At least nine people were killed and 10 others seriously injured today when a gas tank exploded at a fuel complex in southeastern Nigeria, state police said.
	There was no immediate explanation for the blast at a facility belonging to Nigerian firm Linc Oil and Gas at Calabar, said Hafiz Inuwa, in charge of the Cross River State Police Command.
	The police chief, speaking at the scene, said the facility's manager had not yet explained "what led to the explosion".
	"For now, nine people are confirmed dead and many others who sustained different burns are currently receiving treatment" in a local hospital, he added.
	"The figure could be more than nine, while at least 10 persons sustained various degrees of life-threatening injuries," a worker at the facility told AFP on condition of anonymity, after the early morning blast.
	Fuel explosions are common in Nigeria, Africa's biggest oil producer and the continent's most populous country, where it is transported on badly-maintained roads ..

At least nine dead in Nigeria gas blast

PTI Automatic

At least 27 people have perished and 54 are missing after an overcrowded boat sank in a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a local official said today.
	Most of the victims of the tragedy on the Kasai river were students on holiday, local administrator Jacques Mbila told AFP.
	The main reasons for the sinking were "overcrowding and drunk drivers", Mbila  added.
	The accident happened overnight Thursday to Friday on the river Congo in the Idiofa area in the southwest of the vast country.
	Local radio journalist Nelly Mafuta said she saw two nuns among the 27 dead, and the Idiofa cathedral said it held a mass in tribute to the victims.
	The boat had left Dibaya in the restive central Kasai province on Thursday, heading northwest for its final destination of Ilebo more than 500 kilometres (300 miles) away.
	Such transport is one of the most used in DR Congo with its numerous waterways including the Kasai river, the country's second longest after the mighty Congo at over 2,360 ...

27 dead, 54 missing, in DR Congo boat sinking

Thousands of people fled their homes in western Canada over the weekend as strong winds fanned forest fires that have ravaged British Columbia province for more than a week.
	The inferno's progress prompted authorities to take new emergency measures, ordering the evacuation of 24,000 people in the region including the town of Williams Lake which is home to some 11,000 people, reported public broadcaster CBC.
	Some 60 percent of affected residents have already left their homes.
	Authorities estimate that around 17,000 people had already evacuated before the latest orders as wild fires sparked by hot dry weather prompted a state of emergency to be declared on July 7.
	Navi Saini, a spokeswoman for the province, said there were currently 161 wildfires active as of today.
	Further to the south, fire crews equipped with planes and helicopters in the US state of California were making steady progress against 11 active blazes fueled by searing temperatures and high winds.
	"Great news! All ..

Canada fires drive thousands more out of their homes

A man armed with a kitchen knife killed two people and wounded nine others in a Wal-Mart supermarket in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen today, state media reported.
	The 30-year-old suspect was detained following the attack in the outlet in the city's Bao'an district, Xinhua news agency said, citing local police.
	Knife attacks are not uncommon in China.
	In May, a man believed to be suffering mental health problems killed two people and injured 18 in a rampage in southwest Guizhou province.
	In January a man armed with a kitchen knife stabbed 11 children at a kindergarten in the southern Guangxi region.
	Violent crime has been on the rise in China in recent decades as the nation's economy has boomed and the gap between rich and poor has expanded rapidly.
	Studies have also described a rise in the prevalence of mental disorders, some of them linked to stress as the pace of life becomes faster and support systems wither.

Two killed in China supermarket knife attack

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today she stood by her decision to hold a G20 summit in Hamburg even after it was marred by street protests that turned violent.
	"Things happened that were unacceptable. I don't shirk my responsibility," Merkel told ARD public television.
	The chancellor sought to defuse a political row over the gathering, when anarchist mobs battled riot police, torched cars and looted shops even as world leaders talked trade and climate and enjoyed a Beethoven concert.
	Local lawmakers from her centre-right Christian Democratic Union have blamed Hamburg mayor Olaf Scholz for failing to organise sufficient police protection.
	And others have attacked Merkel herself for her choice of Germany's second city as the venue.
	"The federal government was the host," Merkel said. "It was clear that it had to take place in a big city, and I was pleased that Olaf Scholz agreed... I've made it clear to the Hamburg CDU that I think they're wrong" to criticise him.
	Away from ..

