A Sydney-based man was arrested on charges of planning a terrorist attack in Australia, which reportedly involved targeting a naval base close to the capital's famous opera house, police said.
	The 24-year-old, named in local media as Farhad Said, was charged with "conspiracy to conduct an act in preparation for a terrorist act" after being seized by counter-terrorism police outside his home in the suburb of Bankstown on Tuesday.
	Several other men are already facing charges over the same alleged plot, which was uncovered in late 2014, with reports last year saying the Garden Island naval base close to the Sydney Opera House and other government buildings were among locations mentioned.
	"It will be alleged in court the man was one of a number of people -- who have been previously charged regarding this matter -- involved in formulating documents connected with preparations to facilitate, assist or engage a person to undertake a terrorist act," the Australian Federal Police said.
	The 

Man arrested over Australia 'terror' plot

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Taiwan's new president, whose two cats grace many of her Facebook posts, said today she would adopt three retired guide dogs, but dismissed media speculation over a "civil war" among presidential pets.
	President Tsai Ing-wen, who was inaugurated last week, has two cats called Xiang Xiang -- "Think Think" in English -- and Ah Tsai, and local media have predicted the felines will not take kindly to three new canine arrivals.
	Tsai, who won a landslide election victory in January, portrayed herself as an animal lover throughout her presidential campaign.
	Think Think appeared in campaign videos, and one of Tsai's aides has said that cat-related posts on the president's Facebook page garnered up to 50 per cent more "likes" than posts on political issues.
	"No, no and no," Tsai said, when asked by local media whether she was concerned about potential conflicts within her growing menagerie.
	"The three dogs are very well trained and they can definitely get along with the cats," she told ...

Taiwan's cat-loving president to adopt retired guide dogs

World leaders today kicked off talks dominated by the global economy and worries over China's growing clout -- and were told by Beijing to keep their noses out of its business.
	Presidents and prime ministers from the Group of Seven rich nations are huddling in Japan for two days of discussions focused on how to stoke demand and encourage growth.
	But China's growing assertiveness, particularly in bitter territorial disputes in the South China Sea was providing ever-louder background music, with European Council President Donald Tusk saying the group needed to take a "tough stance" on the hot-button issue.
	Beijing swiftly launched a stinging broadside against the G7 -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US -- which it said should not pursue "selfish interests".
	"G7 should focus on its own duties, that is economic cooperation, it should not point fingers at something outside its portfolio," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular ...

China hits back as G7 opens in Japan

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed in an article published today that the EU would not be a global player without his country's help as he prepared to visit the bloc for the first time in almost a year.
	Putin, who starts a two-day visit to Greece on Friday, also called for an energy alliance with Europe and the relaxation of visa rules for Russians travelling to the EU.
	"A rightful position of the Old Continent in the new international realities can only be secured by combining capacities of all European countries, including Russia," Putin said in the article in the Kathimerini daily.
	"We believe our relations with the EU do not face any problems that we cannot solve. To get back to a multifaceted partnership, the deficient approach of one-sided relationships should be abandoned. There should be true respect for each other's opinions and interests."
	EU-Russia relations are at a low ebb over the conflict in Ukraine that broke out in 2014, with European sanctions still in ...

Putin says EU needs Russia to stay on global stage

The iconic home of Mickey Mouse said today it would no longer print and sell its beloved currency, the Disney dollar, sparking a buying frenzy among collectors.
	The distinctive bills, each featuring iconic characters and signed by treasurer Scrooge McDuck, have been a legitimate form of money within the Disney universe since they were put into circulation in the 1980s.
	Mickey was featured on the dollar bill while Goofy was on the USD 5 and Minnie Mouse was on the $10. The cash also featured many other cartoon favorites, including Cinderella, Dumbo and Sleeping Beauty.
	Disneyland spokeswoman Suzi Brown said the decision had been made in light of the increasing popularity of the company's gift card scheme, adding that Disney dollars still in circulation would be honored indefinitely.
	"It's a testimony to the enthusiasm and heart of Disney guests and collectors that Disney dollars remain collectible today," she told AFP, revealing that the company had stopped minting the bills on May 

Disney ditches its iconic dollar

Barack Obama's historic visit to Hiroshima will underline the dangers of warfare and the need to work towards peace, the US president said on the sidelines of the G7 in Japan, today.
	"I want to once again underscore the very real risks that are out there and the sense of urgency that we all should have," he told reporters in Ise-Shima, 300 kilometres southwest of Tokyo.

