Indonesia has blocked internet access in unrest-hit Papua over fears that a stream of offensive and racists posts online will spark more violent protests in the region, the government said Thursday.
Riots and demonstrations brought several Papuan cities to a standstill this week, as buildings were torched and street battles broke out between police and protesters in Indonesia's easternmost territory.
A rebel insurgency against Jakarta's rule has simmered for decades in the island region, which shares a border with Papua New Guinea.
But the riots appear to have been triggered by the arrest of dozens of Papuan students -- who were also pelted with racist abuse -- in Java at the weekend.
Indonesia slowed internet service in recent days to clamp down on hoaxes, provocative comments and racist abuse targeting Papua's ethnic Melanesian population. But it shut down service completely late Wednesday.
"As of this morning, there is still a full block on internet access," communications ministry 

Indonesia shuts internet in Papua over unrest fears

PTI Automatic

A fresh push to repatriate Rohingya refugees to Myanmar appeared Thursday to fall flat, with no one turning up to hop on five buses and 10 trucks laid on by Bangladesh.
"We have been waiting since 9:00 am (0300 GMT) to take any willing refugees for repatriation," Khaled Hossain, a Bangladesh official in charge of the Teknaf refugee camp, told AFP after over an hour of waiting.
"Nobody has yet turned up."
Some 740,000 of the long-oppressed mostly Muslim Rohingya minority fled a military offensive in 2017 in Myanmar's Rakhine state that the United Nations has likened to ethnic cleansing, joining 200,000 already in Bangladesh.
Demanding that Buddhist-majority Myanmar guarantee their safety and citizenship, only a handful have returned from the vast camps in southeast Bangladesh where they have now lived for two years.
The latest repatriation attempt -- a previous push failed in November -- follows a visit last month to the camps by high-ranking officials from Myanmar led by Permanent ...

No Rohingya turn up for repatriation to Myanmar

Israeli forces bombed Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip overnight in retaliation for Palestinian rocket attacks, the military said Thursday.
Hamas launched two rockets at Israel late Wednesday -- bringing to six the number of strikes from Gaza in less than a week -- the army said, adding that thy caused no casualties or damage.
In retaliation, the army said it "struck "a number of military targets in a Hamas naval facility in the northern Gaza Strip".
A Palestinian security source told AFP a naval base west of Gaza City had been "targeted several times" by Israeli aircraft.
The source said aircraft had also targeted "three sites in the central Gaza Strip and in Khan Yunis" in the south.
He reported no casualties.
There have been a series of deadly incidents along the Gaza border since the start of the month.
On Sunday, the three Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers in the northern Gaza Strip.
Last Thursday, a Palestinian was shot dead after firing at Israeli soldiers on the ...

Israel strikes Hamas base after new rocket attacks: army

Russia on Thursday launched an unmanned rocket carrying a life-size humanoid robot that will spend 10 days learning to assist astronauts on the International Space Station.
Named Fedor, for Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research with identification number Skybot F850, the robot is the first ever sent up by Russia.
Fedor blasted off in a Soyuz MS-14 spacecraft at 6:38 am Moscow time (0338 GMT) from Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz is set to dock with the space station on Saturday and stay till September 7.
Soyuz ships are normally manned on such trips, but on Thursday no humans are travelling in order to test a new emergency rescue system.
Instead of cosmonauts, Fedor was strapped into a specially adapted pilot's seat, with a small Russian flag in his hand.
"Let's go. Let's go," the robot was heard as 'saying' during launch, apparently repeating the famous phrase by first man in space Yury Gagarin.
The silvery anthropomorphic robot stands 1.80  metres (5 .

Russia sends 'Fedor' its first humanoid robot into space

A Texas man convicted of raping and strangling a 19-year-old college student was executed by lethal injection Wednesday, the fourth in the state so far this year.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice confirmed the death of Larry Swearingen at 6:47 pm local time at the state prison in Huntsville.
According to US media, the 48-year-old maintained his innocence until death, with his lawyers arguing that DNA under the victim's fingernails was not their client's.
The US Supreme Court denied a stay of execution on Wednesday evening.
Swearingen was convicted in 2000 in the death of Melissa Trotter, a college student with whom he had struck up a casual relationship, according to The Houston Chronicle.
The teenager was seen with Swearingen on December 8, 1998, the day she disappeared, and forensic evidence linked her to his car, the paper said.
Trotter's body was found by hunters in the woods weeks later with part of a pair of pantyhose wrapped around her neck and the other half found in ..

