Swiss federal prosecutors today announced that they had opened criminal proceedings against German football legend Franz Beckenbauer over allegations of corruption in the awarding of the 2006 World Cup to Germany.
	Beckenbauer, 70, is under investigation with three other members of the 2006 World Cup organising committee -- Hans-Rudolf Schmidt, Theo Zwanziger and Wolfgang Niersbach -- said the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland.
	"The proceedings relate in particular to allegations of fraud, criminal mismanagement, money laundering and misappropriation," the office said in a statement.
    	"The suspects were members of the executive board of the organising committee for the 2006 World Cup in Germany."
	Niersbach and Zwanziger are both former German Football Association presidents and Schmidt a former general secretary.
	All four were members of Germany's World Cup organising committee, with Beckenbauer its president.
	Beckenbauer captained Germany to the 1974 World Cup and 

Beckenbauer under investigation amid corruption allegations

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Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was today named as the new captain of world champions Germany following Bastian Schweinsteiger's international retirement.
     The German FA (DFB) announced the news on their official Twitter account.
    	The 30-year-old Neuer will wear the captain's armband for Germany's opening 2018 World Cup qualifier away to Norway in Oslo on Sunday.
	Although head coach Joachim Loew has named Neuer as Schweinsteiger's permanent replacement, it will not be the first time Germany's world-class goalkeeper will captain his country.
	Neuer already has experience on the big stage.
	He was captain in five of Germany's six matches at June's Euro 2016 which Schweinsteiger had started on the bench after recovering from a knee injury before the European championships.
	Neuer has worn the captain's armband in a total of 14 internationals, starting with Germany's 4-2 defeat to Argentina in Duesseldorf in September 2014.
    	Lothar Matthaeus, who captained Germany to ...

Neuer named as Germany's new captain

Hugely popular blogger PewDiePie was back on Twitter today after his account was temporarily suspended when he jokingly claimed he has joined the Islamic State group.
	The Swedish internet star, who has more than 47 million subscribers to his humorous YouTube video channel, surprised and horrified some of his fans Tuesday when he tweeted that he and fellow blogger Sean William McLoughlin had joined the terror group.
	PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, had been protesting at the social network's "annoying" verified accounts system which can generate automatic notifications on smartphones.
	"Me and JackSepticEye have joined Isis," he tweeted, "Which is why we both got unverified."
	"I said NAZIS! Not ISIS," the Irish YouTube star tweeted back at him, whose account is still verified. "God dammit Felix..."
	But the exchange went down badly with some of the 26-year-old Swedish blogger's fans, who first shot to fame for his gaming videos.
	"That's not something to joke about," ..

IS joke backfires on YouTube star PewDiePie

Brazilian Formula One driver Felipe Massa announced today he will retire at the end of the 2016 season.
     The 35-year-old, who began his Grand Prix career in 2002, confirmed his long-expected departure during a news conference ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
     "I'm more nervous now than for all my race starts," said Massa, who missed out on the championship to Britain's Lewis Hamilton by one point in 2008 at the final race of the season in his native Brazil.
     "After 27 years of my racing career, since I started karting and with 15 years in F1, this will be my last season in F1.
     "Life gives us so many choices. I think for me it has got to the time where I have to go and do something different."
     Massa started his career with Sauber before moving to Ferrari in 2006 and then Williams.
     He is in his third year with Williams, having joined the team in 2014, and will mark his 250th Grand Prix start at his final race in Abu Dhabi this year.
     ...

Massa to retire at end of season

Iran and Russia are to begin construction on two new nuclear reactors at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, the head of the Atomic Energy Organisation in Tehran has said.
	The Islamic republic is seeking to reduce its reliance on oil and gas with 20 nuclear facilities planned over the coming years, including nine being built with Russian firms.
	"Operations to build two new nuclear power (units) in Bushehr will start on 10 September and it will take 10 years for the power (units) to be completed," Ali Akbar Salehi said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
	He said the new reactors would cost an estimated $10 billion and lead to a saving of 22 million barrels of oil per year.
	Russia built the existing 1,000 megawatt reactor at Bushehr on the Gulf coast that came online in 2013.
	In November 2014, it signed a "cooperation contract" to help build the two new reactors on the same site, along with plans to eventually construct nine reactors across Iran.
	Two of these may also ...