Merkel stands by Hamburg G20 despite violent protests

A Chinese American accused of "infiltration" in Iran has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, local media reported today.
	The man was identified as Xiyue Wang, a 37-year-old researcher at Princeton University, according to Mizanonline, the official news agency of Iran's judiciary.
	Wang, who was born in Beijing according to the report, was arrested on August 8, 2016 while trying to leave the country.
	Mizanonline said he was part of "an infiltration project" aimed at gathering "highly confidential articles" for several US and British institutions, including Princeton, the US State Department, Harvard's Kennedy School and the British Institute for Persian Studies.
	"Before his arrest he was able to digitally archive 4,500 pages of the country's documents, while under covert surveillance," said Mizanonline.
	The confidential documents were said to be taken from "research and cultural archives" and "the libraries of some state organisations".
	Mizanonline published an excerpt from a ...

US-China citizen given 10 years for espionage in Iran: media

Roger Federer shed tears of joy as the Swiss star hailed his record eighth Wimbledon title as one of the most magical moments of his astounding career.
     Federer crushed injury-hit Marin Cilic 6-3 6-1 6-4 in Sunday's final to move past Pete Sampras and William Renshaw into sole possession of first place on the list of male Wimbledon champions.
     The emotional 35-year-old, who now has 19 Grand Slam titles, is the oldest man to win Wimbledon in the Open era and the first since Bjorn Borg in 1976 to go through the entire tournament without dropping a set.
     In the five years since he last won Wimbledon, Federer had suffered two All England Club final defeats at the hands of Novak Djokovic, but with his title rivals falling by the wayside this time, he has enjoyed a serene path to glory.
     Even by Federer's sky-high standards, his record triumph was an especially golden moment and the Swiss star was in tears as he waved at his wife Mirka and four children before the Centre ...

'It's magical': Federer joy at record 8th Wimbledon title

From racquet-smashing enfant terrible with a bad attitude and ill-advised ponytail to universally respected sporting role model and modern icon, Roger Federer has come a long, long way.
     Fourteen years after winning his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon, Federer clinched an historic eighth All England Club trophy and 19th major on Sunday.
     Victory over Marin Cilic made the 35-year-old the oldest man to triumph on the famed grass courts tucked away in the plush suburbs of south-west London.
     "2003 feels like ages ago, because of the ponytail, the beard, whatever, you name it. This one is different," said the Swiss star after downing Tomas Berdych to reach his 11th Wimbledon final.
     Many other things have changed for Federer since that Centre Court triumph over Mark Philippoussis in 2003.
     On court, his successes have brought him more than $100 million in prize money and now 93 career titles.
     Off it, he is the father of two sets of twins, Myla Rose and ...

Roger Federer, from Mr Angry to Mr Perfect

More than 330,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict since it started six years ago, around a third of them civilians, a monitor said today.
	The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it has documented the deaths of 331,765 people across Syria since the conflict erupted in mid-March 2011 with anti- government protests.
	Included in the overall death toll are 99,617 civilians, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP, adding that the figures were for the period between March 15, 2011 and July 15, 2017.
	A total of 18,243 children and 11,427 women were among the civilians killed, the Observatory said.
	The figures were the latest provided by the Observatory since March when it said 320,000 people, including 96,000 civilians, had been killed.
	In its latest report, the Observatory said a total of 116,774 members of the regime forces or regime supporters have been killed in Syria since the conflict began.
	Of those, it said 61,808 were soldiers and 1,408 ...

Syria war has killed more than 330,000: monitor

The United States called on Iran today to immediately release US citizens and other foreigners detained on "fabricated" national security charges, after Tehran said an unnamed American has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
	"We call for the immediate release of all US citizens unjustly detained in Iran so they can return to their families," a State Department official said.
	The statement made no specific reference to any individual, but it came after an Iranian spokesman announced the sentencing of an unidentified US citizen for alleged "infiltration" of the country.
	"The Iranian regime continues to detain US citizens and other foreigners on fabricated national security-related charges," the official said.
	"The safety and security of US citizens remains a top priority.  All US citizens, especially dual nationals considering travel to Iran, should carefully read our latest travel warning."
	Washington and Tehran have had no diplomatic relations since April 1980 in the wake of ...

