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Tuesday, September 1, 2015

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Oil prices leap 8% on lower US output, OPEC signal

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Oil prices surged higher Monday as the US government lowered its domestic production estimate and OPEC said it was ready to talk to producers about multi-year low prices.US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for October delivery jumped $3.98 (8.8 percent) to $49.20 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, its third straight winning session.In London, Brent crude for October delivery closed at $54.15 a barrel, up $4.10 (8.2 percent) from Fridays settlement.Over the past three winning sessions WTI has gained 27.5 percent and Brent is up 25.52 percent.Oil prices opened lower Monday but pulled out of negative territory after the Department of Energy said that US domestic production in June was 9.3 million barrels a day, about 100,000 barrels lower than its previous estimate. Monthly estimates for the January to May period were revised lower by as much as 130,000 barrels a day.US production had been running at record levels since the beginning of the year, exacerbating the global oversupply situation.Also boosting prices was a statement by the OPEC oil cartel to the effect that the continuing downward pressure on prices remains a cause for concern for the group.The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, responsible for about 40 percent of global crude production, tied the price pressure to higher production and market speculation.Needless to say, OPEC, as always, will continue to do all in its power to create the right enabling environment for the oil market to achieve equilibrium with fair and reasonable prices, OPEC said in a monthly report.As the organization has stressed on numerous occasions, it stands ready to talk to all other producers. But this has to be on a level playing field. OPEC will protect its own interests.Analysts cast doubt on whether OPEC was willing to curtail production.Oil traders appear to be reading this as a pledge to rein in production, or at least, to avoid letting production get any higher. That will prop up prices -- if it works, said Paul Ausick at 24/7 Wall St, who added: Color us skeptical.OPEC crude output climbed by 108,000 barrels to 32.32 million barrels a day in August, Bloomberg News reported Monday, noting that was well above the cartels official limit of 30 million barrels per day.Ausick said that it appears the OPEC leadership agreed to take to the bully pulpit on behalf of those members hit the hardest, knowing that any indication that the cartel was ready to resuscitate pricing by (obliquely implying) lowering production would give crude a shot in the arm.

Dollar dips as investors seek Fed rate hike clues

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NEW YORK (AFP) - The dollar dipped against the euro and the yen Monday in cautious trade as investors weighed the likelihood of a Federal Reserve increase in zero-level interest rates next month.The dollar capped off a month of general underperformance with another drift lower as global stock losses benefited the low-yielding euro and safer Japanese currency, said Joe Manimbo of Western Union Business Solutions.The dollar struggled as worries about a weakening Chinese economy threw up a potential obstacle for the Fed to raise interest rates, he said.Federal Reserve officials at a weekend conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, gave no clear signal about the timing of the central banks first rate hike in over nine years.In a speech, the Feds number two Stanley Fischer said: We should not wait until inflation is back to two percent to begin tightening.After his speech, if we see some strong US data this week, this will increase the odds of a September rate hike and that should help the dollar, said Omer Esiner of Commonwealth Foreign Exchange.The upcoming August US jobs report, due Friday, will be in focus as the Federal Open Market Committee assesses whether the US economys improvement is strong enough to weather a rate hike.The key data come less than two weeks before the FOMC announces its rate decision on September 17.2100 GMT Monday FridayEUR/USD 1.1213 1.1188EUR/JPY 135.95 135.97EUR/CHF 1.0846 1.0772EUR/GBP 0.7307 0.7266USD/JPY 121.24 121.52USD/CHF 0.9673 0.9627GBP/USD 1.5346 1.5399

