A Japanese gunman accused of shooting dead a construction worker and wounding three others before going on the run, was locked in a tense standoff with police today.
	Yasuhide Mizobata fled into an apartment building yesterday afternoon after firing repeatedly at officers who challenged him, a force spokesman said.
	He spent the night holed up in the building, surrounded by heavily-armed police who were trying to convince him to surrender.
	Television footage showed Mizobata, clad in a black shirt and pants and white shoes, brandishing two pistols as he stood atop scaffolding.
	Media reports said the suspect had threatened to shoot police and turn the gun on himself during the overnight standoff in Wakayama, 450 kilometres southwest of Tokyo.
	Broadcasters said the building had been evacuated as the incident began and there are not believed to be any hostages.
	A massive manhunt began on Monday after Mizobata allegedly killed 45-year-old Junsuke Ishiyama and wounded three others when .

Japanese police corner suspect in deadly shooting

PTI Automatic

Some 8,000 heads of state, policymakers and environmentalists convene in Hawaii this week for the world's largest gathering aimed at forging a path forward on the planet's toughest conservation problems.
	US President Barack Obama is expected to be among the world leaders in Honolulu as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) opens its World Conservation Congress, held every four years in a different location around the globe.
	This year, the conference theme of "Planet at the Crossroads" is aimed at exposing the plight of island nations that are at risk of disappearing in the coming decades due to rising seas.
	It is the first major environmental meeting of global leaders since the Paris climate talks last year.
	The September 1-10 conference also marks the first time the IUCN World Congress has been held in the United States since the meeting was first convened in 1948.
	Arguments are expected on hotly debated issues such as what to do about domestic ivory ...

US to host world's largest conservation meeting

North Korea has executed a vice premier for showing disrespect during a meeting presided over by leader Kim Jong-Un, South Korea said today, after reports that he fell asleep.
	The regime also banished two other senior officials, Seoul said, the latest in a slew of punishments Kim is believed to have ordered in what analysts say is an attempt to tighten his grip on power.
	"Vice premier for education Kim Yong-Jin was executed," Seoul's Unification Ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-Hee said at a regular briefing.
	Kim was killed by a firing squad in July as "an anti-party, anti-revolutionary agitator," added an official at the ministry, who declined to be named.
	"Kim Yong-Jin was denounced for his bad sitting posture when he was sitting below the rostrum" during a session of North Korea's parliament, and then underwent an interrogation that revealed other "crimes", the official told reporters.
	The mass-selling JoongAng Ilbo reported on Tuesday that top regime figures had been punished, ..

N Korea executes vice premier for 'disrespect': Seoul

Israeli authorities have shut down a Palestinian radio station in the occupied West Bank over "incitement" to violence, the army said today, the latest in a series of such raids.
	The overnight operation in Dura near Hebron led to five arrests, according to the Israeli army.
	Palestinian police confirmed the detentions and said one of those held was the director of the Al-Sanabel station.
	Broadcast equipment was also seized, the army said.
	According to Palestinian police, the station's door was broken during the raid and a notice was given saying it was ordered closed for three months.
	An Israeli army spokeswoman could not provide examples of the type of content that led to the raid.
	"The radio station has repeatedly broadcast inciting content encouraging, celebrating and promoting violence and terrorism against Israelis," she said.
	Israeli authorities have closed at least four Palestinian radio or TV stations since a wave of violence erupted in October.
	The violence has killed .

Israel shuts Palestinian radio station for 'incitement'

Oil prices extended losses in Asia today on the back of a strong dollar while reported comments by Iran's oil minister that his country planned to boost output ramped up oversupply worries.
	The comments by Bijan Zangeneh, carried by Iran's official news agency on Tuesday, added to a feeling that an informal OPEC meeting with Russia in September may not result in a deal that would boost prices.
	Zangeneh said Iran needed to raise its output to regain the market share lost while it was under international sanctions, which were lifted only in January.
	Iran has struggled to raise production above four million barrels per day since the the sanctions were removed, according to the report, which said it is currently producing 3.8 million.
	At around 0415 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was down one cent at USD 46.34 and Brent eased six cents to USD 48.31.
	"A generally strengthening dollar added to oils woes," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at OANDA.
	"Combined with ..

Oil prices dip on stronger dollar, Iran output fear

A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea today, officials said, but no Pacific- wide tsunami warning was issued.
	The tremor was estimated at a depth of close to 500 kilometres some 900 kilometres northeast of the capital Port Moresby, the United States Geological Survey said.
	"Based on all available data a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected," the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
	Australian seismologists estimated the quake, which hit in Papua New Guinea's eastern New Britain area, at 6.5- magnitude.
	"It's only 10 to 20 kilometres off the coast but still it's very deep, so it wouldn't be anything extreme at all. No tsunami," seismologist Jonathan Bathgate told AFP.
	Quakes are common in Papua New Guinea, which sits on the Pacific's "Ring of Fire", a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.

