Turkey dismisses almost 9,000 officials after failed

PTI Automatic

Japanese mobile giant SoftBank has agreed a cash takeover of iPhone chip designer ARM Holdings for around 24.3 billion pounds, the pair said today, in a major investment boost for post-Brexit Britain.
	"We have long admired ARM as a world renowned and highly respected technology company that is by some distance the market-leader in its field," SoftBank chairman and chief executive Masayoshi Son said of the deal valuing the British group at about USD 32 billion or 29 billion euros.
	Son added that the deal marked SoftBank's "strong commitment to the UK and the competitive advantage provided by the deep pool of science and technology talent" in the university city of Cambridge where ARM is headquartered.
	Britain's new finance minister Philip Hammond praised the mega deal that comes amid warnings about a slowdown to growth in the country after its vote last month to exit the European Union.
	"This 24 billion pounds investment would be the largest ever from Asia into the UK," Hammond ...

SoftBank to buy leading chip designer ARM for USD 32bn

Three police officers and one civilian were killed today following armed attacks on a police station and a security service office in Kazakhstan's largest city Almaty, the interior ministry said.
	Parts of the city were in lockdown following the incident with one suspect in custody and a manhunt underway for an accomplice still at large, the interior ministry said in a statement.
	The detained man is accused of killing a local resident during a carjacking and attacking a police station at around 11 am (local time), shooting a police officer and taking his gun, said the statement.
	The suspect then shot two officers as they gave chase before being arrested.
	"According to preliminary information, the detained man is a 27-year-old man with previous convictions," the ministry said, adding that he is "suspected of murdering a woman at the weekend".
	It said that police are now searching for the gunman's "partner in crime."
	Local media reported that at least seven police are being treated 

4 killed in attacks in Kazakhstan's financial capital Almaty

A powerful Iraqi Shiite cleric whose militiamen battled US forces after the 2003 invasion has said that hundreds more American troops being sent to Iraq are "a target for us".
	Pentagon chief Ashton Carter announced on a recent visit to Baghdad that 560 extra military personnel would be sent as part of efforts to combat the Islamic State group, which overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014.
	"They are a target for us," Moqtada al-Sadr said in a statement on his website on Sunday, responding to a question about Carter's announcement.
	There are already thousands of American military personnel in Iraq as part of the anti-IS fight, meaning that Sadr's forces have had ample opportunities to target US troops if they were going to do so.
	Sadr's Mahdi Army militia was one of America's main foes in Iraq after the 2003 invasion, engaging in fierce fighting with US troops in Baghdad and the city of Najaf to its south.
	Sadr's forces - now called Saraya al-Salam - have taken part .

Iraqi cleric Sadr says new US troops 'a target'

Turkey detains 103 generals, admirals in total after

Several attacks against security services in Kazakhstan's

Links between the Nice truck attacker and "terrorist networks", including the Islamic State group which has claimed the killings, "have not yet been established by the investigation", France's interior minister said today.
	"We cannot exclude that an unbalanced and very violent individual" has been "through a rapid radicalisation, committed to this absolutely despicable crime," which killed 84 people, Bernard Cazeneuve told France's RTL radio.
	Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Tunisian, rammed a 19-tonne truck into a crowd leaving a fireworks display in the seaside city of Nice on Thursday night, killing 84 people and injuring about 300.
	The Islamic State group said one of its "soldiers" carried out the attack in response to its calls to target countries from the US-led coalition engaged in airstrikes against the group.
	The attack was the third major terror strike on France in 18 months, and Cazeneuve hit out at opposition politicians who have fiercely criticised the ...

Links between Nice attacker & IS not yet established: minister

Taiwan has arrested three foreign suspects over a USD 2.5 million cyberheist which used malware to hack into a major local bank's ATM network and steal bags of cash, police said today.
	The attack, the first of its kind in Taiwan, targeted the First Commercial Bank's ATM network last week, using malware to withdraw more than USD 2.5 million from dozens of machines in three cities.
	 A Latvian suspect, identified as Andrejs Peregudovs, was arrested by police in the northeastern county of Yilan after being spotted by an off duty police officer from Taipei who was on holiday in the area.
	Two other suspects from Romania and Moldova were arrested yesterday at a hotel in Taipei, police said, adding they believed the heist was carried out by a 16-member international crime ring.
	"This is the first ATM theft by a foreign crime ring in our country," the police said in a statement.
	Police have recovered more than half of the stolen money, but warned that 13 of the suspects -- including five .

