Suo motu on taxi driver killing: SC to hear case today Obama urges Netanyahu to resume negotiations Egypt military warns against violent protests UK police arrest 2 men over mosque blasts Bahrain rattled by bombing near royal palaces Sports figures show their love for Mandela Serena beats Tatishvili, into Bastad quarters Man City loses both games on SAfrican tour Johnson leads at sunny Muirfield, Woods lurks Frenchman Christophe Riblon wins stage 18 in Alps Dollar advances on strong economic data Curiosity rover confirms Martian air is mostly CO2 NASA tries to save planet-hunting telescope Astronaut with flooded helmet felt like goldfish Oil hits 16-month high on good US economic data

Dunya TV

Dunya TV

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• Suo motu on taxi driver killing: SC to hear case today
• Obama urges Netanyahu to resume negotiations
• Egypt military warns against violent protests
• UK police arrest 2 men over mosque blasts
• Bahrain rattled by bombing near royal palaces
• Sports figures show their love for Mandela
• Serena beats Tatishvili, into Bastad quarters
• Man City loses both games on SAfrican tour
• Johnson leads at sunny Muirfield, Woods lurks
• Frenchman Christophe Riblon wins stage 18 in Alps
• Dollar advances on strong economic data
• Curiosity rover confirms Martian air is mostly CO2
• NASA tries to save planet-hunting telescope
• Astronaut with flooded helmet felt like goldfish
• Oil hits 16-month high on good US economic data

Suo motu on taxi driver killing: SC to hear case today Posted: ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - The suo motu notice was taken by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry which was put by the registrar of the court. A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Chaudhry, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja and Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed will hear the case.The taxi driver, Murad, along with his two-year-old son went to Gulistan-i-Jauhar to buy Iftari on Tuesday. He was shot dead by Rangers when he allegedly failed to stop his vehicle upon being signaled to do so by Rangers personnel.

Obama urges Netanyahu to resume negotiations Posted: WASHINGTON (Agencies) - US President Barack Obama spoke by telephone on Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urged him to resume peace talks with Palestinians, the White House said in a statement.The telephone call was part of regular consultations between the two leaders, the White House said, but came as US Secretary of State John Kerry visited the region to try to help restart talks that stalled in 2010.The President encouraged Prime Minister Netanyahu to continue to work with Secretary Kerry to resume negotiations with the Palestinians as soon as possible, the White House said, noting the leaders also talked about security issues in Egypt, Iran and Syria.Since US Secretary of State John Kerrys arrival at the region, the implementation of US-brokered resumption of talks has received both support and objection by Israeli and Palestinian officials.A Palestinian source told Ynet Thursday that during the PLOs executive committee meeting it was decided that the issue of borders will be first among the issues discussed in the impending talks with Israel.

