Asian nations want to sink South Korea whale hunt plan

PANAMA CITY: South Korea's proposal to resume whaling for scientific research has angered other Asian countries and conservationists who said the practice would skirt a global ban on whale hunting. 

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she would fight the proposal, which was made on Wednesday at a meeting of the International Whaling Commission in Panama City, while the United States said it planned to take the matter up with the South Korean government. 

Critics said the move to pursue whaling in domestic waters was modeled on Japan's introduction of scientific whaling after the IWC imposed a 1986 moratorium on commercial whaling. 

Japan says it has a right to monitor the whales' impact on its fishing industry. South Korea says whaling is a long-standing cultural tradition. 

Anti-whaling activists regularly harass Japanese vessels engaging in their annual whale hunt in the Southern Ocean off Australia and Antarctica, with the two sides sometimes clashing violently. At least one activist boat has sunk in recent years. 

In Seoul, a government official said South Korea abided by international regulations and it would be up to the IWC to assess its proposal. 

Roger Federer beats Novak Djokovic; reaches record 8th Wimbledon final

Roger Federer advanced to his record eighth Wimbledon final on Friday, beating defending champion Novak Djokovic in four sets.

The six-time champion defeated Djokovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 under a closed roof on Centre Court and is now one victory from equaling two other records in an already record-laden career. “This is what you want to be playing for _ the Wimbledon trophy,” Federer said. “I've got a tough task ahead of me.”

If Federer beats either Andy Murray or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Sunday's final, he will equal Pete Sampras' record of seven Wimbledon titles, a mark he shares with 1880s player William Renshaw. He would also take over the No. 1 ranking from Djokovic and equal Sampras' record of 286 weeks as the top-ranked player.

Murray and Tsonga were to play in the other semifinal later Friday. Neither has won a Grand Slam title; Federer is aiming for his 17th.

“There's obviously a lot on the line for me in terms of winning here, the all-time Grand Slam record, world No. 1,'' Federer said. “I'm also going into that match with some pressure, but I'm excited about it. That's what I play for.”

India's Sunil Chhetri to play for Sporting Lisbon

India's football captain Sunil Chhetri has signed up with Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon to play in its second division soccer league.

Sunil Chhetri completed his contract with Indian club Mohun Bagan last season, scoring just five goals.

Sporting Lisbon's second division team has, in the past, produced stars such as Christiano Ronaldo, Nani and Figo.

Baichung Bhutia was the first Indian to play international club football, representing the English club FC Bury.

News of Chhetri's joining was announced by Sporting Lisbon on its website.

US economic recovery is tepid, says IMF

The US recovery "remains tepid", according to the annual report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

It has cut its growth forecast for the US economy to 2% this year from an earlier estimate of 2.1%.

The IMF warned of risks from the eurozone debt crisis and uncertainties surrounding domestic policies, with an election in November and the debt ceiling needing to be raised in 2013.

But it said there was also a chance that the economy could recover faster.

The IMF said non-financial firms could invest more than expected and the housing market recovery may accelerate.

Its report said that "house prices have stabilised recently, but remain at depressed levels".

US jobs data triggers share price slip

US shares have fallen after official unemployment figures showed the rate unchanged at 8.2% in June, with just 80,000 new jobs created.

The figures, from the US Labor Department,show employment growth has slackened from earlier this year, when growth averaged more than 200,000.

Shares slipped after the news, with the opening Dow Jones index falling 1%.

Hopes for a high number had risen after Thursday's private sector jobs report came in better than expected.