Hiroshima trip will underscore very real conflict risks: Obama

A group representing Korean victims of the US atomic bombings of Japan protested today that their suffering was being neglected ahead of President Barack Obama's historic visit to Hiroshima.
	The Association of Korean Atomic Bomb Victims estimates that anywhere between 40,000 and 70,000 Koreans died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki when atomic bombs laid waste to the two cities in August 1945.
	The Korean peninsula was under Japanese colonial rule at the time, and most of those who died had been conscripted by the Japanese military or forced into hard labour.
	Consequently, the association argues that Koreans were multiple victims, deserving not only of an apology from the United States, but also from Japan.
	Around two dozen members of the group -- including survivors and relatives of those who died -- gathered outside the US embassy in Seoul with placards reading: "Apologise to Korean victims of the Atomic Bomb" and "Acknowledge the 2nd generation victims".
	Obama will tomorrow become the .

Korea A-bomb victims angered by Obama's Hiroshima visit

Three new pieces of debris have been found in Mauritius and in Mozambique that could be linked to missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Australia's transport minister said today.
	The fate of the passenger jet, which is presumed to have crashed at sea after disappearing en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew on board in March 2014, remains a mystery.
	Five other fragments have previously been found and identified as definitely or probably from the Boeing 777.
	All of them were discovered thousands of kilometres from the current underwater search zone far off Western Australia's coast, where three ships carrying sophisticated equipment are scouring the sea floor for traces of the plane.
	Transport Minister Darren Chester said two of the new pieces were found in Mauritius, with the other in Mozambique and were "of interest in connection to the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370".
	"The Malaysian government is yet to take custody of the items, .

Langer in no rush to lead Aussies full-time

Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc today said he was raring to go after six months on the sidelines, declaring himself "fit, strong and ready".
     Starc, 26, is set to make his long-waited comeback in Guyana on June 6 against South Africa during a one-day tri-series that also features the West Indies.
     The left-arm paceman, who has been out of action since fracturing his foot in last November's historic day-night Test in Adelaide against New Zealand.
     "It's been a long time coming. The foot has been great, there's no pain in the ankle or the foot," Starc told reporters in Sydney ahead of the team's departure for the Caribbean.
     "I've been really happy with it, it's come along really well. I've had a good three or four months in gym to get a bit of size back on, and I'm feeling really good; fit, strong and ready to play some cricket."
     His fitness boosts Australia's pace attack which also features Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Scott Boland for a series 

Injury-free Starc gunning to fire again

Police dogs in Brazil are more used to sniffing out drugs than explosives, but with the Olympics coming up, they have been training hard to help thwart potential terrorist attacks.
     Although Brazil has never suffered a terrorist attack on its soil, it is on high alert for any threats at the Games, which open in Rio de Janeiro on August 5.
     To prepare, the Rio Canine Intervention Brigade just completed a two-week training with specialists from a French elite police force, RAID.
     The dogs showed off their new skills Wednesday in exercises at Rio's international airport.
     Tails wagging and tongues lolling, they eagerly followed their human counterparts around an airport security zone to clear it for the arrival of a hypothetical VIP -- sitting and whining when they found a hidden "bomb."
     "The Rio Canine Intervention Brigade hadn't been trained in this type of approach," said RAID trainer Christophe B., who withheld his full name for security reasons.
     But ...