Egypt military warns against violent protests Posted: CAIRO (AP) - Egypts military issued a stern warning Thursday against violent protests a day ahead of potentially massive demonstrations called for by supporters of the countrys ousted Islamist president.The Muslim Brotherhood, from which ousted President Mohammed Morsi hails, is planning for a massive rally Friday that theyve titled Breaking the Coup. The Brotherhood continues to demand Morsis reinstatement two weeks after he was toppled by the military following massive protests.Anti-Morsi protesters also have called for demonstrations Friday to celebrate Morsis ouster and the naming of a new Cabinet by the countrys interim leader.Some protests since the coup protests have turned violent. About 60 people were killed in clashes with security and local residents that erupted out of the demonstrations.In a statement posted on Facebook, military spokesman Col. Ahmed Mohammed Ali said that whoever resorts to violence and deviates from peacefulness in Fridays rallies will put his life in danger.Violators will be dealt with decisively according to the law, Ali said.Brotherhood spokesman Ahmed Aref denied claims circulating Thursday that Morsi supporters planned to be violent in the coming protests, telling journalists that sit-ins held since before the coup showed their movement is peaceful. One speaker at the event, who didnt identify himself, earlier claimed that Egyptian intelligence agents spread the rumors, but did not elaborate.We vehemently deny that we have pamphlets calling for road blocking or targeting military installations. All this is misleading, Aref said.Brotherhood officials in the past have accused security agencies of setting them up, including one incident in which they say violence in Sinai was staged to legitimize a crackdown against Islamists. The suspicion comes amid increasing tension between Islamists and the military following the coup.That tension erupted in violence in the bloodiest single incident of Egypts 2 ½ years rocky transition. On July 8, 51 protesters and three security personnel were killed in clashes outside the Republic Guard Club where Morsi supporters believed the leader was held following his July 3 overthrow. Morsi is being held in undisclosed military facility.The Brotherhood says the military and police opened fire without reason on peaceful protesters. The military says armed Islamists started the violence by attacking the club. Human Rights Watch has said that authorities moved in to break up a peaceful sit-in and some Morsi supporters used live ammunition.Since the shooting deaths, a large rally organized by Morsi supporters in central Cairo sparked street clashes with the police, in which local residents also attacked Morsi supporters. Seven were killed and hundreds injured in the overnight fighting.On the eve of Fridays rally, Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie issued a statement calling on the military to reconsider its decisions and return to righteousness ... and accept the will of the people.The Friday rallies coincide with the tenth day of Ramadan, which Egyptians celebrate as the day the armed forces crossed the Suez Canal in the 1973 war with Israel.Badie used the occasion to celebrate achievements of the armed forces and appeal to members of the military to remember that their real mission was to defend Egypt. He distinguished between leaders of the coup and the rest of the armed forces, saying Egypt is going through a major crisis.We call on the leaders of the coup to return to righteousness, (to) quit what is wrong, he said. In the sit-in by Morsi supporters, organizers read Badies message. The protesters immediately broke out into the chant: The people and army are one hand.Badie and a dozen other Brotherhood figures and supporters are wanted by prosecutors for their alleged role in inciting violence. In his statement, he urged protesters to remain peaceful.

UK police arrest 2 men over mosque blasts Posted: LONDON (AP) - British counterterrorism police are questioning two eastern European men in connection with two explosions near mosques in central England in recent weeks.No injuries were reported in either blast, which came amid heightened religious tensions in the U.K. over the killing of a British soldier by suspected Islamic extremists.West Midlands Police said Thursday that a 25-year-old man and a 22-year-old man were arrested under the Terrorism Act in relation to the two blasts.The first explosion occurred near the Aisha Mosque and Islamic Center in Walsall on June 21, and the second blast near the Kanz-ul-Iman Muslim Welfare Association Central Jamia mosque in the town of Tipton on July 12.Police said officers are carrying out a search in the area where the men were detained and have evacuated some properties as a precaution.Army bomb disposal experts are at the scene, the force added.The Tipton blast came on the same day as the funeral of soldier Lee Rigby, who was killed in broad daylight by alleged Islamic extremists on a London street.That attack in May triggered a spike in religious tensions in subsequent weeks.

Bahrain rattled by bombing near royal palaces Posted: MANAMA (AP) - A bombing outside a mosque near the royal palaces has rattled Bahrain, prompting authorities and main opposition groups in the violence-wracked Gulf kingdom to denounce the attack.No one was injured in the blast, which struck late Wednesday in the mosque parking lot during evening prayers. But it was a rare explosion near the site of the royal residences, pointing to widening attacks by militant factions as part of the 29-month unrest.Bahrains majority Shiites are seeking a greater political voice in the strategic Sunni-ruled nation, home to the U.S. Navys 5th Fleet.The recent rise in bombings suggests breakaway militant factions now operate outside the main Shiite political blocs.The largest Shiite political group Al Wefaq condemned the attack on Thursday. Security officials called it a terrorist act.

