World briefs

CHINA-US Halliburton said it is entering its first joint venture in China that will use hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to unleash energy. The Houston company, which provides drilling services to oil and gas operators, said it will create the joint venture with an affiliate of SPT Energy Group. The venture will focus on hydraulic fracturing and production enhancement services in Xinjiang. Halliburton said the companies have worked together for seven years.

INDIA Police yesterday fired rubber bullets and used batons to disperse hundreds of villagers protesting the abductions and killings of four Muslim traders in India’s remote northeast, where ethnic tensions run high. The protesters defied a curfew and beat up one police officer in Baksa district in Assam state. The traders were abducted on Friday and their bodies recovered yesterday. No one has claimed responsibility for the killings.
Malaysia Gunmen fatally shoot a Malaysian policeman and kidnap another during a shootout at a resort on Borneo island, a security official says. It was the latest in a spate of kidnappings in Sabah, highlighting persistent security threats in the state that is short boat ride from the southern Philippines, home to Muslim militants and kidnap gangs.

LYBIA Rival militias battled yesterday for the control of the international airport in Tripoli, as gunfire and explosions echoed through the city and airlines canceled some international flights. Fierce fighting raged between Libyan forces and allied militias and a powerful militia from Zintan that controls the airport.

FRANCE German rider Tony Martin broke ahead early and comfortably held on to win the ninth stage of the Tour de France on Sunday, while Frenchman Tony Gallopin took the yellow jersey from overnight leader Vincenzo Nibali of Italy. The 29-year-old German, a three-time world time trial champion broke away early on with specialist climber Alessandro De Marchi of Italy.

GERMANY Marc Marquez won the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring yesterday for the fifth time in as many visits to make it nine victories from as many races in his MotoGP title defense.
Marquez, at age 21, is the youngest rider to win nine consecutive races. The Spaniard finished comfortably ahead of compatriots Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo.

SCOTLAND The Scottish Open will return to Castle Stuart in 2016, a course that Rory McIlroy has said doesn’t provide a “true links test” for golfers in the run-up to the British Open. Organizers announced yesterday that the event will be staged at Gullane in 2015 and then return to Castle Stuart in Inverness, which hosted the Scottish Open from 2011-13.