Brazilians look to Pele and 1962 for Cup-winning omen

Brazilians look to Pele and 1962 for Cup-winning omen

SAO PAULO: Brazil have won a World Cup after losing their best player and they will be looking to the memory of 1962, when Pele was injured against Czechoslovakia, as an omen to get them over the loss of injured talisman Neymar.

Pele tore a thigh muscle midway through the first half of the Brazil’s second game in Chile, a 0-0 draw with the Czechs..................Read more

Egypt faces food imports as population increases, water grows scarce

Egypt faces food imports as population increases, water grows scarce

CAIRO/LONDON: In the northwest corner of the Nile Delta, Ibrahim Sharaf Al-Dein fires up his diesel-powered pump next to a murky canal only to watch it spew out a yellowish froth.

For the past 15 years, antiquated irrigation systems and a government conservation drive have kept many farmers from nutrient-rich Nile waters, forcing them to tap sewage-filled canals despite their proximity to the world’s longest river.

“This water ruins our pumps, it breaks our machines, it’s bad for our production,” Sharaf Al-Dein, 50, said of the canal..............Read more

Hurricane Arthur makes landfall on US coast

MIAMI: Hurricane Arthur made landfall on the North Carolina shore, packing 100 mph (160 kph) winds and drenching rains in an onslaught dampening America's July 4 celebrations.

The US National Hurricane Center said the first hurricane of the Atlantic season carried potential for big and damaging waves and powerful tidal surges as it came ashore late Thursday................Read more

Google search purge elicits censorship claims in Europe

Google search purge elicits

 censorship claims in Europe

BRUSSELS: Google’s efforts to remove some search results in Europe is drawing accusations of press censorship.

The U.S. firm has to comply with a strict privacy ruling made in May by the European Union’s top court that enables citizens to ask for the removal of embarrassing personal information that pops up on a search of their ..........Read more

ISIS chief orders Muslims to 'obey' him: video

ISIS chief orders Muslims to 'obey' him: video

BAGHDAD: The leader of the Islamic State jihadist group, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, purportedly ordered all Muslims to obey him in a video released Saturday on social media.

The hitherto elusive Baghdadi, who on June 29 proclaimed a "caliphate" straddling Syria and Iraq, made his appeal in a sermon delivered Friday in the militant-held northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

"I am the wali (leader) who presides over you, though I am not the best of you, so if you see that I am right, assist me," he said, wearing a black turban and robe..............Read more