Brazil government budget goes into the red

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BRASILIA (AFP) - Brazils government presented a 2016 budget Monday that for the first time projects the worlds seventh largest economy operating in the red, sparking worries that the countrys investment grade rating will be put at risk.Embattled President Dilma Rousseffs government delivered the proposed budget to Congress predicting a primary deficit amounting to 0.5 percent of GDP, or 30.5 billion reais ($8.4 billion).The budget plan calculates inflation of 5.4 percent next year and anemic GDP growth at 0.2 percent.This was the first time a Brazilian government has delivered a plan that would mean government spending outstripped receipts.The news follows last weeks prediction that Brazil has just entered the worst recession since 1931 and a host of other downbeat economic news, coupled with political turmoil.Markets fell sharply to the new blow.The real, which has already lost 26.61 percent of its value against the dollar this year, hit a 12-year low on the news, down 1.1 percent to 3.627 reais to the dollar. The Sao Paulo stock market lost 1.12 percent.A primary budget reflects the governments ability to manage savings and debt. The worry for Brazil now is that its debt load will lead to a loss of its investment-grade credit rating, which would be a serious blow to the economy.The acknowledgment that Brazil cannot balance its books followed the governments abandonment in the face of Congressional opposition of a plan to bring back and unpopular tax on financial transactions.Cutting spending is also tricky, given the political damage that austerity measures have already caused Rousseffs weak government.But Finance Minister Joaquim Levy was confident, saying the equation in Brazil has a solution.Its an equation of growth, which is resolved through cooperation, dialogue and political will, he said.Brazil saw boom years peaking with 7.5 percent economic growth in 2010, but Latin Americas biggest country, the host of next years Summer Olympics, has been brought down by plunging commodity prices and political instability.

Tokyo shares down 1.57% in early trade

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TOKYO (AFP) - Tokyo shares fell 1.57 percent in early trade Tuesday, as investors cautiously awaited fresh Chinese data to gauge the health of Asias top economy.The Nikkei index at the Tokyo Stock Exchange slipped 296.71 points to 18,593.77 shortly after the opening bell.The Topix index of all first section shares fell 1.50 percent, or 23.13 points, to 1,513.92.Players confidence has waned that China will be able to prop up its markets amid slowing economic growth, analysts said.China releases the official Purchasing Managers Index today and markets may move with it, Toshihiko Matsuno, chief strategist at SMBC Friend Securities, told Bloomberg News.We know the Chinese economy is weakening, but we want to see how the deceleration impacts its major trading partners.Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 114.98 points, or 0.69 percent, at 16,528.03.The broader S&P 500 lost 16.69 points, or 0.84 percent, to 1,972.18, and the Nasdaq Composite gave up 51.82 points, or 1.07 percent, at 4,776.51.Worries over the potential broader impact of Chinas slowdown resurfaced as analysts voiced concern that the markets were still not free of the turbulence that sparked huge sell-offs and sharp recoveries across the world last week.Global trade also grew more volatile on uncertainty over US interest rates.Federal Reserve vice chair Stanley Fischer has said a hike in borrowing rates was still possible in September.The US August jobs report, due Friday, should provide a clue as the last major data point before the Feds meeting on September 16-17.The historically low US interest rates of recent years have fuelled investment in global stock markets because they have made it cheap to borrow money for speculation.In the forex market, the dollar was at 120.99 yen, down from 121.24 yen.The euro was $1.1243 and 136.01 yen, mixed from $1.1213 and 135.95 yen.

S. Korea August exports plunge by most since 2009

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SEOUL (AFP) - South Koreas exports in August suffered their biggest fall in six years, hit by weak global demand and falling prices, the trade ministry said Tuesday.Exports plunged 14.7 percent on-year to $39.33 billion, the largest percentage fall since August 2009 when the comparable figure dipped 20.9 percent on-year.It also represented the eighth consecutive month of decrease in exports.South Korea, whose economy relies heavily on trade, saw its exports fall 10.9 percent on-year in May.The percentage decrease then somewhat eased in the following two months, with a 1.8 percent decline in June and 3.3 percent in July.Imports in August dived at a greater rate of 18.3 percent on-year to $34.98 billion, leaving a $4.35 billion trade surplus.The trade balance has been in the black since February 2012.