Deep 6.7 quake off Papua New Guinea

Singapore urged all pregnant women showing symptoms of fever or rashes to have themselves tested for the Zika virus today after the number of cases in the city-state soared to 82.
	Environment agency workers stepped up efforts to eradicate mosquitoes that spread the disease, expanding a fumigation campaign centred on the "ground zero" of the outbreak, the eastern suburb of Aljunied.
	As infections climbed, they blasted a district of warehouses and industrial buildings to destroy breeding sites that fuelled the outbreak, which began at a construction site housing foreign workers.
	Zika, which has been detected in 58 countries including hardest-hit Brazil, causes only mild symptoms for most people, such as fever and a rash.
	But in pregnant women, it can cause microcephaly, a deformation in which babies are born with abnormally small brains and heads.
	The health ministry said that "all pregnant women in Singapore with symptoms of Zika - fever and rash and other symptoms such as red ...

Singapore urges tests for pregnant women with Zika signs

Wimbledon champions Andy Murray and Serena Williams powered into the second round of the US Open as the stars came out on Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
     Williams, launching her latest bid to rewrite the record books, started strong and didn't let up in 6-3, 6-3 victory over 29th-ranked Ekaterina Makarova.
     The US world number one appeared untroubled by the balky right shoulder that has hindered her in recent weeks, delivering a dozen aces and 27 winners overall in the 63-minute contest.
     "I knew today I needed to be focused because I've played her. She's gotten to the semi-finals. She goes deep in majors," Williams said of the Russian left-hander who beat her in the fourth round of the 2012 Australian Open.
     "She knows how to play big matches on big courts. She's not intimidated. I knew I had to really come out today. It was my only option really."
     Williams said she wouldn't know until she'd slept on it how her shoulder might respond to the effort.
     "Every day, ..

Murray, Serena ride strong serves into US Open second round

Scoreboard in the third One-day
International between England and Pakistan at Trent Bridge.
     England:
     J Roy c Sarfraz Ahmed b Hasan Ali         15
     A Hales lbw b Hasan Ali                  171
     J Root c Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Nawaz   85
     J Buttler not out                         90
     E Morgan not out                          57
     Extras: (B-6, LB-8, W-3, NB-9)            26
     Total: (For 3 wkts; 50 overs)            444
     Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-281, 3-283.
     Bowling: Amir 10-0-72-0, Hasan 10-0-74-2, Riaz 10-0-110-0, Nawaz 10-0-62-1, Shah 6-0-48-0, Azhar 1-0-20-0, Malik 3-0-44-0.
     Pakistan:
     Sami Aslam c Ali b Woakes                    8
     Sharjeel Khan c Stokes b Woakes             58
     Azhar Ali c Rashid b Woakes                 13
     Babar Azam c Morgan b Stokes                 9
     Sarfraz Ahmed c Root b Rashid               38
     Shoaib Malik c Buttler b Plunkett            1
     Mohammad Nawaz c Morgan b Rashid          

Nottingham, Aug 31 (AFP) Scoreboard in the third One-day

Alex Hales's stunning century provided the platform for England to post the highest ever one-day international total of 444 for three as they beat Pakistan by 169 runs at Trent Bridge.
	Victory in this day/night clash yesterday gave England an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series after Pakistan were dismissed for 275 with 44 balls to spare.
	England's total surpassed the previous record of 443 for nine by Sri Lanka against the Netherlands at Amstelveen in 2006.
	It was also the highest ODI total in a match between two Test nations, topping South Africa's 439 for two against the West Indies at Johannesburg last year.
	In a match of records, opener Hales's innings on his Nottinghamshire home ground was the highest ever-individual ODI score by any England batsman and together with Joe Root (85) he put on 248 for the second wicket.
	Both batsmen fell in quick succession to leave England 283 for three in 38 overs.
	But an unbroken stand of 161 in 76 balls between Jos Buttler (90 ...

Hales leads record breaking England to Pakistan series win

England recorded the highest-ever team total in a one-day international when they made 444 for three against Pakistan at Trent Bridge today.
     In what was the 3,773rd match at this level England's total surpassed the previous record of 443 for nine by Sri Lanka against the Netherlands at Amstelveen in 2006.
     It was also the highest ODI total in a match between two Test nations, topping South Africa's 439 for two against the West Indies at Johannesburg last year.
     Alex Hales, on his Nottinghamshire home ground, made an England ODI record 171 on Tuesday.
     Jos Buttler followed up with the quickest-ever England ODI fifty, off just 22 balls, on his way to an unbeaten 90 off 51 balls featuring seven fours and seven sixes.
     Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Wahab Riaz, who twice took 'wickets' with no-balls, finished with figures of none for 110 in his maximum 10 overs.
     That was the second-most expensive return in an ODI, behind Australian Mick Lewis's none for 113 ...

