April Sumatra quakes signal Indian ocean plate break-up

Scientists give the assessment in this week's Nature journal.

They say their analysis of the tremors - the biggest was a magnitude 8.7 - suggests major changes are taking place on the ocean floor that will eventually split the Indo-Australian plate in two.

It is not something that will happen soon; it could take millions of years.

"This is a process that probably started eight to 10 million years ago, so you can imagine how much longer it will take until we get a classic boundary," said Matthias Delescluse from the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris.

Dr Delescluse is an author on one of three scholarly papers in Nature discussing the 11 April quakes.

Sumatra sits above the collision between the Indo-Australian plate and the Sunda plate.

These vast segments of the Earth's rigid outer shell are converging on each other at a rate of about 5-10cm/yr.

The elongated Indo-Australian, which comprises much of the Indian Ocean floor, dives under the Sunda, which carries the Indonesian island.

It is friction at their boundary - the sticking and unsticking, and the sudden release of stored energy - that is at the root of so many violent quakes, such as the magnitude 9.1 event on 26 December 2004 that set off a catastrophic tsunami.continue reading

Sudan and South Sudan agree oil deal, spokesmen say

The leaders of the two neighbouring countries made the partial breakthrough after four days of talks in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

But a number of key issues remain unresolved, including disputed regions.
The two countries were pushed to the brink of war earlier this year.

After fighting over oil facilities and disputed land broke out, the United Nations threatened both sides with sanctions if they did not reach a comprehensive agreement.

Limited agreement African Union mediators have yet to confirm that an agreement has been made, but President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan and President Salva Kiir of South Sudan are expected to sign a deal on Thursday morning.

Few details were released, but negotiators for both sides said that a demilitarised border buffer zone between the two countries had been agreed.

They also said that an economic agreement had been reached to allow South Sudan's stalled oil production to be restarted.

But a solution was not found to the disputed flashpoint region of Abyei, or on a series of border zones claimed by both countries.continue reading

Clinton says US will ease import ban on Burma goods

Mrs Clinton announced the move during talks with Burmese President Thein Sein at the United Nations General Assembly

She said the move - the latest in a series - recognised "continued progress toward reform" in Burma.
Earlier, the speaker of Burma's parliament told the BBC that his country's reforms were "irreversible".
Shwe Mann, a powerful figure who recently had US sanctions against him lifted, said the government intends to establish a multi-party democratic system and market economy.

Then Sein - the former top general who now leads a nominally civilian government following elections in November 2010 - is due to speak at the UN General Assembly on Thursday.

Under his administration many political prisoners have been freed and censorship eased. The Aung San Suu Kyi-led opposition is now part of the political process and holds a small number of seats in parliament.

"In recognition of the continued progress toward reform and in response to requests from both the government and the opposition, the United States is taking the next step in normalising our commercial relationship," Mrs Clinton told the Burmese president. 

She said she hoped the move would give Burmese people more opportunities to sell to the US market.
Thein Sein said he appreciated the move - which is the latest in a series of such steps since the process of reform in Burma got under way. The US lifted a ban on investment in Burma in June.

Both the president and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi are currently in the US.
Earlier this month, Ms Suu Kyi - who spent years under house arrest - received a top honour, the Congressional Gold Medal. She had also called for the sanctions to be eased.

In Burma's commercial capital Rangoon, a spokesman for her National League for Democracy party welcomed the move, saying it would be "good in the long term".

Mrs Clinton said consultation on additional steps would continue. Thein Sein still faces opposition within Burma's military to political reform, observers say.

But Shwe Mann, the Burmese speaker, described a good working relationship with Ms Suu Kyi.
Speaking to the BBC in Singapore, he said: "She is not my enemy, and I am sure I am not hers. She has good qualities and she loves her country. We share the same ambition - to serve the nation and people." continue reading

Verdict in John Terry FA hearing expected on Thursday

John Terry will return to Wembley on Thursday for the fourth day of his disciplinary hearing, with a verdict expected by the end of the day. 

The Chelsea captain is accused of using racist language towards QPR defender Anton Ferdinand last October.

Reports suggest Terry's lawyers want the FA charge against the former England captain dismissed because he was found not guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence at Westminster Magistrates' Court in July. 

