Damascus said Thursday it strongly rejects a proposed US-Turkish buffer zone for northern Syria, blaming the "aggressive" project on Syria's Kurds, who gave the proposal a guarded welcome.
Turkish and US officials agreed on Wednesday to establish a joint operations centre to oversee the creation of a safe zone to manage tensions between Ankara and US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria.
No details were provided on the size or nature of the safe zone, but the deal appeared to provide some breathing room after Turkey had threatened an imminent attack on the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which control a large swathe of northern Syria.
"Syria categorically and clearly rejects the agreement between the American and Turkish occupiers on the establishment of a so-called safe zone" in northern Syria, a foreign ministry source told state news agency SANA.
"Syria's Kurds who have accepted to become a tool in this aggressive US-Turkish project bear a historical responsibility," the source .

Damascus rejects Turkey-US plan, Kurds give guarded welcome

PTI Automatic

German industrial conglomerate Thyssenkrupp on Thursday reported lower losses in the third quarter, flagging up three struggling businesses and slashing its forecasts as it tackles a massive restructuring.
Essen-based Thyssenkrupp lost 77 million euros (USD 86 million) in April-June, the third quarter of its financial year, it said in a statement.  In 2018 it had lost 114 million euros over the same period.
Meanwhile revenues held steady, at 10.8 billion euros, but operating, or underlying profit plunged 25 percent, to 183 million euros.
Thyssenkrupp said its woes over its first nine months -- with a net loss of 170 million euros, after a profit of 229 million last year -- were due to "increasingly weaker global economic momentum, a marked downturn in the automotive sector and continued high import pressure for steel." "Added to this was the massive increase in raw material prices, especially for iron ore," the group said.
Bosses highlighted three units they saw as "currently not ...

Thyssenkrupp slashes outlook and flags weak units

The former CEO of Indonesian carrier Garuda has been arrested on money-laundering charges linked to a major corruption scandal that saw British engine-maker Rolls-Royce pay more than $800 million in fines, anti-graft investigators said.
Emirsyah Satar's arrest Wednesday comes over two years after he was named a suspect by Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly receiving kickbacks from Rolls-Royce in exchange for buying planes fitted with its engines.
Satar -- who has been widely credited with reviving the national carrier -- has been accused of accepting some 1.2 million euros (USD 1.4 million) and USD 180,000 in cash while he headed the airline from 2005 to 2014, according to the agency.
The KPK said the charges are linked to contracts "worth billions of dollars" that Garuda had signed with Rolls-Royce and three other aviation manufacturers -- France's Airbus, Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) and Canada's Bombardier -- during Satar's tenure.
Indonesia's ..

Ex-Garuda Indonesia boss arrested in major graft probe

Iran on Thursday hit out at Bahrain for hosting a "provocative" conference on Gulf maritime security and for its "anti-Iran" rhetoric accusing Tehran of attacking tankers in sensitive waters.
Bahrain said the July 31 meeting was to discuss the "current regional situation" and blasted "the repeated attacks and unacceptable practices of Iran and the terrorist groups linked to it".
The tiny Gulf monarchy, which hosts the US Fifth Fleet, did not specify who attended but Britain's Guardian newspaper reported the UK had called for the meeting with other European countries and the United States.
"Bahrain's government should not become the facilitator of common enemies' wishes and schemes in the region," said foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi in a statement published on his Telegram channel.
"The security of regional countries is inseparable and it is not possible for some to be secure at the cost of others' insecurity. It is expected that regional countries prevent foreigners' ...

Iran slams Bahrain's 'provocative' Gulf military conference

Nigerian police have accused soldiers of killing three officers and a civilian in order to protect a wanted kidnapper, with the army meanwhile blaming the deaths on mistaken identity.
Police spokesman Frank Mba said in a statement late Wednesday that officers in central Taraba state "came under sudden attack and serious shooting by soldiers of the Nigerian army" as they arrested an accused kidnapper.
In addition to those killed, several other officers were wounded in the incident Tuesday in an area wracked by banditry, kidnapping and cattle-rustling, the statement said.
Mba said the soldiers then "released the handcuffed suspect, Alhaji Hamisu" and allowed him to escape.
The army confirmed the killings but insisted troops mistook the police officers for kidnappers.
"On the 6th of August 2019, the said Nigerian army troops, while responding to a distressed call to rescue a kidnapped victim, exchanged fire with the suspected kidnappers," army spokesman Sagir Musa said in a statement ...