Taiwan arrests three foreigners in USD 2.5m ATM cyberheist

A SpaceX rocket blasted off today toward the International Space Station, carrying a load of supplies including a docking adapter that future spaceships will use to park at the orbiting outpost.
	"Falcon 9 is on its way," said a commentator at SpaceX mission control as the white rocket launched under a dark night sky from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 12:45 am (local time).
	Following the launch, the rocket separated, sending the cargo to orbit. Then, the first stage of the rocket successfully fired its engines again to maneuver its way back to land on solid ground at Cape Canaveral.
	SpaceX mission control erupted in cheers as live video footage showed the first stage of the rocket landing steady and upright, marking the second such solid-ground touchdown for SpaceX.
	It first accomplished the feat in December 2015, as part of the California-based company's ongoing effort to re-use costly rocket parts instead of jettisoning them into the ocean.
	The nearly 5,000 pounds (2,300 kilograms) 

SpaceX propels cargo to space station, lands rocket

The report to be released today into allegations of widespread state-sponsored doping in Russia has already sparked rumblings it could trigger the "nuclear option" of a full ban of Russia from the Rio Olympics.
     With the August 5 start of the Summer Games less than three weeks away, anticipation of the report by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren had the Olympic movement on edge.
     Some world sports leaders decried what they saw as a pre-emptive strike from others pushing for a Russian ban before the findings were revealed in a press conference scheduled for 9:00 am (1300 GMT) in Toronto.
     McLaren was tasked by the World Anti-Doping Agency with investigating wide-ranging allegations made by former Russian anti-doping laboratory director Grigory Rodchenkov in a May article in The New York Times.
     Rodchenkov, now living in the United States, claimed that even Russian secret services took part in an operation to manipulate Russian doping test samples at the 2014 Sochi Winter .

Stakes high as Russia doping report released Monday

Thai Badminton star Ratchanok Intanon broke down in tears and spoke of her relief today after being cleared of doping, ending fears her Olympic dreams had been scuppered.
     The 21-year-old shuttler, who is beloved in Thailand and remains the kingdom's best chance for a medal in Rio, tested positive for a banned substance in May after a tournament in China.
     But the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Monday cleared her after ruling that the substance had been administered to treat a tendon injury and was allowed.
     "I was confident in my innocence and I am glad that I received justice. I will practise and hope to bring a medal back for Thais," she told reporters at a press conference in Bangkok.
     "The Olympics is my dream," she added, before bursting into tears.
     Rumours of the positive test result first surfaced in the Thai media last week, leaving fans on tenterhooks.
     In a statement published Monday, the BWF said Ratchanok tested positive for triamcinolone ...

Thai badminton star Ratchanok cleared of doping

An American student who was among those missing following a deadly truck attack in Nice has been confirmed dead, the University of California, Berkeley said.
	Nicolas Leslie, 20, had been studying in the southern French coastal city as part of Berkeley's study abroad program. The toll from Thursday's devastating attack during a fireworks display on Bastille Day has stood at 84 dead and about 300 wounded.
	"This is tragic, devastating news," Berkeley chancellor Nicholas Dirks yesterday said after the FBI informed campus officials.
	"All of us in the UC Berkeley family - both here on campus, and around the world - are heartbroken to learn that another promising young student has been lost to senseless violence," he added in a statement.
	"I join Nick's parents, friends and the entire campus community in condemning this horrific attack, and in mourning the loss of one of our own."
	The environmental sciences major had planned to start studying at the Haas School of Business next term.
	A 

US student confirmed killed in Nice attack: School

Glamorgan teenager Aneurin Donald equalled Ravi Shastri's record for the fastest double-century in first-class cricket with a stunning innings against Derbyshire today.
	Donald's knock included 15 sixes, with his 200 from just 123 balls equalling the mark set by former India international Shastri in his home country in 1985.
	The 19-year-old came to the crease at Colwyn Bay with his side 96-3 in the County Championship encounter, and immediately went on the attack before reaching his maiden Championship ton with a six.
	He also brought up both his 150 and 200 with sixes, before holding out to long-on after racking up 234 from only 136 deliveries. Glamorgan ended the first day on 491-8.

Glamorgan youngster smashes record-equalling double-hundred

The number of people killed in Friday's failed coup attempt in Turkey has climbed to more than 290, the foreign ministry said.
	"More than 100 putschists" were killed and at least "190 of our citizens", the ministry said in a statement today. The government had earlier put the death toll from Friday night's coup attempt at 265.

