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Showing posts from May 10, 2018

World markets dive as Trump sparks trade, North Korea worries

Global stocks sank Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said he was not satisfied with talks that are aimed at averting a trade war with China. Equities were also dented by poor eurozone economic data, and as Trump cast doubt on a planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “Trump (is) continuing to drive uncertainty over global trade,” said analyst Joshua Mahony at trading firm IG. “European markets are following their Asian counterparts lower, as a pessimistic tone from Trump is compounded by downbeat economic data,” he added. Markets had surged Monday after US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said they had agreed to pull back from imposing threatened tariffs on billions of dollars of goods, and continue talks on a variety of trade issues. However, Trump has declared that he was “not satisfied” with the status of the talks, fuelling worries that the world’s top two economies could still slug out an economically pain...
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Israel strikes on Syria kill at least 23 fighters.

Israeli strikes on several areas of Syria overnight killed at least 23 fighters, including five Syrian regime troops and 18 other allied forces, a monitor said Thursday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said an officer was among the regime troops killed in the strikes and that the casualties included foreigners. Israel’s army said it hit dozens of Iranian military targets in Syria. The Russian defence ministry, whose country has forces in Syria supporting the regime, said 28 Israeli warplanes took part in the raids and around 70 missiles were fired. Areas near Damascus and in the southwest of Syria were among the targets, the Observatory said. The strikes “caused human losses in a number of the targeted areas”, it said, adding the death toll was likely to rise. Israel said it targeted Syrian positions after rocket fire towards its forces in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that it blamed on Iran. A senior military pro-regime source in Sy...
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Kane fires Spurs into Champions League as Chelsea’s charge falters

Harry Kane fired Tottenham Hotspur into next season’s Champions League as Chelsea faltered in a 1-1 draw at home to Huddersfield on Wednesday that secured survival for the Terriers. A point for Huddersfield also ensures Swansea will join West Brom and Stoke in being relegated to the Championship barring a 10-goal swing in goal difference between the Welsh side and Southampton on the final day of the season on Sunday. At the other end of the table, only defeat for Champions League finalists Liverpool at home to Brighton at the weekend will give Chelsea any chance of a top-four finish as their late season charge came undone at Stamford Bridge. Spurs capitalised on Chelsea’s slip-up to ensure they will have Champions League football for a third consecutive campaign when they move into a new 62,000 capacity stadium next season. “For the club (it) is a massive thing to move to the new stadium and play Champions League,” said Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino. Tottenha...
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Guardiola, Pochettino ‘happy’ Ferguson is out of intensive care.

Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino said they were delighted that former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is out of intensive care following surgery on a brain haemorrhage. United announced on Wednesday that Ferguson no longer needed intensive care following his emergency operation at the weekend and would continue rehabilitation as an inpatent. “His family have been overwhelmed by the level of support and good wishes but continue to request privacy as this will be vital during this next stage of recovery,” said a statement from the club. Before the club issued their update about the 76-year-old’s condition, current boss Jose Mourinho spoke positively about his hopes for Ferguson’s recovery. Gestures of support continue for the Scot, who retired in 2013 after guiding United to 13 Premier League titles as well as five FA Cups and the Champions League twice. United are reportedly considering a gesture of support for Ferguson at their final Premier League m...
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At least 27 dead as Kenya dam bursts after torrential rains

At least 27 people died after a dam burst in southern Kenya, sweeping away their homes while many of them were asleep, police said Thursday. After a severe drought, weeks of torrential rains in Kenya have led to flooding and mudslides that have left 159 dead. The private Patel dam, used for irrigation and fish farming, burst on Wednesday evening in Solai, near the Rift Valley city of Nakuru, regional police chief Gideon Kibunjah told AFP. “The search and rescue exercise is ongoing and more bodies have been retrieved. The death toll is now 27,” Kibunjah said. “It is a disaster because most people were asleep when the tragedy occurred and their houses were swept away.” He said 36 people had been hospitalised. A senior police officer at the scene, speaking on condition of anonymity, said emergency workers had spent the night combing through engulfed houses to retrieve the bodies of the victims and had only covered about half of the affected area. “We found 11 of...
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Dembele edges Barca closer to unbeaten season as Real Madrid lose at Sevilla.

Ousmane Dembele scored twice as Barcelona thrashed Villarreal 5-1 on Wednesday and edged closer to their first ever unbeaten season in La Liga. But Real Madrid slipped to their only league defeat since February as a heavily-rotated side lost 3-2 away at Sevilla. Lionel Messi volleyed in a sumptuous pass from Andres Iniesta at Camp Nou to put Barca three up at half-time after Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho had scored one apiece in the first 16 minutes. The second period, however, belonged to Dembele, who capped an excellent individual display with two goals after the Frenchman’s sensational run had also earlier set up Coutinho. Villarreal managed a consolation when Pablo Fornals’ shot deflected in off Nicola Sansone but any fears Ernesto Valverde’s side would feel the effects of Sunday’s ‘Clasico’ proved unfounded. The league leaders moved 15 points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top while Villarreal stay sixth. The Yellow Submarine are only three points ahead o...
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Trump welcomes Americans freed by North Korea back to the US.

US President Donald Trump greeted three Americans released by North Korea at an air base near Washington early Thursday, underscoring a much needed diplomatic win and a stepping stone to a historic summit with Kim Jong Un. Trump and first lady Melania made the short helicopter ride from the White House to Joint Base Andrews to personally welcome Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul back to the United States, after their release from North Korea on Wednesday. The president and his wife strode up the steps into the blue and white plane to greet them privately before coming out before TV cameras in the middle of the night. Trump praised Kim for freeing the Americans ahead of the planned summit between the two leaders. One of the former prisoners waved his arms from atop the steps, and another while down on the tarmac. “It was understood that we would be able to get these three terrific people during the meeting and bring them home after the meeting,” Trump said. ...
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