The Indian football team hammered Maldives 4-0 to storm into the final of of the SAFF U-18 Championship here on Friday.
With Narender Gahlot (7th), Manvir Singh (79th) and Ninthoinganba Meetei (81st) found the target for India while Maldives' Ahnaf Rasheedh (45'+1') scored an own goal on the stroke of half time to make it an emphatic victory for India.
India now play Bangladesh in the summit clash on Sunday.
India looked to attack from the start and reaped the reward early on, when centre-back Narender, who had impressed for the senior team in the Intercontinental Cup, rose the highest and headed the ball past the keeper into the net.
The Indians created a flurry of chances, and Givson had the opportunity to score when he headed a cross from the left towards the top corner. However, the  Maldives keeper Hassan Aleef kept it out.
Around the half-hour mark, Ninthoi worked a short corner and crossed it in, but Jeakson Singh's shot on the volley whistled inches wide.
Maldives started to ..

India U-18 beat Maldives 4-0 to reach final of SAFF C'ship

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At least five people died, mostly from electrocution, as heavy rains lashed Pakistan's Karachi on Friday, bringing the city to a standstill, officials said.
The rains also washed out the opening day-night international cricket match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at the National Stadium without a ball being bowled.
Umpires called off the match as there were pools of water around the outfield with the pitch and adjoining area covered.
Rescue officials said that four people died due to electrocution in Clifton, Site and Lyari areas, while a boy was killed after he fell into an open drain.
Several people were also injured in rain-related incidents, while many low lying areas were flooded with overflowing sewage water, they said.
The rains also left Karachites at the mercy of flooded roads, power cuts and heavy traffic jams.
Chief Meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz said the recent spell of monsoon in Karachi was unusual.
Around 130 mm rainfall, the heaviest since 1992, was recorded in Karachi ..

5 die as heavy rains lash Pak's Karachi city

About 100 people have been evacuated from their homes and two schools have been closed in response to a natural gas leak in a Massachusetts city affected a year ago by a series of gas explosions and fires.
Lawrence Fire Chief Brian Moriarty said the leak in a high-pressure line was discovered around 3:15 am Friday and that the volume of gas released was in the "explosive range."
No explosions or fires have been reported.
Gas and electricity have been shut off in the affected neighbourhood.
Mark Kempic, president of Columbia Gas, blamed for last year's explosions, said no company crews were working the area and the line is new.
The source of the leak remains under investigation. Mayor Dan Rivera says the Wetherbee School and Lawrence Catholic Academy are closed.

Gas leak reported in city affected by explosions last year

Russia voiced hope Friday that the US administration wouldn't publish private conversations between the two nations' presidents, like it did with Ukraine.
The rough transcript of Trump's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy released by the White House Wednesday shows that Trump urged Ukraine to "look into" his Democratic political rival Joe Biden.
The July 25 call is now the focus of a US impeachment probe.
Asked if Moscow is worried that the White House could similarly publish transcripts of Trump's calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "we would like to hope that it wouldn't come to that in our relations, which are already troubled by a lot of problems."
Speaking in a conference call with reporters, he emphasised that the publication of the Trump-Zelenskiy call is an internal US issue, but added that it was "quite unusual" to release a confidential call between leaders.
"The materials related to conversations between ...

Kremlin says it hopes US wouldn't release Trump-Putin calls

Egyptian security forces completely sealed off Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the so-called Arab Spring uprising in 2011, to prevent possible protests on Friday against the country's president.
The closures come amid a harsh security clampdown following rare demonstrations in several cities last weekend, all of which were broken up by police.
Lawyers say over 2,000 people have been arrested since then. Egypt's general prosecutor claims his office has questioned no more than 1,000 people over the latest protests.
Street demonstrations have been almost completely silenced the past years by draconian measures imposed under President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, a former general.
The weekend demonstrations erupted over corruption allegations levelled earlier this month against the military and el-Sissi.
Those allegations were made by an Egyptian businessman living in self-imposed exile who said he had worked with the military for 15 years.
El-Sissi warned Friday against "deceitful" attempts to 

Egypt police seal off Tahrir Square amid calls for protest

Twenty countries, including France, Britain and India, have signed an agreement at the UN that aims to stop the spread of fake news online.
The signatories, which also included South Africa and Canada, committed to promoting "independently reported, diverse and reliable" information on the internet, under an accord initiated by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a press freedom watchdog.
"The emergence of a global digital space is shaking up the world of information, bringing with it progress as well as risks," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Thursday.
He added on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York that misinformation online, especially during election campaigns, "undermined trust in democratic institutions." The agreement underlines the responsibility of internet providers to promote trustworthy content and pluralism to escape the current "information chaos," RSF said in a statement.
Last week, Twitter shut down thousands of accounts worldwide for ..

