. Sixteen of them contracted the virus, said the study, but by day six after immunisation, the remainder of this group was also fully protected.Indeed, no vaccinee developed symptoms more than six days after vaccination, irrespective of whether vaccination was immediate or delayed, said the study paper.The initial results of the study show that the vaccine can effectively contain the further spread of the Ebola virus, added a statement from the University of Bern, which contributed to the research.Disease experts welcomed the results.This is big news -- the most promising medical development so far in the ongoing race to shut down Ebola, Benjamin Neuman, a virologist with the University of Reading, told AFP.Added Peter Smith of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the results were very exciting and suggest that the Ebola vaccine tested may be highly effective in protecting against Ebola disease among those in the immediate vicinity of an Ebola case.

Windows 10 entices millions in first day

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Some 14 million people installed the Windows 10 operating system in the first 24 hours following its release, Microsoft said, calling the response overwhelmingly positive.The company said its new operating system aimed at computers, mobile devices and other gadgets got off to a strong start toward its goal of reaching one billion devices.Were humbled and grateful to see the response to Windows 10, corporate vice president Yusuf Mehdi said in a blog post late Thursday.We have seen unprecedented demand for Windows 10, with reviews and customer feedback overwhelmingly positive around the globe.The stakes are high for Microsoft as it pushes out the new operating system for both traditional computers and mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones.The company is hoping the new system can help it gain traction in mobile, where it lags behind Google Android and Apple iOS, and in emerging technologies for computing.Windows 10 -- Microsoft skipped directly from Windows 8, which got a lackluster response -- is being offered as a free upgrade for most devices, making it possible to be available quickly on billions of devices.It will allow for voice, pen and gesture input, and in some cases biometric identification for improved security.Mehdi said the company is rolling out the software in phases to make the transition easier.Our top priority has been ensuring that everyone has a great upgrade experience, so, we are carefully rolling out Windows 10 in phases, delivering Windows 10 first to our Windows Insiders, he said.While we now have more than 14 million devices running Windows 10, we still have many more upgrades to go before we catch up to each of you that reserved your upgrade.In one sour note, the chief executive of Mozilla, which makes the Firefox Web browser, complained that Windows 10 imposes the new Edge browser as the default option, overriding choices made by users.The update experience appears to have been designed to throw away the choice your customers have made about the Internet experience they want, and replace it with the Internet experience Microsoft wants them to have, Mozilla CEO Chris Beard said in an open letter to his Microsoft counterpart Satya Nadella.Beard said the new operating system makes it more complicated to choose a competing browser such as Firefox.It now takes more than twice the number of mouse clicks, scrolling through content and some technical sophistication for people to reassert the choices they had previously made in earlier versions of Windows, Beard said.Its confusing, hard to navigate and easy to get lost.Beard urged Microsoft to respect peoples right to choice and control of their online experience by making it easier, more obvious and intuitive for people to maintain the choices they have already made through the upgrade experience.

Oil prices tank as OPEC heightens oversupply worries

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices plummeted Friday as traders digested the latest OPEC signal that crude production would not be cut despite global oversupply and falling prices.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for September delivery dived almost 3.0 percent, shedding $1.40 to close at $47.52 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.Brent North Sea crude for September dropped $1.10 (2.1 percent) to settle at $52.21 a barrel in London trade.Both contracts had tumbled on Thursday, snapping two consecutive days of gains.On Friday, the WTI futures contract clocked a fifth straight week of decline and was heading closer to its lowest level in six years, following an attempt at stabilization around $60 a barrel in the spring.The week hasnt been particularly kind to oil, said Bart Melek of TD Securities.Despite the fact we got a surprise draw in the US crude inventories on Wednesday, the market remains quite worried... that there is an oversupply situation in the crude market globally, he said.The New York market totally erased the timid rebound it staged Wednesday after the Department of Energy reported a sharp drop in US commercial crude inventories last week.The US crude inventories decline of 4.2 million barrels didnt really convince the situation is going to change, Melek said. He added that OPEC had produced in July some two million barrels per day above its production quota set in June.On Thursday, Abdullah El-Badri, secretary-general of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said the group would not cut output in response to lower prices.The OPEC chief, speaking in Moscow after meeting Russias energy minister on Thursday, he said the cartel is not ready to cut production, which it has officially capped at 30 million barrels per day for nearly four years.Analysts said the statement shows OPEC is determined to defend its market share as it fends off competition from US shale oil.OPEC is telling the market that cuts will not come from them, said Daniel Ang, an investment analyst with Phillip Futures in Singapore.OPEC is emphasizing that it is fighting for market share, he added.
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Thursday 30 July 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Landslides kill 29 in Nepal

