Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said today that Iraqi forces made an "unauthorised" withdrawal from Ramadi last month, leading to the Islamic State group's takeover of the Anbar provincial capital.
	"The withdrawal of the forces from Ramadi was unauthorised -- the orders were the opposite. The forces had to resist, and if they had resisted, we would not have lost Ramadi," Abadi said in televised remarks.
	Ramadi fell to the jihadist group in mid-May after government forces had held out against militants there for more than a year.
	It was Baghdad's worst setback in months after its forces had retaken significant territory in two provinces north of the capital.
	Abadi's remarks came a week after a senior officer in the US-led coalition against IS said the withdrawal was militarily unnecessary.
	"Ramadi was lost because the Iraqi commander in Ramadi elected to withdraw. In other words, if he had elected to stay, he would still be there today," said Brigadier Christopher Ghika of the ...

Iraq forces made 'unauthorised' withdrawal from Ramadi: PM

PTI Automatic

Japan's Kei Nishikori insists he is fit to launch his Wimbledon challenge after the world number five suffered a calf injury scare.
     Nishikori is due to face Italy's Simone Bolelli in the first round of the grasscourt Grand Slam, which gets underway on Monday.
     But the 25-year-old's participation in the tournament was thrown into doubt last week when he was forced to retire from his semi-final against Andreas Seppi at the Wimbledon warm-up event in Halle.
     Nishikori had first sustained the problem in his left calf when he faced Jerzy Janowicz in the last eight and he aggravated it further in the Seppi clash.
     Speaking to reporters at the All England Club on Saturday, Nishikori was adamant he had recovered from the injury and he expects to be at full strength in his opener against Bolelli.
     "It's good. I should be fine for Monday, he said.
     "I had a good three matches in Halle. I think it's great preparation for here. I'm sure that I'll have a lot of confidence. 

Nishikori shrugs off injury fears

Fourteen Thai students were taken into custody today after staging an anti-coup rally on charges that could see them jailed for seven years, as the ruling junta sharply escalates its chokehold on dissent.
	The pro-democracy campaigners are among the few activists that have dared to publicly challenge Thailand's military rulers, who imposed severe curbs on civil liberties after seizing power from an elected government last year.
	Their arrests yesterday followed a peaceful protest calling for an end to junta rule a day earlier at Bangkok's Democracy Monument, where spirited speeches and songs were met with claps and cheers from dozens of supporters.
	Political gatherings and criticism of the junta have been banned under the military regime and today Thailand's army chief starkly warned backers of the students to end their support.
	The 14 activists -- university students in their 20s including one woman -- were taken to a remand prison in northern Bangkok in the early today, Colonel ...

14 Thai students face seven years in jail for anti-junta rally

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iran's foreign minister both today warned of "hard work" ahead as they sought to seal a historic deal after almost two years of intense diplomatic effort.
	"We've a lot of hard work to do. There are some very tough issues, and I think we all look forward to getting down to the final efforts here to see whether or not a deal is possible," Kerry said at the start of talks with Mohammad Javad Zarif in Vienna.
	"I think everybody would like to see an agreement. But we have to work through some difficult issues," Kerry added before reporters left the room, saying he was "hopeful".
	Zarif said negotiators "need to work really hard in order to be able to make progress and move forward.
	"We are determined to do everything we can to be able to make this effort possible. Of course, that depends on a lot of things and we're going to work on it," Zarif added.
	Days before a June 30 deadline that officials admit may slip a few days, diplomats say the mooted ...

US, Iran say 'hard work' ahead to seal nuclear deal

Pakistan's batsmen bounced back after the first innings debacle to throw open the second Test against Sri Lanka at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on Thursday.
     The tourists, who conceded a lead of 177 runs after being dismissed for 138 in the first innings, closed the third day's play at 171 for two in their second knock.
     When bad light halted play an hour early, Pakistan trailed by just six runs with eight wickets in hand, promising a keen tussle between bat and ball over the next two days.
     Sri Lanka, looking for a series-levelling win after losing the first Test in Galle, removed Mohammad Hafeez cheaply for eight before lunch, caught in the slips by Kumar Sangakkara off Angelo Mathews.
     Opener Ahmed Shehzad hit 69 during a second-wicket stand of 120 with Azhar Ali, the pair batting through the post-lunch session to defy the Sri Lankan bowlers.
     Shehzad was dismissed off the first ball after tea, top-edging a hook off Dhammika Prasad, but Younis Khan joined Azhar ..

