Neymar struck the winning penalty as Brazil claimed a first ever Olympic football gold medal with victory over Germany on penalties at Rio's Maracana.
     The 5-4 shoot-out win exacted revenge for a humiliating 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Germany two years ago.
     Olympic gold was the only major title to have escaped five-time world champions Brazil in their history.
     But Barcelona star Neymar righted that historical wrong as he fired the winning penalty into the top corner before breaking into tears.
     In front of the biggest crowd of Rio's Games, including nine-time Jamaican gold medallist Usain Bolt, Neymar's brilliant free-kick handed Brazil a first-half lead.
     In honour of the retiring sprinting great, Neymar even adopted the "lightning bolt" celebration, whilst chants of "ole, ole, ole, Neymar" rang around Rio's most iconic arena.
     However, Germany captain Max Meyer enjoyed a special celebration of his own as he taunted the raucous 78,000 crowd at the ...

Neymar's nerves of steel hand Brazil first football gold

PTI Automatic

The International Olympic Committee stripped Russia's Yevgeniya Kolodko of her London 2012 Games shot put silver medal for doping -- the second medallist from the contest to be disqualified.
     Kolodko adds to a growing list of medal winners caught out in new tests on samples taken in London and at the 2008 Beijing Games.
     The IOC said a new test on Kolodko's doping sample had found two banned substances -- the turinabol and the growth hormone ipamorelin.
     Kolodko finished third but moved up to the silver medal one week after the competition when the winner Nadzeya Ostapchuk of Belarus was revealed to have failed a test.
     Valerie Adams of New Zealand, who originally came second, is now the gold medal winner. Gong Lijiao of China who originally finished fourth should now get the silver.
     The IOC ordered the Russian Olympic Committee to "secure the return to the IOC, as soon as possible, of the medal, the medallist pin and the diploma" given to Kolodko.
     Following .

Russian shot putter stripped of silver medal for doping

At least 22 people were killed and dozens more wounded in an attack on a wedding party in the Turkish city of Gaziantep near the Syrian border, the local governor's office has said.
	A total of 94 people were injured, the office of Gaziantep governor Ali Yerlikaya said in a statement late yesterday.
	"Today at 10:50 pm (local time) 22 of our citizens lost their lives and 94 people were injured in the bomb attack on a wedding," Yerlikaya's office said.
	"We condemn the traitors who organised and carried out this attack," it added.
	Yerlikaya had earlier described the explosion as an "abhorrent terror attack".
	It was not immediately clear who was responsible but a Gaziantep MP for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Samil Tayyar, said: "Initial information suggests it is Daesh (IS) who did this," Dogan news agency reported, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group.

22 dead, 94 injured in Turkey wedding attack: official

The older brother of the little Syrian boy, who was pictured sitting in an ambulance dazed and covered in blood after an air strike, died from wounds sustained in the attack on the family's apartment, a monitoring group has said.
	"Ali, aged 10, succumbed to his injuries. He was badly wounded in the same bombardment as Omran on August 17 in Aleppo," the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said yesterday.
	The haunting images of four-year-old Omran, sitting in an ambulance after the attack, his face, arms and legs caked in blood and dust, have reverberated around the world, becoming a symbol for the suffering of children in Syria's brutal five-year conflict.
	In video footage from the incident, Omran is seen quietly staring into space before raising his arms to touch his bloodied forehead, then looking at his hand and wiping it on the orange seat.
	Omran, his siblings and parents were all plucked from the rubble wounded, but alive, following Wednesday's bombing on the Qaterji ...

Brother of Omran, Syrian boy in haunting picture, dies

22 dead, 94 injured in Turkey wedding attack: Gaziantep governor. (AFP)

Many people were injured in an attack on a wedding in Gaziantep in Turkey's troubled southeast, the city's governor has said, quoted in Turkish media.
	Gaziantep governor Ali Yerlikaya yesterday said that the explosion in the city centre was due to a "terror attack which left many injured", state-run news agency Anadolu reported. A Turkish official confirmed an explosion had taken place in Gaziantep but would not say how many casualties there were.