Iran, Russia to start work on two nuclear reactors at Bushehr

Gabon's opposition leader said security forces killed two people and hurt 19 in a raid against his headquarters today, as violence erupted after President Ali Bongo was declared the winner of disputed polls.
	Thousands of angry protesters poured onto the streets of Libreville late Wednesday, accusing the government of stealing the election after Bongo won a second term by a razor-thin margin over rival Jean Ping.
	Gunfire crackled across the city and plumes of smoke billowed from the torched parliament building as protesters clashed with heavily armed security forces.
	Police deployed near the parliament building fired tear gas canisters today to stop people gathering there.
	As the country descended into chaos, the EU called for calm, former colonial power France urged "maximum restraint" and Amnesty International warned against "excessive force."
	By mid-morning today, security forces had sealed off the city centre, which was calm and otherwise deserted, and were making arrests ...

Gabon opposition says 2 dead in post-vote crackdown

Europe's main stock markets rebounded today following a weak finish to August, as traders digested worldwide manufacturing numbers.
	Around 1600 IST, London's benchmark FTSE 100 index was 0.1 per cent higher.
	In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 rose 0.6 per cent and the Paris CAC 40 jumped 1.1 per cent compared with yesterday's close.
	"The FTSE is underperforming... Driven by a combination of a stronger pound and further downside pressure on commodities," said Craig Erlam, senior market analyst at Oanda trading group.
	Sterling rallied today after data showed Britain's manufacturing activity hit a 10-month high in August, rebounding strongly from a slump triggered by the country's vote in favour of exiting the European Union.
	A stronger pound tends to hurt the overall FTSE with its composition made up of companies exporting worldwide.
	The pound's slump caused by longer-term Brexit fears lifted export orders last month, according to the closely- watched IHS Markit UK Manufacturing .

European stocks rebound on mixed manufacturing data

More than 200 people have been arrested for looting in Gabon's capital, Libreville, where violence broke out following a disputed presidential election result, the police chief said today.
	"We have arrested more than 200 looters since last night," national police chief Jean-Thierry Oye Zue told AFP. "Looting is currently continuing in the poorer districts."
	"Six police officers have been injured," Oye Zue said, adding that several civilians had also "most likely" been hurt.
	He did not confirm however there had been any deaths.
	"I can't tell you that," he said.
	AFP journalists saw two trucks packed with dozens of detainees, who raised their fists in the air and chanted the Central African country's national anthem as they were driven off for questioning.
	Violence erupted today after President Ali Bongo was declared the winner of the contested polls, with thousands of angry protesters taking to the streets of Libreville accusing the government of stealing the election from rival ..

Gabon police arrest 200 over post-election looting

Apple chief Tim Cook today slammed a European Commission ruling demanding the US tech behemoth pay Ireland EUR13 billion in back-taxes as "political crap", urging the Irish government to launch an appeal.
	"It's total political crap," Cook told the Irish Independent newspaper, of European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager's assertion that the company had paid a tax rate of 0.005 percent on its European profits in 2014.
	The commission ruled that Apple had received favourable tax terms that amounted to state aid -- illegal under its rules.
	Cook earlier told Irish national broadcaster RTE that Apple had never received any "sweetheart deal" from Ireland and that his company's global tax rate in 2014 was 21.6 percent.
	"It's maddening; it's disappointing; it comes from a political place -- it has no basis in fact or law," he added.
	The tech boss called on Irish government ministers to "do the right thing" when they meet Friday and approve an appeal against the ruling.
	Finance 

Apple accuses EU panel of 'political crap' over EUR13bn fine

Australian skipper David Warner criticised preparation of Sri Lanka's pitches following his side's series-clinching one-day international victory against the hosts, saying his batsmen were being prevented from scoring big totals.
     Warner lauded his teammates for their six-wicket win against Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI on Wednesday, which handed the tourists an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
     Australia easily chased down their target of 213 in just 31 overs as Aaron Finch smashed 55 off 19 balls while George Bailey hit an unbeaten 90 after Sri Lanka struggled to 212 all out in their 50 overs.
     Warner, whose side suffered their first Test whitewash against the hosts last month, said the sluggish pitches were not ideal for ODI cricket.
     "It's hard to gain momentum when the wickets prepared are like this," Warner, who took over as captain after the second ODI while Steve Smith is rested, told reporters.
     "It's a little bit disappointing from our point .