Sports figures show their love for Mandela Posted: JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Sports figures around the world showed their love for Nelson Mandela on Thursday, the anti-apartheid heros 95th birthday.At the British Open, Tiger Woods talked about the unique energy Mandela exuded when they first met, while some of South Africas biggest stars proudly tweeted pictures of their own encounters with the adored former president.FIFA President Sepp Blatter wrote to Mandela to wish him a happy birthday and thank him for championing the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and Premier League club Manchester City will play a game later Thursday in his honor.Today we remember your courageous fight against oppression and the inspirational example you set to others who are battling injustice, Blatter wrote to South Africas first democratic president. May this message transmit to you all the energy, strength and goodwill of the football community as you continue your recovery from illness.The aging Mandela remains hospitalized but his birthday coincided with a statement from South Africas current president, Jacob Zuma, saying his health was improving.Mandelas unifying legacy pervades nearly all sports, a strong connection that meant a question about the Nobel Peace Prize winner in the buildup to a major golf tournament wasnt at all out of place this week.Woods, at the British Open in Scotland, said his 1998 meeting with Mandela was an experience he would never, ever forget and recounted the visit with his late father to the then-presidents Johannesburg home.It still gives me chills to this day, thinking about it, Woods said this week. A gentleman asked us to go into this side room ... and we walked in the room and my dad and I were just kind of looking around. And I said, Dad, do you feel that? And he says, Yeah, it feels different in this room. And it was just like a different energy in the room.We just looked at each other and just shrugged our shoulders. And maybe, Im guessing probably 30 seconds later, I heard some movement behind me and it was President Mandela folding up the paper. And it was pretty amazing. The energy that he has, that he exudes, is unlike any person Ive ever met.In South Africa, Mandelas inspirational appearances at the Rugby World Cup final in 1995 and footballs African Cup of Nations final a year later are as much a part of the countrys sporting heritage as its winning teams on those days maybe more.His advanced years and numerous visits to the hospital recently have left South Africans fearing for their ailing father figure, but sportsmen and sportswomen took the opportunity to celebrate his birthday.A list of stars paid tribute, some affectionately referring to Mandela by his clan name Madiba, others using Tata, a word that means father.Happy birthday Madiba, Bryan Habana, one of South Africas top rugby players and a 2007 World Cup winner, wrote on Twitter. As a nation we salute you and keep you in our prayersHabana also posted a photograph of himself and teammates with a smiling Mandela on a previous birthday.South Africa cricket captain AB de Villiers, in Sri Lanka for a series, said: There are no words to describe the impact Madiba has made on us as cricketers and for sport in our country.Olympic swimming champions Chad le Clos, Cameron van der Burgh and Kirsty Coventry, who is from Zimbabwe, all posted messages, as did Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar, who wrote: Big happy birthday to my hero TaTa Madiba.Golfer Gary Player recalled that a humorous and humble Mandela once asked him at a meeting at a tournament: Gary, do you still remember me?A South African football magazine put together a montage of photographs of what it called Mandelas iconic football moments, including him grinning gleefully and holding the World Cup when South Africa won the right to host, and another with former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.One image, from Ethiopia and at the bottom of the collection, shows a banner hoisted by local fans during a fiercely contested recent World Cup qualifier against South Africa. Despite the intense battle on the field, the Ethiopian supporters in their striped team shirts stand in front of a huge sign that reads: We Love Mandela We Will Always Be At Your Side.

Serena beats Tatishvili, into Bastad quarters Posted: BASTAD (AP) - Serena Williams cruised into the quarterfinals of the Swedish Open by beating Anna Tatishvili of Georgia 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday.The 16-time Grand Slam champion broke four times in the first set and twice in the second at the clay-court tournament. She had seven aces, while her opponent served nine double faults. Williams ousted Tatishvili in the first round of the French Open in May.The top-seeded Williams will face Lourdes Dominguez Lino on Friday.Flavia Pennetta advanced when second-seeded Simona Halep of Romania retired with an undisclosed injury. The Italian was leading 4-6, 7-5, 2-0 at the time.Also in the second round, Richel Hogenkamp beat Lesia Tsurenko 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.