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KATHMANDU (AFP) - Landslides triggered by heavy rains in quake-hit Nepal killed at least 29 people on Thursday, sweeping away homes and leaving more than a dozen missing.Rescuers are still searching through rubble for around 15 more people believed missing in the western district of Kaski in the foothills of the Himalayas, around 150 kilometres (90 miles) west of the capital Kathmandu.The number of dead has risen to 26 in our district, said Kaski police chief Kedar Rajaure.Over 200 of our personnel are still working at the site to search and rescue. Three more people, including an 83-year-old man, were killed in two landslides in the neighbouring districts of Myagdi and Baglung, according to a statement released by authorities.Eighteen people injured in the disaster have been taken to local hospitals for treatment, Rajaure told AFP.Scores of people die every year from flooding and landslides during the monsoon season in the Himalayan nation.Two weeks ago a student was killed when a landslide buried part of a school in the nearby town of Pokhara, and 35 people died last month when a landslide crushed villages in northeastern Nepal.The monsoon rains are also hampering delivery of relief supplies to mountainous villages devastated by the massive earthquake that struck the Himalayan nation on April 25.More than 8,800 people were killed by the quake and a large aftershock, and many more were left without shelter.

Afghan Taliban confirm leader Mullah Omar's death

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KABUL (AFP) - The Taliban on Thursday confirmed the death of their elusive leader Mullah Omar, paving the way for the first transition of power for the fractious militant movement waging a bloody war in Afghanistan.The Taliban now face the daunting task of choosing a successor to the near-mythical figure, with militant sources telling AFP current deputy Mullah Akhtar Mansour is leading the race although no final decision has been taken.Omars death marks a significant blow to the Taliban, which is riven by internal divisions and threatened by the rise of the Islamic State group, the Middle East jihadist outfit that is making steady inroads in Afghanistan.The Taliban said Omar died of sickness, without specifying when, a day after the Afghan government said the one-eyed warrior-cleric had passed away in Pakistan two years ago.The leadership of the Islamic Emirate and the family of Mullah Omar... announce that leader Mullah Omar died due to a sickness, a Taliban statement said, using the movements official name.It said Omar never left Afghanistan, from where he led the movement, a claim at odds with Kabuls assertion that he died in a hospital in the Pakistani city of Karachi under mysterious circumstances.Not for a single day in the last 14 years did he go to Pakistan or any other country and led the Islamic Emirate affairs from his headquarters, the statement said, declaring three days of prayer ceremonies in his memory.The family of the man who led an insurgency that has killed tens of thousands of civilians also asked Muslims to forgive him if anyones rights were violated during his time in the Islamic Emirate.A Taliban official said the process to choose Omars successor had several stages: the groups ruling council would choose a candidate who must then be approved by a college of religious clerics.The top contenders are Mansour and Omars son Mullah Yakoub, who sources said was favoured by some commanders but at 26 was considered too young and inexperienced for such a key role.Hafiz Saeed, the head of a Pakistani Islamist organisation seen as a front for the group behind the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks, led around 1,000 followers in the eastern city of Lahore in funeral prayers for Omar, a spokesman for the group said.The confirmation of Omars death ends years of fevered speculation about the fate of the leader, who has not been seen in public since the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan that toppled the Taliban from power.But it cast a pall on the countrys fragile peace process aimed at ending the long war, with the Taliban distancing itself from the second round of talks slated for Friday.The insurgents have ramped up their attacks on military and government targets since the NATO combat mission ended in December.Media outlets are circulating reports that peace talks will take place very soon... either in China or Pakistan, the Taliban said in a separate statement posted on their website early Thursday.(Our) political office... are not aware of any such process.Afghanistan later said the meeting scheduled in Pakistan had been postponed, voicing hope that it would be convened in the near future.Afghan officials met Taliban cadres earlier this month in Murree, a holiday town in the hills north of the Pakistani capital Islamabad, for their first face-to-face talks aimed at ending the bloody insurgency.They had agreed to meet again in the coming weeks, drawing international praise, and Afghan officials had pledged to press for a ceasefire in the second round.Michael Kugelman, Afghanistan expert at the Washington-based Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, said the loss of their long-time leader was a huge blow for the Taliban.Announcement of Omars death will spark an existential crisis for the Taliban, and the last thing that will be on its mind are peace talks, Kugelman told AFP.It will need to focus on its survival, not talks.A statement from the Afghan presidential palace on Wednesday said grounds for the discussions are more solid now than before, and implored all insurgents to join the peace process.But many Taliban ground commanders have openly questioned the legitimacy of the negotiators, exposing dangerous faultlines within the movement.The split over the peace process has been worsened by the emergence of a local branch of the Islamic State group, which last year declared a caliphate across large areas of Iraq and Syria under its control.The Taliban warned IS recently against expanding in the region, but this has not stopped some fighters, inspired by the groups success, defecting to swear allegiance to IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Tennis: Nadal safely into Hamburg quarter-finals