US calls for Iran's immediate release of detained US citizens

Thousands of Venezuelans cast ballots today in a symbolic vote seen likely to reject plans by President Nicolas Maduro to rewrite the constitution, upping pressure on the beleaguered leader after months of violent street protests.
	The call to polls -- described as a "plebiscite" by the opposition, but "illegal" by the government -- is over Maduro's intention to have a citizens' body elected to redraft the country's basic law.
	To detract from the opposition vote, his government was today holding a dry-run simulation of that election, which is to be held on July 30.
	Several Latin American countries and the Catholic Church have criticized the move to draw up a new constitution, while the opposition has slammed it as bid by Maduro to concentrate dictatorial powers to stay in power.
	Many voters, wearing white or the colors of the Venezuelan flag, turned up early to the 14,000 makeshift voting tables set up under tents across the country.
	"Liberty!" yelled some.
	"We are turning out to 

Venezuela opposition ups pressure on Maduro with vote

Scoreboard at tea on the third
day of the second cricket Test between England and South Africa at Trent Bridge, here today:
     South Africa 1st Innings: 335
     England 1st Innings: 205
     South Africa 2nd Innings (overnight: 75-1):
     H Kuhn c Root b Anderson                 8
     D Elgar c Anderson b Stokes             80
     H Amla lbw b Dawson                     87
     Q de Kock c Bairstow b Anderson          1
     F du Plessis not out                    42
     T Bavuma not out                        12
     Extras: (LB-6)                           6
     Total: (for 4 wkts in 76 overs)        236
     Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-153, 3-154, 4-216
     Bowling: Anderson 16-3-41-2; Broad 16-4-46-0; Wood 13-2- 58-0; Ali 10-2-35-0; Stokes 14-4-18-1; Dawson 7-1-32-1.

Nottingham, Jul 16 (AFP) Scoreboard at tea on the third

England finally saw the back of Hashim Amla but South Africa remained in a commanding position as they continued their bid for a series-levelling win in the second Test at Trent Bridge, here today.
     At tea, the Proteas were 236 for four in their second innings -- a lead of 366 runs -- after Amla had fallen for 87.
     Returning captain Faf du Plessis was 42 not out and Temba Bavuma unbeaten on 12.
     South Africa's current total was already well above the highest ever score made to win in the fourth innings in 118 years of Test cricket at Trent Bridge -- England's 284 for six against New Zealand in 2004.
     South Africa started the session on 160 for three, with Amla 61 not out and du Plessis four not out.
     England bowled tightly but with South Africa having established a commanding position in the match, and so much time left in the game, there was no need for their fourth- wicket pair to take undue risks.
     Amla and du Plessis, both renowned for their patience at the 

Amla exits as South Africa grind England down

At least 27 people have died and 54 are missing after a boat sank in the river Kasai in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a local official said today.
	"Rigorous" checks had confirmed "at this stage" the numbers of dead and missing in the accident, which happened overnight Thursday to Friday, the administrator of Idiofa territory, Jacques Mbila, told AFP.

27 dead, 54 missing, in DR Congo boat sinking: local official

Security forces have killed nine militants in the Sinai Peninsula and also destroyed 15 vehicles transporting weapons into Egypt across its western border, the military said in statements on Sunday.
	The "extremists" were killed in two separate incidents in the middle Sinai, but the military did not say when they took place.
	Both involved the air force and "law enforcement forces".
	The military said a planned "hostile act" was foiled after "a highly dangerous terrorist" group was discovered and tracked, and six militants were killed in a mountainous area.
	In a separate incident, three "highly dangerous" extremists were killed and another was arrested.
	A four-wheel-drive vehicle and five caches containing "large amounts of explosives and ammunition" were destroyed, the military added.
	On Egypt's western border with Libya, warplanes have attacked and destroyed 15 four-wheel-drive vehicles carrying weapons, ammunition and contraband over the past 24 hours, the military said on ...

Egypt says 9 militants killed in Sinai

Lewis Hamilton swept to his fourth consecutive victory at the British Grand Prix on Sunday to move within a single point of world championship leader Sebastian Vettel.
     In a dramatic race packed with incident, Vettel suffered a late puncture and finished seventh for Ferrari after his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen also pitted with a similar problem in the closing stages.
     Hamilton's victory, a record-equalling fifth in his home event and the 57th of his career, rebooted his title challenge as he came home ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who started ninth, in a dominant Mercedes one-two finish.
     "It's a feeling I just can't describe really," said a delighted Hamilton. "Look at this crowd. Thank you to everyone who turned up. God bless you!
     "It was incredible - I was inspired by all the kids who came."
     Raikkonen was third for Ferrari, after the Italian team had made a strategic gamble with their tyres, ahead of Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team-mate Daniel ...

