Japan's newly appointed defence minister today ordered the nation's military to be ready to destroy any missiles fired by North Korea that threaten the country, local media reported.
	Tomomi Inada issued the order, public broadcaster NHK said, without mentioning any indication that Pyongyang is preparing to launch such a missile.
	Last week Prime Minister Shinzo Abe picked Inada, a close confidante with staunchly nationalist views, as the new defence minister.
	NHK said Inada is expected to renew the readiness order every three months so that Tokyo can seamlessly maintain a state of alert.
	A Japanese defence ministry spokesman declined to confirm the report.
	Her appointment came Wednesday, the same day North Korea, a major security headache for Japan, fired a ballistic missile that landed just 250 kilometres (155 miles) off its coast -- hitting Japanese-controlled waters for the first time.
	The US military said the North had actually launched two Rodong intermediate-range missiles .

Japan military on alert to destroy N Korea missile: media

PTI Automatic

Australian Test spinner Stephen O'Keefe has been fined under Cricket Australia's code of behaviour after he was involved in an incident at a Sydney hotel over the weekend, CA said today.
	O'Keefe, who returned early from Australia's ill-fated tour of Sri Lanka with a hamstring injury, allegedly abused police, security staff and managers at The Steyne Hotel while intoxicated, reports said.
	O'Keefe was charged with a breach of CA's Code of Behaviour -- conduct unbecoming of a player -- and accepted a fine of AUD 10,000.
	He was also told to undergo counselling and education as part of the sanctions, CA said.
	Police also issued O'Keefe with an infringement notice for offensive behaviour at the hotel, meaning he must pay a separate fine.
	"We take a zero-tolerance approach to this type of behaviour from players at any level in Australian cricket," Cricket Australia executive general manager Pat Howard said in a statement.
	"Steve understands our expectations and that we're extremely ...

Aussie spinner O'Keefe fined for hotel incident

Left-handed batsman Travis Head was today added to the Australia One-Day squad for the five-match series in Sri Lanka starting August 21.
	The 22-year-old, who is currently playing for Yorkshire in England's county championship, will join the Test team in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on Tuesday ahead of the third and final game.
	Having already lost the Test series after defeat in the first two matches, Australia will be looking to salvage some pride in the ODIs and two subsequent Twenty20 internationals.
	"Travis is a long-term prospect for Australian cricket in all formats and we think he will benefit greatly from working in the conditions we have here in Sri Lanka," said Australia's chairman of selectors Rod Marsh.
	"He will arrive here a few days earlier than the other ODI players so he can take the opportunity to work with the Test team as they prepare for the third Test," Marsh added in a statement.
	The South Australia batsman, who made his ODI debut against West Indies in ...

Australia's Head gets ODI call-up in Sri Lanka

The 84-year-old grandmother of a Thai Olympic bronze medal winner collapsed and died today while celebrating the weightlifter's success in Rio, police said.
     The octogenarian was watching a live broadcast of her 20-year-old grandson, Sinphet Kruaithong, take third place in the 56-kg division.
	But a viral video showed the jubilant scene of cheering fans in his rural hometown transform into tragedy after his grandmother, Subin Khongthap, collapsed while watching the competition on a projector.
	"The initial assumption is that she died from heart failure -- but we have to wait for the hospital's result," said Somwang Prangprakoan a police officer in northeastern Surin province.
	"I'm not sure if she was too excited, or if maybe she was already ill," he added.
	During an interview with local press ahead of the competition, Sinphet's grandmother said she missed her grandson but was overjoyed by his sporting journey.
     "I cheer him on, fight fight! I miss my grandson and want him to 

Thai medalist's grandmother dies celebrating win

Rail workers started a five-day strike today on services across southeast England, including commuter trains into London, causing major disruption on what could become the country's longest rail walk-out since 1968.
	The RMT union called the strike to protest plans to downgrade the role of the conductor on Southern Trains, causing cancellations across the network.
	Southern, which is owned by Govia Thameslink Railway, said it will run 60 per cent of services.
	RMT general secretary Mick Cash said there was "rock solid" support on the first morning of the strike, which, if completed, would be the longest industrial action on the railways since 1968, according to the BBC.
	Currently Southern trains require two members of staff to operate -- a driver, and a conductor who checks the doors are properly closed at each station.
	With the advent of automatic doors controlled by the driver, Southern says conductors are no longer essential, although it denies intending to scrap the jobs ...