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HAMBURG (AFP) - Rafael Nadal eased into the Hamburg Open quarter-finals Thursday with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) win over Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic as the Spaniard continues to try and resuscitate his flagging season.The top-seeded Mallorcan, playing the summer clay-court tournament for the first time in seven years, goes on to face fifth-seeded Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas, who battled past Jerzy Janowicz of Poland 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.Nadal, the 2008 champion in Hamburg, extended his clay record in 2015 to 23-6 as he looks to add to his 46 clay-court titles.I think I played a good match, said the 29-year-old.Something that I am proud of today, very happy with, is my attitude and Im very happy with the way that I played. I just need a little bit more consistency.Nadal has endured a tough year, losing his French Open title, getting knocked out in the second round at Wimbledon and seeing his ranking slump to 10, his lowest in a decade.Cuevas, a semi-finalist in Hamburg in 2009, notched his 23rd win of the season as he defeated Janowicz in one hour and 34 minutes. Twenty of Cuevas victories in 2015 have come on clay.It will be the second meeting of the season for Nadal and Cuevas after the Spaniard won in three sets in February in Rio.Hes one of the best players of the world, especially on clay, Nadal said of Cuevas.Its a big match and I know I have to play well if I want to be in that semi-finals. Im going to fight for it.Fourth seed Andreas Seppi beat German wild card Florian Mayer 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 and next faces Italian compatriot Simone Bolelli, who earned a 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 win over Spains Jaume Munar.

Tennis: Serena says plenty of room to improve at US Open

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Top-ranked Serena Williams, coming off her fourth consecutive Grand Slam triumph at Wimbledon, said Thursday she has plenty of room to improve before chasing more history at the US Open.Speaking on a teleconference to promote her first hardcourt tuneup event for the Flushing Meadows fortnight, the 33-year-old American praised her mental game but added that her best is yet to come.Im playing some of my best mental tennis. My actual tennis I think I could play a lot better, Williams said. Thats really exciting going into 2016.Before Williams takes a serious look at next year, she will focus on the next few weeks at the years final Grand Slam event, where she could become only the fourth woman to complete a calendar-year Grand Slam and match Steffi Grafs Open Era record of 22 womens Grand Slam singles crowns.Im not thinking about it much, Williams said of the history within her reach, instead taking pride in what she has already done -- win four Slams in a row for the second time in her career, the first such run concluded by a 2003 Australian Open victory.I was really excited to achieve that Serena Slam, Williams said. It was really important for me to do that. Just holding all four trophies at the same time, two times in one career, Im not sure how many times that has been done. That really means a lot.Williams, who was forced out of the Swedish Open with a right elbow injury earlier this month, says she and her game are fine now.I feel okay, Williams said. I always have a little nerves and a little trepidation.I feel okay about my game. Im always looking to improve. Im never too comfortable. Thats when I think you are susceptible to losing.Williams will return to hardcourts at the WTA Rogers Cup in Toronto in two weeks. Williams won the Canadian crown in 2011 and 2013, the past two times it was staged in Toronto.I havent played on the hardcourt in a while, Williams said. It will be a good opportunity to get some matches under me before the US Open.Asked if her success becomes more gratifying as she gets older, the woman who won her first Slam crown at age 17 at the 1999 US Open said it feels that way at any age.Ive definitely gotten a little better, she said. Is it more gratifying? I feel like its gratifying at whatever age, 20, 18, 16, 6 or 80 or 20.I really dont feel I act my age.

