The Israeli army carried out a "wide-scale" attack against Iranian forces and Syrian army targets in Syria Wednesday, killing at least 11 fighters, the Israeli army and a monitoring group said.
In a rare confirmation of their operations in Syria, the Israeli army said they carried out dozens on strikes against the Iranian elite Quds Force and the Syrian military, in response to four rockets fired at Israel a day before.
At least eleven "fighters" were killed in the strikes, said Britain-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
Seven were foreigners, its head Rami Abdel Rahman said, though he could not confirm whether they were all Iranian. Four civilians were also wounded, he added.
Iran has fought alongside Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in the country's eight-year civil war, heightening Israeli concern over the presence of its arch foe along its border.
"Whoever hurts us, we will hurt him," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a .

'Wide-scale' Israeli strikes kill 11 fighters in Syria: monitor

PTI Automatic

Eleven "fighters", including seven foreigners, were killed in overnight Israeli air strikes in Syria, war monitor group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday.
"We cannot confirm whether the seven foreigners were all Iranian or pro-Iranian fighters of different nationalities," the head of the Britain-based group, Rami Abdel Rahman, told AFP.
He added that four civilians were also wounded in the strikes.

11 'fighters', including 7 foreigners, killed in Israeli strikes: monitor

Just hours after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced he would ban e-cigarette use, police were ordered on Wednesday to begin arresting people caught vaping in public and to confiscate the devices.
The abrupt prohibition, revealed by Duterte late Tuesday, adds to a growing global backlash against a product once promoted as less harmful than smoking.
Duterte called the devices "toxic" and said vaping introduced "chemicals" into the user's body.
He then threatened to arrest anyone vaping publicly in a country that already has some of Asia's toughest anti-smoking rules.
The president, a former smoker, is notorious internationally for his deadly anti-narcotics crackdown, but he has also targeted tobacco with a wide-ranging ban on smoking in public.
Citing "the order of the president", the head of the Philippine police ordered "effective today, all police units nationwide to enforce the ban on use of vapes; ensure that all violators will be arrested," according to a ...

Arrests ordered in Philippines vaping ban

Australian banking giant Westpac faces a massive fine after being accused by regulators Wednesday of "serious and systemic" breaches of money-laundering laws involving more than US$7 billion.
Australia's financial intelligence agency, AUSTRAC, said it had taken legal action against Westpac for its failure to report more than 19.5 million international fund transfers, including "high-risk transactions" to Southeast Asian nations potentially linked to child exploitation.
Overall, AUSTRAC chief Nicole Rose said, Westpac violated the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing act 23 million times.
She did not comment on the amount of a potential penalty, saying it was a matter for the courts.
But in its submission to the Federal Court, AUSTRAC noted that each of the 23 million breaches attracts a civil penalty "between Aus$17 million and Aus$21 million" -- theoretically  putting the bank on the hook for up to Aus$483 trillion (US$330 trillion) in fines.
The global economy was ..

Australia's Westpac faces huge fine for money-laundering breaches

An assailant has stabbed to death the son of former German president Richard von Weizsaecker in attack at a Berlin hospital that left one other person seriously injured, police said Wednesday.
The motive for the attack on Fritz von Weizsaecker, 59, on Tuesday evening was unclear.
Von Weizsaecker, a doctor, had just delivered a lecture on liver diseases at the Schlosspark hospital in the western Berlin neighbourhood of Charlottenburg when he was stabbed, a police spokesman said.
He died at the scene despite efforts to save him.
The suspect was overpowered by other people present, one of whom was severely injured by the attacker.
Police opened an investigation and were expected to release information about the assailant and the possible motive.
Chief of the liberal FDP party, Christian Lindner, voiced his grief about his friend on Twitter, saying that "once again we ask ourselves what sort of world are we living in." He was married with four children.
His father, Richard von ...

Son of former German president stabbed to death

Cooking robots and tastier recipes: Japanese electronics giant Sony on Wednesday launched a new artificial intelligence unit they hope will change the way we cook and eat.
The new research arm, Sony AI, will operate in Japan, Europe and the United States and also focus on the traditional areas of gaming, imaging and sensor equipment, as well as "gastronomy".
The firm that produced the PlayStation franchise and the "Spider-man" movie series is the latest multinational tech company wanting a piece of the pie in the food business, where data are increasingly driving new dishes to pique the palate.
"AI and robotics will not replace chefs. We are aiming to offer new tools to expand their creativity with AI and robotics," Sony spokesman Shinichi Tobe told AFP.
"The field of food requires a study of molecular structures. By using AI and its analytical capacity, we can create new things," Tobe said.
"It involves taste, but also aroma. Through sensing technologies, we can perhaps create new ...