Attack on wedding in Gaziantep, Turkey, many injured: governor

Tourists who suffer from vertigo need not apply. The world's highest and longest glass-bottomed bridge opened today in China's spectacular Zhangjiajie mountains -- the inspiration for American blockbuster Avatar.
	Some 430 metres (1,400 feet) long and suspended 300 metres above the earth, the bridge spans the canyon between two mountain cliffs in Zhangjiajie park in China's central Hunan province.
	Six metres wide and made of some 99 panels of clear glass, the bridge can carry up to 800 people at the same time, an official in Zhangjiajie -- a popular tourist destination -- told the Xinhua news agency.
	Tourists can walk across the bridge, designed by Israeli architect Haim Dotan, and the more adventurous will be able to bungee jump or ride a zip line.
	"I wanted to feel awe-inspired by this bridge. But I'm not afraid -- it seems safe!" Wang Min, who was visiting the new structure with her husband and children, told AFP today.
	Following an alarming glass bridge cracking incident at ...

China opens longest glass bottom bridge in world

Britain's Nicola Adams wrote herself into the history books once more as she became the first woman to retain an Olympic boxing title in Rio today.
     Already a hugely popular household name back home, Adams won a unanimous points decision over France's Sarah Ourahmoune in their flyweight final to add to the gold she won at London 2012 -- the first time women's boxing had featured at an Olympics.
     "It feels absolutely amazing, especially to be able to think to myself I've created history and I'm now the most accomplished British amateur boxer we've ever had, of all time, so it's a nice title to have," said Adams, 33, who celebrated wildly and wiped away tears on the podium.
     "I've had a massive amount of support from Yorkshire (where she is from) and the rest of the nation. I felt like I had their support in the ring with me, every punch I was throwing."
     The only British boxer to previously clinch back-to-back Olympic titles was Harry Mallin, who managed that in ...

Britain's Adams first woman to retain Olympic boxing title

Companies belonging to Donald Trump have at least USD 650 million in debt, more than twice the amount shown in public filings made by his presidential campaign, the New York Times reported today.
	The paper employed a property information firm to search publicly available data on more than 30 US properties connected to the Republican candidate, including offices and golf courses.
	In addition to the USD 650 million liabilities, "a substantial portion of his wealth is tied up in three passive partnerships that owe an additional USD 2 billion to a string of lenders," the Times said about debt that could significantly affect Trump's wealth.
	The billionaire tycoon campaigns on what he says is his spectacularly successful real estate record, claiming to be worth USD 10 billion and citing his business acumen as his major qualification for the presidency.
	However, he has dismissed mounting pressure even from within his own party to disclose his tax returns or allow an independent valuation 

Trump companies owe USD 650 million: NY Times

Rain saw the second One-day International between Ireland and Pakistan at Malahide today abandoned without a ball bowled.
     Prospects for play were grim once bad weather delayed the scheduled 10:45am local (0945 GMT start) and never looked like improving as heavy rain continued to lash the ground.
     Pakistan won the two-match series 1-0 after thrashing Ireland by 255 runs in the first ODI at Malahide on Thursday -- their biggest victory in terms of runs in the format.
     Sharjeel Khan made a blistering 152, his maiden century at this level.
     Ireland, chasing 338 to win, were skittled out for 82, with spinner Imad Wasim taking an ODI best five for 14.
     Pakistan, who ended a four-match Test series against England all square at 2-2 following a 10-wicket win at The Oval last week, will now return to play England in a five-match ODI series starting at Southampton on Wednesday.

Ireland v Pakistan 2nd ODI washed out

Dale Steyn, playing in his first Test match in more than eight months, struck two early blows for South Africa before rain prevented any play after lunch on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand here today.
     New Zealand were 15 for two, 248 runs behind South Africa's first innings total of 263, when play ended for the day.
     Steyn, who had failed to complete the only two Tests he had played in South Africa's last eight matches because of groin and shoulder injuries, had Tom Latham caught at first slip by Hashim Amla for four off the second ball of his fourth over.
     Bowling in helpful, heavily overcast conditions, he followed up in his next over with a full in-swinger which trapped Martin Guptill leg before wicket for seven.
     Steyn took two wickets for three runs in six overs.
     Latham added only one run after being dropped off Vernon Philander, also returning from injury.
     Guptill survived an appeal for leg before wicket off Steyn's fourth ball of .