Football: Zico gets Brazil backing for FIFA bid

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - The Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) said Thursday it is backing national football legend Zicos bid to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.The endorsement was a big boost for Zico, 62, who has previously conceded lacking support from Brazils footballing top brass. However, to establish himself as a formal candidate he would still have to get backing from four other countries.Zico has our support to pursue his candidacy. If he gets the other four signatures, the CBF will back his application, the bodys president, Marco Polo Del Nero, said in a statement.Zico -- who has managed several teams including Japan and Iraq as well as latterly Indian club side Goa -- has no experience in international football administration.He said he was happy with the response, which he called a kickstart to his bid to win the FIFA top spot.Blatter announced his intention to stand down on June 2, shortly after winning election to a fifth term, amid a corruption scandal sweeping through the FIFA executive committee. Brazil had been one of the countries voting to extend his mandate.Blatter announced last week that the election for his successor would be held on February 26, 2016.UEFA chief and French favorite Michel Platini -- who crossed swords with Zico on the football pitch in the 1980s including a memorable 1986 World Cup semi-final -- is seen as a frontrunner.

Golf: Kim Hyo Joo takes early edge over Ko and Kerr

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TURNBERRY (AFP) - South Koreas Kim Hyo Joo produced the shot and the round of the day to lead the Womens British Open by a shot from Lydia Ko and Cristie Kerr at sunbathed Turnberry on Thursday. Kim took advantage of the favourable weather to post a seven under par 65 and raise her hopes of adding a second major to her victory in the Evian Championship in France last September. At Evian, the 20-year-old shot a ten under par 61 in the first round -- the joint lowest round in major championship history -- and she again proved to be an opening day specialist with a flawless round of five birdies and an eagle.The eagle came at the 449 yard 14th where she hit a second shot to inside a foot. I almost made an albatross, said a delighted Kim, who has won six times on the Korean LPGA Tour and wasnt even a member of the LPGA when she won the Evian title. New Zealands Ko set her alarm for 3.30am to meet her 6.40am tee time -- she admitted she pushed the snooze button a few times -- but was wide awake by the time she teed off. In a fast start, she birdied four holes in a row from the second and added others at the seventh, tenth and 14th. Her only error was a bunkered tee shot and a four at the short sixth.Ranked No.1 in the world at the start of the year, 18-year-old Ko has two more chances -- this week and the Evian Championship in September -- to outdo Morgan Pressel and become the youngest ever winner of a womens major. The American won the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship when she was two months short of her 19th birthday.I dont think too much about records, confessed the Kiwi who has already said she will retire from golf at the age of 30. But my goal is to win one major in my career.This was my lowest round in a major so it was a nice solid start. I tried to take advantage of the good weather and the par fives.Kerr, the 2007 US Womens Open champion, eagled the long third by hitting her five iron second shot to 22 feet and making the putt and she also tagged seven birdies into her round to offset the three bogeys. Runner-up to American Sherri Stenhauer at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2006, 37-year-old Kerr is keen to add a second major. But Ill just be taking it day by day, she insisted. Today was lucky. The weather was spectacular.Hovering around on two under par are a few seasoned campaigners. World number one Park Inbee was a little disappointed with her 69 -- I wasnt in complete control of my ball striking -- while 2007 champion Stacy Lewis was on 70.Oddest round of the day belonged to Paula Creamer. Out in 40 with an eight at the fifth -- she took three to escape from a bunker -- she came home in 31. I was two different players, said the 2010 US Womens Open champion.The opening day of the tournement also saw the Turnberry course owner, and 2016 US presidential hopeful, Donald Trump make a spectacular entrance.The 69-year-old arrived on his private helicopter, sporting a cap emblazoned with the slogan Make America Great Again.Trump showed up despite becoming embroiled in a controversy with golf authorities over comments he made about Mexicans.