Robochef: Sony cooks up new AI unit for food revolution

Opposition protesters holding a hunger strike inside Managua's Catholic Cathedral and the pro-government supporters opposing them ended a standoff Tuesday, as the UN called on President Daniel Ortega to halt persistent repression.
The activists, who were demanding the release of political prisoners, were able to leave a building where they had taken refuge after a mob of Ortega supporters broke into the cathedral Monday and attempted to dislodge them.
In the process, the government supporters injured a priest and a nun.
"We had a bad, bad, bad time" one of the protesters, Janeth Chavarria, told reporters after she and the other hunger strikers were evacuated by the Nicaraguan Red Cross.
The protesters were able to leave after the government dislodged its own supporters from the surroundings.
The Catholic Church has a powerful role in the country but President Daniel Ortega has accused bishops of supporting deadly anti-government protests that rocked the country last year.
The priest ..

Church siege ends as UN calls on Nicaragua to end repression

Jose Mourinho was on Wednesday appointed new Tottenham Hotspur head coach to replace the sacked of Mauricio Pochettino.
The Portuguese former Chelsea and Manchester United manager signed a contract until the end of the 2022/23 season, the north London club said in a statement.
Pochettino, 47, transformed Spurs' fortunes since arriving from Southampton in 2014 and although he failed to win a trophy he took the club to the Champions League final for the first time in their history just six months ago.
But the Argentine was sacked on Tuesday with Tottenham languishing 14th in England's Premier League after picking up just three wins from their opening 12 games.
This season they were knocked out of the League Cup by fourth-tier Colchester United and suffered an embarrassing 7-2 defeat at home to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
"I am excited to be joining a club with such a great heritage and such passionate supporters," said Mourinho, who has won domestic titles in a record four ...

Mourinho appointed Tottenham manager after Pochettino sacked

Pope Francis arrived in Thailand on Wednesday greeted by cheering faithful, the first leg of an Asian tour that will sweep in Japan and carry a message of interreligious dialogue and nuclear disarmament.
The pontiff landed just after midday (0500 GMT) at Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport, where he stepped off the plane and was met by his missionary cousin Sister Ana Rosa, who has lived in Thailand for decades.
"I am happy to see you and that you are able to be my translator," he told her, as dozens waved Thai and Vatican flags.
The welcome party included Thailand's deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak and children in traditional ethnic minority dress, one of whom Francis stopped to hug.
This will be the pope's third trip to Asia -- and his 32nd abroad -- taking him to two Buddhist-majority countries with minority Catholic populations both evangelised by Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century.
Francis is the first pontiff in nearly four decades to visit Thailand where ...

Pope lands in Thailand to kick off two-country Asian tour

Two Australian universities severed ties with a charity founded by Prince Andrew Wednesday, after the British royal refused to recant his friendship with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Bond University and RMIT University in Melbourne said they would no longer work with "Pitch@Palace" -- a charity founded by the
Duke of York to promote entrepreneurship.
Queensland's Bond University said it had planned to review its work with "Pitch@Palace" next year, but brought forward the decision.
"In light of recent events, the university does not intend to seek any further involvement," a spokesperson told AFP.
RMIT University said its "involvement with Pitch@Palace concluded in October 2019" and would not be renewed.
"We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring RMIT is a safe and inclusive place to work and study," the university said.
A third Australian institution, Murdoch University said it "is currently reviewing its support of the Pitch@Palace event in 2020".
Businesses and ...

Australian unis cut ties with Britain's Prince Andrew

Two American service members have been killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, US forces there said Wednesday, adding that the crash appeared to be an accident, though the Taliban claimed they had shot it down.
A statement from US Forces Afghanistan said the crash on Wednesday was being investigated, "however preliminary reports do not indicate it was caused by enemy fire".
It did not reveal the crash location and said it was withholding the names of those killed until next of kin could be told.
The Taliban claimed they had shot the helicopter down in Charkh district of Logar province at 1:00 am.
"The Americans wanted to raid a mujahideen base, but their helicopter was shot down and caught fire. All on board were killed," their main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said.
Roughly 13,000 US troops remain in Afghanistan, 18 years after Washington invaded in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
US President Donald Trump has been eager to withdraw, but General Mark Milley, ...

