Wednesday 12 August 2015

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

Rio set for 'great' Olympics: IOC

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RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Rio will stage a great Olympics, as long as it sorts out millions of details first, the head of an IOC fact-finding mission said Wednesday.She even promised to dive into the filthy bay where the sailing events will take place.Brazil is showing the entire world that it can deliver a great Olympic Games, Nawal El Moutawakel, head of the International Olympic Committees Coordination Commission, told a press conference in Rio.She said that volleyball, triathlon, rowing and riding test events have passed off with no major problems. Dozens more competitions designed to check the citys infrastructure are still to come, with sailing tests starting on the scenic, but heavily polluted Guanabara Bay this Saturday.Despite her effusive praise for the Brazilian organizers, El Moutawakel said Rio was still far from Games ready.Its now about dealing in a timely manner with millions of operational details, she said. You can imagine the loads of work that is expected from our friends.El Moutawakel dismissed concerns over the Olympic rowing, windsurfing and sailing venues, saying that organizers are doing their utmost to ensure safe water.We will dive (in) together, she joked with an IOC colleague, then turned to the journalists covering the press conference and said, I propose we all dive, all of you.Christophe Dubi, the IOC executive director for the Olympics, said that while promises by Rio authorities to cut 80 percent of Guanabara Bays pollution have been abandoned, at least the competition areas will be clean.Organizers are ensuring the quality of the water for the athletes and that is what is being delivered, he said.We will have competitions with the greatest athletes, with the very best setting you have ever seen in the Olympic sailing competition, he promised.At least half of greater Rios sewage pours untreated into Guanabara Bay, as well as garbage carried in by dozens of rivers that environmentalists have described as effectively dead. At present, raw sewage even flows constantly into the marina that will host the Olympic racing boats.IOC officials also addressed worries that impoverished Brazilians will be left behind by the global mega-event, which comes just as their country is sliding into recession.The Olympic Games enjoy strong support from Brazilians in the middle of economic and political crisis, she said. We are aware what the country is going through.Rio authorities say that a new metro line, a cross-city bus link, a revitalized port area and clusters of new sporting venues will be a huge boost to the dilapidated, but lively city.However critics warn of delays in the metro line, officially due to open only two months before the Games, and say that the biggest beneficiaries of the Olympics will be the private investors behind infrastructure such as the Olympic Village, which will turn into a luxury residential area.Thomas Bach, the IOC president, has said the Rio Olympics -- costing about 38 billion reais, which is currently just under $11 billion -- will be the most inclusive ever.The 2016 Games will be the first held in South America.