Diving: North Korea's Kim Kuk-hyang wins historic gold

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KAZAN (AFP) - North Korean teenager Kim Kuk-hyang made history on Thursday with her countrys first diving gold medal at the world championships with a shock victory in the womens 10m platform final.The 16-year-old produced a stunning final dive to take the title with 397.05 points leaving 14-year-old Chinese diver Ren Qian to take silver with 388pts.Malaysias Pamg Pandelela Rinong Anak finished with 385.05 to claim bronze.Chinas Si Yajie, the defending champion, finished fourth after a poor final dive cost her another medal after she won gold in the mixed 10m platform final last Saturday.Kims victory means Chinas stranglehold on major diving competitions seems to be weakening, although they have still claimed golds in six of the nine events so far in Kazan with four finals still to come.

Modern mugging: Sweden thieves demand money via mobile app

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STOCKHOLM (AFP) - In a tale of a very modern mugging, thieves in Sweden forced their victim to give them his money via an electronic transfer, making the police investigation a no-brainer, Swedish media reported Thursday. The suspects, two men, demanded money from their young victim, but he had no cash to give them. They then hit the man, and one of the thieves demanded that the victim use the popular money transfer app Swish to transfer 80 krona (eight euros) to the suspects account. Evidently, however, he did not think the crime through. The app is not anonymous, and allows people to transfer money using phone numbers -- which police can then easily track. The men could end up paying big, because in Sweden violent theft is punishable by up to six years in prison.

Astronomers find star with three super-Earths

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PARIS (AFP) - Astronomers said Thursday they had found a planetary system with three super-Earths orbiting a bright, dwarf star -- one of them likely a volcanic world of molten rock.The four-planet system had been hiding out in the M-shaped, northern hemisphere constellation Cassiopeia, just 21 light years from Earth, a team reported in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.It comprises four planets -- one giant and three super-Earths orbiting a star dubbed HD219134.Super-Earths have a mass higher than Earths but are lighter than gas giants like Neptune, Saturn or Jupiter. They can be made of gas, rock, or both.The planet with the shortest orbit, HD219134b, zips around every three days, and has now been observed transiting across the face of its star as seen from the vantage point of Earth.Measurements from the ground and with NASAs Spitzer space telescope showed its mass was 4.5 times higher than Earths, and that it was 1.6 times larger.Its mean density is close to the density of Earth, suggesting a possibly similar composition as well, said a press statement from the University of Geneva, whose astronomers took part in the research.Its very close to the star. The temperature is about 700 degrees Kelvin (427 Celsius, 800 Fahrenheit), study co-author Stephane Udry told AFP.Probably the surface is melting... kind of a melted lava world with volcanoes... not good for life.It was not in the so-called habitable zone of its star, and would not have liquid water necessary for life.But HD219134b is exciting for another reason: it is the closest transiting planet known to scientists, and thus offers a rare opportunity for further study of its composition and atmosphere against the backdrop of its star.These transiting systems are especially interesting in that they allow characterisation of the atmosphere of the planet (by studying) the light of the star going through the atmosphere, Udry said.And the system is relatively near at a distance of 21 light years from Earth. By comparison, the closest star to our Sun is three light years away, and the second six light years.Among HD219134bs fellow planets, the second furthest from the star weighs 2.7 times as much as Earth and orbits in 6.8 days, the next is 8.7 times more massive than Earth with a 47-day orbit.A giant planet further out orbits once every three years, the team said.

Oil prices dip as OPEC official says no cuts planned

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NEW YORK (AFP) - US oil prices dipped Thursday, snapping a two-day streak of gains after a top official with OPEC reiterated that the cartel has no plans to cut petroleum production.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in September dropped 27 cents to $48.52 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.European benchmark Brent oil for delivery in September shed seven cents at $53.31 a barrel in London.Abdullah El-Badri, Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said that the group would not cut output in response to lower prices and that it is not worried about the possible addition of Iranian oil following the nuclear accord between Iran and major countries.We met in December last year and we met in June this year, Badri said after a meeting in Moscow with Russias energy minister. We are not ready to reduce our production. Thursdays drop followed a choppy session and resumed a mostly downward trajectory for US oil since late June that has seen prices fall from around $60 a barrel into the $40s. We largely see the market shifting into a quieter choppy consolidation mode as it works off a short-term oversold condition, at least pending a clear push from fresh fundamental news, said Tim Evans, analyst at Citi Futures.Thursdays data was mixed and nothings been very strong, said Michael Lynch, analyst at Strategic Energy & Economic Research.Well just have to wait and see if we see some stronger inventory changes or some supply news, but overall were in the waiting room.Thursdays data included the US Commerce Departments report that gross domestic product expanded at an annual rate of 2.3 percent in the April-June period, a pickup from the weak first quarter, but slightly below the 2.5 percent growth expected by analysts.

