A Munich court today handed down an eight-year prison sentence to a German former intelligence agent who spied for both the CIA and the Russian secret service because he wanted to "experience something exciting".
	Markus Reichel had admitted to handing over "scores of documents and internal information" to the CIA, including names and addresses of agents for the Federal Intelligence Service or BND, in exchange for 95,000 euros (USD 107,000).
	Some 200 of those documents sent to the CIA were deemed very sensitive, and even included papers detailing the BND's counter-espionage strategies.
	The 32-year-old had also delivered three classified documents to the Russian secret service.
	Reichel's case had emerged during a furore over revelations of widespread US spying in documents released by former CIA intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, which had also plunged its partner service the BND into an unprecedented crisis.
	Partially disabled after a botched childhood vaccination, Reichel, ..

German 'adventure-seeking' triple agent get eight years jail

PTI Automatic

Meir Dagan, a former head of Israeli spy agency Mossad who worked to thwart Iran's nuclear programme while also opposing a military strike against it, died today at 71, the government said.
	Dagan, who battled liver cancer and had undergone a transplant, led the Mossad from 2002 through 2010.
	He was reportedly tasked with sabotaging the nuclear programme of Israel's arch-foe Iran to prevent it from developing atomic weapons.
	But while leading that secret war, he also strongly opposed a military strike against Iran, a position shared by then military chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi.
	Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then defence minister Ehud Barak were reported to have given the order in 2010 for the military to prepare such a strike, which was never carried out.
	In 2012, Dagan told US network CBS an Israeli attack would have "devastating" consequences for Israel and would be unlikely to put an end to the Iranian nuclear programme.
	Under Dagan's leadership, the Mossad is ...

Israeli spymaster who worked to thwart Iran nuke dies

The latest flare-up of Ebola in Sierra Leone has ended, leaving no confirmed cases of the virus in West Africa, the UN said today, hailing a "milestone" in the fight against the outbreak.
	"The World Health Organisation joins the government of Sierra Leone in marking the end of the recent flare-up of Ebola virus disease in the country," a statement said.
	The global health body made the announcement after 42 days -- or two Ebola incubation cycles -- since Sierra Leone's last Ebola patient tested negative for the second time.
	WHO was however careful to warn that a recurrence of cases of the deadly tropical disease remained possible in the three worst affected countries.
	"WHO continues to stress that Sierra Leone, as well as Liberia and Guinea, are still at risk of Ebola flare-ups, largely due to virus persistence in some survivors, and must remain on high alert and ready to respond," the statement said.
	Sierra Leone was previously declared free of Ebola transmission on November 7 ...

'S Leone Ebola flare-up over, virus not spreading in W Africa'

German diplomatic missions and a school in Turkey were closed today for security reasons, the German consulate in Istanbul said, less than a week after a suicide car bomb attack in the capital.
	The measure concerns the German embassy in Ankara as well as the consulate and German school in Istanbul, it said on its website.
	Sunday's suicide bombing, which killed 35 people, was claimed today by the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK), a radical Kurdish group with ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
	Last January, 12 German tourists were killed in a suicide attack blamed on the Islamic State group in the heart of Istanbul's tourist district.
	Turkey has suffered five major bombings since July last year, killing more than 200 people, including two in Ankara in less than a month.

'German institutions in Turkey closed for security reasons'

British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline said today that chief executive Andrew Witty will retire in 2017 after almost 10 years at the helm.
	"GSK plc today announced that Sir Andrew Witty, CEO, has indicated to the board his intention to retire from the company in early 2017," the London-listed group said in an unexpected announcement alongside its annual report.
	Witty, 51, who has worked for GSK and in the pharmaceuticals industry for the last 32 years, will leave the group at the end of next March, it said.
	GSK will now search for a successor and will consider internal and external candidates.
	"By next year, I will have been CEO for nearly 10 years and I believe this will be the right time for a new leader to take over," Witty added in the statement.
	"In making this decision it has been important to me that the board have the time to conduct a full and proper process and that we sustain the momentum of our current business performance, capitalising on the very significant progress we .