Nigerian soldiers kill 3 police in 'kidnap' shooting

Humanity faces increasingly painful trade-offs between food security and rising temperatures within decades unless it curbs emissions and stops unsustainable farming and deforestation, a landmark climate assessment said Thursday.
The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that efforts to limit global warming while feeding a booming population could be wrecked without swift and sweeping changes to how we use the land we live off.
Its report on land use and climate change highlighted the need to protect remaining tropical forests as a bulkhead against future warming.
But in a stark warning to those who may hope that vast reforestation and biofuel schemes alone can offset mankind's environmental damage, the report cautioned that these mega-projects could endanger food security, underlining that reducing emissions will be central to averting disaster.
"This is a perfect storm. Limited land, an expanding human population, and all wrapped in a suffocating blanket of ...

World warned: Change now or endanger food and climate

Damascus said Thursday it rejects a US-Turkish plan to establish a buffer zone in northern Syria, blaming Syria's Kurds for the proposal, state media said.
"Syria categorically and blatantly rejects the agreement between the American and Turkish occupiers on the establishment of a so-called safe zone" in northern Syria, a foreign ministry source told state news agency SANA.
"Syria's Kurds who have accepted to become a tool in this aggressive US-Turkish project bear a historical responsibility in this regard," SANA added.

Damascus rejects Turkey-US buffer zone deal: State media

Manchester United's Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku arrived in Milan early Thursday to undergo medical tests ahead of his likely transfer to Inter, Italian media reported.
"Lukaku is ours" chanted Inter Milan ecstatic fans who turned out at the airport to welcome him on his arrival during the night.
The 26-year-old has not played a single minute of United's pre-season campaign as talk of a transfer to the Serie A intensified, with Inter Milan the hot favourites.
Italian newspapers have said the fee could be 65 million euros ($73 million), plus bonuses of around 10 to 13 million euros.
Sports newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport said Lukaku travelled to Milan with his agent and friend Federico Pastorello and was to undergo stringent medical tests on Thursday.
Inter coach Antonio Conte said on Sunday he was "very hopeful" of finalising a deal to bring the former Everton star to the San Siro.
"Lukaku is a good player, a striker who I had tried to buy when I was coach at Chelsea" from 2016 to ...

Lukaku in Milan ahead of probable Inter move

A top Syrian Kurdish official gave a guarded welcome Thursday to a US-Turkish agreement to establish a joint operations centre for the north but said the details remained unclear.
"This deal may mark the start of a new approach but we still need more details," Aldar Khalil told AFP.
"We will evaluate the agreement based on details and facts, not headlines."
Turkish and US officials agreed to establish a joint operations centre to oversee a safe zone to manage tensions between Ankara and US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria.
No details were provided of the size or nature of the safe zone, but the deal appeared to provide some breathing room after Turkey had threatened an imminent attack on the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which controls a large swathe of northern Syria.
The YPG has been a key US ally in the fight against the Islamic State group. But Ankara views it as a "terrorist" offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has fought a bloody insurgency inside ...

Syria Kurds say Turkey-US deal may mark 'new approach'

Serena Williams looked solid in her first match since losing the Wimbledon final, defeating 20th-ranked Elise Mertens of Belgium 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday at the WTA Toronto tournament.
The 37-year-old American, one crown shy of a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title, advanced in 75 minutes at her first US Open hardcourt tuneup event.
"I feel like my movement is great -- been working on my fitness, so I felt like it really was able to shine through today," Williams said.
"I'm loving going out there and I'm loving kind of running. So it's a good thing."
Also moving into the third round was Japan's Naomi Osaka, the reigning US and Australian Open champion. She won after taking the first set 6-2 when Germany's Tatjana Maria retired with a left abdominal injury.
With Osaka's triumph, Australian Ashleigh Barty was ensured of being dethroned next week as world number one, although it could be Czech Kristyna Pliskova instead of Osaka who swipes the top spot.
Williams, ranked 10th, seeks ...

Serena wins first match since Wimbledon final, Osaka advances

Missing out on the Premier League title despite a record-breaking campaign was eased by winning a sixth European Cup for Liverpool last season, but ending a 30-year wait to be crowned English champions is now more important than ever on Merseyside.
Jurgen Klopp's men are expected to strike first blood in the title race when they kick off the Premier League season against newly-promoted Norwich under the Friday night lights of Anfield.
However, unlike most of their competitors who have delved into the arms race for talent in another transfer window where Premier League clubs have spent over ?1 billion ($1.2 billion), the European champions have been conspicuously quiet in the transfer market.
Teenage talents Sepp van den Berg and Harvey Elliott have been snapped up with an eye to the future, while Spanish goalkeeper Adrian will replace Simon Mignolet as back-up to Alisson Becker in three low-key arrivals.
Klopp, though, believes the foundations are already in place for another tilt at .