China manufacturing index slumps in August: govt

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BEIJING (AFP) - Chinese manufacturing activity fell into contraction in August, an official index showed Monday, the figure slumping to a three-year low in the latest sign of slowing growth in the worlds second-largest economy.The official Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) came in at 49.7 last month, the National Bureau of Statistics said in a statement.The reading, which tracks activity in Chinas vast factory and workshop sector, was worse than the 50.0 reading in July, and the first time it showed contraction since February.The index is seen as a key barometer of the Asian giants economic health, a key driver of global growth.A figure above 50 signals expansion in the sector, while anything below indicates shrinkage.It was the lowest official PMI since August 2012, but was still better than an independent survey sponsored by Chinese media group Caixin, announced late last month.Its preliminary PMI reading for August plunged to a 77-month low of 47.1.Caixin was due to release the final figure, compiled by financial information services provider Markit, later Monday.The outlook for Chinas economy has turned decidedly pessimistic even after gross domestic product (GDP) registered an expansion of 7.0 percent in the April-June quarter, surprising economists on the upside.Indicators in the current third quarter have worsened as have concerns over the health of Chinas economy, leading to turmoil on overseas stock markets as a bubble also deflates on domestic bourses.Chinas economy expanded 7.4 percent last year, its weakest since 1990, and GDP has slowed further this year.Analysts have said that giant explosions last month in the port of Tianjin as well as a military parade set for Thursday in Beijing to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II -- for which factories have been closed and a public holiday declared -- likely helped weaken manufacturing activity in August.

Two death row convicts hanged

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SAHIWAL/BAHAWALPUR (Dunya News) – Two death row convicts were sent to the gallows in different jails of Punjab on early Tuesday morning, Dunya News reported.According to details, death row prisoner Muhammad Ashraf was executed in the Central Jail, Sahiwal. Ashraf had killed Shahzad Fareed in 1994 in Chichawatni.Death row convict Jumma Khan was hanged in New Central Jail, Bahawalpur. Jumma Khan had killed his mother-in-law over a family dispute in 2000.

Football: Inter capture Melo, Ljajic in late deals

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MILAN (AFP) - Inter Milan have bolstered their new-look midfield by capturing Brazilian veteran Felipe Melo and Bosnian Adem Ljajic from Galatasaray and Roma respectively, the Serie A club announced Monday.FC Internazionale announces the club has agreed with Galatasaray over the definitive transfer of Felipe Melo, Inter said in a brief statement.Reports in Italy claimed Melo, who played for Brazil in the 2010 World Cup but has not played since as he bore the brunt of the blame for their exit at the hands of the Dutch in the quarter-finals when he was sent off, signed the contract in Turkey and it was then emailed to Inter, who deposited it before the 2200 GMT transfer deadline.No financial details were revealed but reports claim 32-year-old Melo cost Inter 3.5m euros ($3.9million).Earlier the club had announced the arrival of out-of-favour Roma forward Ljajic on a season-long loan deal, reportedly for EUR2 million with an option to buy outright set at an additional EUR9m in 2016.Ljajic joined Roma on a four-year deal worth EUR11m euros two seasons ago from Fiorentina but has arguably moved down the squad pecking order following the arrival of Mohamed Salah, Iago Falque and Bosnian teammate Edin Dzeko.Melo and Ljajic, 23, are the latest additions to a new-look Inter midfield coach Roberto Mancini is assembling following the departure of Mateo Kovacic and Hernanes.Creative midfielder Kovacic moved to Real Madrid earlier this summer and Brazilian attacking midfielder Hernanes was set to sign for Juventus after agreeing terms on Monday.As well as Melo and Ljajic, Inter have signed French midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, Croatian winger Ivan Perisic, defenders Jeison Murillo and Miranda, striker Stevan Jovetic and Martin Montoya.Inter sit third in Serie A, behind Torino and leaders Chievo, after back-to-back wins.