OPEC chief says oil cartel 'not ready' to cut production

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MOSCOW (AFP) - OPEC Secretary-General Abdullah El-Badri said on Thursday the oil producers cartel is not planning to cut production despite the fall in crude prices over recent months and concerns about the possible addition of Iranian oil in the market.We met in December last year and we met in June this year. We decided to keep our production at 30 million barrels a day, the same as before. We are not ready to reduce our production, Badri said after a meeting in Moscow with Russias energy minister. Oil prices recently dropped to their lowest levels in months on the back of concerns over a global oversupply. The fall followed a recovery in prices after a steep slump last year. Prices continued a slight rebound on Thursday following reports of a drop in US stockpiles.OPEC and Russia said in a joint statement after Thursdays talks that indicators pointed to a possible more balanced situation on the oil market and its stabilisation in 2016. Analysts have said that the return of oil from Iran following the landmark nuclear energy deal with world powers this month could create fresh tensions within OPEC. The accord paves the way for the removal of sanctions and the gradual return of Iranian oil to the global market next year.The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries -- whose 12 members including Iran pump one third of global oil -- is mindful that Iranian oil could worsen a global supply glut and depress oil prices further.Badri, however, insisted that OPEC welcomed the lifting of sanctions on Iran and would be able to cope with any increased volumes.We are really happy that sanctions are on their way to be over for Iran. Now we dont have any country under sanctions in our organisation, he told journalists.I think the quantity that is in question, I think our group will accommodate them.

Dollar rises for 3rd day helped by US GDP report

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar surged for a third straight day Thursday, helped by a report on US growth in the second quarter that confirmed the economy is expanding at a moderate rate.The dollar pushed up 0.4 percent to $1.0931 per euro and 0.13 percent to 124.15 yen following the governments estimate that the US economy grew at an annual 2.3 percent pace in the April-June quarter. It also revised upward the first-quarter growth rate to 0.6 percent, from a slight contraction in the previous estimate.The numbers were strong enough to support expectations that the Federal Reserve will start to raise interest rates before the end of the year, according to analysts, but not so strong as to think that the Fed will accelerate its plan for a series of slow and small increases.Todays numbers are consistent with the Feds moderately upbeat assessment of the economy and the high probability of a September increase in the federal funds rate -- the first in nine years, said economist Nariman Behravesh of IHS.The data is not a sign that the Fed is step closer to raising rates in September, but it should keep the compass pointed in that direction, said Christopher Vecchio, currency analyst at DailyFX.