Texas death row inmate executed

North Korea said Thursday it has "no interest" in dialogue unless Washington stops "escalating hostile military moves", as a senior US envoy visited Seoul with an eye on reviving nuclear talks with Pyongyang.
Talks between Pyongyang and Washington have stalled since a second summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi in February collapsed without an agreement.
The pair met again in June in the Demilitarised Zone and agreed to restart working-level dialogue, but those talks have yet to begin.  Meanwhile, North Korea has carried out several short-range missile tests in recent weeks in protest against annual US-South Korea joint military drills that it sees as a rehearsal for invasion.
Stephen Biegun, the US special envoy for North Korea who leads the working-level talks, arrived in Seoul late Tuesday for a three-day trip, and said Washington was "prepared to engage" as soon as it hears from Pyongyang.
But a spokesman for the North's foreign ...

N Korea dismisses nuclear talks if US 'hostile military moves' continue

Nine people have died and 35 are still missing after a series of mudslides in an autonomous region of China's southwestern Sichuan province, local authorities said Thursday.
A 33-year-old firefighter was among those killed by a flash flood that tipped over an emergency response vehicle as they went to help people affected by a mudslide in Wenchuan county, according to local officials.
State news agency Xinhua said another firefighter was receiving emergency treatment, citing Sichuan fire and rescue authorities.
Six more people have been reported injured and more than 100,000 people have been evacuated from Wenchuan in the mountainous Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture.
The mudslides and torrential rainfall cut off water and power supplies to thousands of homes, as well as damaging bridges and blocking roads linking local towns with Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan.
Local authorities said they had also sent 20 buses and two helicopters to evacuate tourists from the popular ...

Scores missing after SW China hit by mudslides

Persistent early morning rain delayed the scheduled 10:00 am (0430 GMT) start in the second and final Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Colombo on Thursday.
The entire P. Sara Oval ground remained covered under overcast skies.
The Dimuth Karunaratne-led Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0, having won the first encounter by six wickets in Galle last week.

Rain delays start of second Sri Lanka-New Zealand Test

Brazilian-born striker Elkeson said he wants to fire China to the World Cup after he became the first footballer without Chinese ancestry to be named in the national squad.
The recently naturalised 30-year-old will make more history when -- as widely expected -- he lines up for Marcello Lippi's side in a 2022 World Cup qualifier away at the Maldives on September 10.
Lippi has long complained about a dearth of attackers and on Wednesday moved to plug the gap with Elkeson, who will use the Chinese name Ai Kesen and take up a Chinese passport.
The move, which could start a trend of Brazilians playing for China, has divided football fans in the world's most populous country.
But the Guangzhou Evergrande striker vowed to win over the doubters, saying in an open letter: "Having Chinese nationality allows me to contribute to the national team once again playing in the World Cup.
"I want to tell the world: I have officially begun a new journey, I am Chinese, I want to return all the love and .

Brazil-born history-maker vows to take China to World Cup

Justin Thomas will start with a two-shot cushion as he aims to crown his season with victory at the Tour Championship and a $15 million FedEx Cup payday on Thursday.
Under a revamped "staggered start" format to the PGA Tour's lucrative season finale, Thomas will automatically tee off on 10 under at East Lake Golf Club outside Atlanta.
The "Starting Strokes" format introduced this week is designed to eliminate the confusion of past FedEx playoffs, when the winner of the final tournament was often different from the series champion.
Instead, the 30-man field at East Lake have been given starting totals which reflect their performances this season.
Put simply, the player who finishes on top of the leaderboard this week will also pocket the $15 million prize on offer to the FedEx Cup champion.
Thomas, who captured his 10th career title with a win at the BMW Championship on Sunday, is now in pole position at the top of the leaderboard.
Patrick Cantlay will start in second on eight under, ..

Thomas eyes FedEx Cup jackpot at Tour Championship

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted on Wednesday his long-time rivalry with Lionel Messi has made him "a better player" and that he enjoys a "healthy" rivalry with the Argentine great.
However, Portuguese star Ronaldo, whose influence at Real Madrid mirrored that of Messi at Barcelona before he left for Juventus, admitted that the pair have never socialised together.
"I really admire the career he has had and from his side, he has already talked of the disappointment when I left Spain because it was a rivalry that he appreciated," Ronaldo told TVI in Portugal.
"It's a good rivalry but it's not unique -- Michael Jordan had rivalries in basketball, there was Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost in Formula 1. The thing they all had in common is that they were healthy rivalries." Ronaldo and Messi have won the coveted Ballon d'Or five times each, a factor that helps each player flourish.
"I have no doubt that Messi has made me a better player and vice-versa. When I am winning trophies it must sting him ...