England set new ODI record of 444-3 against Pakistan

France's Emmanuel Macron vowed after stepping down as economy minister today to "transform" an ailing country but stopped short of declaring a presidential run.
	The 38-year-old said he had "seen at first hand the limits of our political system" and that quitting the government of President Francois Hollande would enable him "to be free" to push forward his own agenda.
	With elections eight months away, the former investment banker said: "I am determined to do everything so that our values, our ideas, our actions can transform France as soon as next year."
	While Macron's resignation clears the way for a presidential bid, it is unclear how wide the appeal really is of such a young man who has never held elected office.
	An opinion survey last month nevertheless gave him a 41-per cent approval rating.
	Today Macron charged that France's political system is broken, and that his movement called "En Marche" (On the Move) would put forward a "diagnosis" of the country's woes next ...

Vowing to 'transform' France, Macron quits as economy minister

A major fire broke out today in a residential and commercial district of the United Arab Emirates' capital, witnesses said, but there was no immediate report of casualties.
	The blaze was in a 25-storey building under construction beside the Rotana Beach Hotel and the Abu Dhabi Mall, emergency workers said.
	Witnesses said hundreds of labourers were evacuated from the building site and a security official at the hotel said guests and staff were also evacuated as a precaution.
	"The fire took place at the building which is in the final stages of construction," a technician with the Ghantoot Group which is undertaking the project told AFP.
	An inquiry had begun into the fire, which later broke out again in the lower part of the building, an AFP correspondent said.
	Emergency services were still battling the blaze by nightfall.
	Abu Dhabi has experienced a real estate boom in recent years, as has the neighbouring emirate of Dubai where several fires have hit high-profile buildings.
	In ..

Major fire hits UAE multi-storey building

An American-Canadian couple held hostage by the Taliban for four years have urged their governments to pressure Kabul to change its policy on executions of captured insurgents, according to a new video which surfaced today.
	Canadian Joshua Boyle and his American wife, Caitlan Coleman who has given birth to two sons while in captivity, were kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2012 during a backpacking trip.
	In the two minute, 31 second video, shared by SITE Intelligence group, the couple were shown saying their captors were "terrified" and "frightened" of the Afghan government executing their fellow fighters.
	In early May Kabul hanged six Taliban-linked inmates, in the first set of executions carried out as part of President Ashraf Ghani's new hardline policy against the insurgents who are stepping up their nationwide offensive.
	It was not clear when the video was shot, but it comes amid swirling rumours in Kabul that the government plans to execute Anas Haqqani, son of the Taliban-allied .

North American couple appear in new Taliban hostage video

Israel's military overnight destroyed the home of a Palestinian accused of involvement in a shooting attack in the occupied West Bank that led to the death of a rabbi, it said today.
	The army said it used explosives to destroy the home of Mohammed Abed Almajid Mohammed El-Amaira, 38, in Dura, southwest of the West Bank city of Hebron.
	Amaira, a member of the Palestinian Authority security services, was arrested several weeks ago, accused of having helped plan and carry out the attack on July 1, when gunmen opened fire on a car near Hebron.
	The car crashed, killing rabbi Michael Mark, who led a religious school in the Israeli settlement of Otniel, and injuring two family members, according to the army.
	Amaira is accused of having been the driver in the attack.
	Another Palestinian accused over the attack, Mohamed Fakih, 29, was killed during a raid in July that saw Israeli forces fire anti-tank missiles at a house in the West Bank village of Surif.
	Israel regularly destroys the ...

Israel destroys home of Palestinian accused of deadly attack

The EU ordered tech giant Apple today to pay a record 13 billion euros in back taxes in Ireland, a move Washington warned could damage hugely important transatlantic economic ties.
	Brussels said Apple, the world's most valuable company, avoided virtually all tax on its business in the bloc by illegal arrangements with Dublin which gave the company an unfair advantage over competitors.
	Apple and the Irish government immediately said they would appeal against the European Commission ruling, with the iPhone maker warning it could cost European jobs.
	The White House meanwhile cautioned against "unilateral" measures by the EU.
	The company's shares lost some of their shine after the ruling, down 0.7 per cent in early afternoon trading, making for a more than 3 per cent loss over the past two weeks ahead of the highly anticipated ruling.
	"This decision sends a clear message. Member states cannot give unfair tax benefits to selected companies, no matter if European or foreign, large or ..