Police dogs train to sniff out terror threat

Goal-line technology will be used in next month's Copa America Centenario, organizers announced, selecting Hawk-Eye as the supplier for the camera replay system.
     Five of the 10 top-ranked national teams in the world will take the field for the 100th anniversary edition of the South American tournament, a special event hosted by the United States starting June 3.
     Top-ranked Argentina are in the 16-team tournament, which will feature stars such as Lionel Messi, Javier Hernandez, Luis Suarez and James Rodriguez.
     The Hawk-Eye system was used at last year's women's World Cup in Canada and is used by UEFA, the English Premier League, German Bundesliga and Italian Serie A.
     It will deploy seven cameras for each goal in all 10 stadiums to be used in the Copa America, using vibration and visual signals on each match official's watch to indicate a goal within one second of the ball crossing the goal line.
     Such technology is unprecedented for South and North American ...

Goal-line technology to be used at Copa America

Brent crude passed USD 50 a barrel for the first time in 2016 today after data showed a fall in US crude inventories, adding to expectations of a tightening global market.
	At around 0900 IST, Brent North Sea crude for July delivery was up 33 cents at USD 50.07 a barrel while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate was trading 29 cents higher at USD 49.85.
	The USD 50 price point is a key level and traders are watching to see if it can be sustained.
	The gains came as markets digested news that US commercial crude oil inventories fell by 4.2 million barrels in the week to May 20, according to US Department of Energy data.
	This is largely due to wildfires in the western provinces of Canada - the biggest supplier of crude to the US market - which have curbed oil production.
	Canada's central bank had also announced yesterday that the fires would impact the country's economic output numbers.
	"News about the US inventory, coupled with Canada's announcement gave prices the boost it needed ..

Brent crude surpasses USD 50 a barrel for first time this year

England may come into the second Test against Sri Lanka in Durham on the back of a crushing win in the series opener, but according to Stuart Broad the hosts have still to hit top form.
     Propelled by a hundred from Jonny Bairstow and match figures of 10 for 45 from James Anderson, England thrashed Sri Lanka by an innings and 88 runs in the first Test at Headingley last week to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.
     But Broad, still the world's number one ranked Test bowler, said there was no danger of England letting up when the second Test starts at north-east county Durham's Riverside headquarters today.
     "Obviously the series is still up for grabs and I think one thing we've probably been average at is in the last Test of the series when we've won, I'm thinking Centurion and the Oval," he added of a defeat by South Africa earlier this year and last year's Ashes-ending reverse against Australia.
     "With a Test series up for grabs we're on it and our aim is to have all .

Broad warning for Sri Lanka as England eye series win

Protesters seeking to drive Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro from office launched fresh street rallies and urged the military to choose sides in the tense political crisis.
	Hundreds of his opponents gathered near a court in eastern Caracas to protest a recent ruling that bars rallies from taking place near the offices of the National Electoral Board.
	The activists, who want the electoral authorities to call a referendum on removing Maduro from office, waved a red, yellow and blue Venezuelan flag and banners denouncing shortages of food and medicines caused by a severe economic crisis.
	It was a small rally but similar ones were called around the country, a week after protesters braved tear gas in a march against Maduro and the state of emergency he has imposed.
	The opposition is resorting to the power of the street after the Supreme Court blocked its efforts to pressure Maduro from the legislature, where it won control in a landslide election victory in December.
	The president 

President's opponents rally in tense Venezuela

The United States today said that the make-up of Israel's new right-wing coalition raises "legitimate questions" about the government's commitment to a two-state solution in its conflict with the Palestinians.
	In a rare comment on the internal politics of a US ally, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Washington had "seen reports from Israel describing it as the most right-wing coalition in Israel's history."
	"And we also know that many of its ministers have said they oppose a two-state solution. This raises legitimate questions about the direction it may be headed in and what kind of policies it may adopt."
	The spokesman also restated the United States' support for a negotiated end to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians based on two states living side by side within agreed borders.
	Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had named hardline nationalist Avigdor Lieberman as defense minister and welcomed lawmakers from his Yisrael Beitenu party to the .