Drugs giant GSK says boss to step down next year

Myanmar's incoming government announced plans today to create a ministry for ethnic affairs, marking the importance it places on relations with minorities in a country scarred by festering civil wars and sectarian tensions.
	The move was contained within a wider civil service reform plan announced in parliament that aims to streamline the unwieldy junta-era bureaucracy, slashing the total number of ministries from 36 to 21.
	A new civilian leadership, led by Aung San Suu Kyi and her presidential proxy Htin Kyaw, will take office at the end of the month.
	The ministry plans will be debated by lawmakers tomorrow, parliament speaker Mann Win Khaing Than said. They will be implemented after Htin Kyaw is sworn in on March 30.
	Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) has vowed to run a more inclusive administration open to Myanmar's ethnic minorities, many of whom chafed under military rule and launched frequent armed struggles seeking greater autonomy.
	Last week an ethnic Chin ...

Conflict-plagued Myanmar plans ethnic ministry

A glider crashed into a residential area near Tokyo today, killing the two men on board, local police and fire officials said.
	In the incident shortly after noon (0300 GMT), the light aircraft rammed onto the roofs of two houses in a densely populated neighbourhood near Narita airport east of Tokyo, local police said.
	Television footage showed the white fuselage of the glider broken into several pieces and spread over the tile roofs of two residences.
	The two men aboard, 69-year-old Shuji Fujioka and another man around the same age but not yet identified, were taken to hospital and later confirmed dead, officials said.
	Investigators were looking into why the glider crashed, a local police spokesman told AFP.
	Last year three people died when a small single-engine propeller plane crashed into a Tokyo suburb shortly after takeoff.

Glider crashes into houses near Tokyo, kills two on board

A radical Kurdish group with ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) today claimed the deadly suicide car bomb attack that killed 35 people in Ankara last weekend.
	"On the evening of March 13, a suicide attack was carried out... In the streets of the capital of the fascist Turkish republic. We claim this attack," the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) said in a statement on their website.
	The group said it was a response to security operations carried out by Turkish forces in the Kurdish-dominated southeast of the country.
	Sunday's attack came three weeks after a similar car bombing in Ankara killed 29 people, also claimed by TAK.
	In the immediate aftermath of the latest bombing, the Turkish authorities pointed the finger at the PKK, against which Ankara has waged a relentless assault since late last year.
	The government said one of the bombers was a woman in her mid-20s affiliated with the PKK and trained in Syria by the People's Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish ...

Radical Kurdish group close to PKK claims deadly Ankara attack

Luggage giant Samsonite on today warned its outlook for this year was "uncertain" owing to the growth slowdown in key market China and a stronger USD.
	The firm said in a filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that despite a tough trading year, it saw net profit rise 6.1 per cent to USD 197.6 million last year thanks to record revenues of USD 2.43 billion.
	"Our business has emerged stronger from 2015... Despite various headwinds around the globe," chairman Timothy Charles Parker said in the statement.
	However, chief executive Ramesh Dungarmal Tainwala said the outlook for 2016 "remains uncertain, with challenging trading conditions expected in a number of our key markets including China, and the negative currency translation impacts from the strong US dollar expected to continue affecting our business".
	The world's second-largest economy expanded 6.9 per cent in 2015, the worst performance in a quarter century and a far cry from the years of double-digit increases. The country's .

Samsonite profits up in 2015 but outlook 'uncertain'

Oil prices extended their gains in Asia today after key producers agreed to meet next month to discuss limiting output and stabilise a long-running price decline.
	Qatar's energy minister, Mohammed al-Sada, confirmed that exporters from within and outside the OPEC cartel will meet April 17 in Doha, stoking hopes of an agreement to ease a global supply glut.
	The initiative is backed by 15 countries accounting for about 73 per cent of worldwide output, said the minister, who also serves as president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
	Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, who supports the initiative, said Iran had indicated that it is "ready to participate" in the meeting, days after Tehran had warned it would not consider any limits until it had roughly doubled production to four million barrels a day.
	At around 1130 IST, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in April climbed 48 cents, or 1.25 per cent, to USD 38.94. Brent for May ...

Oil prices climb on hopes over producer meeting

Japan said today it was investigating footage of a man identifying himself as a Japanese journalist believed missing in Syria, who appeared to be speaking under duress and seeking the government's help.
	The government is sensitive to any news of possible Japanese captures abroad after Islamic State militants last year claimed to have beheaded war correspondent Kenji Goto, a week after the group also said it killed Haruna Yukawa, a self-styled contractor.
	The video of Jumpei Yasuda, widely shown on Japanese TV news programmes today, was also available on Facebook.
	It was posted online by a Syrian man who lives in Turkey who said Yasuda was taken hostage by the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front rebel group in Syria, public broadcaster NHK and the Asahi Shimbun daily reported, citing telephone conversations with the man.
	Speculation in Japan has swirled around Yasuda since last year amid fears he may have been captured in Syria. The Japanese government in December said it was ...