Countries at UN commit to fighting fake news

China's President Xi Jinping has mourned the late French leader Jacques Chirac as "an old friend of the Chinese people", state media reported on Friday.
Chirac died on Thursday at the age of 86 after a long battle with deteriorating health, prompting tributes from across the political spectrum for the charismatic statesman.
The former president was a "world-renowned politician and strategist, and furthermore an old friend of the Chinese people," said a report by CCTV, quoting a condolence message sent by Xi to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
Known for his love of Asian art, Chirac left a deep impression in China, where his death on Thursday evening was the second most commented topic on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter.
He first visited China in 1978 and was one of the first foreigners to visit the famed terracotta warriors in Xi'an.
In 1997, Chirac became the first French head of state to visit China in nearly 15 years, after tensions over France's arms sales to ...

Xi mourns 'old friend of the Chinese people' Chirac

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 74th session of the UN General Assembly on Friday during which his focus is likely to be on the issues such as development, security, counter terrorism and climate change.
Prime Minister Modi held a number of bilateral meetings with top world leaders like US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of his UN address.
He is likely to address the General Assembly in Hindi.
Since its participation as a founding member of the UN in 1945, India has shown unwavering commitment to multilateralism to advance peace and security and promote broad-based inclusive economic growth and development in the world, the prime minister said last week in his departure statement.
"Galvanising multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion" is this year's theme at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.
"There are many pressing challenges for the international community -- a still ...

PM Modi likely to focus on development, climate change in his UNGA address

A baby and a toddler were among seven people who died Friday when a migrant boat sank in the Aegean Sea, the Greek coastguard said, as rescuers searched for another four people missing.
The accident occurred near the tiny Greek island of Oinousses, located between the island of Chios and the Turkish coast.
Four children were rescued along with five men and three women, the coastguard said. Their nationalities were not immediately known.
Rescue crews initially recovered the bodies of a baby and a four-year-old child.
But after survivors told authorities that four people on the boat were still missing, the bodies of three more children and two women were found.
"The five bodies will be taken to Chios to determine if these are the people the survivors were talking about," a coastguard spokeswoman told AFP.
Hundreds of migrants and refugees have died in recent years while attempting to cross the Aegean Sea in small, overloaded boats.
Over 50 have died so far this year, according to the ...

At least seven dead in Greek migrant boat capsize

Police in the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna have rescued more than 300 male students from an Islamic boarding school where many had been tortured and sexually abused, a police spokesman said Friday.
Police raided a building in the Rigasa area city on Thursday where the victims including adults and minors were kept in "the most debasing and inhuman conditions in the name of teaching them the Koran and reforming them", Kaduna state police spokesman Yakubu Sabo told AFP.
"We found around 100 students including children as young as nine, in chains stuffed in a small room all in the name of reforming them and making them responsible persons," Sabo said.
The school which has been operating for a decade, enrolled students brought by their families to learn the Koran and be rehabilitated from drug abuse and other illnesses, police said.
The proprietor of the school and six staff were arrested during the raid.
Many of the rescued students bore scars on their backs and serious injuries, ...

Nigeria police say over 300 'abused' students freed from Islamic school

The opening day-night international between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was washed out without a ball being bowled due to heavy rain on Friday, depriving Karachi of hosting its first ODI in 10 years.
Umpires called off the match as there were pools of water around the outfield with the pitch and adjoining area covered.
The remaining two ODIs will be played in Karachi on Sunday and Wednesday.  Karachi has not hosted a one-day international since January 2009 when Sri Lanka played two back-to-back matches at the National Stadium.
A tropical depression in the Arabian sea, around which Karachi is situated, have caused intermittent rains for the last five days.
Heavy showers began as soon the teams were whisked into the National Stadium under tight security in the afternoon.
The two teams will also play three Twenty20 internationals in Lahore on October 5, 7 and 9.