Football: United hamstrung by transfer chaos

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LONDON (AFP) - With less than 24 hours until the transfer window slams shut, Manchester United once again find themselves playing the unwanted role of the panicked Christmas shopper who realises hes left it too late to buy the presents he wanted.Despite splashing out GBP 150 million ($230 million) on new signings during his first season in charge and then spending nearly GBP 80 million on Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Matteo Darmian in recent months, United manager Louis van Gaal is still unhappy with the make-up of his squad.Frustrated at missing out on several of his top targets, the Dutchman has been left with an unbalanced group heavy on midfielders, but short on quality support for star striker Wayne Rooney, lacking a world-class central defender and missing a top goalkeeper to replace Real Madrid-bound David de Gea.Uniteds design flaws, which threaten to leave van Gaals side lagging behind Premier League pace-setters Manchester City, were on full display in their 2-1 defeat at Swansea on Sunday.And that has thrown the spotlight on Uniteds slap-dash approach to their recruitment.The main complaints have focused on Uniteds beleaguered executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.Charged with delivering the signings that van Gaal desires, the 43-year-old has struggled to fulfil the Dutchmans wishes, reviving memories of his chaotic introduction to the role in the first days of David Moyes miserable reign in 2013.Back then bold talk of a marquee signing ended with rebuffed approaches for Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Cesc Fabregas and the far less inspiring sight of Marouane Fellaini pulling on a United shirt.This time around, Woodward has suffered the embarrassment of flying to Spain to conclude a deal for Barcelonas Pedro Rodriguez, only to discover the Spain winger had decided to join Chelsea instead.BrowbeatenFaced with de Geas determination to force through a transfer to Real, Woodward has tried to play hardball over his wish for a GBP 33 million fee, but reports on Monday suggested agent Jorge Mendes has browbeaten him into letting the Spaniard, who has only a year left on his contract, leave for much less, albeit with replacement keeper Keylor Navas said to be included in the deal.Woodwards failure to land Real defender Sergio Ramos, who was considering a move to United in the close-season, has left another gaping hole in van Gaals rearguard.Meanwhile the sales of Angel Di Maria, Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez, as well as the loan exit of Adnan Januzaj, have left the squad bereft of options to ease the burden on Rooney, who has endured an inconsistent start to the season.In response, van Gaal and Woodward offered a reported GBP36 million for Monacos French striker Anthony Martial, even though the raw teenager scored just nine league goals last season.Making it all the more galling, across Manchester, City have recently swooped for Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne, the kind of dynamic ascending talents that could tip the balance in the title race -- just as former boss Alex Ferguson used to do when he brought in the likes of Rooney and Ronaldo.The autocratic van Gaal had previously defended Woodward, but even he showed signs of irritation at Uniteds incoherent transfer policy when grilled after the Swansea loss.You can never speak as a club like Manchester United that you are satisfied because it is a process, he said.We know already in advance what is happening and what is not happening. Its a process and I cannot change that.Unfortunately, the clock is ticking ever closer to Tuesdays 1700GMT deadline, leaving van Gaal and Woodward little time to get those presents wrapped.

Tennis: Cilic shrugs off low-key US Open return

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Marin Cilic shrugged off being shunted off to the Louis Armstrong Stadium on Monday where his status as defending US Open champion was saluted by just a smattering of fans.The Croatian stunned tennis last year when he defeated Roger Federer in the semi-finals and Kei Nishikori in the championship match to lift his first -- and so far only -- Grand Slam title.But the 26-year-old was not afforded the honour of a return to showpiece Arthur Ashe Stadium where he trimphed 12 months ago.Instead, he was second match up on Armstrong, where he saw off Argentine qualifier Guido Pella 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/3).Louis Armstrong Court is not that small. It was a pretty nice crowd out there for a hot day today, said ninth seed Cilic.Its pretty humid. The match before went five sets. The crowd also needs some refreshments. But, you know, Im not too bothered by the court where Im playing.The courts here are all pretty big. Definitely, of course, Arthur Ashe is the place where I was playing the best, so looking forward to come back there.Cilic, coached by compatriot and 2001 Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanisevic, is getting used to life in the shadows of the sport despite his major-winning status.However, like Ivanisevic, he is a folk hero back home, with Cilic even managing to name-check his small hometown in his Monday news conference.I felt the most special welcome was in my hometown, Medugorje, population of 5,000 people, said Cilic, handing the tournament media conference stenographers the added challenge of Croatian geography.But it was an incredible reception. Most of the people there I know from when I was a kid. It was incredible.More than like 30,000, 40,000 people was there. It was amazing experience. I wont forget that for all my life, thats for sure. And I would like to repeat that.The road between last years US Open and this years edition has not been smooth.A soulder injury forced Cilic to skip the Australian Open and his season only got underway in March.But a quarter-final run at Wimbledon suggested that the perils are behind him, even if he has become something of a marked man since his New York heroics of last year.It changes, absolutely, in your mind looking at the tournament. Its for sure a different approach, said Cilic on his preparation both on and off the court.But you still have to bring that to your mind, that its another Grand Slam, of course. Its going to be more important than the other ones, but you still have to simplify it.I am feeling that definitely its a pressure thing to do that, but, of course, if you approach it in the right way, as Im trying to, it gives me more positive looks at it.With Nishikori defeated by Frances Benoit Paire, the champions path to the quarter-finals was eased, although Spanish grinder and seventh seed David Ferrer remains in his section.Im more focused on myself and know that I have the abilities to win, he said.