Japan studying video of journalist missing in Middle East

A fiery pile-up inside a Japanese highway tunnel today killed at least two people and left 70 needing treatment as dozens fled toxic smoke from burning vehicles, police and media said.
	The accident happened around 7:30 am (2230 GMT) inside the 860-metre (940-yard) Hachihonmatsu tunnel in Hiroshima prefecture, southwest Japan, according to a local police spokesman who spoke with AFP on condition of anonymity.
	A truck crashed into several vehicles that were stopped inside the tunnel, causing it and at least one other vehicle to catch fire, he said.
	Local media said a dozen vehicles were involved, with at least five cars burning.
	Public broadcaster NHK showed dramatic images of dark, thick smoke bellowing out of the tunnel as dozens of firefighters and police officers descended on the scene.
	Emergency crews were seen assisting those who fled the tunnel, with a tent erected to assist those in medical need.
	The fire was put out a little more than two hours after the accident, the ...

Japan highway tunnel pile-up kills 2, sends dozens to hospital

Spanish star Rafael Nadal and world number one Novak Djokovic remained on course for a mouth-watering Indian Wells semi-final while Swiss Stan Wawrinka exited in a match he described as a no-brainer.
     World number five Nadal survived a scare from Alexander Zverev, rallying to beat the German teenager 6-7 (8/10), 6-0, 7-5 and reach the quarter-finals.
	Two-time defending champion Djokovic cruised into the quarters by beating Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-3 but French Open champion Stan Wawrinka bit the dust in joint ATP and WTA Tour tournament.
	Nadal, who saved a match point in the third set, said he had to adjust quickly to 18-year-old Zverev's style, especially the German's second serve, which he consistently blasts at speeds of 120 mph.
	"With his second serve at 120mph, with a lot of spin and at 124, 123, 120 mph, it was impossible," Nadal said.
	"If he puts the first serve in at over 130 mph then you are in big trouble. So I think that I'm here, and still alive."
	Indeed, Zverev had 

Djokovic cruises, Nadal survives at Indian Wells

Substitutes Thiago Alcantara and Kingsley Coman scored extra-time goals as Bayern Munich roared back to beat Juventus 4-2 in their Champions League last 16, second leg and win 6-4 on aggregate.
     A stunned Bayern found themselves 2-0 down after 28 minutes at the Allianz Arena as Paul Pogba and Juan Cuadrado struck for the Italians.
    	But just like in the first leg in Turin, when Bayern threw away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw, the hosts fought back as Robert Lewandowski netted on 73 minutes before Thomas Mueller's dramatic equaliser in the 91st minute forced extra time.
	Thiago came off the bench to put Bayern ahead for the first time on 108 minutes before fellow replacement Coman -- on loan from Juventus -- curled in a superb strike on 110 minutes to put the Bavarians in the quarter-finals for the fifth season in a row.
	The fightback keeps alive Pep Guardiola's dream of bringing the Champions League trophy to Munich at the third and final attempt before his high-profile move ..

Thiago, Coman strike as Bayern fight back to beat Juventus

Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were all on target as Barcelona piled more pressure on under-fire Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger by easing into the Champions League quarter-finals 5-1 on aggregate with a 3-1 win at the Camp Nou.
     Neymar's early strike appeared to erase any forlorn hopes of an Arsenal comeback, but the visitors were given hope when Mohamed Elneny drilled into the top corner just after half-time.
     Suarez put the tie beyond Wenger's men in emphatic fashion with a stunning volley 25 minutes from time before Messi's cheeky chipped finish rounded off the scoring late on.
	A ninth consecutive victory stretches Barca's unbeaten run in all competitions to 38 games and seals their place in Friday's quarter-final draw for the ninth consecutive season.
	One win in eight games has decimated Arsenal's hopes of silverware this season as they exit the competition at the last 16 stage for the sixth consecutive season days after relinquishing their two-year hold on the FA ...