Pakistan tame Sri Lanka in first T20

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COLOMBO (AFP) - Umar Akmal smashed 46 off 24 balls and Sohail Tanvir grabbed three wickets as Pakistan beat top-ranked Sri Lanka by 29 runs in the first Twenty20 international in Colombo on Thursday.Pakistan piled up 175-5 after electing to bat and then restricted the reigning World Twenty20 champions to 146-7 in the day-night match at the Premadasa stadium. Akmal hit three boundaries and as many sixes during an entertaining fourth wicket stand of 81 from just 45 deliveries with Shoaib Malik, who remained unbeaten on a 31-ball 46.Ahmed Shehzad was the other notable contributor with 46 off 38 balls, but Sri Lanka lost the way when Pakistan plundered 70 runs in the final six overs to set up the challenging target.Pakistan lost opener Mukhtar Ahmed in the second over, but Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez revived the innings with a 42-run partnership for the second wicket.Debutant left-arm seamer Binura Fernando conceded 17 runs in the 16th over which included two consecutive sixes by Akmal.Sri Lankas captain Lasith Malinga was the most expensive bowler, giving away 46 runs in his four overs.The hosts were dealt early blows as Kusal Perera fell off the third ball of the innings and Tillakaratne Dilshan was dismissed in the next over to make it 13-2.Debutant Dhananjaya de Silva looked promising during his knock of 31 and another youngster Milinda Siriwardana made 35, before Chamara Kapugedera justified his recall with three sixes in his unbeaten 31 off 16 balls.Tanvir, the left-arm seamer, finished with three for 29 and Anwar Ali took two for 27 to tie down the Sri Lankan batsmen. The second match will be played at the same venue on Saturday with Pakistan looking to complete a triple on the current tour, having earlier clinched the Tests 2-1 and the one-dayers 3-2.SCOREBOARDPakistan:Mukhtar Ahmed c Vandersay b Mathews 2Ahmed Shehzad c Malinga b T. Perera 46Mohammad Hafeez c Vithanage b T. Perera 17Shoaib Malik not out 46Umar Akmal lbw b Malinga 46Shahid Afridi b Fernando 8Anwar Ali not out 0Extras: (lb3, w7) 10Total: (for five wickets, 20 overs) 175Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Mukhtar), 2-52 (Hafeez), 3-83 (Shehzad), 4-164 (Akmal), 5-175 (Afridi). Bowling: Fernando 4-0-38-1 (w3), Mathews 4-0-33-1 (w2), Malinga 4-0-46-1 (w2), Vandersay 4-0-25-0, T. Perara 4-0-30-2.Sri Lanka: K. Perera c Afridi b Anwar 4T. Dilshan c Rizwan b Tanvir 6D. de Silva c Shehzad b Malik 31K. Vithanage b Tanvir 1A. Mathews b Imad 23M. Siriwardana c Anwar b Tanvir 35C. Kapugedera not out 31T. Perera c Rizwan b Anwar 2B. Fernando not out 8Extras: (b1, lb3, w1) 5Total: (for seven wickets, 20 overs) 146Fall of wickets: 1-4 (K. Perera), 2-13 (Dilshan), 3-19 (Vithanage), 4-55 (Mathews), 5-92 (de Silva), 6-116 (Siriwardana), 7-121 (T. Perera). Bowling: Anwar 4-0-27-2 (w1), Tanvir 4-0-29-3, Irfan 4-0-25-0, Afridi 4-0-31-0, Imad 3-0-21-1, Malik 1-0-9-1. Result: Pakistan won by 29 runs.Toss: Pakistan.Umpires: Ranmore Martinesz (SRI) and Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI).TV umpire: Raveendra Wimalasiri (SRI).Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND).

Finn leaves England on brink of Ashes lead

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BIRMINGHAM (AFP) - Steven Finn took England to the verge of a stunning victory in the third Test against Australia at Edgbaston on Thursday and a 2-1 Ashes series lead.At the close of a remarkable second day, Australia were 168 for seven in their second innings -- a lead of just 23 runs with three wickets standing and three days left to play.Fast bowler Finn, recalled for his first Test since 2013, had taken five wickets for 45 runs in 13 overs following his two for 38 in Australias meagre first-innings 136.Australia opener David Warner struck a defiant 77 on Thursday, one of only three double-figure scores so far in this innings.Peter Nevill was 37 not out after being dropped on 35 when opposing wicket-keeper Jos Buttler couldnt cling on to a diving chance off Stuart Broad.Mitchell Starc was unbeaten on seven. It has been a while since Ive played Test cricket so to come here and take wickets was great, said Finn.The game is definitely not won yet. We need to do a professional job tomorrow.A mere 19 matches in the 138-year history of Test cricket had ended inside two days, with the last occurrence in England when the West Indies were beaten by an innings and 39 runs at Headingley in 2000.But a side strain suffered midway through his ninth over by James Anderson -- no way to mark his 33rd birthday -- hampered Englands hopes of adding to that list.Finn, however, returned to remove Mitchell Johnson (14) with the first ball of his new spell before Nevill and Starc saw out the day.Fast bowler Johnson held out a glimmer of hope for Australia by saying: If we can get to 120 or 130 ahead well have a really good crack at them.We need the tail to wag.The first two days of this match have witnessed a remarkable turnaround from Englands humiliating 405-run defeat in the second Test at Lords which saw Australia level the five-match series at 1-1.But whereas that clash had taken place on a largely placid pitch, the course of this Test owed much to Australia captain Michael Clarkes decision to bat first on a seaming surface offering sideways movement.James Anderson, Englands all-time most successful Test bowler but wicketless at Lords, led the way with an Ashes-best six for 47 in a first innings that lasted a mere 36.4 overs.England couldnt quite rival that display on Thursday but still took seven wickets in 55 overs.Veteran opener Chris Rogers, whose 52 had been the lone batting highlight of Australias first innings, fell for six when he was lbw to paceman Broad.Finn was infamously deemed unselectable by then England one-day coach Ashley Giles when sent home early from the woeful 2013/14 tour of Australia which included a 5-0 Ashes defeat.But he was near unplayable at times on Thursday as he dismissed both Steven Smith and struggling Australia captain Michael Clarke for the second time in the match.Smith, the worlds number one ranked Test batsman, went for eight, to follow his first innings seven, when a skyed pull was held by Buttler.Finn then took two wickets in two balls.Clarke was well caught by third slip Adam Lyth for three -- his latest low score meaning the Australia skippers past 27 Test innings had produced just two fifties which he converted into hundreds.Next ball Adam Voges edged Finn to second slip Ian Bell for a duck.Mitchell Marsh (six) survived the hat-trick but was bowled by Finn for six.Warner attacked but, trying to turn Anderson legside, the left-hander ballooned a catch to Lyth in the covers to end a 49-ball innings, including 10 fours.After England resumed on their overnight 133 for three, left-armer Johnson took two wickets -- including his 300th in Tests -- in three balls as both Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes gloved sharply rising deliveries through to Nevill.But Joe Root (63) and Moeen Ali, with a dashing 59, helped England to a total of 281 and a first-innings lead of 145.