Pakistan fight back in second Sri Lanka Test

French police interrogated a suspected Islamist today as they tried to piece together an attack in which the man put his boss's severed head on display in the second jihadist attack to hit France in six months.
	Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who cut short an official trip to South America to return home, warned that France faced more attacks and that yesterday's assault on a gas factory near the second city of Lyon would increase tensions in the country and put citizens' resilience "to the test".
	No jihadist group has claimed the French attack which came on the same day as a massacre at a Tunisian beach resort in which 38 people were gunned down and a suicide bombing in Kuwait that killed 27. The other two attacks have been claimed by the Islamic State group.
	A suspect, Yassin Salhi, 35, was arrested after causing an explosion by driving a delivery van into a warehouse containing bottles of dangerous gas and chemicals at the US-owned Air Products factory in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, ..

French police interrogate suspect after grisly decapitation

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey will never allow the establishment of a Kurdish state in Syria after major gains by Kurdish fighters.
	In a strong-worded warning late yesterday, Erdogan accused the Kurds of ethnically cleaning other communities from land they have taken after pushing back Islamic State forces from the Turkish border.
	"I say to the international community that whatever price must be paid, we will never allow the establishment of a new state on our southern frontier in the north of Syria," Erdogan was quoted by Turkish media as telling guests at a dinner to break the Ramadan fast.
	He accused Kurdish forces of "changing the demographic structure" of several areas close to the Turkish border, which also have Arab and Turkmen populations.
	Turkey has fought a 31-year insurgency in the south east of the country by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which Ankara claims is closely linked to the main Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) ...

Turkey will 'never allow' Kurdish state in Syria warns Erdogan

A former high-ranking executive of US computer chip giant Qualcomm has been fined USD 500,000 and sentenced to 18 months in prison for insider trading, US officials said.
	Jing Wang, 52, the former executive vice president and president of global business operations at Qualcomm pleaded guilty last July to insider trading charges, including trades on a 2011 deal for Atheros Communications, said the Justice Department.
	He had also pleaded guilty to laundering the proceeds of his insider trading using an offshore shell company.
	"Jing Wang gained unique access to information about the company's earnings and intended acquisitions and illegally exploited that inside information for personal gain," Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell said in a statement.
	Wang, of Del Mar, California, committed insider trading on three separate occasions over a 10-month period in 2010 and 2011, prosecutors said.
	"Jing Wang was a powerful insider at one of the world's top corporations -- but he ...

Ex-Qualcomm exec fined $500k, jailed for insider trading

Eight Britons, one Belgian and one German have been identified among the 38 people killed by an Islamist gunman at a Tunisian beach resort, the health ministry said today.
	"Ten bodies have been identified out of 38 -- eight Britons, a Belgian and a German," said senior ministry official Naoufel Somrani.
	Another 39 people were wounded including British, German and Belgian nationals.
	The ministry said more time was needed to identify the other victims because most of them were in beachwear at the time of the attack and were not carrying identification.
	The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsibility for the attack on Friday by an assailant who pulled a gun from inside a beach umbrella and opened fire on crowds of tourists on the beach and by a hotel pool in the popular Mediterranean resort of Port el Kantaoui.
	Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid said early Saturday that most of the dead were British but that they also included Germans, Belgians and French.

At least 8 Britons, one Belgian, one German among Tunisia dead

Iran burned 100 tonnes of drugs recovered from traffickers in a ceremony today to coincide with an international anti-drug day meeting in Tehran, local news agencies reported.
	The burning, in the northeastern city of Mashhad, was live-streamed to an audience in the capital, a day after the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
	Iran, with an annual consumption of 500 tonnes of narcotics, suffers severe drug-related problems, mostly due to heroin and methamphetamine use.
	More than 1.3 million of Iran's 78 million population are addicted and each day eight people die and 70 new users become hooked, according to the Mehr news agency.
	Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli told the summit: "This is a high number for us."
	Most opium entering Iran comes in from eastern neighbour Afghanistan, which produced 5,500 tonnes in 2013, a 49 per cent increase on 2012, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.
	Fazli said Gulf countries were seeking Iran's ...

Iran burns 100 tonnes for anti-drugs meeting

Kurdish fighters ousted the Islamic State group from the Syrian border town of Kobane today, two days after the jihadists had seized several neighbourhoods, a monitor and activists said.
	IS's bloody attack on the town had left at least 174 civilians dead as well as 70 combatants, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
	"The Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) took back control of IS positions in Kobane," the Britain-based group said.
	"The YPG were able to take back the town's boys' high school, where the last of the IS fighters were holed up, after setting off explosions."
	The jihadist group entered Kobane at dawn on Thursday, seizing several buildings in the town's south and southwest.
	Hours later, YPG reinforcements encircled the IS positions -- where the jihadists were holding civilians -- and slowly began retaking control of the buildings.
	Local journalist Rudi Mohammad Amin told AFP that "all of Kobane is again under the control of the YPG."
	"The YPG detonated ...