Commonwealth Games: Durban poised to make history

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JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Lone candidates Durban expect to be confirmed Wednesday in Auckland as historic hosts of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.Although the four-yearly multi-sport event turned 85 this year, no African country has staged it.Canadian city and previous hosts Edmonton withdrew from the 2022 race last February, citing oil price-related financial concerns, leaving the South African port as the only bidders.Visits to the Indian Ocean city convinced representatives of the 71 members of the Commonwealth family of nations and territories that Durban would be an excellent choice.It is our recommendation that the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) votes to award the 2022 Games to Durban, said senior Federation official Louise Martin.The CGF has called the Durban bid an historic and special moment for the Commonwealth sporting movement.Britain have hosted the Games six times, Australia and Canada four times each, New Zealand three times, and Jamaica, Malaysia and India once each.It is the turn of Africa to hold this great event, a beaming national Olympics body boss Gideon Sam told AFP.We believe our time has come and that South Africa can put on a show that will do the Commonwealth Games proud.South Africa have successfully hosted the three biggest single-sport events -- the cricket, rugby union and football World Cups -- and Sam says a multi-sport event is the natural next step.We have done exhaustive research and the opinion of my colleagues and myself is that we are ready to stage an event like the Commonwealth Games.Playing host to the athletes of the Commonwealth will be a huge step forward in the sporting history of South Africa and Africa.Sam says Durban, which enjoys a tropical climate, is an obvious choice for the Games, which are earmarked to start on July 18 2022 and last 12 days.The proposed opening day is the birth date of global political icon Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected leader of the republic, who died in 2013 aged 95.So many of the venues are already in place, including the main stadium, which was built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, said Sam.We intend following the example set by London for the 2012 Olympic Games and using exhibition centres for the indoor sports.South African officials say only an athletes village and a shooting range need to be built, and an athletics track installed at the main Moses Mabhida Stadium.And they insist that concerns about costs in South Africa -- a country grappling with 20 percent-plus unemployment and widespread poverty and inequality -- are unfounded.Durban bid chairman and South African Rugby Union vice-president Mark Alexander predicts a handsome profit.We have budgeted 6.4 billion rand ($480 million, 430,000 million euros) to host the Games and expect a profit of more than that figure, he said.Commonwealth officials estimated the highly acclaimed 2014 Games in Glasgow cost about 650,000 million pounds (13 billion rand)This is a smart budget with no fancy stuff, stressed Alexander. There will be no white elephants -- we are not building monuments.The economic impact of the (New Zealand) All Blacks playing one Test in Johannesburg is 400 million rand in one week.So imagine what a seven-year process will bring in with various teams coming ahead of the Games to prepare.