Football: Late Killie comeback stops Celtic

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GLASGOW (AFP) - Celtic slipped to second in the Scottish Premiership after Kallum Higginbotham scored a late penalty for Kilmarnock who twice came from behind to seal a shock 2-2 draw at Rugby Park.Celtic found themselves in front as early as the second minute as Leigh Griffiths finished off a Kris Commons free-kick.Killie keeper Jamie MacDonald then made a host of saves as the Hoops threatened to run riot.However, the hosts punished Celtic in the 44th minute when Josh Magennis levelled matters as Celtic conceded in the league for the first time since April 22.The Glasgow giants regained the lead in style in the 55th minute as Israeli international Nir Bitton smashed a sensational strike past Jamie MacDonald from 25 yards.With time running out Higginbotham dinked an 87th minute penalty past Craig Gordon to seal Kilmarnocks first point of the season.We had a lot of chances today and we were not clinical enough in our finishing and we also gave away way too many chances, a disappointed Celtic manager Ronny Deila said. Credit to Kilmarnock who put us under pressure but we need to do things differently and be more disciplined.Kilmarock manager Gary Locke said he always believed his side could get something out of the game.I always felt we looked dangerous when we were going forward, Locke said.Jamie MacDonald made some great saves and we had a couple of chances and Im delighted we took them.Celtic are replaced at the top of the Scottish Premiership by newly-promoted Hearts who made it three wins out of three following their 2-0 victory over Motherwell thanks to a Gavin Reilly penalty and a Billy King strike.Saidy Janko made his first start for Celtic at Rugby Park as one of three changes manager Ronny Deila made from the weekend win over Partick Thistle.Celtic got off to a dream start as the alert Commons sent a free-kick over the static Kilmarnock defence and Griffiths got on the end of it to poke the ball past MacDonald.The keeper had barely picked himself up before he had to get down low to smother the danger from a low drive from Commons before stopping a Rogic shot. Griffiths was next to see a swerving shot saved as the Celtic bombardment continued.Kilmarnock had barely threatened before Magennis blew a golden chance to fire the home side level in the 35th minute. The Northern Ireland striker raced behind the Celtic defence to collect a clever through ball from Rory McKenzie but he blazed his effort high over.Craig Gordon then instinctively stuck out a foot to keep out Lee Ashcrofts header as he connected with Steven Smiths free-kick.Celtic hit back and Rogic saw his header hit the post, a follow-up strike saved by MacDonald before sending his third effort over the bar.The Hoops were immediately punished for their missed chances as Magennis grabbed an equaliser in the 44th minute. The striker got in front of Efe Ambrose to stick out a leg and turn the ball past Gordon from Darryl Westlakes low cross.Griffiths and Rogic both missed chances before Rogic teed up Bitton 25 yards out and he took a touch before unleashing an unstoppable swerving strike into the top corner to restore Celtics lead.Charlie Mulgrew had an effort ruled out for offside before Killie earned a late penalty. Emilio Izaguirre fouled Greg Kiltie in the box and Higginbotham cheekily chipped home the spot-kick.

Golf: McIlroy sets bar high for injury return

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KOHLER (AFP) - World number one Rory McIlroy expects to be in the mix this week as he defends his PGA Championship crown after a five-week injury absence.Expectation levels are the same, the 26-year-old Northern Ireland star said Wednesday on the eve of the championship at Whistling Straits.I have played quite a number of rounds of golf. Ive been practicing for over three weeks getting my game ready, getting my game sharp.I expect to play well. I dont see any reason why I cant bring the sort of form that Ive shown in practice rounds and on the range to the tee on Thursday afternoon.McIlroy admitted he feared the worst when he hurt his left ankle playing football with friends on July 4.I thought I broke it, because as soon as I went over on it I heard like a snap, said McIlroy, who in fact ruptured his anterior talofibular ligament, one of three ligaments that stabilize the outside of the ankle.As well as that, I tore the joint capsule. I looked down and 30 seconds later it got the size of a tennis ball, basically because all the fluid came out of the joint capsule.McIlroy also suffered a partial tear of another ligament, but says he was ultimately lucky that the damage wasnt worse.Although the ruptured ligament is basically just scar tissue now he believes strengthening exercises can maintain the integrity of the joint for the rest of his career.Its really not anything to be concerned about in the long-term, he said.McIlroy will tee it up on Thursday just 40 days after he was hurt, having missed title defences at the British Open and the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational.Its a quick turnaround after an injury some experts said would need six weeks of rehab at least, but McIlroy said the constant treatment he was able to receive made that possible.While still in a walking boot he practiced putting to keep the feel in his hands.By the time of the British Open at St. Andrews he was walking regularly, and now hes running and playing golf without pain or swelling.I played 72 holes walking in Portugal last week, and once I completed that, that was basically like my fitness test, he said. Four days in a row, 72 holes, playing with no pain, no swelling, no anything like that.Then we knew that, OK, youre ready to go.McIlroy wont be easing back into the game.Hes paired in the first two rounds with Open champion Zach Johnson and Jordan Spieth, the breakout American star who won the Masters and US Open.Spieth has been closing in on McIlroys number one ranking for weeks, and again has a chance to supplant him.I knew I wasnt going to have a low key return to the game, and this definitely isnt, he said.McIlroys four major titles include two PGA Championship victories. He also won the final major of the year in 2012.He said missing his British Open title defence at St. Andrews wasnt as hard as he expected it to be.It gave me a huge sense of perspective, he said of his forced absence. When youre playing week in, week out and youre thinking about winning these tournaments, you get so wrapped up in what youre doing and your own little life and your own little bubble, sometimes you forget theres a bigger wider world out there.In the big scheme of things, its not life or death.With that in mind, McIlroy isnt about to give up his friendly kick-arounds for fear of a career-changing injury.I might take some precautionary measures next time, he conceded, saying he might don ankle braces. But apart from that, Im not going to stop doing what I do.

