Moscow will join the global battle against tax evasion and other illicit activities by signing up to an international scheme to stamp out fiscal cheating, Russia's finance minister said today.
	It follows in the wake of the "Panama papers" scandal which shined a light on the vast offshore holdings of individuals close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
	Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said that Russia will sign the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development agreement on automatic sharing of tax data at a meeting in Beijing in May.
	Moscow hopes to be a full member of the OECD's information exchange system by 2018, according to Russian media.
	A close Putin confidante was implicated in a series of global reports that revealed how a Panamanian law firm set up offshore entities to help the world's wealthy stash their assets.
	Reports based on the leaks linked Putin's close friend, cellist Sergei Roldugin, to shell firms that shuffled at least USD 2 billion and made money ...

Russia to join global fight against tax evasion

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The EU's top court today overturned free quotas for the bloc's carbon market up to 2030, a key part of strategies to curb global warming emissions.
	The European Commission in Brussels was given 10 months to draw up new figures by the Luxembourg-based Euyropean Court of Justice.
	The ruling came in a case brought by a number of companies including Esso and Dow against national authorities in Italy, the Netherlands and Austria.
	"The court declares invalid the maximum annual amount of free allowances for greenhouse gas emissions determined by the Commission for the period 2013-2020," the court said in a statement.
	The court said the European Commission, the executive arm of the 28-nation EU that sets the quotas, had used figures given by some countries that should not have been included.
	The EU's Emissions Trading System (ETS), the world's largest, puts a cap on carbon dioxide emitted by large factories and other companies.
	The firms can trade in quotas of these emissions -- the ...

EU court overturns carbon market free quotas

An Austrian court jailed today a 15-year-old Islamic extremist for a second time, handing down a 20-month sentence for sending banned propaganda material via mobile phone messaging service WhatsApp.
	The teenager was sentenced to eight months behind bars last May, when he was 14, for planning to bomb a Vienna train station in the name of the Islamic State group and given additional 16-month suspended sentence.
	After being released to serve the suspended part of the sentence, he allegedly tried to recruit three people to join IS, sending one of them propaganda photos and videos by mobile phone.
	The court in Sankt-Poelten in northeast Austria found him guilty of sending the material but acquitted him on the charges of attempted recruitment to IS, which claimed responsibility for this year's Paris and Brussels attacks.
	"This is the last chance for you to gain a foothold in our society," presiding judge Markus Gruenberger said.
	The defendant, who emigrated as a young boy from Turkey ..

Austrian teen Islamist jailed again

DreamWorks Animation, the studio behind family blockbusters "Kung Fu Panda" and the Oscar-winning "Shrek," is being snapped up by US entertainment and cable giant Comcast in a USD 3.8 billion deal announced today.
	Originally part of the DreamWorks group created in the 1990s by Steven Spielberg, David Geffen and former top Disney executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, the studio was spun off as a separate company in 2004.
	"DreamWorks will help us grow our film, television, theme parks and consumer products businesses for years to come," said Steve Burke, chief executive of Comcast unit NBCUniversal.
	Under the deal, the animation studio will become part of NBCU's Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, which includes Universal Pictures.
	Upon completion, the studio's chief executive Katzenberg will become chairman of DreamWorks New Media, which will include some NBCU television operations.
	The new role for Katzenberg, which includes acting as consultant to NBC Universal, appeared to confirm ...

Comcast to buy DreamWorks Animation for USD 3.8 bn

The UN Security Council is weighing a response to North Korea's failed test-firing of ballistic missiles, diplomats said today following emergency closed-door talks in New York.
	The consultations were urgently requested by the United States following North Korea's unsuccessful launch of two missiles and as fears grow that the regime is preparing to conduct a fifth nuclear test.
	"We are looking at a response," said China's Ambassador Liu Jieyi, who holds the council presidency this month.
	Japanese Ambassador Motohide Yoshikawa said his government "condemns the series of grave and very clear violations of Security Council resolutions."
	"This is a threat to Japan's national security," he said.
	Yoshikawa added that council diplomats were unanimous in condemning the latest launches during the closed-door meeting and that they were preparing to issue a statement.
	North Korea has made three unsuccessful bids in two weeks to test-fly a Musudan medium-range missile, which is capable of ..