Five-day strike disrupts London commuter trains

Michael Phelps capped an explosive evening of record-breaking and barely concealed needle Sunday by bagging an astonishing 19th Olympic gold medal in the men's 4x100 metres freestyle relay.
	   Earlier, Adam Peaty ended 28 years of Olympic hurt for Britain's male swimmers as he romped to gold in the 100 metres breaststroke final in Rio, smashing the world record for the second time in two days.
	   Cheered on by fiancee Nicole and toddler Boomer in the stands, the peerless Phelps again provided the spark, producing a blistering 47.12-second leg to overtake France's Fabien Gilot and set up victory in the 4x100m free.
	   Nathan Adrian anchored the Americans to a time of 3:09.92 to end French dominance of the event stretching over the past two world championships and the London Olympics four years ago.
	   "It was crazy," said Phelps, competing in his fifth and final Games. "I was standing on the block while Caeleb (Dressel) was coming in and I honestly thought my heart was going to ...

Phelps wins 19th gold as Peaty ends 28 years of hurt

Landslides triggered by Tropical Storm Earl's remnants have killed at least 40 people in Mexico, officials said, as a new storm threatened the country's Pacific coast.
	Hardest-hit was the central state of Puebla, where 29 people died, including at least 15 minors, as landslides buried several homes in the state's northern mountains, the local government said.
	Another 11 died in similar circumstances in the eastern state of Veracruz, its governor said.
	Earl swept in from the Caribbean at hurricane strength Wednesday, striking just south of Belize's capital. It hit Mexico as a storm on Thursday and eventually weakened to a tropical depression.
	Even in its weakened state Earl carried a deadly punch over the weekend.
	In the town of Huauchinango, the amount of rain that normally falls in a month came pouring down in just 24 hours, the Puebla government said Sunday.
	A rain-soaked hill crumbled and came sweeping down on an adjacent village, killing 11 people including eight minors, it .

Mexico landslides leave 40 dead as new storm forms

Bangladesh has kicked out a North Korean diplomat after he was caught smuggling more than one million cigarettes as well as electronics into the country in a shipping container, Dhaka officials said today.
	Han Son Ik, the first secretary of the North Korean embassy in Dhaka, has been ordered to leave the country after failing to declare the goods worth nearly half a million dollars to customs.
	Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque confirmed the order had been made to the North Koreans, but declined to give a timetable for his departure. Local media said he had been ordered to leave by today.
	"We have asked North Korea to take him back for violating diplomatic norms," Haque, Bangladesh's top foreign bureaucrat, told AFP, declining to give details.
	A senior customs official told AFP the North Korean used his diplomatic immunity earlier this month to import the goods which were suspected destined for the blackmarket.
	"The diplomat declared that his cargo contained food and ...

Bangladesh kicks out N Korea diplomat over smuggled goods

Japanese Emperor Akihito said today he is concerned his weakening health may make it hard to fulfil his duties, in a speech seen as signalling a possible future abdication.
	"I am worried that it may become difficult for me to carry out my duties as the symbol of the state with my whole being as I have done until now," he said in an address to the nation.
	"There are times when I feel various constraints such as in my physical fitness," the 82-year-old said.
	Akihito spoke obliquely -- never mentioning the word abdication -- but the government is expected to interpret his comments as meaning his wish is to eventually step down.
	It can then begin creating the necessary legal mechanism which currently does not exist.
	Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in a swift response to the emperor's speech, said the government would take the emperor's remarks "seriously".
	"Considering the emperor's duties, as well as his age and the burden (of the job), we have to firmly look at what we can ...

Japan's emperor says may be 'difficult' to fulfil duties

Former US Open winner Jim Furyk fired the lowest single round score in PGA Tour history by shooting a 58 during the final round of the Travelers Championship.
     The 46-year-old American's 12-under round bettered the previous record of 59 which had been shot six times, including by Furyk himself.
     "There are a lot of rounds by a lot of great players ahead of me that have never reached 58. So to hold it on the PGA Tour is phenomenal," Furyk said.
     Furyk two-putted on the 18th green after setting the nine-hole record with an eight-under 27. He shot a 31 on the back nine in his closing round.
     Furyk also shot the most recent 59 on the Tour at the 2013 BMW Championship.
     Scotland's Russell Knox sank a 12-foot putt on his closing hole to shoot a two-under 68 and earn his second tournament victory of the season. Knox finished one stroke ahead of first round co-leader Jerry Kelly, who shot 64.
     Furyk, who finished tied for fifth, described his closing round as a ...