Motorcycling: Marquez eager to close in on Yamaha duo at Brno

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PRAGUE (AFP) - Reigning MotoGP champion Marc Marquez will seek a third straight Grand Prix win as he seeks to slash the overall deficit on his Yamaha rivals at the Czech GP in Brno on Sunday.After 10 of 18 MotoGP races this year, Italian superstar Valentino Rossi leads the championship standings on 195 points ahead of Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo of Spain with 186.Marquez, the 2013 and 2014 champion, is third with 139 points following a lacklustre start into the season.But the 22-year-old Spanish Repsol Honda rider showed his shape at Indianapolis last weekend, grabbing a second straight win after a battle with Lorenzo who finished second ahead of Rossi.Still we believe, but we must be honest. It will be really difficult, Marquez said after the Indy race.We know that both Yamaha riders have a really good pace and if we want to beat them every race, or try to be ready to fight with them, we must work a lot, especially at some circuits.On the 5.4-kilometre circuit in the southern Czech city of Brno, we will try to be concentrated from the beginning. Last year in Brno, Marquez failed to beat Giacomo Agostinis record of ten straight Moto GP wins as he was demoted to the fourth spot in the race dominated by his teammate and fellow Catalan Dani Pedrosa.This isnt one of my favourite tracks and Ive had mixed results here in the past, Marquez told the crash.net website.But we arrive there with good momentum and we will work hard to be ready for a battle.The 36-year-old Rossi had a fantastic start to the season, winning two out of the three opening races, and has made it to the podium in all ten races so far.The nine-time world champion across all categories has scored five MotoGP wins at Brno, the last dating from 2009.After Indy, the Doctor blamed poor qualifying for his failure to catch up with Lorenzo and Marquez, having started from eighth on the grid.We struggled too much in the practice and we arrive with a little bit too much of a delay before finding a good setting, said Rossi.We have to work hard on this, starting from Brno.Closing in on Rossi in the overall standings after four straight grand prix wins earlier this season, is Lorenzo who last won at Brno in 2010.In theory Brno could be better than Indianapolis but we have to go there and feel and see what happens, said the 28-year-old MotoGP champion from 2010 and 2012.The Brno grand prix was on the verge of being scrapped from the MotoGP calendar over financial issues until a last-gasp deal in June helped keep it on the list at least for this year.