Warner criticises pitches after series win

Cuban discus thrower Yarelys Barrios has been stripped of her Olympic silver medal from the 2008 Beijing Games after failing a retroactive drug test, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said today.
     Barrios, 33, and Qatari track and field athlete Samuel Adelebari Francis, 29, both tested positive for banned substances in tests originally taken at Beijing 2008.
     Barrios, 33, won silver in the discus in Beijing. She tested positive for the diuretic and masking agent acetazolamide, and has now been ordered to return her medal. She also won bronze in London 2012.
     Nigeria-born Francis, who now represents Qatar, finished 16th in the 100m event. The former Asian 100m champion tested positive for the banned substance stanozolol.
     "The IAAF is requested to modify the results ... accordingly and to consider any further action within its own competence," the IOC said in a statement.

Cuban, Qatari fail retroactive Beijing dope tests

A formal investigation found no evidence of bribery by Japanese officials today after probing a USD 2 million payment made during Tokyo's successful bid to host the 2020 Olympics.
     French prosecutors said in May that they were investigating the 2.8 million Singapore dollar (1.8 million euros, $2 million) payment to a Singapore-based consultancy.
     Shortly after, the Japanese Olympic Committee set up an investigative panel of three lawyers to look into the payment, which has been linked to a son of disgraced ex-world athletics chief Lamine Diack.
     Diack, whose son Papa Massata Diack has denied receiving the money, was an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member at the time.
     "The investigation concludes that (the bid committee's deals) are not in violation of any of the laws of Japan," the panel's report said.
     "In addition, the investigation team concludes that it does not form any crime under the penal code of France, and furthermore, that no violation of the ..

Japanese probe finds no bribery in Tokyo 2020 bid

Oil prices edged up slightly today after being hammered the day before by data showing a sharp rise in US stockpiles, while analysts warned a pick-up in the dollar would add further downward pressure.
	Both main contracts plunged yesterday after the US Energy Department said commercial inventories in the world's top oil consumer edged up last week and were now 16 percent higher than the same period last year.
	The figures, which came despite a dip in production, poured fresh fuel on fears about a global supply glut that has dogged the crude market for years.
	By the end of yesterday US benchmark West Texas Intermediate sank 3.6 per cent and Brent dived 2.7 per cent.
	At around 0720 GMT on Thursday, WTI for delivery in October was up 35 cents, or 0.76 per cent, at USD 45.05 and Brent crude for November, a new contract, added 31 cents, or 0.66 per cent, to USD 47.20.
	"The small rebound was due to intra-day traders... Taking back short-term positions," said Jeffrey Halley, a senior ...

Oil prices edge up in Asia after sharp plunge

Brazil's Dilma Rousseff has been stripped of the country's presidency in an impeachment vote and replaced by her bitter rival Michel Temer, shifting Latin America's biggest economy sharply to the right.
	Rousseff, 68, was convicted by 61 of the 81 senators of illegally manipulating the national budget. The vote, which exceeded the needed two-thirds majority, meant the veteran leftist leader was immediately removed from office.
	Three hours later, Temer -- her center-right former vice president and one time crucial coalition partner whom she now accuses of orchestrating a coup against her -- was sworn in.
	Cheers -- and cries of disappointment -- erupted in the blue-carpeted, circular Senate chamber as the impeachment verdict flashed up on the electronic voting screen.
	Pro-impeachment senators sang the national anthem, some waving Brazilian flags, while leftist allies of Rousseff stood stony faced.
	"I will not associate my name with this infamy," read a sign held up by one ...

Brazil's Rousseff stripped of presidency, Temer sworn in

Alex Hales has accepted he could be risking his England place if he pulls out of the forthcoming tour of Bangladesh.
     The future of the tour was called into question after an attack on a Dhaka cafe last month saw 20 -- mostly foreign -- hostages killed, with the Islamic State group claiming responsibility.
     However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said last week that the tour, which includes three one-day international and two Test match fixtures in October and November, would go ahead as planned.
     The confirmation followed a visit to Bangladesh by an ECB delegation, led by their long-serving security chief Reg Dickason.
     However, no England player has yet publicly confirmed their willingness to tour Bangladesh.
     Meanwhile several British media reports have suggested that England limited overs captain Eoin Morgan is among those with ongoing security concerns.
     Nottinghamshire opener Hales returned to form with an England ODI record 171 as England went 