Two US troops killed in helicopter crash in Afghanistan

Captain Tim Paine said Wednesday Australia were wary of being "surprised" by Pakistan's young pace attack, which could include 16-year-old sensation Naseem Shah, and admitted they had been studying as much footage as possible.
The home team go into the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane starting Thursday as overwhelming favourites, with Pakistan having lost losing their last 12 five-day matches in Australia.
But the tourists' attack has an element of the unknown, with not only Naseem tipped to make his debut but 19-year-old pacemen Shaheen Afridi and Musa Khan in the squad.
"We've prepared for all of them. That's the thing with Pakistan, they have a lot of different options, a lot of skill and by the looks of it a fair bit of pace," said Paine.
"So we've made sure we've looked at as much footage as possible of their pace attack, and their batters.
"What we don't want is to go out there tomorrow at some stage and be surprised by something we see, whether that's their spinner, their ...

Paine says Australia have done homework on young Pakistan

The billionaire frontman of Thailand's anti-military parliamentary bloc is set to hear a court ruling Wednesday that could lead to him being banned from politics and jailed for up to 10 years.
The leader of the upstart Future Forward party, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, 40, has been a fierce critic of the army's role in Thailand's turbulent politics, which has seen at least 12 coups since 1932.
His success at the ballot box has shaken up the arch-royalist power structure after millions of youthful supporters helped Future Forward become the third-largest party in March elections ending five years of outright junta rule.
The party's popularity also earned the charismatic leader a spot in Time's 100 Next list released earlier this month.
But he has been suspended from attending parliament since the Election Commission accused him of breaking laws by holding media shares.
Thailand's Constitutional Court is set to rule on the case at 0700 GMT, which could see him removed as an MP.
If ...

Billionaire Thai opposition frontman to hear court ruling

The Israeli army confirmed it carried out strikes on Syrian and Iranian "terror targets" near Damascus on Wednesday, in response to fire from Syria the day before.
The Israel Defense Forces, who blamed Tuesday's rockets on "an Iranian force", said it holds Damascus responsible for attacks launched from Syria into its territory.
Syria's state media earlier said Syrian anti-aircraft defences intercepted a "heavy attack" by Israeli warplanes over the capital in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Israel has carried out frequent air and missile strikes against Iranian targets inside Syria since the country descended into civil war in 2011, but rarely comments on them.
"We just carried out wide-scale strikes of Iranian Quds Force & Syrian Armed Forces targets in Syria in response to the rockets fired at Israel by an Iranian force in Syria last night," the Israel Defense Forces tweeted.
During the attack the Syrian government's defence missile was fired "despite clear warnings to ...

Israel strikes military sites in Syria: army

Chinese online retail titan Alibaba could raise almost USD 13 billion in Hong Kong's biggest IPO for nearly a decade after pricing its shares for the mega sale, reports said on Wednesday.
Asia's biggest company has called the listing a multi-billion-dollar vote of confidence in the city's markets as it is wracked by months of violent protests and the China-US trade war, which have sent its economy into recession.
Alibaba will sell 500 million shares to investors at HK dollar176, according to Bloomberg News, below the maximum HK dollar 188 of its indicative price range. The number eight is considered auspicious in China.
That could rake in USD 11 billion but if it chooses to use its over-allotment option to sell a further 75 million shares, the firm could make HK dollar 101.2 billion (USD 12.9 billion), the South China Morning Post said.
Even at the low end, the listing would still be Hong Kong's largest initial public offering since insurance giant AIA raised USD 20.5 billion in ...

Alibaba eyes $12.9 bn Hong Kong IPO after setting price: reports

England captain Joe Root has declared himself free of any Ashes hangover as he looked to revive his fortunes and those of his team in the two-Test series in New Zealand starting on Thursday.
Root said he had been working on his batting shortcomings and denied the Test captaincy weighed on his performance in the drawn mid-year series against Australia, in which he suffered three ducks as England failed to regain the Ashes.
Neither England nor New Zealand were prepared to name their line-ups Thursday for what will be the maiden Test at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval ground.
But Root said rising star Jofra Archer "would bring something different to what we had previously" in the bowling stakes, indicating the paceman will be included.
New Zealand will not be fighting fire with fire -- their genuine quick Lockie Ferguson is in the squad for the first time, but captain Kane Williamson said he would sit out the first Test.
England have had the upper hand over New Zealand this year, narrowly ...

Root buries Ashes agony, seeks redemption against New Zealand

Serge Gnabry hit a hat-trick as Germany finished top of their Euro 2020 qualifying group after  brushing Northern Ireland aside 6-1 on Tuesday.
Having already booked their berth at the Euro 2020 finals on Saturday by beating Belarus, the emphatic win in Frankfurt means Germany finish their qualifying campaign top of Group C ahead of the Netherlands.
The Dutch also qualified last weekend. Northern Ireland finish third and will go into the play-offs for the Euro 2020 finals.
Gnabry reached 13 goals in as many internationals as the Northern Irish were given a masterclass in finishing.
Another Bayern Munich player Leon Goretzka also finished with two goals before Dortmund winger Julian Brandt grabbed Germany's sixth goal late on.
This was Gnabry's second hat-trick for Germany. He also scored three goals on his 2016 debut in an 8-0 mauling of minnows San Marino.
Gnabry also hit four goals in Bayern's 7-2 romp at Tottenham in the Champions League last month. Northern Ireland took a shock ...