Kurds drive IS jihadists from Syria's Kobane: monitor

Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali put on an unbeaten 120-run partnership to keep Pakistan afloat in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Saturday.
     The tourists, who conceded a first-innings lead of 177 runs, survived the loss of an early wicket to go to tea on the third day at 129-1 in their second knock.
     Shehzad was batting on 69 and Azhar was on 47, with Pakistan only 48 runs behind on the P. Sara Oval pitch that is expected to turn increasingly in favour of bowlers as the match progresses.
     Sri Lanka, looking for a series-levelling win after losing the first Test in Galle, removed Mohammad Hafeez cheaply for eight before lunch, caught in the slips by Kumar Sangakkara off Angelo Mathews.
     Debutant seamer Dushmantha Chameera, who had gone off the field in the morning session after sending down just nine deliveries, returned after lunch to bowl five overs.
     Shehzad and Azhar, who resumed after lunch at 62-1, settled down to defy the Sri Lankan bowlers ...

Shehzad, Azhar fight for Pakistan

One of Vietnam's most prominent dissidents vowed to continue his anti-China activism after being released from prison today after serving two and a half years on tax evasion charges.
	Le Quoc Quan, a Catholic blogger and lawyer from the communist nation, was freed from jail today in central Quang Nam province and met by family members who had long campaigned for his release.
	"I am very happy," he told AFP in his first interview since being freed, saying he would head straight to a hospital for a health check before spending time with his loved ones.
	The 43-year-old had been on hunger strike five times in prison with the most recent stint of 14-days ending on June 24.
	In a characteristically defiant mood, Quan promised to continue the anti-Beijing activism that first attracted the ire of authorities.
	"I have become very concerned again about invasions of China on Vietnamese sovereignty regarding the island," he told AFP in English, referring to construction and land reclamation by .

Vietnam frees high-profile dissident lawyer

Iran has condemned the jihadist attacks in Tunisia, Kuwait and France, saying they were "contrary to the teachings of Islam," in statements released by the foreign ministry.
	The killings were not apparently coordinated, but the Islamic State group claimed the atrocities in Tunisia and Kuwait, just days before the first anniversary of it declaring a "caliphate" in Iraq and Syria.
	"These terrorist acts are contrary to the teachings of Islam," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham in Tehran.
	In a separate statement she also denounced the attack in a Tunisian hotel that killed 38 people, mostly British tourists.
	The incident was aimed at "defacing Islam's image," she said, urging governments of Muslim countries to "take effective measures against acts of terrorism that harm the image and unity of the Muslim world."
	Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also condemned the "barbarous" attack against a Shiite mosque in Kuwait that killed 26 people.
	In a telephone ...

Iran condemns attacks in Tunisia, Kuwait and France

Thousands of scared foreign holidaymakers were being flown from Tunisia today after an Islamist gunman killed 38 people, most of them British tourists, at a beach resort.
	The Islamic State jihadist group, which controls swathes of Iraq and Syria, claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest in Tunisia's recent history.
	Dozens more people were wounded when the assailant pulled a gun from inside a beach umbrella and opened fire on crowds of tourists on the beach and by a hotel pool in the popular Mediterranean resort of Port el Kantaoui.
	Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid announced that from next month armed tourist security officers would be deployed all along the coast and inside hotels.
	But a heavy blow had already been delivered to the key tourism industry with British tour operator Thomas Cook announcing it would offer all customers the possibility to change bookings to Tunisia up to and including July 24.
	The Association of British Travel Agents said it was ...

Tourists scramble to leave Tunisia after seaside massacre

Lions will return to Rwanda for the first time in more than two decades, wildlife officials have said, after the endangered animal was wiped out following the country's 1994 genocide.
	Seven lions -- two males and five females -- are being transported from South Africa and will arrive by air in Rwanda on Monday after a 36 hour journey, where they will be taken and released after at least two weeks quarantine into the eastern Akagera National Park.
	Park officials in Akagera, a 112,000 hectare (27,6800 acre) park bordering Tanzania, said the reintroduction was "a ground-breaking conservation effort for both the park and the country of Rwanda."
	Lions in Rwanda were stamped out after the 1994 genocide, which left an estimated 800,000 people dead.
	Fleeing refugees and displaced people occupied part of the park, with the lion being driven out or killed as people tried to protect their livestock.
	"It a breakthrough in the rehabilitation of the park," said Yamina Karitanyi, head of ...