Messi 'made me better player', says Ronaldo

Italy's president will hold a second day of talks aimed at solving the political crisis shaking the country on Thursday after the disintegration of the populist government.
President Sergio Mattarella will meet the main parties, including the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) and far-right League, after the breakdown of their dysfunctional coalition.
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned on Tuesday after months of alliance sniping and a bid by League leader and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini to force a snap election, just 14 months since coming to power.
The nationalist, populist government's demonisation of migrants, promoted by Salvini in particular, and attempts to flout EU budget rules had angered many European leaders.
Mattarella met the leaders of both houses of parliament on Wednesday and has been trying to find a way forward.
The formation of a new coalition, a short-term technocratic government or an early election -- more than three years ahead of schedule -- ...

Second day of Italy crisis talks after PM resigns

Two US athletes who staged podium protests at the recent Pan American Games have been reprimanded but will not face further punishment by United States Olympic chiefs, USA Today reported on Wednesday.
Fencer Race Imboden and hammer thrower Gwen Berry both came under fire after protesting the policies of President Donald Trump as they collected medals in Lima.
Imboden took a knee during the playing of the US national anthem while Berry raised a clenched fist before later calling out social injustice "and a president who's making it worse."
The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee later issued a statement expressing "disappointment" at the athlete protests, warning it was reviewing what action to take.
USA Today reported on Wednesday that USOPC chief Sarah Hirshland had taken a conciliatory tone in letters sent to Imboden and Berry.
However, while Hirshland said she admired each athlete's decision "to be an active citizen", she warned that they could face serious sanctions if .

US athletes warned over Pan Am podium protests

After claiming victory in Austria, Andrea Dovizioso and Ducati will try to further close the gap on runaway championship leader Marc Marquez at the British MotoGP at Silverstone on Sunday.
Last year's race was cancelled due to standing water on the track but the weekend forecast looks to be  fine for an event that has been dominated by Ducati and Yamaha in recent years.
Five-time world champion Marquez and Honda will be looking to exact revenge after Dovizioso denied him a win in the close-run Austrian Grand Prix on August 11.  Dovizioso is now 58 points behind Marquez with eight races left.
Marquez won at Silverstone in 2014 and Dovizioso took the chequered flag there in 2017.
Dovizioso said: "Even though the characteristics of the British track are not as favourable to us as Brno and Spielberg, we have already shown that we can also be quick at Silverstone, like in 2017 when we won the race."
But Marquez's hot form in 2019 makes him the favourite, having finished second or better in 

Dovizioso confident ahead of Silverstone MotoGP

Lionel Messi gave Barcelona a timely boost on Wednesday by returning to training with the rest of the squad after a calf injury.
Messi trained alone in the morning before joining his team-mates in the afternoon, increasing hopes that Barca's captain could play a role against Real Betis in La Liga on Sunday.
He strained his calf on August 5 in his first training session back following the Copa America and subsequently missed the club's pre-season.
It would be a surprise if Messi started at Camp Nou, but Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde will be eager to have his star available again, particularly after his team suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat by Athletic Bilbao in their opening league game last weekend.
Messi's absence has been compounded by injuries to other strikers.
Luis Suarez is expected to be out for around a month after hobbling off with a calf problem against Bilbao. Ousmane Dembele injured his hamstring and will need five weeks to recover.
Antoine Griezmann, the 120 million ...

Messi back in training, in contention to face Betis

World number ones and defending champions Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka were named as top seeds for the US Open on Wednesday.
Djokovic, who will be chasing a 17th Grand Slam singles title in New York next week, heads the men's field with Spain's Rafael Nadal seeded second.
Former world number one Roger Federer, seeking a 21st Grand Slam crown, is seeded third for the tournament.
The draw for the men's and women's singles takes place on Thursday.
In the women's draw, Osaka is ranked number one while 2018 runner-up Serena Williams is seeded eight.
Japanese ace Osaka won her first Grand Slam title in a controversial final victory over Williams last year and then followed it up with her second Slam at the Australian Open in January.
The two other reigning Grand Slam champions are seeded in the top four, with Australia's French Open champion Ashleigh Barty seeded second and Romania's Wimbledon champion Simona Halep seeded four.
Former world number one Karolina Pliskova of the Czech ...