Man City loses both games on SAfrican tour Posted: DURBAN (AP) - AmaZulu beat Manchester City 2-1 with an 89th-minute penalty on Thursday to leave last seasons Premier League runner-up with two losses from two games on its pre-season tour of South Africa.Carlington Nyadombo hit the winner from the spot after the top-flight team led in the 20th minute through striker Bongani Ndulula. James Milner equalized at Durbans Moses Mabhida World Cup stadium with a crisp volley six minutes later, Citys first goal on tour.The deposed English champion showed more rhythm late in the first half, with new Brazilian signing Fernandinho grazing the crossbar soon after Milners goal. Substitute Jack Rodwell slammed a shot straight at AmaZulus keeper early in the second.City, which lost 2-0 to Supersport United, was without new coach Manuel Pellegrini, who left the tour early.

Johnson leads at sunny Muirfield, Woods lurks Posted: GULLANE (AP) - Zach Johnson has sure figured out how to play the first round of the British Open.Tiger Woods must prove he still knows how to finish a major.Bouncing back from a tough loss last weekend, Johnson opened with a 5-under 66 on a sunny Thursday at Muirfield another brilliant start after a 65 at Lytham last year.I dont know what the secret is, Johnson said. I hit some nice shots and obviously I putted really, really well.Can he keep it going? A year ago, the 2007 Masters champion followed up with a 74 in the second round on the way to a ninth-place finish.This game demands resilience, Johnson said. That just comes with experience.Woods has plenty of experience winning majors hes got 14 of them but its been more than five years since he captured the last one, the longest drought of his career in the tournaments that matter most.Woods also got off to a strong start, shooting a 69 in the increasingly difficult conditions of the afternoon, but dont get too worked up about his chances just yet.He shot 67 in the opening round each of the last two years.He didnt win either time.The worlds top-ranked player yanked his opening tee shot off a lone tree far left of the fairway and was forced to take an unplayable lie, leading to bogey. But a stretch of three birdies in four holes after the turn moved Woods into contention, and he added another two-putt birdie at the par-5 17th after a couple of iron shots that just kept rolling and rolling on the hard ground.It was tough, Woods said. The golf course progressively got more dried out and more difficult as we played. Im very pleased to shoot anything even par or better.Rory McIlroy, ranked No. 2 in the world, is still trying to recapture the form he showed last August, when he captured his second major title with a runaway victory at the PGA Championship. At the moment, hes not even close.The 24-year-old from Northern Ireland has been mired in a baffling slump since changing equipment, and he showed no signs of snapping out of it as he hacked his way to a 79 the second-worst round of his Open career.The only time McIlroy shot worse was an 80 at St. Andrews in 2010, but that was more a product of a brutal wind than poor shots.This time, he could blame only himself. He didnt even beat birthday boy Nick Faldo, who stirred up a bit of a tempest this week when he advised McIlroy to spend more time focused on golf rather than off-the-course pursuits.Faldo, who turned 56 on Thursday, matched McIlroys score even though hes barely played at all the last three years.Under brilliant blue skies, the temperature climbed into the low 80s and the wind off the Firth of Forth wasnt too much of a hindrance for the morning starters. Some spectators broke out umbrellas, only it was to fend off rays instead of rain.The greens were slick as ice, having baked in the unseasonably dry Scottish weather over the past few weeks, and several golfers Phil Mickelson and Ian Poulter among them complained about the tough pin placements given the speed of the putting surfaces.The 18th needs a windmill and a clown face, Poulter griped.But McIlroy had plenty of problems just getting to the green.Time and again, he found himself whacking at the ball out of the rough or trying to escape the treacherous bunkers. His most telling sequence came at the 15th, where he drove it into the tall grass, chopped it out just short of the green, then sent a putt screaming past the flag right into a bunker on the other side. He let out a sigh that said everything a once-dominant player who, as Paul Azinger said earlier in the week, looks adrift.I wish I could stand here and tell you guys whats wrong and how to make it right, McIlroy said. I dont know what you can do. You just have to try and play your way out. Sometimes I feel like Im walking out there and Im unconscious.Johnson, on the other hand, quickly shook off his playoff defeat in the John Deere Classic. He didnt arrive at Muirfield until Monday morning after making bogey on the 72nd hole and losing to 19-year-old Jordan Spieth, who became the youngest winner on the PGA Tour since 1931.The loss did nothing to dampen Johnsons confidence.Quite the opposite, actually.He got on a roll with an eagle at the par-5 fifth, and birdies at the next two holes sent him to the lead.If anything from last week, what Ive embraced is the fact that Im playing great and I can put that into play, and Im certainly somewhat confident in what Im doing, confident in my routines, confident in my walk out there, confident in my lines, he said.Mark OMeara ripped through the front nine as though he was in his prime not a 56-year-old who has combined to shoot 76 over par in the past decade at golfs oldest major. The 1998 Open champion shot 31 on the front before stumbling a bit with three bogeys.But OMeara rolled in a curling, 35-foot eagle putt at the 17th, lipped out a birdie putt at the tough 18th, and finished with a 67, tied with Spains Rafael Cabrera-Bello and just one stroke off the lead.Not that its unusual for an old-timer to play well in the Open. Four years ago, Tom Watson nearly won at age 59.OMeara wasnt even the only 50-something player on Thursdays leaderboard. Fifty-four-year-old Tom Lehman shot 68.Miguel Angel Jimenez, Brandt Snedeker, Dustin Johnson joined Lehman at two shots back. Another shot behind were major champions Woods, Mickelson, Angel Cabrera and Todd Hamilton, along with Spieth, whose John Deere victory got him into the Open. The teenager hardly looked out of place, making only one bogey the entire round.