First lions to return to Rwanda after over two decades

Pakistan faced a tough battle to turn around the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo after conceding a 177-run lead on the third day today.
     The hosts, looking for a series-levelling win after losing the first Test in Galle, removed Mohammad Hafeez cheaply as Pakistan went to lunch at 62 for one in their second innings.
     Hafeez was snapped up in the slips by Kumar Sangakkara off Angelo Mathews for eight, before Ahmed Shehzad and Azhar Ali repaired the damage by adding 53 runs for the unbroken second wicket.
     Shehzad was unbeaten on 39 and Azhar was on 14, with Pakistan still trailing by 115 runs on the P. Sara Oval pitch that is giving both bounce and turn to the bowlers.
     Sri Lanka suffered a blow on the field when debutant seamer Dushmantha Chameera went off with an unspecified injury after sending down just nine deliveries.
     Sri Lanka, who resumed at their overnight score of 304-9 after a delayed start due to bad weather, were dismissed for 315 in their ...

Pakistan lose early wicket after trailing by 177 runs

US presidential hopeful Jeb Bush will meet with pastors next week in Charleston, South Carolina where a horrific shooting in a historic black church killed nine people, his campaign said today.
	Bush travels to the coastal city on Monday to sit down with religious figures in a meeting that will be closed to the media. Later in the day he tours a pharmaceutical company in the town of West Columbia.
	The visit marks a return of sorts for the Republican 2016 candidate. Bush arrived to campaign in Charleston on the night of June 17, just hours after the shooting, but canceled his appearances in the early voting state when he learned of the tragedy.
	The alleged shooter, who is white, has been accused of racially motivated murder. In the aftermath, South Carolina's Republican Governor Nikki Haley urged the southern state's legislature to remove the Confederate battle flag, seen by many as a symbol of America's racial divisions, from the state capitol.
	While governor, Bush helped move the .

Jeb Bush to meet pastors in Charleston post shooting

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson fired a three-under 67 to maintain a two-shot lead after the second round of the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship.
     Watson, a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, finished 36 holes at 11-under-par 129 yesterday. The two-time Masters champion and world No. 5 earned his first career victory on tour at this event in 2010.
     "I stayed patient and just kept playing steady." Watson said. "When I hit a bad shot or a shot just off the fairway, I played smart."
     Brian Harman (65), Carl Pettersson (66) and Brian Stuard (67) all tried to close the gap on Watson later in the day at the River Highlands golf course. They finished the second round tied for second at nine-under 131.
     Scott Brown (67), Chris Stroud (67) and Jason Gore (68) are one shot further back and tied for fifth at eight under.
     Watson's round included three birdies and no bogeys. He said the course is in ideal shape but the wind changed direction Friday making the second ..

American Watson maintains lead at Travelers Championship

Top-ranked Germany kept their bid for a record third title on track when they won a dramatic penalty shoot-out 5-4 to break French hearts and advance to the semi-finals at the Women's World Cup.
     The thrilling quarter-final game at Montreal's Olympic Stadium went to a nail-biting penalty shoot-out after the two teams were locked 1-1 after 30 minutes of extra time.
     Louisa Necib, dubbed the "Female Zidane" of the French women's game, could only rue a missed chance to score after just 49 seconds, before she finally nailed the opener on 64 minutes.
     Celia Sasic levelled for Germany with a penalty six minutes from time, and in a tense half hour of extra-time substitute Gaetane Thiney wasted a late chance to put France into the last four for the second straight time.
     Germany captain Nadine Angerer was the heroine of the night as the goalkeeper saved 20-year-old substitute Claire Lavogez's final penalty in the shoot-out.
     "We're extremely elated, full of adrenaline ...

Germany break French hearts at Women's World Cup

Carlos Tevez fired Argentina into the semi-finals of the Copa America, scoring the decisive spot-kick as the tournament favourites defeated Colombia 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out.
     Tevez, who missed the crucial penalty when Argentina went out in a shoot-out at the 2011 tournament, rammed homed the winning spot-kick after Colombia's Jeison Murillo had blazed over the bar.
     The 31-year-old, who came on as a second half substitute, provided the dramatic final twist to a shoot-out which saw Lucas Biglia and Marcos Rojo both miss kicks for Argentina that would have sealed victory after regulation time finished locked at 0-0.
     Argentina's win puts them into a semi-final against the winner of Saturday's quarter-final between Brazil and Paraguay.
     Tevez admitted his contribution to victory -- four years after his nightmare miss sealed Argentina's elimination from the 2011 tournament on home soil -- was sweet.
     "In soccer there's always a second chance," said Tevez, who ...

AFP

AFP

Page 2234 - Afp