Karachi's ODI return delayed as Pakistan-Lanka match rained off

Battling anxiety, England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor has announced her retirement from international cricket.
The 30-year-old made her England debut in 2006, and has gone on to make 226 appearances across the three formats, becoming one of the top players in the women's game globally.
Taylor's anxiety has affected her ability to enjoy the game in recent years, according to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
She termed it a "tough decision" but one that has come at the "right time".
"In 2006 my dream came true and I beam with pride at what I've achieved over the years, alongside the best players and people. It is the right time for me and my health to retire, but I have loved every minute in an England shirt. Thank you to everyone for supporting me," Taylor tweeted.
She has scored 6,533 international runs, placing her second on England Women's all-time list of run-scorers.
Also, no player in the history of the women's game has effected more dismissals across all three formats ...

England's Sarah Taylor quits international cricket due to anxiety

France's lower house of parliament approved Friday a draft law to allow lesbian and single women to conceive children using donor sperm, a move that has already set the stage for street protests next month.
For now, only heterosexual couples have the right to use medically-assisted reproduction methods such as in vitro fertilisation, commonly known as IVF.
Given the green light by the National Assembly, the bill must also get the go-ahead from the upper house, or Senate, before it can become law.
It represents President Emmanuel Macron's biggest social reform since coming to power in 2017, but has drawn the ire of conservatives and even some in his own party who claim it would make children "fatherless".
Macron, who acknowledged last week the political risk of the legislation, is mindful of the backlash six years ago against gay marriage, legalised under his Socialist predecessor Francois Hollande.

French MPs approve IVF for lesbians, single women

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Friday dismissed a call for a second weekend of protests as "no reason for concern", with hundreds already arrested in an intensifying crackdown on a rare show of discontent on the streets.
Last week's open defiance of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi -- triggered by viral videos from exiled Egyptian businessman Mohamed Aly -- has surprised observers in a country where opposition of all stripes has been severely curtailed.
Elected president in 2014 after pushing predecessor Mohamed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood from power the previous year, Sisi is seen by many as one of the most authoritarian figures in the Middle East.
Construction magnate Aly has called for a "million-man march" to take place Friday and a "people's revolution" to unseat the uncompromising head of state.
But after he arrived home from the UN General Assembly in New York, Sisi on Friday insisted there was no cause for alarm.
"There are no reasons for concern. Egypt is a ...

Egypt leader shrugs off call for fresh protests

Iran's foreign ministry on Friday condemned new United States sanctions against China and Russia, saying they endanger "international trade security".
"As the primary victim of economic terrorism, Iran strongly condemns the destabilising act of sanctioning certain Chinese companies," said Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi in an official statement.
"The actions of (US President Donald) Trump's economic terrorism team go against international trade security," he added.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday the actions against Chinese entities were in response to violations of unilateral US sanctions over buying Iranian oil.
Mousavi also slammed US sanctions against Russian entities allegedly involved in Syria, and called on the world to stand up against US "bullying".
Three individuals, five shipping vessels and a Moscow-based front company were sanctioned over an operation to move money and fuel to Russian forces supporting the government of Syria's President ..

Iran condemns US sanctions on China, Russia

Qandeel Baloch's brother was jailed for life by a court on Friday, three years after the social media star's chilling murder sent shock waves across Pakistan, triggering an outpouring of grief on social media and igniting fierce debate over the prevalence of "honour killings" of women.
Fouzia Azeem, better known as Qandeel was strangled to death at her home in Multan in the Punjab province on July 15, 2016.
Her brother Muhammad Wasim confessed to the murder of his 26-year-old sister and said she had brought "disrepute" to the "family's honour" with her risque videos and statements posted on social media.
Sessions Court Multan Judge Imran Shafi announced the verdict in the case in the presence of all suspects and parents of Baloch.
While the court awarded life imprisonment to Wasim, it acquitted six other suspects including Baloch's another brother Aslam Shaheen, her cousin Haq Nawaz and cleric Abdul Qavi.
A total of 35 witnesses recorded their statements.
The results of the DNA and ...