Gnabry claims hat-trick as Germany rout Northern Ireland

Euro 2020 qualifying results on Tuesday:
Group C
At Amsterdam
Netherlands 5 (Wijnaldum 6, 66, 79, Ake 19, Boadu 87) Estonia 0
At Frankfurt
Germany 6 (Gnabry 19, 47, 60, Goretzka 43, 73, Brandt 90+1)  Northern Ireland 1 (Smith 7)
Group E
At Cardiff
Wales 2 (Ramsey 15, 47) Hungary 0
At Trnava, Slovakia
Slovakia 2 (Bozenik 19, Hamsik 86) Azerbaijan 0
Group G
At Warsaw
Poland 3 (Szymanski 3, Lewandowski 54 Goralski 81) Slovenia 2 (Matavz 14, Ilicic 61) At Riga
Latvia 1 (Oss 65) Austria 0
At Skopje
North Macedonia 1 (Nikolov 45+2) Israel 0
Group I
At Brussels
Belgium 6 (Benteke 16, 68, De Bruyne 36, 42 Carrasco 44, Kypros 51-og)  Cyprus 1 (Ioannou 14)
At Serravalle, San Marino
San Marino 0  Russia 5 (Kuzyaev 3, Petrov 19, Miranchuk 49, Ionov 56, Komlichenko 78)
At Glasgow
Scotland 3 (McGinn 48, 90+1, Naismith 64) Kazakhstan (Zainutdinov 34) 1  AFP
KHS  KHS  11200947

SUMMARISED RESULTS OF EURO QUALIFIERS

Rafael Nadal instigated a Spanish comeback against Russia in the Davis Cup on Tuesday by capitalising on a raucous home crowd to beat Karen Khachanov in straight sets.
Nadal, who will finish the year as world number one, came through a second-set tie-break to defeat Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) and level the Group B match in Madrid.
Marcel Granollers and Feliciano Lopez then won the deciding doubles rubber 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) against Khachanov and Andrey Rublev, who had earlier given Russia the lead with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/0) win over Roberto Bautista Agut.
A new format this year means the Davis Cup takes place in one venue, across a single week, with organisers -- among them Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique -- hoping a tighter schedule will revitalise the prestigious trophy.
The three stadiums at the Caja Magica were all far from full for Tuesday's early matches but Nadal enjoyed a bumper crowd of local fans for his hard-fought contest in the evening.
"The atmosphere was amazing," said ...

Nadal hails 'amazing atmosphere' as Spain beat Russia at Davis Cup

The billionaire frontman of Thailand's anti-military parliamentary bloc is set to hear a controversial ruling Wednesday that could see him banned from politics and jailed for up to 10 years.
The leader of the upstart Future Forward party, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, 40, has been a fierce critic of the army's role in Thailand's turbulent politics, which has seen at least 12 coups since 1932.
His success at the ballot box has shaken up the arch-royalist power structure after millions of youthful supporters helped Future Forward become the third-largest party in March elections ending five years of outright junta rule.
The party's popularity also earned the charismatic leader a spot in Time's 100 Next list released earlier this month.
But he has been suspended from attending parliament since the Election Commission accused him of breaking polling laws by holding media shares.
Thailand's Constitutional Court is set to rule on the case at 0700 GMT.
Thanathorn says the legal challenge is 

Billionaire Thai opposition frontman to learn fate with court ruling

Aaron Ramsey scored twice to lead Wales to Euro 2020 with a 2-0 victory over Hungary in Cardiff on Tuesday.
The Juventus midfielder struck early in both halves to ensure Ryan Giggs's men secured second place in Group E behind World Cup finalists Croatia.
Wales reached the semi-finals of the European championships in 2016 and while matching that run next year will be a huge ask, there was a glimmer of what they are capable of with Ramsey restored alongside Gareth Bale.
Ramsey was making his first start of the qualifying campaign due to a series of injuries.
And he made an immediate impact by charging into the box to meet Bale's inch-perfect cross to settle the home side's nerves on 15 minutes.
Wales still needed a moment of magic at the other end of the field as an incredible double save from Wayne Hennessey denied Dominik Szoboszlai and Roland Sallai an equaliser as Hungary threatened before the break.
However, there was no way back for the visitors once Ramsey controlled Kieffer ...

AFP

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