Liverpool bank on stability over signings to end 30-year title wait

Cricket Australia unveiled new guidelines Thursday to ensure transgender players can take part in the game at the highest levels.
The policy sets out a testosterone limit for transgender and gender-diverse players who want to play for state and national women's teams.
"It doesn't make any sense that today, people are discriminated against, harassed or excluded, because of who they are," Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts said in a statement.
To be eligible for elite women's teams, the players must show a testosterone concentration of less than 10 nanomoles per litre over at least 12 months.
They must also be able to demonstrate their elected gender is consistent with how they are living their lives on a daily basis.
The move more closely aligns Australia to the International Cricket Council's gender diversity guidelines.
Cricket Australia's policy also provides guidance to community clubs, supporting grassroots cricketers to compete as the gender with which they ...

Cricket Australia sets testosterone limit for transgender players

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde claimed on Wednesday that Philippe Coutinho is set to stay at Camp Nou despite strong interest in the unsettled Brazilian from the Premier League.
The latest status update came after Croatian Ivan Rakitic score a 79th-minute winner to see off Napoli 2-1 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Former Liverpool forward Coutinho has distanced himself from a move to Tottenham -- he was also linked with Arsenal -- and with the transfer window in England closing Thursday, the chances of the 27 year-old returning to England appear slim.
Former Barca forward Neymar, currently at Paris St. Germain, has also been touted to make a sensational return to the La Liga champions, although it has now been suggested that arch rivals Real Madrid are also weighing up a move.
"The plan is to count on Coutinho," Valverde stressed. "The transfer windows are open but we expect him to stay of course.
"And as for Neymar, the last time I came to this stadium I had to answer a load of 

Coutinho set for Barca stay after Miami win over Napoli

Samsung on Wednesday unveiled a new-generation Galaxy Note large-screen handset starting at USD 950 and said it will work closer with Microsoft so that services function better across its array of devices.
The Note 10 "phablet" which is set for release on August 23, comes in two sizes, with the larger beginning at USD 1,100. The price puts the model at the premium end of a cooling global smartphone market.
The latest generation Note was introduced at a media event in New York by DJ Koh, head of IT and mobile communications, who touted it as "the world's most powerful mobile device." "Every element of the Galaxy Note 10 was designed to help users achieve more," Koh said.
"Whether they're finishing a big project for work, capturing and editing a video, or playing their favorite mobile game, the Galaxy Note 10 will help them do it faster and better." Samsung's introduction of the first Note some eight years ago is credited with sparking a "phablet" trend of large-screen mobile devices ...

Samsung unveils premium-priced Galaxy Note 10

China's exports beat expectations to rise in July while its purchases continued to shrink, official data showed Thursday, despite simmering US trade tensions.
The trade war with the United States and weakening global demand had weighed on China's manufacturing sector during the first six months of the year, with its global exports roughly flat from a year earlier.
But in July China's exports rose 3.3 percent on-year, the customs administration's figures showed, ahead of the one percent drop forecast by a Bloomberg News poll.
China's economy slowed to 6.2 per cent growth in the second quarter, the slowest quarterly pace in nearly 30 years.
But it does not look to be out of the woods yet, with shrinking imports pointing to weak demand at home.
Imports fell 5.6 per cent on-year in July, contracting for the third consecutive month -- though by less than the forecast 9 percent drop.  China's trade surplus fell to USD 45.1 billion for the month, from USD 51.0 billion in June.
The trade war .

China's exports unexpectedly rise in July

Ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan was on the brink of a full-blown political crisis Thursday after a special forces operation to detain former president Almazbek Atambayev failed, leaving an officer dead and a police chief in critical condition.
Atambayev's supporters took up arms and threw stones to fend off the attempt to seize the ex-leader from his compound near the capital Bishkek, where he has been holed up for weeks during a standoff with his former protege.
Kyrgyzstan -- a Central Asian country of six million which has seen two presidents overthrown in less than three decades of independence -- has been roiled by the standoff between Atambayev, who was in office from 2011 to 2017, and his successor Sooronbai Jeenbekov.
Atambayev has ignored three police summons for questioning after parliament stripped him of immunity and the state prosecutor pressed corruption charges -- moves his supporters say were driven by 60-year-old Jeenbekov's camp.
On Wednesday the confrontation escalated after ...