Qandeel Baloch's brother jailed for life by Pak court for her murder

Paul Pogba is a doubt for Manchester United's match against Arsenal, giving beleaguered manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a fresh headache as he juggles his scant attacking resources.
The France midfielder hurt his ankle again in the League Cup match with Rochdale in midweek on his return to the side after not playing since late August.
Pogba played the whole game as United edged past the League One team on penalties after a 1-1 draw but he did not take a penalty and did not attend a team bonding dinner at Juan Mata's restaurant after the game.
Solskjaer revealed on Friday that his ankle knock was the reason he did not join his teammates.
"The situation is Paul finished the game, 90 minutes fantastically, but he got a knock to his ankle which is very swollen," said Solskjaer.
"So it was better for him not to go there with the team and he's in a race for Monday. He is a doubt, but that is the way it is."
Forwards Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are also facing a battle to be fit for ...

Pogba injury heaps pressure on Man Utd boss Solskjaer

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said the key to his side's stunning Premier League run of 15 straight wins was not believing the hype as he prepared for a trip to newly promoted Sheffield United on Saturday.
The European champions can go eight points clear at the top of the table, at least for a few hours, with a 16th straight league win at Bramall Lane, but Klopp is demanding the same hunger, work rate and fight from his side as Chris Wilder's Blades.
"Thank God we lost from time to time in the Champions League or in other cup competitions so we still know how it feels," said Klopp on Friday.
"We are maybe considered as a top team but we don't want to behave like a top team, playing (like one) if possible, yes, but fighting like a challenger.
"I don't feel there should be any advantage for Sheffield other than playing in their own stadium. Is it allowed that they fight more than us? No. That they run more than us? No. That they do more than us? No."
Klopp made 11 changes for his ...

Klopp demands fight as Liverpool target sweet 16 in Sheffield

A pygmy elephant has been found dead in a river on the Malaysian part of Borneo island, an official said Friday, the latest of the endangered creatures to perish.
There are only around 1,500 surviving Borneo pygmy elephants, a subspecies that can reach a height of up to three metres (10 feet), according to international conservation group WWF.
Wildlife officials are still investigating the cause of death of the male creature, aged around 10 years, whose body was discovered floating in the water, attached by a rope to a tree on the riverbank.
Local media reported that the elephant may have had gunshot wounds.
It was found in the Tawau district of Sabah state and is believed to have died about four days ago, state wildlife director Augustine Tuuga told AFP.
Officials could not confirm whether the elephant's tusks had been removed, as they are waiting for a post-mortem report.
The creatures are sometimes killed by poachers as ivory fetches a high price on the black market, although ...

Borneo pygmy elephant found dead in Malaysia

Researchers have developed a soft, flexible, artificial skin made of silicone and electrodes that is capable of replicating our sense of touch -- an advance that can enhance human-computer interfaces, medical rehabilitation, and virtual reality (VR).
The artificial skin developed by the researchers, including those from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Switzerland, can be stretched up to four times its original length for up to a million cycles.
The soft sensors and actuators present in the artificial skin allow it to take up the exact shape of a wearer's wrist, and replicates the sense of touch by processing the pressure and vibration exerted.
The artificial skin's strain sensors continuously measure deformation, and the sense of touch is adjusted in real time, making its application as realistic as possible, according to the study, published in the journal Soft Robotics.
"This is the first time we have developed an entirely soft artificial skin where both sensors .

New artificial skin developed, may aid rehabilitation and VR: Study

The White House is dusting off its playbook from the special counsel's Russia investigation.
Caught off guard by the speed at which a whistleblower's claims have morphed into an impeachment inquiry, President Donald Trump and his team are scrambling to respond.
They're turning, at least for now, to some of the same strategies they used to counter special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.
The basic tactics deployed by the short-staffed White House: Attempt to discredit government officials at the heart of the story. Dispatch Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and other allies to muddy the picture. Lean on Republicans in Congress to provide cover.
And, most of all, presidential counterattacks.  Just as the Republican president considers himself to be his own best adviser, he often acts as his own most vocal defender.
"It's a disgrace to our country. It's another witch-hunt. Here we go again," an agitated Trump said Thursday as he returned to Washington after four days at the United ...

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