17 dead, 400 hurt as huge blasts hits China's Tianjin

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TIANJIN (AFP) - A series of massive explosions at a warehouse in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin killed 17 people, state media reported Thursday, as witnesses described a fireball from the blasts ripping through the night sky.An AFP reporter at the scene saw shattered glass up to three kilometres (two miles) from the blast site, after a shipment of explosives detonated in an industrial zone raining debris on the city.Plumes of smoke still billowed over buildings six hours after the explosion, which occurred around 11:30 pm (1530 GMT) local time.The fireball was huge, maybe as much as 100 metres tall, said 27-year-old Huang Shiting, whose house is close to the port area of the city where the explosion took place. I heard the first explosion and everyone went outside, then there was a series of more explosions, windows shattered and a lot of people who were inside were hurt and came running out, bleeding, he told AFP.State broadcaster CCTV reported that 17 people had been killed and more than 400 hospitalised, adding in a Twitter posted that President Xi Jinping had urged all-out efforts to rescue victims and extinguish fire.Communist Party newspaper the Peoples Daily said in a post on Chinese social network Weibo that more people remained trapped by a huge fire unleashed by the explosives.Images obtained by AFP showed residents, some partially clothed, running for shelter on a street strewn with debris.Between 300 and 400 injured people had arrived at a single hospital, according to the Beijing News, which also cited a worker at another healthy facility saying there were too many new patients to count.The magnitude of the first explosion was the equivalent of detonating three tonnes of TNT, the China Earthquake Networks Centre said on its verified Weibo account, and was followed by a second stronger blast equal to detonating 21 tonnes of the explosive. Two firefighters called to the scene were missing, state news agency Xinhua reported, as 10 emergency teams and 35 fire trucks battled the blaze.Much of the area surrounding the explosion is made up of construction sites for residential and office buildings. Worker dormitories, built of flimsy sheets of thin metal, were torn apart by the blast.At the citys TEDA hospital, close to the blast site, Zhang Hongjie, 50, sat with his head wrapped in bandages, his arms covered with small cuts from flying glass. The explosion was terrifying, and I almost passed out, he told AFP. Im sorry, I still cant think straight, Im a bit confused, he said.Hospital staff said most of those that arrived overnight had been discharged. China has a dismal industrial safety record as some owners evade regulations to save money and pay off corrupt officials to look the other way.In July, 15 people were killed and more than a dozen injured when an illegal fireworks warehouse exploded in northern Hebei province.And at least 71 were killed in an explosion at a car parts factory in Kunshan, near Shanghai, in August last year.Tianjin, which lies about 140 kilometres (90 miles) southeast of Beijing, is one of Chinas biggest cities, with a population of nearly 15 million people according to 2013 figures.A manufacturing centre and major port for northern China, it is closely linked to Beijing, with a high-speed train line cutting the travel time between them to only 30 minutes.Like Shanghai, several countries were granted trading concessions there during the 19th and early 20th centuries -- settlements which were administered by a foreign power -- starting with Britain and France in 1860. Tianjins city centre retains a legacy of historic colonial architecture, along with more recent skyscrapers.It is one of only four cities in China -- along with Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing -- to have the status of a province.

Taliban kill up to 15 police in southern Afghanistan

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KANDAHAR (AFP) - Taliban insurgents dressed in police uniforms killed up to 15 policemen after raiding a security checkpoint in southern Afghanistan, officials said Wednesday, in the latest attack of their intensifying summer offensive.The attack on Tuesday in Musa Qala district in the volatile province of Helmand highlights an expanding insurgency that has left beleaguered Afghan forces stretched on multiple fronts.At least nine policemen were killed after insurgents disguised in police uniforms attacked a check post in Musa Qala district, said Omar Zwak, spokesman for the governor of Helmand.But Bashir Shakir, a member of the provincial council, gave a higher toll, saying 15 policemen were killed in the late night attack.Taliban spokesman Qari Yusouf Ahmadi claimed responsibility for the raid.The Taliban are stepping up their summer offensive, launched in late April, amid a bitter leadership dispute following the announcement of the death of longtime supremo Mullah Omar.A wave of bombings since last Friday in the capital Kabul have killed at least 56 people and wounded hundreds, prompting fury from President Ashraf Ghani who blamed Pakistan for failing to rein in the Taliban.Observers say the new upsurge in violence represents a bid by new Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour to distract attention from the crisis roiling the militant movement.Afghanistans intelligence agency on Wednesday roundly blamed Pakistans army for the devastating attacks in Kabul.The involvement of Pakistan military... has been confirmed to us by many sources, Haseeb Sediqi, spokesman for the National Directorate of Security, told a press conference.They used their proxy force, the (Taliban-allied) Haqqani Network to carry out these bloody attacks.An Afghan delegation led by Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani will visit Islamabad Thursday to discuss Pakistans counter terrorism plan, the foreign ministry in Kabul said.