UN Council considers response to N.Korea missile test

The Syrian army was preparing an offensive to retake the northern city of Aleppo, where 53 civilians were killed in fighting today in a new blow to a tattered truce.
	It was the highest death toll for a single day in a week of fighting in the divided city of Aleppo between rebels and regime forces that has cost more than 200 lives, a monitoring group said.
	UN envoy Staffan de Mistura warned that a hard-won February 27 ceasefire was now "barely alive", appealing for urgent action by its co-sponsors Russia and the United States to rescue it.
	At the Security Council, UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien echoed de Mistura, urging world powers to revive the truce and put an end to the "massive human suffering" in war-torn Syria.
	But pro-government newspaper Al-Watan said the army was poised for a "decisive battle" for Aleppo and the surrounding province, while a source close to the regime said the campaign was imminent.
	"Now is the time to launch the battle for the complete liberation of ...

Syria army readies Aleppo offensive as civilian toll rises

A fire on a Chinese passenger bus which killed eight people and injured five may have been started deliberately, police said, after several deadly such incidents in recent years.
	The bus went up in flames on a highway in the central province of Shaanxi today, police in the provincial capital of Xian said on a verified social media account, adding they considered it "criminal case".
	Chinese police in January captured a man suspected of starting a fire on a public bus in the remote northwestern Ningxia region that killed 17 people, according to state media.
	Previously there have been several cases of attacks on Chinese public transport, especially buses.
	In 2013 a suicidal man started a fire on a vehicle in Xiamen in the eastern province of Fujian that killed 47 people, including himself.

China suspects arson in bus fire which killed eight: police

The United Nation's aid chief today strongly appealed to world powers to revive the ceasefire in Syria and put an end to the "massive human suffering" that has deprived millions of people of food and medicine.
     "We must all be ashamed this is happening on our watch," Stephen O'Brien told the Security Council during a meeting on the appalling humanitarian crisis from the five-year war.
     The meeting came a day after UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura told the council that the ceasefire that had allowed aid convoys to reach starving civilians in besieged towns was hanging by a thread.
     Echoing De Mistura's call, O'Brien appealed for action to salvage the ceasefire that went into force on February 27 and paved the way for peace talks.
     "You must not squander the opportunity presented by talks in Geneva and by the cessation of hostilities to put an end to the massive human suffering in Syria," said the UN under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs.
     "The world and .

UN aid chief on Syria: 'We must all be ashamed'

Germany today criticised Republican White House frontrunner Donald Trump's "America first" prescriptions for US foreign policy as doomed to failure in today's globalised world.
	In restrained diplomatic remarks, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier described Trump's radical proposed overhaul of US diplomacy and defence policy presented yesterday as "not without its contradictions".
	"'America first' -- the key question is what does that mean for America's foreign policy engagement," Steinmeier told reporters when asked about Trump's closely-watched policy speech.
	"The world's security architecture...Cannot be organised in a unilateral way. No American President will be able to ignore this changed reality, so 'America first' actually cannot be the answer."
	Steinmeier questioned the logic of "saying on the one hand 'we're going to make America strong again' and on the other, emphasising America's retreat from the world".
	"The two don't quite seem to go together," he said. "It ...

Trump's 'America first' policy would fail: Germany

Russia launched the first rocket from its new Vostochny cosmodrome today, with President Vladimir Putin hailing the event after dressing down officials over a delay caused by a technical glitch.
	The launch is a major milestone for Russia's beleaguered space sector, with the new spaceport in the country's far east touted to mark a rebirth of an industry plagued by a string of embarrassments in recent years.
	Carrying three satellites, the Soyuz 2.1a rocket took off at 11:01 am, the Roscosmos national space agency said in a statement, after the countdown was automatically halted for technical reasons 24 hours previously.
	National television showed the rocket taking off into a blue sky in light winds, although foreign media organisations including AFP were not allowed to enter the new space centre.
	Putin was present for the take-off.
	"You know they say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. You have to make the first launch to confirm the cosmodrome is ready for work. And ...

Putin hails 1st rocket launch from new cosmodrome after delay

Malaysia's central bank today ordered troubled state-owned investment firm 1MDB to repatriate money that was sent overseas without approval, putting further strain on the scandal-plagued company just days after it defaulted on a bond issue.
	The fund, founded in 2009 by Prime Minister Najib Razak, is teetering on the brink of collapse amid multiple investigations around the world into allegations that billions were looted from it.
	Najib also has been under pressure over USD 681 million that he received from overseas in 2013.
	A statement issued by the central bank, Bank Negara Malaysia, did not specify how much money 1MDB had been ordered to repatriate.
	But, the bank has been pressuring 1MDB, or 1Malaysia Development Berhad, over USD 1.83 billion that the company has said was previously remitted abroad.
	As questions swirl around billions of dollars moved around the world by 1MDB, Bank Negara has said the company failed to prove the ultimate use of the money or comply with previous .