Frenchman Christophe Riblon wins stage 18 in Alps Posted: LALPE DHUEZ (AP) - Christophe Riblon became the first Frenchman to win a Tour de France stage this year and Chris Froome boosted his overall lead despite a late struggle on Thursday.Riblon caught American Tejay van Garderen with about two kilometers remaining on the days second ride up LAlpe dHuez, one of the Tours most famed climbs.Riblon threw his hands up and pumped his fists after clinching the second Tour stage win of his career. Van Garderen finished 59 seconds behind in second, and Italian Moreno Moser was 1:27 behind in third.Froome, 3:18 back in seventh, extended his comfortable lead over his main rival Alberto Contador to more than five minutes with just three stages remaining. He is edging closer to becoming the second British rider to win the Tour, following Sky teammate Bradley Wiggins success last year.The 172.5-kilometer (107-mile) route from Gap to LAlpe dHuez featured two HC ascents of LAlpe dHuez meaning they were so tough they were beyond classification, known as Hors Categorie.Contador was dropped by Froome on the second ascent of LAlpe dHuez and finished 11th. The two-time former champion just held on to second place overall, but 5:11 behind Froome.Colombian climber Nairo Quintana moved up to third overall and 21 seconds behind Contador.With about 12 kilometers to go on the last climb, Froome launched one of his trademark attacks. About a kilometer later, he attacked again and only Quintana could keep up with him as Contador dropped away.But then Froome called for assistance with about four kilometers to go with what looked to be bike trouble. No team car could get up to help him due to the thousands of fans in the way. So, instead teammate Richie Porte gave him what looked like an energy bar to eat.Fans jammed the 21 hairpin bends on LAlpe dHuez in a chaotic atmosphere. Many were in fancy dress: Vicars, super heroes, and other outfits of more dubious taste.But there was still a degree of organization within the mayhem, with certain corners reserved for fans from certain countries.One of those is known as Dutch Corner and several hundred screaming, shouting Dutch men and women formed a vortex that sucked the riders in amid a surreal cacophony of indecipherable shrieks, howls, and wails.Several dozen Norwegians, some in plastic Viking helmets, formed a human shield around one corner near the top. Elsewhere, a dozen or so Colombians marched uphill singing songs and carrying a giant national flag.Camping cars lined the hill, there were British Union Jack flags everywhere, Irish tricolors, Australian fans dressed in kangaroo suits, others dressed as inflatable giant flowers.Now and again, a distressed looking police officer would blow a whistle, trying to stop fans from getting too close to the riders.One got too close to Riblon, who elbowed him in the chest to get him away, and a young boy ran in front of Froome, who just about avoided him.Barricades were erected on the last part of the climb to give the riders some respite.