Steyn strikes before rain ends play

Scoreboard at close of play on the
second day of the first Test between South Africa and New Zealand here today.
     South Africa 1st innings (overnight 236 for 8)
     S Cook c Watling b Boult                 20
     D Elgar c Guptill b Bracewell            19
     H Amla c Watling b Boult                 53
     J Duminy c Boult b Wagner                14
     F du Plessis c Williamson b Wagner       23
     T Bavuma lbw b Santner                   46
     Q de Kock c Bracewell b Santner          33
     V Philander c Southee b Wagner            8
     K Rabada not out                         32
     D Steyn b Southee                         2
     D Piedt c Watling b Boult                 9
     Extras: (LB-4)                            4
     Total: (all out; 87.4 overs)            263
     Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-41, 3-102, 4-106, 5-160, 6-208, 7-208, 8-228, 9-236.
     Bowling: Southee 23-3-80-1, Boult 21.4-5-52-3, Bracewell 16-6-53-1, Wagner 15-4-47-3, Santner 11-2-22-2, ...

Durban, Aug 20 (AFP) Scoreboard at close of play on the

A technician with an Iraqi satellite channel was killed today and a journalist wounded as they covered operations against the Islamic State group in western Iraq, their employer said.
	Both worked for Al Ahad TV, a channel affiliated with Asaib Ahl al-Haq, one of the most powerful Shiite militias in Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary umbrella.
	The pair were hit by mortar fire in Jazirat al-Khaldiyeh in the western province of Anbar.
	"Our TV team came under mortar fire in Jazirat al-Khaldiyeh as they were covering the battle," Raida al-Ogaily, head of public relations at Al-Ahad, told AFP.
	"Broadcast technician Ali Ghani was killed and the correspondent, Hussein al-Fares, was wounded," she said.
	The area where the incident occurred lies between provincial capital Ramadi and Fallujah, both of which have been retaken from the jihadists by security forces.
	Pockets of IS fighters remain in the area, however, and Jazirat al-Khaldiyeh commands access to desert routes the jihadist ...

Media worker killed in western Iraq: employer

Syrian government warplanes took to the skies again today over the flashpoint northeastern city of Hasakeh, despite a US warning against new strikes that might endanger its military advisers.
	In another escalation of the five-year war, regime planes this week bombarded positions held by US-backed Kurdish forces in the city fighting the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.
	Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the raids showed Damascus was starting to see the Kurdish attempt to consolidate territory in northern Syria as "a threat".
	He pledged to play a "more active" in the next months in putting an end to the conflict.
	Ankara sees Syrian Kurdish militia as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) that has waged a bloody campaign against the Turkish state since 1984.
	The unprecedented strikes prompted the US-led coalition to scramble aircraft to protect its special operations forces helping the Kurdish fighters.
	It was apparently the first time the coalition .

Syrian warplanes fly over flashpoint city despite US warning

Israeli authorities have extended by three months the detention without trial of a Palestinian journalist who had been due for release on Monday, a Palestinian NGO said today.
	The Ramallah-based Palestinian Prisoners Club said it had been informed by Omar Nazzal's lawyers that the senior journalists' union official would not now be released at the end of his current term, on August 22.
	"Israel is intensifying its policy of administrative detention and increasing the extensions of administrative detention," prisoners club spokeswoman Amani Sarahneh told AFP.
	"In particular it made this choice in the case of Omar."
	His wife Marlene Rabadi posted on Facebook: "We were informed today that Omar's administrative detention has been extended by three months."
	Israeli officials could not immediately be reached for comment on Saturday, the Jewish sabbath.
	Nazzal was arrested on April 23 at the border between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jordan, from where he had been due to fly to a 

Israel extends Palestinian journalist's detention: NGO

China's Chen Long inflicted more Olympic heartache on Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei with a straight games win for gold in the men's badminton singles final today.
     Chen took both games 21-18 to consign Lee to a third consecutive defeat in an Olympic Games final.
     It was a first gold medal for world number two Chen, who won bronze at London 2012, but a third straight silver for the top-ranked Lee.
     Despite being one of the sport's most accomplished players, the Malaysian has never won a world or Olympic title.
     He lost the previous two Games finals to Chinese arch-rival Lin Dan.
     At the age of 33 it is virtually certain that his career will end without that elusive Olympic gold medal while Malaysia's hunt for a first gold in any sport continues.
     Chen took an early 11-8 lead in what turned out to be the deciding game before stretching his hold over Lee to 20-15.
     There was no way back for the quiet Malaysian and Chen celebrated by running with his shirt off to ...