Malaysia's troubled 1MDB fund ordered to repatriate money

Wall Street stocks were mostly lower early today after the US Commerce Department estimated first-quarter economic growth at a feeble 0.5 per cent.
	That figure lagged expectations and reflected meek consumer spending and a 5.9 per cent drop in business investment, the sharpest decline since 2009.
	The Bank of Japan's surprise decision against additional stimulus measures also weighed on stocks. Equity markets in Europe were lower and the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo sank 3.6 per cent.
	Analysts said that, after the poor first quarter US GDP data, it was not clear how strong a second quarter rebound would be.
	"There is not yet anything in the data to suggest the rebound will be anywhere near as strong as last spring's," said Chris Low of FTN Financial.
	About 25 minutes into trade, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was at 17,963.31, down 0.4 per cent. The broad-based S&P 500 lost 0.2 per cent at 2,091.34.
	But the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.1 per cent to 4,868.55, lifted by ...

US stocks mostly fall on weak first quarter growth

Israel today reiterated its opposition to a planned French peace conference, calling instead for direct and unconditional negotiations with the Palestinians.
	"The best way to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is direct, bilateral negotiations," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
	"Israel is ready to begin them immediately without preconditions. Any other diplomatic initiative distances the Palestinians from direct negotiations."
	France has attempted to revive the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process, seeking to organise an international peace conference.
	French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault announced last week that Paris is to host a meeting of ministers from 20 countries on May 30 to prepare for the conference.
	The proposal has been welcomed by the Palestinians, who suspended a planned UN resolution condemning Israeli settlements to focus on the bid.
	Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas toured Europe to encourage ...

Israel renews opposition to French peace initiative

British Prime Minister David Cameron joined forces with a former trade union leader today in a rare alliance to urge voters to stay in the EU, warning that leaving posed a threat to jobs, wages and prices.
	The Conservative leader and Brendan Barber, the former head of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) umbrella body, said the stakes were so high in the June 23 referendum that "it is right that the rules of conventional politics be temporarily set aside".
	In a joint article in The Guardian, they warned that the "economic shock" of a Brexit would see unemployment rise, growth fall, less open trading leading to lower productivity and lower wages, and put pressure on the pound, leading to more expensive goods.
	"While staying in Europe offers workers in the UK the best prospects of rising prosperity, leaving poses what we call a triple threat: to working people's jobs, to their wages and to the prices we all pay in the shops," they wrote.
	The article comes after the government made a ...

UK PM, ex-union leader join forces to fight Brexit

China's Communist-controlled legislature passed a law imposing new regulations on foreign non-government organisations today, authorities said.
	The measure has provoked an outcry from charities and concerns from foreign governments that it gives police wide-ranging discretionary powers amid a crackdown on civil society in the country.
	At least 1,000 foreign NGOs are thought to operate in China, including development charities such as Save the Children, advocacy groups including Greenpeace, chambers of commerce and university centres.
	The National People's Congress standing committee, which acts as the parliament when the NPC is not in full session, gave the law almost unanimous approval, with 147 votes in favour and only one against.
	The full text was not immediately available, but a draft of the bill described by the official Xinhua news agency in a report earlier this week carried many provisions which previously triggered concerns.
	It covers foreign charities, business ...

China imposes controversial new controls on foreign NGOs

Activists today attacked prominent Russian writer Lyudmila Ulitskaya and other participants at a prize ceremony organised by top rights campaign group Memorial, which exposes Stalin-era repression.
	Assailants threw bright green antiseptic in the face of 73-year-old Ulitskaya, an internationally acclaimed novelist, and hurled obscenities and anti-Semitic abuse at others.
	Memorial had organised an essay competition for students to improve their knowledge of Russia's 20th century history and held a ceremony in central Moscow today to announce the winners.
	The protesters -- some youths, others in their 40s and 60s -- sought to disrupt the event, suggesting the contest was aimed at rewriting Russia's history and indoctrinating young people, said senior Memorial member Yan Rachinsky.
	"They held placards saying 'We don't need alternative history'," Rachinsky, who witnessed the attack, told AFP.
	He said the protesters threw a liquid containing ammonia in the face of a member of the jury .