Football: De Gea move to Madrid mired in confusion - reports

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MADRID (AFP) - Manchester United goalkeeper David de Geas proposed transfer to Real Madrid appeared to be scuppered on Monday night as the move was not listed in the transfers registered by the Spanish Professional League.Madrid seemed set to conclude the long-running transfer saga with a deal that would see the Spanish giants pay up to 30 million euros ($33.5 million, GBP 21.8 million) for De Gea, with Costa Rican international goalkeeper Keylor Navas moving to United.Initial reports suggested that the documentation needed to formalise the transfer wasnt completed before the Spanish transfer window closed at midnight local time (2200GMT).However, subsequent reports in the Spanish media claimed Madrid will attempt to demonstrate to the football authorities that all the documentation was in place before the deadline.De Gea has just one year left on his contract at Old Trafford meaning he could join Madrid for free next year if the transfer doesnt go through now.The Spanish international hasnt featured in any of Uniteds six games so far this season with manager Louis van Gaal claiming the 24-year-old wasnt focused at the English giants due to Madrids interest.The 10-time European champions were in the market for a goalkeeper after Spain captain Iker Casillas ended his 25-year association with the club by moving to Porto in July.De Gea joined United from Reals city rivals Atletico Madrid in 2011 and despite a shaky start went on to shine, winning the clubs fans and players player of the year awards for the past two seasons.However, he refused to sign a new deal with United due to his desire to return to Spain with Real.A standoff between the two clubs ensued with United also expressing their interest in Real captain Sergio Ramos over the summer before he ended speculation over his future by signing a new five-year deal with Los Blancos.

Tennis: Serena, Djokovic roll but Nishikori falls at US Open

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NEW YORK (AFP) - Top-ranked Serena Williams launched her quest to win the US Open and complete a calendar Grand Slam by overwhelming 86th-ranked Russian Vitalia Diatchenko for her 29th consecutive Slam match triumph.The three-time defending champion won 6-0, 2-0 after only 30 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium when Diatchenko retired with a left foot injury, advancing Williams into the second round at Flushing Meadows.The 33-year-old American chases the first calendar Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988 and a 22nd career major title to match Grafs Open Era record, two shy of Australian Margaret Courts all-time mark.Top-ranked Novak Djokovic cruised into the mens second round but Japanese fourth seed Kei Nishikori crashed out after his runner-up effort last year.Williams praised the New York crowd, which has adored her since she captured her first major title at the 1999 US Open as a teen prodigy.I felt the support and love on this journey and milestone Im trying to take one match at a time, Williams said.I feel so good. Im so ready. Im at home, where it all began for me in 99. It all feels great.Williams advanced to a second-round match against Dutch qualifier Kiki Bertens, who eliminated Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.If I can just stay relaxed and stay in the points and stay calm and stay happy out there, I have to look at it as I have nothing to lose.Williams lost plenty of potential obstacles in her march to history on day one as top-10 womens seeds Ana Ivanovic, Karolina Pliskova and Carla Suarez Navarro exited with opening-match losses.That left 12th seed Belinda Bencic -- who ousted Bulgarian Sesil Karatancheva 6-1, 6-2 -- as the top-rated foe in Williams half of the draw. Williams, who lost to Bencic in the Toronto semi-finals, could see the Swiss teen again in a quarter-final.Williams, who owns six US and Australian Open and Wimbledon titles plus three French Open crowns, won her 22nd US Open match in a row since her last loss, to Aussie Samantha Stosur in the 2011 final. Williams has won eight Slam titles since then.No. 1 Djokovic rollsDjokovic needed only one hour and 11 minutes to capture a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Brazils Joao Souza.Theres something I love about number one for sure. Hopefully I can keep it up, said Djokovic.Im just hoping I can continue to play this way and if I can, I feel I have a really good chance against anybody.Djokovics highest-ranked possible semi-final foe had been Nishikori, but last years runner-up exited the US Open at the first match for the third time in five years as Frances 41st-ranked Benoit Paire saved two match points and defeated the Japanese star 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.To beat Nishikori, for me, it was impossible to imagine this, Paire said. Im really happy.Paire, who had never before beaten a top-five foe, fired 21 aces to only three for Nishikori and blasted 64 winners, 30 more than Nishikori, with 67 unforced errors, 31 more than the Asian number one.He was very aggressive, so there were many rallies and it was tough to get rhythm, Nishikori said.Nishikori led the tie-breaker 6-4 but swatted a forehand long, watched Paire smack two service winners and then Nishikori netted a forehand to force a fifth set.Paire, who won his first ATP title last month at Bastad, broke for a 3-2 lead and held to the finish to win after three hours and 14 minutes.Defending champion Marin Cilic of Croatia won his opener 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/3) over Argentine qualifier Guido Pella.Defending a Grand Slam title for the first time for sure is something I will learn from, Cilic said.Top Serena rivals oustedSlovakias 50th-ranked Dominika Cibulkova ousted seventh-seeded Ivanovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, delivering the Serb stars earliest US Open exit since 2009.After the injury-forced withdrawal of Russian third seed Maria Sharapova, Ivanovic had been Williams top-ranked rival.That status fell to Czech eighth seed Pliskova, who promptly lost to American Anna Tatishvili 6-2, 6-1, and then to 10th seed Suarez Navarro, who fell to Czech Denisa Allertova 6-1, 7-6 (7/5).One Williams rival who advanced was her older sister Venus, a seven-time Grand Slam champion. The US 23rd seed outlasted Puerto Ricos Monica Puig 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-3.