China's Chen inflicts heartache on Malaysian Lee

Chinese superstar Lin Dan, regarded by some as badminton's greatest-ever player, batted off retirement talk after leaving the Rio Games empty-handed Saturday with a bronze-medal-match defeat to Denmark's Viktor Axelsen.
     The double Olympic champion took the first set 21-15 but tired to lose the following two games 21-10, 21-17 in a defeat that likely brought the curtain down on his hallowed Games career.
     "I was pretty drained from yesterday's match," Lin told reporters, referring to his semi-final defeat to arch-nemesis Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia on Friday.
     "However in the third game of today's match I think my opponent got lucky because there were several shots at the net that I didn't perform very well," he added.
     Lin -- a five-time world champion -- won gold at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, beating Lee in both finals but he was unable to repeat those heroics in Brazil.
     In the last-four match, Lin won the first game 21-15 but lost the second 21-11 before his ..

'Drained' Lin bats off retirement talk

A system where the third umpire is responsible for the calling of front-foot no-balls will be trialled during the upcoming England-Pakistan one-day series, the International Cricket Council announced today.
     The standing umpire at the bowler's end is currently responsible for both checking for front-foot no-balls and then adjudicating on whether a batsman is out at the other end, all in a matter of seconds.
     This already difficult task has become more complicated in an era where bowlers' end umpires, in fear of being hit by a hard-hit shot, stand further back from the crease than ever before.
     The issue became a talking point once again in February when Australia's Adam Voges, then on seven, was given not out during a Test against New Zealand in Wellington after what replays showed was an incorrectly called no-ball by English umpire Richard Illingworth.
     Voges went on to score 239 in a match-defining innings.
     In the trial system to be adopted for the five ...

TV umpire to call no-balls in England-Pakistan ODIs

Embattled automaker Volkswagen has been forced to suspend manufacture of the popular Golf model at its main production plant in Germany, a spokesman said today.
	But the decision by the car giant, locked in a legal battle with parts suppliers, will not affect its annual production target.
	Production of the Golf will be suspended "from Monday for the whole of the week" at its main Wolfsburg plant in northern Germany, the spokesman told AFP.
	Some 815,000 vehicles rolled off the production line at Wolfsburg last year, including nearly 500,000 of its Golf model and its mini-van version the Golf Sportsvan.
	Volkswagen secured temporary injunctions on August 12 ordering ES Automobilguss, supplier of cast gearbox components, and seat cover maker Cartrim to resume deliveries, suspended since the start of the month.
	But the two suppliers appealed the decision, leaving production at VW limping along. Yesterday judges in Brunswick ordered the two firms to resume deliveries, but neither obeyed 

VW suspends Golf production amid supplier standoff

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim vowed today Ankara would play a "more active" role in the next six months in efforts to solve the five-year Syrian civil war.
	Yildirim -- whose foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, made a surprise visit to Iran this week -- said Ankara will step up efforts to reduce "instability" in the region.
	"We say the bloodshed needs to stop. Babies, children, innocent people should not die. That's why Turkey will be more active in trying to stop the danger getting worse in the next six months, compared with before," Yildirim told foreign reporters in Istanbul.
	Yildirim said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad can remain temporarily during a transition period as "he is one of the actors today no matter whether we like it or not".
	But the premier stressed that Assad has no role to play in Syria's future.
	"We believe that the PKK, Daesh and Assad should not be in the future of Syria," he added, referring to the Syrian Kurds and the Islamic State group in the .

Turkey vows 'more active' Syria role in coming months

Great Britain won their first Olympic Games women's hockey gold medal with a dramatic shoot-out triumph over two-time defending champions the Netherlands.
     The British twice came from behind in normal time to draw 3-3 and then clinched a 2-0 shoot-out victory.
     It was the Dutch team's first loss at an Olympics since 2004 -- after a run of 21 wins -- and shattered their bid to become the first team to win three successive gold medals.
     Goalkeeper Maddie Hinch played the starring role for the British team, pulling off four saves in the shoot-out.
     Britain, playing in their first final, had only won two bronze medals at past Games, in 1992 and 2012.
     But they were in front in the opening period against the Dutch when Lily Owsley scored from close range after Sophie Bray had dribbled past three defenders.
     Kitty van Male levelled in the first minute of the second period, firing the ball into the top corner of the goal.
     Maartje Paumen, bidding for her third ...

AFP

AFP

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