Apple hit with record EU tax bill

First innings scoreboard in the day/night third one-day international between England and Pakistan at Trent Bridge:
	   England
	   J. Roy c Sarfraz Ahmed b Hasan Ali          15
	   A. Hales lbw b Hasan Ali                   171
	   J. Root c Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Nawaz    85
	   J. Buttler not out                          90
	   E. Morgan not out                           57
	   Extras (b6, lb8, w3, nb9)                   26
	   Total (3 wkts, 50 overs)                   444
	   Did not bat: B Stokes, M Ali, C Woakes, L Plunkett, A Rashid, M Wood
	   Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Roy), 2-281 (Hales), 3-283 (Root)
	   Bowling: Amir 10-0-72-0 (1w); Hasan 10-0-74-2 (3nb); Riaz 10-0-110-0 (6nb, 2w); Nawaz 10-0-62-1; Shah 6-0-48-0; Azhar 1-0-20-0; Malik 3-0-44-0
	   Pakistan: Sami Aslam, Sharjeel Khan, Azhar Ali (capt), Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed (wkt), Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Nawaz, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir
	   Toss: England
	   Umpires: Simon Fry (AUS) Richard ...

Cricket: England v Pakistan 3rd ODI scoreboard

Wildlife authorities in Zimbabwe have begun dehorning the country's 700 adult rhinos to curb rampant poaching, a conservation group said today.
	"Our target is to dehorn every single adult rhino and to ear-notch the young ones for record-keeping," Lisa Marabini, director for the Aware Trust Zimbabwe (ATZ) conservation group, told AFP.
	"Poaching is a very serious problem in this country. This (dehorning) will act as a dissuasive measure and reduce the potential reward for poachers."
	ATZ, which includes veterinarians and conservationists, is working with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority on the dehorning project.
	The authority was not immediately available to comment.
	ATZ declined to give exact numbers of how many rhinos had been dehorned for security reasons.
	Rhinos are among the most poached animals in Zimbabwe and their population has been dwindling over years due to illegal hunting, prompting authorities to keep them in protected areas.
	But Marabini said at .

Zimbabwe dehorns rhinos to curb poaching

The number of Zika cases in Singapore has surged to 82, the government said today, as the mosquito-fighting effort continued in a bid to curb the spread of the disease.
	Singapore's Ministry of Health and National Environment Agency confirmed 26 new local infections -- the majority around the eastern Aljunied suburb where most of the other cases have been clustered.
	Many of the initial cases were foreign workers on a condominium project.
	Zika, which has been detected in 58 countries and particularly Brazil, causes only mild symptoms for most people, such as fever and a rash.
	But in pregnant women, Zika can cause microcephaly, a deformation in which babies are born with abnormally small brains and heads.
	The city-state has in recent days waged war on mosquitoes, with teams of NEA inspectors visiting homes to check for mosquito breeding sites while pest controllers have saturated affected estates with insecticide.
	The NEA said it had inspected 5,000 out of 6,000 homes in the ...

Singapore Zika cases surge to 82

France's 38-year-old Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron stepped down today, fuelling speculation that he will vie to become the country's youngest ever president in next year's elections.
	A thorn in the side of President Francois Hollande's Socialist government, the reform-minded minister handed in his resignation after sailing down the Seine River for the meeting at the Elysee Palace with his one-time champion.
	The president's office released a statement saying Macron had resigned and that Finance Minister Michel Sapin would take over the economy portfolio.
	The former investment banker and self-made millionaire quit "to dedicate himself entirely to his political movement", the presidency said, referring to "En Marche" (On the Move), which he founded in April.
	Macron would be a fresh face in a presidential field that includes former president Nicolas Sarkozy, 61, and 71-year-old ex-prime minister Alain Juppe -- both right-wing candidates.
	Marine Le Pen, 48, of the far-right ...

France's Macron quits cabinet amid presidency rumours

Turkish authorities arrested an editor from the leading Hurriyet daily today, continuing a sweep of the media triggered by last month's failed coup, the newspaper said.
	Dincer Gokce, editor of the paper's English-language website, was among nine current and former journalists arrested in Istanbul, Ankara and Kocaeli province, Hurriyet said on its website.
	Former writers for the Bugun, Radikal and Yeni Safak dailies and the defunct former opposition paper Zaman linked to the preacher accused of launching the coup were also arrested, according to NTV broadcaster.
	Istanbul's prosecutor's office issued warrants for a total of 35 people over their suspected links to the renegade army units that tried to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 15, Hurriyet said.
	Eighteen of the suspects had already left the country and eight others were still being sought, NTV said.
	The government has accused US-based Turkish Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen of masterminding the putsch, a claim ..

AFP

AFP

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