Two weeks after being cleared, the FA charged Terry with using "abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour" towards Ferdinand during October's Premier League game at Loftus Road.
Capello resigned as England manager after Terry was removed as captain without his agreement.
Centre-back Terry, 31, played in Chelsea's League Cup win over Wolves on Tuesday continue reading

Brendan Rodgers has faith in Liverpool youngsters

Striker Sinclair, aged 16 years and six days, came on in Liverpool's Capital One Cup 2-1 win over West Brom.

"For me it's about talent, irrespective of age," said Rodgers.

"It's congratulations to Jerome Sinclair. Our future is bright with the young players. The style and definition of our game is improving all the time."

Defender Jack Robinson was Liverpool's previous youngest player when he played against Hull in the final game of the 2009-10 season at 16 years 250 days.

He was also in the Liverpool side that won at The Hawthorns, along with fellow teenagers Andre Wisdom and Samed Yesil.

Suso, 18, made his third appearance in a week as he came on with Sinclair, while 17-year-old Raheem Sterling, who has become a first-team regular was left on the bench.

Sinclair was signed from West Brom and played for Liverpool's Under-18s last season.
He scored eight times in pre-season for the U-18 side and scored twice in their four games so far in this campaign.

"It was fantastic to see so many babies on the pitch. It was great," said Rodgers, whose side went behind to a Gabriel Tamas goal before Nuri Sahin scored twice to secure the win.

"We have seen their confidence but, importantly, we have seen their character.

"If they have got talent and personality as well as the confidence and bravery to play football for me it doesn't matter how old they are.Continue Reading

Sir Alex Ferguson happy with Wayne Rooney return

Anderson and Tom Cleverley scored in the 2-1 win as Rooney returned following a thigh injury last month.
It was also Fletcher's first start in 10 months after a bowel condition.

"Darren Fletcher has had a great 90 minutes and Wayne Rooney had a terrific performance, he tired understandably, but I'm really pleased," said Ferguson.

"We played really good football and interchanged throughout the match. Okay, we didn't have the width we normally have but that was the plan: to play with a tight midfield and they have all done well." 

Rooney, who showed some neat passing and completed 76 minutes before being replaced by Nick Powell, said the workout was a step in the right direction.

The performance was only his second start of the season after playing against Everton in Manchester United's opening Premier League game before being dropped to the bench against Fulham.

The 26-year-old said: "It's been just over four weeks since I last played and I'm delighted to be back out on the pitch.

"I feel good, obviously it's always difficult in your first game back after a few weeks but it's great to get the minutes under my belt and hopefully that can benefit me."

Ferguson, whose side now face Chelsea in the fourth round, was also content with the performance of an inexperienced defence which had just two previous senior appearances between them.

Centre-back Scott Wooton and right-back Marnick Vermijl both made their debuts and were joined by Michael Keane and Alex Buttner in an inexperienced Manchester United defence.

"Tonight we won with a good bit of style, they've enjoyed it and the players did well," Ferguson added. Continue Reading 

Theo Walcott must be patient over striker role - Arsene Wenger

The 23-year-old, who scored twice in the 6-1 League Cup win over Coventry, has indicated his future may rest on whether he plays in a striking role.

"His time will come for that and at the moment we have to be a bit patient," said Wenger.
Walcott is in the final year of his contract and rejected a new five-year deal worth £75,000 a week in August.

Wenger admitted he wanted the England international to stay at the club and that talks are ongoing with the player. 

"We want him to stay, I always said exactly the same," said Wenger. "We are all professional and I always said that lets hope we can extend his deal and that is part of every professional situation.

"I speak to Theo of course, we are always in touch with them [his agent] and you have to give us some time to try and sort that out.

Wenger, who employed Walcott in a wide role against League One side Coventry on Wednesday, said he was open to the idea of playing Walcott as a striker after seeing him score twice in the second half at the Emirates Stadium.

"I'm not against it [playing Walcott as a striker], I'm not against it at all but we try and at the moment there is big competition up front, we have a different formula and the team is doing well," said the Frenchman.
"He is a great finisher now, in front of goal he is really absolutely amazing."

On Monday, Walcott told BBC Sport about his desire to play as a striker.
"Playing up front is important. It's one of the main factors for me," said Walcott, who signed for £12.5m from Southampton in 2006.