Kyrgyzstan in crisis after security operation fails to detain ex-leader

Bangladesh will host Zimbabwe for a tri-nations Twenty20 tournament in September despite the African nation being suspended by the game's world body, an official of the Bangladesh Cricket Board said Thursday.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended Zimbabwe in July over a failure to keep the sport free from government interference, putting the country's participation in multi-nation events in doubt.
"We have been informed by the concerned officials that there is no bar on Zimbabwe playing in bilateral matches.cThey are only suspended from ICC events. This is why we included them in the series," BCB spokesman Jalal Yunus told AFP.
Afghanistan are the third team in the tournament scheduled to be held from September 13 to 24.
Bangladesh were originally scheduled to play a bilateral series against Afghanistan in September, but officials said Zimbabwe had been included in the series following a request from the strife-torn country.
The tri-series will be preceded by Afghanistan's 

Bangladesh to host Zimbabwe despite ICC ban

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake that rattled Taiwan on Thursday killed one woman and caused temporary power outages that affected over 10,000 homes, authorities said.
Tremors were felt across the island and high-rises in Taipei swayed as the quake struck off the northeastern coast at dawn, waking sleeping residents.
A 60-year-old woman was killed outside the capital after a closet fell on her during the quake, the National Fire Agency said.
More than 10,000 houses around the greater Taipei area and neighbouring Yilan lost power, while rail authorities suspended some train services in Yilan affecting thousands of passengers.
Taiwan was already on alert for typhoon Lekima, which is gaining momentum and is expected to buffet the island with powerful winds and heavy rains through to Friday.
"We will continue to monitor if there could be a combined impact from the aftershocks of the earthquake and the approaching typhoon," President Tsai Ing-wen told reporters.
Taiwan lies near the junction of .

One dead after 5.9-magnitude quake jolts Taiwan

Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem advanced into the third round of the ATP Montreal Masters, with Thiem achieving a personal best in Canada.
Top-seeded holder Nadal suffered through a two-hour rain interruption before dismissing Britain's Daniel Evans 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 on Wednesday.
Austrian second seed Thiem, who claimed a clay title at the weekend at home in Kitzbuehel before crossing the Atlantic, won his first match in Canada after five losses, defeating home hero Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.
With weather forecasts dicey for the next few days, the Spanish top seed got a taste of the conditions he might face as the 18-time Grand Slam champion defends his Canadian title.
"Today, the main thing was win. I've been playing and practising more or less well. Now is the moment to compete," Nadal said.
"Today I competed enough well to be through. Tomorrow is another challenge." That test will be against Argentina's Guido Pella, who beat Radu Albot 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7/2).
Nadal is seeking his ...

Nadal, Thiem advance at rain-hit ATP Montreal Masters

South African spinner Colin Ackermann claimed a new Twenty20 world record when he took seven wickets for just 18 runs in an English county match.
The 28-year-old, playing for Leicestershire, took the wickets of Michael Burgess, Sam Hain, Will Rhodes, Liam Banks, Alex Thomson, Henry Brookes and Jeetan Patel in his side's 55-run over Warwickshire at Grace Road on Wednesday.
Malaysian bowler Arul Suppiah held the previous world record when he claimed 6-5 for Somerset against Glamorgan in 2011.
"It hasn't really sunk in. I'm sure I'll remember this game for a long time," the Leicestershire captain said after the visitors, chasing 190 to win, were dismissed for 134.
"I think it's the first time it's really turned at Grace Road. I tried to use my height and get a bit of bounce.
"I wanted to get the batters to hit into the bigger side of the field and mixed up my pace." He added: "Never in a million years (did he think he would set a world record). I'm a batting all-rounder."
Wawrickshire ...

South Africa's Ackermann claims T20 world record seven wickets

Manchester City signed Portuguese international right-back Joao Cancelo from Juventus with Brazilian full-back Danilo heading in the other direction to join the Italian champions.
City will pay a net fee of 28 million euros ($31 million) with Cancelo's move valued at 65 million euros and Danilo costing 37 million euros.
"City are a fantastic club, with a brilliant manager and I am delighted to be here," said Cancelo, who signed a six-year contract on Wednesday.
"Everything about them has impressed me, from the facilities, to their style of play.
"I am always looking to develop my game and win trophies and I believe I can do that here, so now I'm really looking forward to the new season and testing myself in the Premier League."
Cancelo won one Serie A title with Juventus after a 40 million euro move from Valencia last year.
"Joao is a fine player and an excellent attacking full-back who will provide us with a real threat on the right-hand side," said City director of football Txiki ...

AFP

AFP

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