US jets launch first anti-IS Syria strikes from Turkey

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ANKARA (AFP) - US warplanes Wednesday carried out their first air strikes on Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria after taking off from a Turkish base, kicking off a key new phase in the campaign against the jihadists.A US drone had last week executed a single lethal air strike against an IS target in Syria but this was the first time manned US fighter jets had carried out raids after taking off from Turkeys strategically-located Incirlik base.Turkey is currently pressing a two-pronged anti-terror offensive against IS jihadists in Syria and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq and southeast Turkey following a wave of attacks inside the country. But until now the Turkish air strikes have overwhelmingly concentrated on the separatist Kurdish rebels, to the frustration of Western commentators who want to see Turkey ramp up its involvement in the fight against IS.Using the Incirlik base outside the city of Adana in southern Turkey drastically cuts the distance needed for the US jets to fly to northern Syria compared with other launch bases further afield in the Middle East.Today, the United States began flying manned counter-ISIL missions from Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Strikes were conducted, Pentagon spokeswoman Commander Elissa Smith said.Turkeys Dogan news agency said three US fighter jets were seen taking off from Incirlik in the evening.Last month, Turkey agreed to open up the base to coalition planes for bombing IS targets in Syria following months of tough negotiations.The expectation now will be that Turkish forces -- which so far have only carried out the most limited strikes against IS -- will also join in the bombing raids.Turkey and the United States will coordinate operations, a Turkish official said on condition of anonymity in Ankara just before the Pentagon announcement. From our perspective, there has been a pause right now as Americans asked to wait for coordination purposes.Brett McGurk, deputy US envoy for the anti-IS coalition, meanwhile wrote on Twitter that he was back in Ankara for talks with Turkish officials to advance our joint cooperation against IS militants.Turkish officials have indicated a major priority will be the establishment of a safe zone inside Syria free of IS jihadists where some of the 1.8 million Syrian refugees Turkey is hosting could be housed. But Washington has yet to express clear enthusiasm for the idea.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed there would be no concessions in Turkeys relentless offensive against Kurdish militants, as its southeast was hit by new deadly violence.One Turkish soldier and two suspected PKK members were killed Wednesday in clashes in the southeast that erupted when the Kurdish rebels attacked a military post in the Diyarbakir region, the army said.Let me put it clearly, the operations will continue, Erdogan told local municipal chiefs at his presidential palace in Ankara.We will never stop in the face of all these attacks, he added.The state-run Anatolia news agency reported over the weekend that so far 390 terrorists had been killed in the campaign against the PKK.But the Kurdish rebels have hit back, leaving a 2013 truce in tatters and a peace process to end its over 30-year insurgency for autonomy and greater rights at a dead end.According to an AFP toll, 30 members of the security forces have been killed in PKK-linked violence since the current crisis began.In the southeastern Hakkari province, Turkish police and protesters clashed at the funeral of a senior PKK figure, Baris Tekce, who was killed in clashes a day earlier, reports said.Turkish authorities earlier detained at least a dozen suspected IS members in coordinated dawn raids including in the capital Ankara and Istanbul, Anatolia news agency reported. The authorities on Tuesday announced the arrests of 23 foreign nationals -- from China, Indonesia, Russia and Ukraine -- who were trying to cross into Syria to join IS via the southeastern border town of Kilis. In Paris, a high-ranking Turkish official told reporters that Ankara had this year expelled more than 700 people who had tried to enter Syria to join IS.Iran closed its main border crossing into Turkey after an Iranian truck was attacked after crossing over from the Islamic Republic, state television said Wednesday, without saying who was behind the violence.Turkey still has no new government following June 7 legislative elections, which saw the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), founded by Erdogan, lose its overall majority.Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and the main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu are to meet Thursday for what is seen a make-or-break meeting on forming a coalition.