Dollar advances on strong economic data Posted: NEW YORK CITY (AFP) - The dollar Thursday gained against most other major currencies following solid economic indicators.Near 2200 GMT, the euro bought $1.3112, down from $1.3123 Wednesday.The dollar also rose to 100.50 yen from 99.57 yen. The euro also gained on the yen, trading at 131.77 yen compared with 130.67 yen.The dollar jumped after the US initial jobless claims dropped to 334,000, below the 348,000 expected by analysts.In addition, a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia showed manufacturing activity rose in the region. The report showed that 37 percent of firms surveyed reported increased activity, while 17 percent said activity declined.The data came on the heels of an upbeat assessment by the US Federal Reserve in its Beige Book report released Wednesday, said Kathy Lien, managing director at BK Asset Management.Lien said a second day of congressional testimony by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke Thursday yielded no major new revelations, which means that while the Fed wants to reduce its bond-buying program, there is no concrete timetable for doing so.On balance, this leaves Fed policy less dovish than many other central banks around the world, Lien said. This dynamic explains why investors are once again snapping up US dollars.Omer Esiner, chief market analyst at Commonwealth Foreign Exchange, said the European Central Bank is nowhere near reducing monetary stimulus amid political troubles in Greece, Portugal and Spain.Investors continue to view a (Fed) September taper as still on the table, barring any major disappointment in US data, Esiner said.Esiner said currency markets are also eyeing this weekends legislative elections in Japan, where Prime Minister Shinzo Abes party is expected to score gains.Such an outcome would strengthen Abes expansionary program and would likely add to the yens downside risk, he said.Among other currencies, the dollar rose to 0.9447 Swiss franc from 0.9409 Wednesday.But the British pound advanced against the dollar, buying $1.5228 from $1.5211.

Curiosity rover confirms Martian air is mostly CO2 Posted: LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Curiosity rover has tasted Mars air: Its made mostly of carbon dioxide with hints of other gases.The measurements by the most advanced spacecraft to land on the red planet closely match what the twin Viking landers detected in the late 1970s and what scientists have gleaned from Martian meteorites rock fragments that fell to Earth.Mars atmosphere is overwhelmingly dominated by carbon dioxide, unlike Earths air, which is a mix of nitrogen and oxygen.There was a small surprise: Viking found nitrogen to be the second most abundant gas in the Martian air, but Curiositys measurements revealed a nearly equal abundance of nitrogen and argon, a stable noble gas.Mission scientists are puzzled, but suspect it might have to do with the different tools used to sample the atmosphere.Its more or less an interesting observation but doesnt change the notion that Mars lost most of its original atmosphere to space, transforming the planet into a cold desert, said Paul Mahaffy of NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, who is in charge of Curiositys air sampling experiments.The nuclear-powered, six-wheel rover set down in an ancient crater near the Martian equator almost a year ago. The atmospheric measurements were detailed in two studies appearing in Fridays issue of the journal Science.While theres nothing profoundly different between what Curiosity found and previous results, the new work is more detailed, said Michael Mumma of Goddard, who is not part of the mission.Neither study dwelled on the issue of methane gas on Mars. Several years ago, telescopes on Earth detected a surprising and mysterious belch of methane in three regions in the Martian western hemisphere. On Earth, methane is mainly a byproduct of life from animal digestion and decaying plants. The gas can also be produced by non-biological processes.Last year, the Curiosity team reported no definitive whiff of methane near the landing site. Since then, the rover has taken several more air samples.There are also plans to sniff the atmosphere for methane during the monthslong drive to Mount Sharp, a 3-mile (5-kilometer)-high mountain looming from the crater center.NASA in the fall is set to launch a Mars-orbiting spacecraft aimed at solving the methane mystery.Called Maven, the craft will target the Martian atmosphere. Scientists want to know if it actually exists, determine the abundance and whether that varies by year or location, said mission chief scientist Bruce Jakosky of the University of Colorado.