Djokovic, Osaka named US Open top seeds

French President Emmanuel Macron, who will defend a global tax on tech giants at this weekend's G7 meeting, on Wednesday criticised a "crazy" system that gives firms a "permanent tax haven status".
"The global tech players do not contribute financially to the funding of the common good, it is not sustainable," the president told reporters.
He said he had on Monday discussed the issue with US President Donald Trump, who has strongly opposed a law passed in France last month on taxing digital companies even if their headquarters are elsewhere.
The law will affect US-based global giants like Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon, among others.
Macron said there had been "very strong lobbying" by the tech giants.  "We must stop having people who have a permanent tax haven status," he said.
The French law aims to plug a taxation gap that has seen some internet heavyweights paying next to nothing in European countries where they make huge profits, because their legal base is in smaller EU ...

Macron says tech giants enjoy 'permanent tax haven status'

Forces loyal to Libya's unity government said Wednesday they had made territorial gains south of Tripoli against commander Khalifa Haftar, whose fighters are trying to take the capital.
"Our forces have won ground... and have successfully retaken important positions, including the air force academy," said Mustafa al-Mejii, a spokesman for forces loyal to the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord.
He said the gains were made in Esbea sector, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of the capital.
Haftar's forces said in a Facebook statement that they had repulsed a GNA attack, inflicting "significant losses", without giving further details.
Haftar launched an offensive to take Tripoli, the seat of the GNA, in early April.
But counter attacks by forces loyal to the unity government led quickly to a stalemate in the southern outskirts.
Mejii said that pro-GNA forces killed 20 of Haftar's fighters and wounded dozens of others on Wednesday.
He said seven pro-GNA troops were killed.
The ..

Pro-government forces claim advance south of Libya capital

The UN said Wednesday it was "desperate" for funds in Yemen, after being forced to stop aid programmes due to a cash shortage that threatens to reduce food rations for 12 million people.
Several programmes "have been forced to close in recent weeks and many large-scale projects designed to help destitute, hungry families have been unable to start," said Lise Grande, the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Yemen.  "This is the largest humanitarian operation in the world addressing the worst humanitarian crisis," she said in a statement.
"We are desperate for the funds that were promised." Of 34 planned programmes for 2019, only three have been funded for the full year, the United Nations said.
Twenty-two other programmes face closure in the next two months if funding is not found, while food rations for 12 million people will be reduced.  At least 2.5 million malnourished children will not be able to access life saving services.
Grande said that less than half the USD 2.6 billion that ...

UN says 'desperate' for Yemen aid funding

Donald Trump on Wednesday said no American president had done more than he has for Israel, as he swatted away criticism of his recent comments about Jewish Americans that were seen as anti-Semitic.
"I have been responsible for a lot of great things for Israel," Trump said when asked about his assertion that Jewish Americans who vote for Democrats show "a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty."
Without specifically responding to accusations that he was promoting and politicizing a well-known anti-Semitic trope, Trump said: "No president has ever done anywhere close to what I've done" for Israel.
The Republican leader cited as evidence his decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and his recognition of Israeli sovereignty over part of the Golan Heights annexed by the Jewish state in 1981.
And once again, Trump accused US lawmakers including Palestinian-American Democrat Rashida Tlaib of being anti-Semitic.
"They are anti-Semites," he said in a long impromptu ...

Trump says 'no president' has helped Israel more than he has

Wildfires in the Amazon rainforest in northern Brazil have ignited a firestorm on social media, with President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday suggesting green groups started the blazes.
Images of fires purportedly devouring sections of the world's largest rainforest have gone viral on Twitter. #PrayforAmazonas is the top trending hashtag in the world on Wednesday, with more than 249,000 tweets.
"No matter how successful we are, if our Earth dies, we all die," posted one Twitter user.
Another wrote: "Send your prayers to the Amazon and to the planet, we will need it."
Official figures show nearly 73,000 forest fires were recorded in Brazil in the first eight months of the year -- the highest number for any year since 2013. Most were in the Amazon.
That compares with 39,759 in all of 2018, according to the embattled National Institute for Space Research (INPE), which has been in Bolsonaro's cross-hairs since it released data showing a surge in deforestation in recent months.
The head of ...

AFP

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