Iran's FM, Syria's Assad discuss fight against 'terror'

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DAMASCUS (AFP) - Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus on Wednesday, and called on regional countries to fight terrorism and extremism.Assad, in turn, thanked key ally Iran for its support in a four-year civil war that has cost more than 240,000 lives.I say to the other (regional) players and to our neighbours that now is the time to care about the truth, answer the aspirations of the Syrian people and work to fight terrorism, extremism, and sectarianism, Zarif said.He did not give details on his discussions with Assad on finding a solution to the war, only describing the exchange of views as good.An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman had said a new Iranian peace plan was based on respect for the Syrian peoples legitimate right to reforms and to decide their own future.Assad, quoted by state news agency SANA, expressed his appreciation for Irans strong support for Syria.He welcomed the sincere efforts made by Iran and friendly countries to stop the war against Syria and to preserve the sovereignty and integrity of its territory.Zarif arrived in Damascus on Wednesday after morning meetings in Beirut with officials including his Lebanese counterpart, Gebran Bassil. We are ready to cooperate, exchange ideas, and work together with these nations to fight extremism, terrorism, and sectarianism, he told reporters in Beirut.We hope that the people of this region and the Lebanese people will benefit from this cooperation.Late Tuesday, Zarif met Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Hassan Nasrallah, head of the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah. Iran, Hezbollah and Russia have been the biggest backers of the Assad regime throughout the conflict.

Hamas chief meets Turkish leaders in Ankara

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ANKARA (AFP) - Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal held closed-door talks with Turkish leaders in Ankara late on Wednesday, officials said. Meshaal, who often shows up at events hosted by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. No statement was made to the press after the talks. The visit came just weeks after Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon accused Turkey of hosting a senior member of the Islamist movements exiled leadership who was actively planning attacks.Attempts to activate cells in the West Bank originate in Hamas headquarters in Gaza and Istanbul, from where Salah Aruri plans severe attacks against us by proxies in the West Bank and in neighbouring countries, he said. Salah Aruri is acting from Turkey -- a NATO member, which at the same time allows a terror base on its territory, he charged.Israeli media subsequently reported that Turkey had bowed to the US pressure and agreed to order Aruri to leave the country.A Turkish official on Wednesday said that Aruri was not in Turkey.He is not in Turkey according to information I have, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Kerry to meet with dissidents in Cuba

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Top US diplomat John Kerry will meet with Cuban dissidents during his historic trip to Cuba, he said on Wednesday.They will be invited to our mission, Kerry told the US Spanish-language network Telemundo ahead of Fridays visit to Havana.I will take an open, free walk in Old Havana, the picturesque Spanish colonial-era district popular with tourists.Such meetings are a sensitive issue for the only Communist government in the Americas, as it reestablishes normal ties with Washington after more than 50 years. Kerrys visit Friday will put a symbolic coda on the historic rapprochement announced on December 17 by US President Barack Obama and Cuban counterpart Raul Castro, which paved the way for the Cold War enemies to restore diplomatic ties last month.After the public flag-raising event, Kerry will meet with a broad range of sectors of Cuban society, a State Department source explained.Later in the day, we are having a larger event at the chief of mission residence which is also a diplomatic installation and with a broad range of groups being invited including the Cuban government, Cuban Americans, Cuban cultural leaders, the diplomatic corp, entrepreneurs, and Cuban political human rights and media activists, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.And the secretary does look forward to seeing many members of Cuban civil society, including dissidents, at that event.Some 90 dissidents were arrested Sunday at a protest against the reopening of the US embassy in Havana.The protest underscored the anxiety of the opposition movement as Kerry prepares to officially reopen the embassy and fly the US flag over the building for the first time since January 3, 1961.