'Russian novelist Ulitskaya attacked at awards ceremony'

Niger's government has extended a state of emergency in the south-eastern territory for three months because of the deadly danger from Boko Haram Islamists based in neighbouring Nigeria, state television reported today.
     "The security situation in the Diffa region remains alarming because of the high level of threat due to attacks by Boko Haram," said a cabinet statement read on state television.
     A state of emergency gives special powers to the security forces. The measure first took effect in February, 2015 and has been renewed several times.
     Boko Haram's stronghold is in north-east Nigeria, across the border from Niger, and the risk of attack heightened when troops from Niger and Chad pulled out of the Nigerian towns of Malam Fatori and Damasack after driving out jihadist fighters. The Islamists returned once the soldiers were gone.
     Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria have set up a joint task force to fight Boko Haram of 8,500 men, which has forced the ...

Niger government extends emergency measures against Boko Haram

Qatar Airways chief Akbar al-Baker threatened to cancel an order for Airbus A320neo planes if the European manufacturer fails to address engine issues, in an interview broadcast today.
	"When we buy an aeroplane, we expect all the terms and conditions and performance guarantees that are in the agreement to be followed by the manufacturer.
	This is not the case with the Airbus 320neo and the engine is underperforming," Baker told the Dubai-based satellite channel Al-Arabiya.
	"There are other issues with the aeroplane. So unless these issues are fully resolved as per the contract that we have signed, we will not take the delivery," he said.
	The head of the government-owned carrier said he has other options to replace the single-aisle jets.
	"If an aircraft manufacturer cannot deliver to us the contractually committed aeroplanes, then we have the right to walk away and order an alternative aeroplane," he said.
	"We always in Qatar Airways have a plan B and we will implement plan B if ..

Qatar Airways head threatens to cancel Airbus order

Xulhaz Mannan was a rallying figure for Bangladesh's marginalised but increasingly outspoken lesbian, gay and transgender community, but his brutal murder has dealt a huge blow to the movement and forced some of its leaders underground.
	Mannan, who founded Bangladesh's first magazine for gays and lesbians which he used to launch a vibrant rights movement in the deeply conservative, Muslim-majority country, was hacked to death on Monday along with a fellow activist.
	Friends and fellow campaigners this week rushed to remove all trace of their activism from social media sites, fearing they could themselves become targets.
	"Everyone felt safe because of him. But he is gone, so everyone is scared," one fellow activist who helped set up the magazine told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
	"I'm sure everyone (is now) facing the same devastating situation."
	A group of unidentified attackers carrying machetes and guns murdered Mannan and Mahbub Tonoy after gaining access to his ...

Murders force Bangladeshi gay rights activists underground

Boeing has won a contract from China Eastern Airlines for 15 787-9 Dreamliner planes worth nearly USD 4 billion, Boeing said today.
	China Eastern plans to use the long-haul planes for travelling between China, North America and Europe, Boeing said.
	We are very happy to introduce the new 787 Dreamliners into our long-haul fleet," said China Eastern Airlines Chairman Liu Shaoyong in a statement.
	"The addition of these next-generation, fuel-efficient airplanes will play a key role in supporting China Eastern's strategy for international expansion, and enable us to realize profits in point-to-point routes across the Pacific Ocean, and between China and Europe."
	The aircraft will be mainly used on flights from Shanghai to Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Toronto and Chicago.
	China Eastern is one of China's top three airlines, operating 560 aircraft and carrying around 100 million passengers annually.
	The order comes one day after Boeing reported an 8.8 percent drop in first ...

Boeing wins USD 4bn aircraft order from China Eastern

US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Baghdad today for an unannounced visit to Iraq, whose leadership is bogged down in a protracted political crisis even as its forces battle jihadists.
	"The vice president has arrived in Iraq for meetings with (the) Iraqi leadership focused on encouraging Iraqi national unity and continued momentum in the fight against ISIL," a statement from Biden's office said, using an acronym for the Islamic State jihadist group.
	"The vice president will also be discussing steps the international community can take to promote Iraq's economic stability and further regional cooperation," the statement said.
	It is the highest-ranking visit by a US official to Iraq since Biden went there in 2011.
	With the US election campaign in full swing and President Barack Obama due to step down after two terms, Biden's visit is also likely to be his last to Iraq as vice president.
	"The vice president has been the point person on Iraq for the administration since the ...

AFP

AFP

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