Toll from Turkey coup bid climbs to more than 290: govt

Toll from Turkey coup bid climbs to more than 290: govt.

Yasir Shah marked his first Test outside of Asia and the United Arab Emirates by taking 10 wickets in the match as Pakistan beat England by 75 runs in their series opener at Lord's on Sunday.
     Leg-spinner Shah took 10 for 141, including a second-innings haul of four for 69 on Sunday's fourth day.
     His return, which surpassed Waqar Younis's previous Test-match best for Pakistan at Lord's of eight for 154, was central to the tourists going 1-0 up in this four-match series.
     Mohammad Amir in his first Test appearance since he was given a five-year ban for his part in the 2010 spot-fixing scandal at Lord's -- Pakistan's last Test at 'the home of cricket' -- ended the match when he bowled last man Jake Ball.
     Victory prompted the whole Pakistan team to  perform several press-ups in front of the Lord's Pavilion -- a reference to their pre-tour military boot camp. England, set 283 for victory, were all out for 207.
     They were holding firm at 195 for six thanks to a ...

Yasir Shah leads Pakistan to Lord's win over England

Clashes broke out today between security forces and putschists at a Turkish air base in the central city of Konya, a Turkish official told AFP.
	"We are able to confirm that there are clashes at the air base in Konya between the security forces and putschists resisting arrest," the source said.
	The official also confirmed an incident at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport, where police fired warning shots at putschists who were resisting arrest. They eventually surrendered.

'Clashes between forces, putschists at Turkish air base'

Turkish authorities pressed today with a ruthless crackdown against suspects in the failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with 6,000 people detained as he vowed to stamp out the "virus" of the putschists.
	World leaders including US President Barack Obama have strongly condemned Friday's attempted takeover but also urged Turkey to respect the rule of law in its aftermath, especially after pictures emerged showing the rough treatment of some arrested coup plotters.
	Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said today around 6,000 people had been detained in "clean-up operations" and that the number would rise.
	They include senior army commanders, judges, prosecutors and a military aide to Erdogan, Ali Yazici, who had only been working for the president since August last year, state-run news agency Anadolu reported.
	The suspects are being charged with membership of an "armed terrorist organisation" and attempting to overthrow the government by force, the Hurriyet Daily News ...

Turkey rounds up 6,000 suspects after failed coup

Completed scoreboard on the fourth
day of the first Test between England and Pakistan at Lord's on Sunday
	   Pakistan 1st Innings 339
	   England 1st Innings 272
	   Pakistan 2nd Innings (overnight: 214-8)
	   M Hafeez c Root b Broad            0
	   S Masood c Cook b Woakes           24
	   A Ali lbw b Woakes                 23
	   Y Khan b Ali                       25
	   Misbah c Hales b Ali               0
	   A Shafiq b Woakes                  49
	   S Ahmed c Bairstow b Woakes        45
	   Y Shah c Bairstow b Broad          30
	   W Riaz c Bairstow b Woakes          0
	   M Amir c Bairstow b Broad           1
	   R Ali not out                       0
	   Extras (b-6, lb-11, nb-1)           18
	   Total (all out, 79.1 overs, 353 mins) 215
	   Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-44, 3-59, 4-60, 5-129, 6-168, 7-208, 8-214, 9-214
	   Bowling: Broad 19.1-7-38-3, Ball 16-7-37-0, Finn 13-4-42-0, Woakes 18-6-32-5, Ali 13-3-49-2
	   England 2nd Innings (target 283)
	   A Cook c Sarfraz Ahmed b ...

London, Jul 17 (AFP) Completed scoreboard on the fourth

Opposition-controlled parts of Syria's battered northern city Aleppo came under total siege today, after government forces severed the last route out of the east.
	An estimated 300,000 civilians live in rebel-held neighbourhoods of Syria's second city, the UN says, and there are fears that they could face starvation.
	The rebels have failed to thwart a major Russian-backed army offensive around Aleppo, which has been devastated by Syria's five-year conflict.
	Today, regime fighters descended on the Castello Road and fully cut it, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
	"The eastern neighbourhoods are now completely besieged," he told AFP.
	The Observatory also reported that five civilians were killed today in regime air strikes on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Maysar while 16 rebel fighters died in the regime advance on Aleppo.
	The city is divided roughly between government control in the west and rebel control in the east.
	The ...

Rebel-held parts of Syria's Aleppo 'completely besieged'

Three police officers were killed and three injured in a shooting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on today, police said.
	"One suspect is dead, law enforcement believes two others may be at large," the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

AFP

AFP

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