Hales weighs up Bangladesh options

Defending champion Novak Djokovic reached the third round of a major for the 33rd successive time without hitting a ball when his scheduled opponent pulled out with an injury.
     World number one Djokovic was handed a walkover when Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic withdrew from their second round encounter suffering an inflammation of the left forearm.
     Vesely's misfortune was a welcome boost for top seed Djokovic who had required treatment on his upper right arm in his laboured first round win over Jerzy Janowicz on Monday.
     Left-hander Vesely had defeated the Serb at the Monte Carlo Masters in April.
     Djokovic will face either Guido Pella of Argentina or Mikhail Youzhny of Russia on Friday for a place in the last 16.
     "I'm very, very disappointed right now," said 23-year-old Vesely who was also forced to pull out of his quarter-final in Winston-Salem last week with the same injury.
     "I was looking forward to playing Novak, I would have nothing to lose. It's a .

Djokovic into US Open 3rd round without hitting a ball

Angry protesters torched Gabon's parliament today after President Ali Bongo was declared winner of what he claimed was a "peaceful and transparent" election, but which the opposition said was fraudulent.
	It only took a few minutes for the announcement to sink in before several of Libreville's poorer neighbourhoods erupted in anger, with thousands of people taking to the streets to express their fury.
	According to official results made public shortly after 1500 GMT, Bongo won Saturday's presidential poll by just 5,594 votes, taking 49.80 per cent to 48.23 per cent for his rival Jean Ping, a veteran diplomat and former top African Union official.
	The results will remain "provisional" until they are approved by the constitutional court.
	By nightfall, protesters vented their fury by setting fire to the parliament building, sending skyward a plume of flame and black smoke, witnesses and AFP correspondents said.
	Fires were visible in other parts of Libreville and explosions were heard .

Gabon parliament set ablaze after Bongo declared winner

Iraq today hanged seven men of various Arab nationalities who were convicted of belonging to the Al-Qaeda network, officials said.
	The seven were detained more than four years ago and found guilty of terrorist activities with the organisation that later formed the backbone of the Islamic State group.
	"Death sentences by hanging were carried out today against seven terrorists from Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Palestine, Syria and Jordan in Nasiriyah prison," said Dakhel Radhi.
	Radhi is a member of the provincial council of Dhiqar, the southern Iraqi province of which Nasiriyah is the capital.
	An official in the Nasiriyah prison administration speaking on condition of anonymity said the seven had all been jailed for more than four years but could not provide further details.
	He said around 60 other convicts from Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Libya and Algeria were still held in Nasiriyah prison on similar charges.
	He did not say how many of them had been sentenced to ...

Iraq hangs seven Arabs for belonging to Al-Qaeda

Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala, a loyalist of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, today resigned in a surprise move, the prime minister announced.
	After a hastily-convened meeting with Erdogan, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Ala had stepped down and would be replaced by Suleyman Soylu, the current labour and social security minister.
	There was no official explanation for why Ala had quit and Turkish media said it was unexpected.
	Yildirim thanked Ala "for his services."
	The ministerial change follows a failed July 15 coup, which was blamed on supporters of US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, an arch enemy of Erdogan.
	The abortive putsch raised questions about intelligence failings which government officials have acknowledged.
	Ala had served as interior minister for nearly three years. He also previously acted as undersecretary to Erdogan, when the president was prime minister.
	Ala leaves the post as the insurgency between Turkish security forces and militants from ...

Turkish interior minister resigns in surprise move

Gabon's national assembly was set ablaze today by angry protestors who took to the streets after an announcement that President Ali Bongo had been re-elected, witnesses said.
	"The whole building is catching fire," a man at the scene who gave name as Yannick told AFP.
	AFP journalists further away could see a plume of smoke above the building.

Demonstrators set Gabon parliament on fire: witnesses

Donald Trump arrived in Mexico today for a meeting with President Enrique Pena Nieto that has aroused controversy because of the Republican White House candidate's past references to Mexican immigrants as "rapists" and criminals.
	Trump arrived at 1:09 pm local time in a plane that parked at the presidential hangar at Mexico City's international airport, an airport spokesman said.
	Local media said Trump would fly by helicopter to the presidential residence Los Pinos for the meeting with Pena Nieto and would later make a statement to the press.

AFP

AFP

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