NASA tries to save planet-hunting telescope Posted: MOFFETT FIELD (AP) - NASA says it will try to fix its space telescope that hunts for planets outside our solar system.Recovery efforts to save the $600 million mission began Thursday and will last for a week. Mission managers wont know until later this month at the earliest whether the Kepler spacecraft will ever search for Earth-like planets again.Two months ago, Kepler lost the second of four wheels that control its position in space. It needs three working wheels, and engineers plan to send commands to try to get the broken wheels spinning again.Since launching in 2009, Kepler has confirmed 134 planets and spotted more than 3,200 potential ones. If Kepler cant be revived, scientists have said they still have years of observations to pore through.

Astronaut with flooded helmet felt like goldfish Posted: CAPE CANAVERAL (AP) - Now he knows what its like to be a goldfish in a fishbowl.Two days after his helmet flooded during a spacewalk, astronaut Luca Parmitano relived the experience Thursday, describing how water kept trickling into his helmet until big globs covered his eyes, then his nose. It was hard to see, he said, and he could not hear.For a couple of minutes there, maybe more than a couple of minutes, I experienced what its like to be a goldfish in a fishbowl from the point of view of the goldfish, Parmitano said in a TV interview from the International Space Station.Parmitano said he used his memory to make his way back into the space station. His spacewalking partner, Christopher Cassidy, was a big help.The 36-year-old Italian Air Force officer said he was miserable but OK as Tuesdays spacewalk came to an abrupt end.Imagine walking around with your eyes closed in a fishbowl. Really, thats what was going on ... Its just a very uncomfortable feeling to be with your face underwater for all that time, he said.Parmitano said he was lucky to get back inside so quickly.NASA managers have said Parmitano could have choked or drowned.The astronauts as well as engineers in Houston are still trying to figure out what went wrong. Parmitanos drink bag has been ruled out. The only other possibility is the cooling system for his suit. Parmitano said his long underwear, containing water tubes, appears to be fine.Parmitano became Italys first spacewalker last week. His spacesuit functioned perfectly the first time around. Tuesdays excursion was a continuation of the maintenance work.

Oil hits 16-month high on good US economic data Posted: NEW YORK (AP) - The price of oil shot to a 16-month high Thursday on signs the U.S. job market is improving, although not by enough to prompt the Federal Reserve to pull back on its bond-buying program.Benchmark crude for August delivery rose $1.56 to finish at $108.04 a barrel, the highest close since March 19, 2012, on the New York Mercantile Exchange.Oil has jumped more than $11 a barrel in July, and pushed up the price of gasoline along with it. Gasoline futures have gained 13 percent since July 1.On Thursday U.S. economic news was good on two fronts: The Labor Department reported a drop in claims for unemployment benefits and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said manufacturing activity in the mid-Atlantic region grew in July at the fastest pace in more than two years.Oil markets are also getting support this week from comments by Ben Bernanke that the Fed will support the U.S. economy as long as necessary. The Fed chairman told lawmakers in appearances Wednesday and Thursday that there was no preset schedule for ending the existing stimulus program, raising hopes it may not end as quickly as some had feared.In London, Brent crude rose 9 cents to $108.70 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.