Hamilton reigns at Silverstone to cut Vettel lead

French President Emmanuel Macron called today for a resumption of long-stalled Middle East peace talks based on a two-state solution.
	"France is ready to support all diplomatic efforts towards this end within the parameters of peace recognised by the international community," Macron said after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
	He said Israelis and Palestinians should be able "to live side by side within secure and recognised borders with Jerusalem as the capital".
	Stressing that international law should be "respected by all", Macron said he was referring to Israel's "continued building of settlements" in occupied Palestinian territory, a policy opposed by France.
	"I hope everything will be done for negotiations to move forward," he said as he and Netanyahu made joint statements to the press.
	Talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been at a standstill since the failure of US mediation in the spring of 2014.

Macron urges resumption of Mideast talks based on two states

Five Yemeni soldiers were killed and three wounded today when gunmen suspected of ties to Al-Qaeda opened fire on a military checkpoint, an army source said.
	The source said the gunmen managed to escape after the attack on the checkpoint in the northeast of Shabwa province, a southern stronghold of Yemen's powerful Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
	Today's attack is the latest in a string of suspected AQAP shootings targeting military checkpoints and outposts in Yemen.
	AQAP, seen by the United States as the global terror network's most dangerous branch, has exploited years of deadly conflict between Yemen's government and Huthi rebels to expand its presence, especially in Shabwa.
	A US air raid on the province last month killed AQAP emir Abu Khattab al-Awlaqi, according to the Pentagon.
	The United States has intensified its air attacks on suspected AQAP sites in Yemen since President Donald Trump took office in January.
	Yemen's government, allied with a Saudi-led Arab ...

Yemen troops killed in suspected Qaeda attack: army

Polls opened in Venezuela today in an opposition-organized vote to measure public support for President Nicolas Maduro's plan to rewrite the constitution, against a backdrop of worsening political violence.
	Dozens of people were queuing in Caracas neighborhoods including Chacaito and Los Palos Grandes before polling stations opened at 7:00 am (1100 GMT), according to the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) opposition coalition.
	They are due to close at 4:00 pm (2000 GMT), though they will remain open as long as people are in line.
	Delegates and volunteers, many dressed in white, manned tents and tables at some 14,300 polling stations nationwide.
	Maduro supporters are boycotting the vote, and the National Electoral Council has refused to authorize it, so the outcome is not binding.
	Opposition leaders expect as many as 11 million of people to cast ballots anyway, voting to reject the president's controversial plan for a separate referendum July 30 to elect a constituent assembly to ..

Venezuelans cast ballots in opposition vote

Scoreboard at lunch on the third day of the second cricket Test between England and South Africa at Trent Bridge, here today:
     South Africa 1st Innings: 335
     England 1st Innings: 205
     South Africa 2nd Innings (overnight: 75-1):
     H Kuhn c Root b Anderson                 8
	D Elgar c Anderson b Stokes             80
	H Amla not out                          61
	Q de Kock c Bairstow b Anderson          1
	F du Plessis not out                     4
	Extras: (LB-6)                           6
     Total: (for 3 wkts in 47 overs)        160
     Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-153, 3-154
     Bowling: Anderson 13-2-32-2; Broad 11-3-33-0; Wood 8-1- 41-0; Ali 3-1-15-0; Stokes 9-2-13-1; Dawson 3-1-20-0.

Nottingham, Jul 16 (AFP) Scoreboard at lunch on the third day of the second cricket Test between England and South Africa at Trent Bridge, here today:

Scoreboard at stumps on the third
day of the one-off Test between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Colombo today:
     Zimbabwe 1st innings 356
     Sri Lanka 1st innings (overnight 293-7)
     D Karunaratne c Masakadza b Tiripano   25
     U Tharanga run out (Tiripano)          71
     K Mendis c Chakabva b Cremer           11
     D Chandimal c Chakabva b Cremer        55
     A Mathews c Masakadza b Williams       41
     N Dickwella b Cremer                    6
     D Perera run out                       33
     A Gunaratne b Cremer                   45
     R Herath st Chakabva b Williams        22
     S Lakmal c & b Cremer                  14
     L Kumara not out                        1
     Extras (b8, lb10, w1, nb3)             22
     Total (all out; 102.3 overs)          346
     Fall of wickets: 1-84, 2-107, 3-116, 4-212, 5-226, 6-238, 7-274, 8-322, 9-343, 10-346
     Bowling: Mpofu 11-2-41-0; Tiripano 10-1-38-1; Raza 18-2- 60-0; Cremer 39.3-4-125-5; Waller 1-0-2-0, ...

AFP

AFP

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