US: Make-up of new Israel coalition 'raises questions'

Discrimination charges against Euro Disney over job adverts that called only for "European" candidates should be dropped, prosecutors today said.
	The trial was triggered by a complaint from anti-racism groups nine years ago over job adverts in the commuter paper 20 Minutes in 2006, looking for "cast members" but stipulating that they had to be "of European nationality".
	The prosecutors said that it had not been established that the discriminatory infraction had been committed by the company or the person who designed the job ad.
	In its defence Euro Disney, which runs the theme park east of the French capital, spoke of "human error" saying the advert was a one-off that had been badly worded.
	Adverts for the same positions placed at job centres and on its official website did not use the same wording.
	French activist group SOS Racisme claimed the adverts were discriminatory and made an official complaint in February 2007.
	The trial at a courtroom in Meaux near Disneyland Paris, ...

Discrimination case against Disneyland Paris should be dropped

A Canadian man who stabbed to death five fellow students at a Calgary house party was not criminally responsible for the 2014 rampage due to mental illness, a judge ruled today.
	Justice Eric Macklin found Matthew De Grood, 24, suffered from psychosis which put into question whether he knew the killings were morally wrong.
	The court heard De Grood had become withdrawn and started posting online about the end of the world, zombies and Darth Vader a month before the April 2014 attack.
	The son of a senior Calgary police officer and a University of Calgary alumnus who was headed to law school, he stabbed fellow alumni at a home in a quiet suburban neighborhood that was hosting a party marking the end of classes.
	The defense said in closing arguments De Grood had believed, in his delusion, that he was defending himself from werewolves and vampires, and that the only way to kill them was to stab them in the heart.
	De Grood will now be detained at a mental health hospital and meet ...

Canadian killer of 5 students found not guilty

Days before Japan will host a G7 summit, NGOs slammed the Asian nation for financing coal-powered energy in developing countries, even as other countries and investors shun the climate-damaging fossil fuel.
	Within the G7 bloc, Japan stands out for funnelling more than USD 22 billion (20 billion euros) into overseas coal plants since 2007, more than the other six countries combined.
	Moreover, the club of rich nation's only Asian member has another USD 10 billion worth of coal projects in the pipeline, according to a report by six environmental groups, including the National Resources Defence Council (NRDC) and WWF.
	Japan will host a two-day meeting of the G7 -- which also includes the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Italy -- starting Thursday in the Ise-shima region.
	Germany is second on the list in overseas coal financing, having poured some USD 9 billion into coal-based power over the same period.
	"Financing new coal plants and coal development in the era of .

NGOs slam Japan for investing abroad in carbon-polluting coal

Police found "traces" of a plot to launch a new attack in Belgium when they arrested four people suspected of recruiting jihadists for Syria and Libya, prosecutors said today.
	"The four were more involved in the part of recruiting," Eric Van der Sypt, a spokesman for Belgium's federal prosecutors, told AFP. "And we found traces of plans for an attack in Belgium.

Belgian police arrest four, find traces of terror attack plot

Saudi Arabia said talks today with visiting Iranian delegates on arrangements for hajj pilgrims from the Islamic republic have been "positive".
	Earlier this month, Tehran said "arrangements have not been put together" for Iranians to make this year's pilgrimage to Mecca at the end of the summer, accusing its regional rival of "sabotage".
	But Saudi hajj ministry undersecretary Hussein Sharif said the kingdom and its leadership "welcome pilgrims from all around the world".
	The two sides discussed "arrangements, as well as organisation and services" for pilgrims, he told reporters after a session of talks with the delegation from Tehran.
	He said an agreement had been reached following the arrival of the delegation Tuesday to "use electronic visas which could be printed out" by Iranian pilgrims, as Saudi diplomatic missions remain shut in Iran.
	A final agreement would be signed at the end of the ongoing talks, he said.
	Riyadh cut ties with Tehran in January after demonstrators ...

AFP

AFP

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