Furyk makes history shoots 58 at Travelers

Image via Shutterstock

Two professors at the American University of Afghanistan were kidnapped on Sunday and no group has so far claimed responsibility

American, Australian kidnapped at gunpoint in Kabul

Press Trust of India

Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa scored and set up Jonathan Calleri's winner as 10-man Argentina avoided adding an early Olympic Games exit to Copa America heartbreak with a 2-1 win over Algeria in Rio.
     World champions Germany also dug themselves out of trouble as a stoppage-time equaliser from Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry salvaged a thrilling 3-3 draw against South Korea in Salvador.
     Hosts Brazil hope to kickstart their campaign for a maiden football Olympic gold later on Sunday against Iraq in Brasilia after stumbling to a 0-0 draw with South Africa in their opener.
     Argentina's preparations for the Olympics were hugely undermined by a corruption crisis engulfing the country's football federation.
     Coach Julio Olarticoechea was put in charge for the Games just weeks before their opening 2-0 defeat to Portugal following Gerardo Martino's resignation after a second Copa America final defeat to Chile in as many years.
     Olarticoechea's options were also slashed by a ..

10-man Argentina down Algeria, Gnabry rescues Germany

Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten lay helpless in intensive care after suffering three cracked vertebrae in a stomach-churning high-speed crash while leading the Olympic women's road race.
     The 33-year-old was 10km from Olympic gold when she tumbled over her handlebars and crashed into on a concrete curb on tricky descent that some have said was too dangerous for the Games.
     Van Vleuten was left in a motionless heap on the side of the road as other stunned competitors raced by.
     She was expected to spend at least 24 hours in intensive care in a Rio hospital before doctors decide the next steps.
     The Dutch Cycling Federation initially said she was conscious and had been taken to hospital.
     "Heavy concussion and three small fractures in her lumbar spine. She continues 24 hours in i.C. (intensive care)," the federation said on Twitter.
     The federation added that she was "conscious and speaking".
     Images of the crash made for uncomfortable viewing as Van ...

Dutch cyclist in intensive care after horror crash

England captain Alastair Cook insisted his side had "further to go" after a win over Pakistan at Edgbaston gave them a chance to top the world Test rankings before the end of their home season.
     The hosts had it all to do after conceding a first-innings lead of 103 runs at Midlands county Warwickshire's headquarters.
     However, showing admirable resilience, England recovered to win the third Test by 141 runs on Sunday to go 2-1 up with one to play ahead of the series finale at The Oval starting on Thursday.
     Victory in south London will see England back on top of the International Cricket Council's Test rankings for the first time since 2012 provided India do not win the last two Tests of their ongoing series in the West Indies.
     Not that Cook was getting carried away by the prospect.
     "If we do win at The Oval, I wouldn't say we are anywhere near our potential," he said.
     "If we become number one there, that's fantastic -- but it will be a bit of an ...

Cook's England have 'further to go' after Pakistan win

A young protester was shot dead in the Chadian capital N'Djamena during an opposition rally, on the eve of President Idriss Deby's swearing-in for a fifth term, a police source and opposition leader said.
	"A young protester who had torn the flag of the MPS (Deby's ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement) was shot dead," during the protest which had been banned by the government, the police officer said yesterday on condition of anonymity.
	Opposition leader Saleh Kebzabo confirmed the news, saying one person had died after being shot by live police rounds during the authorities' attempts to disperse the protesters.
	He added that another youth had been hit in the chest by a bullet and taken to hospital.
	Earlier security forces used tear gas to disperse the protest against the Deby regime.
	Kebzabo said many of the protesters were "very angry at being prevented from marching" and had returned only for their protest to be broken up again.
	However a small group returned to the fray and ...

Protester shot dead ahead of Chad leader's swearing-in

An American-born fighter for Honduras launched an angry tirade at boxing authorities, accusing them of corruption, after he exited the Rio Olympics on a debatable unanimous points decision.
     The highly rated teenager Teofimo Lopez said the International Boxing Association (AIBA) "stole my dream" after judges ruled Sofiane Oumiha of France won their lightweight contest.
     The AIBA swiftly rejected his "unacceptable" claims, after Lopez and his father -- who is his trainer -- said the amateur boxing body had snatched the win away.
     The crowd booed the decision loudly and the 19-year-old Lopez, who switched to represent Honduras so he could get a place in Rio, sank to his knees in the middle of the ring, before performing a defiant backflip.
     Lopez had until recently represented the United States and won the Olympic trials, but was not granted a spot in Rio for Team USA because of the convoluted qualifying process -- more evidence, he said, that the odds were unfairly ...