Former US president Carter reveals he has cancer

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Former US president Jimmy Carter said Wednesday that recent liver surgery has shown he has cancer, and that it has spread.The 39th president, now aged 90, underwent an initially successful operation earlier this month to remove a small mass.That procedure revealed that I have cancer that now is in other parts of my body, he said in a brief written statement.I will be rearranging my schedule as necessary so I can undergo treatment.A more complete public statement will be made when facts are known, possibly next week, said the Nobel Peace Prize winner, whose two sisters, brother and father all died from pancreatic cancer.The Georgia native will be treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.President Barack Obama was among those who voiced their support, wishing his predecessor a fast and full recovery.Jimmy, youre as resilient as they come, and along with the rest of America, we are rooting for you, he said in a statement.In May, Carter cut short a trip to Guyana after he took ill. He was flown back to Atlanta, where attended a public event the next day.Carter was in the White House from 1977 to 1981.His term in office is perhaps best known for the Iran hostage crisis, which saw more 52 Americans held in Tehran for 444 days following the Islamic Revolution.Carters failure to secure their release, compounded by a failed military rescue attempt, would dog his presidency and scuttle his bid for a second term.The hostages were only released once Ronald Reagan came to office.But Carters reputation is much stronger today than it was when he left office.Reaching a peace deal between Israel and Egypt is now recognized as the zenith of his presidency and a major diplomatic achievement. But his work after leaving the White House has also been widely praised.He has been an extremely active as an ex-president, working as an elections monitor and lobbying for health campaigns via the Carter Center, which he founded in 1982.He has participated in election monitoring in Mexico, Peru, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and East Timor, and in 2003 traveled to Cuba for a historic face-to-face meeting with longtime communist leader Fidel Castro.He was recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless efforts to promote social and economic justice.News of his illness prompted a groundswell of support from well-wishers.We hope for his full recovery and return to his inspiring work, said Apple CEO Tim Cook.Dems across the country are pulling for you, said Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.There are four living former US presidents: Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Australia Schutt out England women

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LONDON (AFP) - Australia pace bowler Megan Schutts four-wicket haul left her side firmly in command of the lone womens Ashes Test against England at Canterbury on Wednesday.Schutt took four for 26 in 18.4 overs -- including 11 maidens -- as England were dismissed for 168 in reply to Australias first innings 274 for nine declared.That left Australia with a substantial lead of 106 runs at stumps on the second day of a scheduled four.Ellyse Perry made the initial breakthrough with two wickets in two balls in her first over.Lauren Winfield was caught behind by Alyssa Healy -- the niece of former Australia mens wicket-keeper Ian Healy before Perry had Sarah Taylor, one of Englands best batsmen, lbw for a duck.England captain Charlotte Edwards survived the hat-trick but was powerless when, on 30, a Schutt delivery swung in through the air only to straighten off the pitch and clip off stump.The one sadness for Australia on Wednesday was that Test debutant Jess Jonassen was unable to convert her overnight 95 into a maiden century.Her nerves would not have been eased by the fact rain delayed the start of the days play by 90 minutes.Having added four runs to go to 99, Jonassen was lbw to a Katherine Brunt inswinger, umpire Alex Wharf taking his time before raising the dreaded finger.It was the end of the 22-year-old Jonassens excellent 197-ball innings including 10 fours and prompted a declaration by Australia captain Meg Lanning.This is a multi-format Ashes, in contrast to the mens version which saw England take an unbeatable 3-1 lead in a five-match series with victory by an innings and 78 runs in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge last weekend.Australias women are currently four points to two in front after the one-day international leg of the series, and there are four points out of a remaining 10 on offer to the winners of the lone Test.Schutts side are now well-placed to take a huge stride towards regaining the Ashes by winning this match.We wanted to hit our bowling lines today, play some boring cricket and defend our 274 as hard as we could. We went out there with that plan and it came off, Schutt said.Meanwhile Englands Lydia Greenway added: Well have to go out tomorrow feeling fresh and look to take early wickets. If we can make sure were disciplined with the ball then you never know how they might bat.