Satellite images confirm destruction of famed temple in Syria's Palmyra: UN

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GENEVA (AFP) - Satellite images confirm the destruction of another famed temple in Syrias Palmyra, the United Nations said late Monday.We can confirm destruction of the main building of the Temple of Bel as well as a row of columns in its immediate vicinity, the UN training and research agency UNITAR said, providing satellite images from before and after a powerful blast in the ruins of the ancient city Sunday.The blast had already raised fears Monday that the Islamic State group had damaged another of the Middle Easts most treasured heritage sites.UNITAR said its satellite programme put to rest any doubts that the 2,000-year-old Temple of Bel had been destroyed in the blast.A shot taken on August 27 clearly shows an erect, rectangular structure surrounded by columns, while a shot taken on Monday showed there was little left besides a few columns in the very outer edges of the site.IS already destroyed the smaller Baal Shamin temple at Palmyra last week, confirming the worst fears about their intentions for the site, which they seized from Syrian regime forces in May.UNITAR on Friday also presented satellite images confirming the destruction of the Baal Shamin temple, which the UNs cultural agency UNESCO called a war crime.The jihadists have carried out a sustained campaign of destruction against heritage sites in areas under their control in Syria and Iraq, and in mid-August beheaded the 82-year-old former antiquities chief in Palmyra.The extremist groups interpretation of Islam considers statues and grave markers to be idolatrous, but it has also been accused of destroying heritage sites to loot items for the black market and to gain publicity.Known as the Pearl of the Desert, Palmyra, which means City of Palms, lies 210 kilometres (130 miles) northeast of Damascus.Before the Syrian conflict erupted 2011, more than 150,000 tourists visited Palmyra every year.Before the arrival of Christianity in the second century, Palmyra worshipped the Semitic god Bel, along with the sun god Yarhibol and lunar god Aglibol.Syrias antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim described the Temple of Bel as Palmyras most important site, and also the most important temple in the Middle East along side Baalbek in Lebanon.Construction on the temple began in 32 BC and ended in the second century, and it later served as both a church and a mosque.

Russian nuclear official pleads guilty in US bribery plot

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - A Russian nuclear official pleaded guilty Monday to a US charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering in a case involving $2.1 million in bribes for contracts with a Moscow-controlled company.The US Justice Department said Vadim Mikerin, 56, was representing Russian nuclear materials trader Tenex in the United States when he helped transfer funds to offshore shell accounts that came from US companies aiming to sell services to Tenex and its parent, Russians State Atomic Energy Corporation.The department said the payments, made between 2004 and 2014 for contracts to transport Russian uranium, violated the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.Those making the payments were not identified. But the department pointed to a Maryland transport firm and two Ohio companies, now merged, involved in making pressure vessels for the nuclear industry, and to American individuals linked to the companies.Mikerin admitted that the corrupt payments were made by conspirators to influence Mikerin and to secure improper business advantages for US companies that did business with Tenex, the department said in a statement.Mikerin is scheduled to be sentenced in December. Two other men in the scheme pleaded guilty in June and will be sentenced separately in October and November.

Posted by IMRAN ALI SOOMRO (DARVESH) at 9/01/2015 07:27:00 AM

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