Steyn, Duminy put S. Africa on top in 2nd Test

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DHAKA (AFP) - Dale Steyn claimed his 400th Test scalp as he shared six wickets with JP Duminy, putting South Africa on top on the first day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka Thursday.Paceman Steyn claimed 3-30 while off-spinner Duminy took 3-27, as a mini collapse in the final session restricted Bangladesh to 246-8 at stumps.Skipper Mushfiqur Rahim scored the lone half-century for Bangladesh and made a 94-run partnership with Mahmudullah for the fourth wicket after he won the toss and elected to bat.Rahim hit 65 off 125 balls, his 15th Test fifty and first in 12 innings as Bangladesh made slow progress before South Africa took control of the game in the final session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.Steyn struck early in the day making opener Tamim Iqbal his 400th Test scalp.The 32-year-old almost reached the landmark in his second over of the day but Dean Elgar dropped Tamim at second slip.Skipper Hashim Amla made no mistake in Steyns next over when he took a chest-high catch at first slip.Its a mix of different emotions really, said Steyn, who was wearing a Dennis Lillee-style headband on the field after growing his hair long.I dont really know what to say. Its pretty cool to take the wickets and get the headband off and get the hair off, he told reporters after the days play.I think I have taken some abuse about my hair. That doesnt influence my bowling at all.Shaun Pollock is the only other South African to pass the 400-mark, taking 421 wickets before retiring in 2008.Steyn, who is playing his 80th Test, became the 13th cricketer to take 400 or more wickets in Test matches.Duminy struck twice in successive overs following lunch after Mominul Haque and Imrul Kayes had helped Bangladesh stage something of a recovery from the early loss of Tamim.Duminy forced an edge from Mominul for 40, ending the batsmans 69-run second wicket stand with Kayes.Kayes followed Mominul, who hit six fours off 87 balls, when Duminy struck in his next over, trapping the left-hander leg-before for 30.Mahmudullah was given out leg-before on 18 off Steyn but the decision was overturned on review as a replay showed a big inside edge.Steyn later broke his partnership with Rahim as the right-hander flicked a catch to Temba Bavuma at short midwicket after reaching 35.Rahim had been looking solid until occasional left-arm spinner Elgar spun one sharply to take his glove and the ball carried to wicketkeeper Dane Vilas.Elgar then pouched Liton Das at short midwicket as Duminy claimed his third wicket.Shakib Al Hasan edged Morne Morkel to Elgar at gully for 35 before Steyn bowled Mohammad Shahid in the last ball of the day to complete Bangladeshs misery.Despite the disappointing end to the day, Mominul said Bangladesh still hoped to post a score of around 300 which he felt would be competitive.We still have two wickets. We will try if we can score 300 runs, he said.I think it will be a good total to have if we can bowl at good areas.South Africa handed wicketkeeper-batsman Vilas a Test debut in the match, replacing Quinton de Kock.The 30-year-old became South Africas sixth new cap in the last 18 months.Bangladesh brought back Nasir in place of left-arm spinner Taijul Islam.The first Test ended in a draw after rain washed out the last two days in Chittagong
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