Barca outgun Arsenal to reach quarter-finals

Oil prices extended their gains in Asia today after key producers agreed to meet next month to discuss limiting output and stabilise a long-running price decline.
	Qatar's energy minister, Mohammed al-Sada confirmed that key producers from within and outside the OPEC cartel will meet April 17 in Doha, stoking hopes of an agreement to ease a global supply glut.
	The initiative is backed by 15 countries accounting for about 73 per cent of global oil output, said the minister, who also serves as president of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
	Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak, who supports the initiative, said Iran had indicated that it is "ready to participate" in the meeting, days after Tehran had warned it would not consider any limits until it had roughly doubled production to four million barrels a day.
	The news sent oil prices surging and at around 0830 IST, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in April climbed 65 cents, or 1.69 

Oil prices climb on April producers meeting

Peace talks to end Syria's brutal war broadened to include an opposition group close to Moscow, as the UN intensified efforts to find a political solution to the five-year conflict.
	UN mediator Staffan de Mistura met for the first time late yesterday with an umbrella delegation including the so-called Moscow Group, which are demanding an equal seat at the negotiating table.
	That would be hotly contested by the "official" opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC), which insists it alone must represent the opposition in the talks.
	The UN did not clarify what role the new group would play in the negotiations but co-president Randa Kassis told reporters "We are here as a negotiating delegation."
	The entry into the Geneva talks of the Moscow Group, along with the so-called Cairo and Istana groups, followed Russia's surprise decision to withdraw most of its forces from Syria, where they had been fighting in support of President Bashar al-Assad.
	Western governments voiced hopes the ..

Syria peace talks broaden as pro-Russia opposition meet UN

Fourteen Palestinian pilgrims were killed and 36 others injured when their bus overturned in southern Jordan near the Saudi border, emergency services have said.
	Jordan's civil defence officials yesterday said the driver of the bus lost control of the vehicle around 320 kilometres south of Amman and warned that the toll could rise, given the severity of the injuries.
	The group had been heading to Saudi Arabia for the umrah pilgrimage, which along with the more important annual hajj attracts millions of Muslims from around the world.

Fourteen Palestinian pilgrims die in Jordan bus crash

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has demanded an investigation into an air strike on a market in Yemen that reportedly killed dozens of civilians.
	The situation in Hajja province in northern Yemen is not clear, but local sources blame the Saudi-led coalition fighting Huthi rebels for carrying out Tuesday's strike.
	Initial reports from health officials said the bulk of the more than 40 dead were civilians, but a tribal chief later told AFP that 33 of those killed were Huthi militiamen.
	"The secretary general condemns the airstrikes that hit al-Khamis market in Mastaba district in the Hajjah province of Yemen yesterday," Ban's office said yesterday.
	"This incident is one of the deadliest -- reportedly killing and wounding scores of civilians, including women and children -- since the start of the conflict," he complained,
	"This is the second major incident of this kind in just over two weeks," he added, stressing that attacks on civilian areas like markets are a breach of ...

UN demands inquiry into Yemen market bombing

US President Barack Obama will take a message of reconciliation directly to the Cuban people next week, delivering a public address billed as the keystone of an historic visit to the communist-ruled island.
	Obama will on Sunday become the first US president in 88 years to visit Cuba, a trip his advisors say will be heavily focused on taking his message to the public.
	The centerpiece will be an address Tuesday at the Gran Teatro Alicia Alonso, which the White House hopes will be televised across the country.
	"We see this speech as a unique moment in the history between our countries," said Ben Rhodes, the architect of Obama's opening to Cuba and a senior foreign policy advisor.
	It will be "an opportunity for him to describe the course we are on, to review the complicated history between our countries."
	The address will also "look forward to the future and to lay out his vision on how the United States and Cuba can work together, how the Cuban people can continue to pursue a better 

Obama to address Cuban people in Havana speech

First lady Michelle Obama has said she had no desire to follow Hillary Clinton and run for president herself, saying she could have more impact outside of Washington's polarized politics.
	Obama made the remarks as she addressed the South by Southwest festival in Austin yesterday, Texas, where she introduced a song for charity to support a UN-backed campaign to improve education access for the 62 million unschooled girls around the world.
	"I will not run for president. Nope, nope, not going to do it," she said in response to a question.
	"There is so much that I can do outside of the White House, and sometimes there is much more that you can do outside the White House without the constraints, and the lights and the cameras, and the partisanship," she added.
	"There is a potential that my voice could be heard by many people who can't hear me now because I'm 'Michelle Obama, the first lady.'"
	Part of the first African American first family, the 52-year-old is a Harvard-educated lawyer 

AFP

AFP

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