Oil prices edge up as US supplies fall, dollar reteats

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices edged up from six-year lows Wednesday as US oil supplies declined and the dollar retreated.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for September delivery rose 22 cents to $43.30 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The US contract on Tuesday closed at the lowest level since March 2009.European benchmark Brent oil for September delivery gained 48 cents to $49.66 a barrel in London.Were back in positive territory, but overall the reaction is rather tepid, said Kyle Cooper of IAF Advisors. US oil inventories dipped 1.7 million barrels in the week ending August 7, with domestic production falling 70,000 barrels a day to about 9.4 million barrels a day, according to data released by the US Department of Energy.Oil prices also received support from a retreat in the dollar Wednesday as Chinas move to devalue its currency against the greenback sparked speculation the US Federal Reserve will move more slowly to hike interest rates.A cheaper dollar lifts demand outside the US for crude oil, which is traded in the US currency on international markets.The International Energy Agency predicted in its monthly report that global demand for oil would rise by 1.6 million barrels in 2015, the fastest level in five years.Still the IEA gave a mixed read on the overall state of the market. US oil prices have fallen from more than $90 a barrel a year ago.The IEA said a sizeable surplus remains the rule in the oil market, thanks to strong production from members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Dollar falls as China move seen delaying Fed rate hike

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar fell against the euro and other currencies Wednesday on speculation that the US Federal Reserve will delay hiking interest rates following Chinas devaluation of the yuan.The dollar took it on the chin, said Joe Manimbo, senior market analyst at Western Union Business Solutions.Beijing on Tuesday surprised global financial markets by devaluing its currency, the yuan, by nearly two percent against the US dollar.A second cut on Wednesday brought reductions this week in the yuan to 3.5 percent against the dollar.The dollar had advanced against most rival currencies on Tuesday. But on Wednesday, the greenback declined against the euro, the British pound and the Japanese yen.Chinas cheapening of its currency opened a messy can of worms for markets and suggested the global economy may be worse off than previously thought, Manimbo said.Consequently, expectations have diminished for the Fed to raise rates amid fears that slowing growth in China could reach US shores.Currency traders are closely eyeing US data the rest of the week, especially Thursdays report on US retail sales for July. A strong report could strengthen confidence that the Fed will hike rates in 2015, perhaps as soon as September.

Ali wants no Ashes let-up from England

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LONDON (AFP) - England all-rounder Moeen Ali wants Alastair Cooks men to put the foot on the throat against Australia as they bid to complete a 4-1 Ashes series triumph at The Oval next week.England regained the Ashes with a dominant innings and 78-run victory over Australia in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday.No England side has ever won four Tests in a single home Ashes campaign but that target will be in the teams sights when they reassemble in south London for the series finale after a week off from Ashes action which will see Ali involved in a domestic Twenty20 quarter-final for Worcestershire against Hampshire on Friday. Its a great opportunity to win 4-1 in a big series, Ali told Sky Sports on Wednesday. Weve played so well up to now, and we dont want to mess anything up.We want to keep the rhythm up, keep the way were playing and...put the foot on the throat, the off-spinner and stylish batsman added.The last four innings of the Ashes have witnessed successive six-wicket returns from England pacemen James Anderson, Steven Finn (both starring in the eight-wicket win at Edgbaston), with Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes carrying on at Trent Bridge. Broads haul was the most sensational, the fast-medium bowler taking eight for 15, including his 300th wicket in Tests, on his Nottinghamshire home ground as Australia were dismissed for just 60 in 111 balls -- the shortest completed first innings of any Test -- in 94 minutes of mayhem at Trent Bridge on Thursday.The last two games have been two-and-a-half days, and its been an amazing effort from the bowlers especially, said Ali. Everyone has enjoyed watching the Ashes and everyone I talk to is really buzzing...long may it continue.That England lead 3-1 with one to play this Ashes is a scoreline few would have forecast when they were being whitewashed 5-0 in Australia some 18 months ago or crashing out of the first round of the World Cup in embarrassing fashion earlier this year.Its been a tough 18 months leading up to it, so we made sure we enjoyed it, said Ali. They absolutely smashed us at Lords (where Australia won the second Test by 405 runs) and never gave us a sniff -- and weve done that to them pretty much three times.Australia captain Michael Clarke is set to retire from international cricket after the Oval Test, his struggle for runs this series part of the wider middle-order batting frailties that have condemned Australia to a fourth successive Ashes loss in England.Ali, however, said: Theyre still a great side...and Michael Clarke is an absolute legend of the game.Its obviously a shame when someone has to retire...(but) hes obviously a magnificent player, and captain.
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