Beaten boxer lashes out at 'corruption'

Landslides triggered by Tropical Storm Earl have left at least 11 people dead in central and eastern Mexico, as a new storm threatened the country's Pacific coast.
	The approaching Tropical Storm Javier is expected to bring heavy rains and high winds to southwestern Mexico in the coming days, US weather forecasters said.
	The latest mudslide in the town of Huauchinango killed at least one person and buried 13 houses under rubble, according to the Puebla state government. A state official yesterday said that up to 10 more people may be missing there.
	That was in addition to 10 people who died in mudslides in Coscomatepec, Tequila and Huayacocotla, in a mountainous region of Veracruz state, Governor Javier Duarte said on Twitter.
	The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre said Javier was about 155 miles (250 kilometres) west northwest west of Manzanillo, Mexico, moving west-northwest.
	"On the forecast track, the centre of the tropical cyclone should pass near or over the southwest ...

Mexico landslides leave 11 dead as new storm forms

An Uzbekistan Airways passenger plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Saint Petersburg airport in northwest Russia today after suffering an engine failure, airport authorities said.
	The Boeing 757-200, with 179 passengers and ten crew members aboard, circled the airport several times to burn off fuel before attempting the emergency landing, Saint Petersburg airport spokesman Igor Laptev told AFP.
	"The aircraft carried out an emergency landing because one of the engines failed," he confirmed, adding that all passengers and crew were safe and well.
	Investigators said the reason for the engine failure was not yet known.

Uzbek Airlines plane makes emergency landing in Russia

Moeen Ali starred with both bat and ball as England beat Pakistan by 141 runs to win the third Test at Edgbaston on Sunday.
     Victory left England 2-1 up in the four-match series ahead of next week's concluding Test at The Oval. It also meant England had become the first team in 114 years of Test cricket at Edgbaston to win after conceding a lead of more than 100 runs batting first.
     Pakistan, set a huge target of 343 for victory after England declared on 445 for six early on Sunday's final day, were dismissed for 201.
     Off-spinner Ali, who earlier in the day struck a quickfire 86 not out, sealed England's win when he caught and bowled tailender Sohail Khan.
     Pakistan suffered a dramatic middle-order collapse shortly before tea as they lost four wickets for just one run in 23 balls.
     Pakistan were 124 for three when their slump started, with captain Misbah-ul-Haq (10) caught behind off Steven Finn to give the persevering fast bowler his first wicket of the series. ..

Ali seals England's crushing win over Pakistan

A foreign government minister has been mugged in an upscale Rio district, police in the Olympics host city said today.
	The minister, who was not identified, was attacked yesterday in Ipanema, the tourist division of the civil police said in a statement.
	A 26-year-old man was arrested along the beach front and the victim's belongings were returned to him, the statement said.
	Globo news' G1 site reported that Portuguese Education Minister Tiago Brandao Rodrigues was assaulted at knife point and forced to hand over his money and cellphone. The Portuguese embassy in Brasilia did not respond immediately for comment.

Foreign government minister mugged in Rio: police

A United Nations peacekeeper was killed and four others were injured today when their vehicle struck an explosive device in northeast Mali, the UN said.
	The incident occurred 11 kilometres (six miles) south of Aguelhoc-Anefis in Kidal region, the UN force in Mali, MINUSMA, said in a statement.
	The vehicle was part of a supply convoy, MINUSMA said. It did not give the nationalities of the casualties.
	Less than three hours later, a MINUSMA vehicle was damaged by a roadside bomb near the town of Kidal while on patrol about two kilometres from the mission's base, but no-one was hurt, the statement said.
	There was no immediate claim of responsibility for either attack.
	An Islamist takeover of northern Mali in 2012 triggered a French military intervention to pull the country back from the brink of collapse.
	The UN deployed peacekeepers in July 2013, but the mission has been a relentless target for attacks.
	Twenty-eight have been killed so far this year, according to a toll compiled ..

AFP

AFP

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