Britain should join air strikes against the Islamic State group in Syria and should not "sub-contract" its security to allies, Prime Minister David Cameron said today in a written statement to MPs.
	"I believe that we should now take the decision to extend British air strikes against ISIL into Syria," he wrote, ahead of a speech in parliament where he will formally argue his case for war.
	Cameron said that it was in Britain's national security interests to strike IS jihadists and deny them a "safe haven" in Syria, arguing that the burden should not fall only on Britain's allies.
	"It is wrong for the United Kingdom to sub-contract its security to other countries," he said.
	"We have to deny a safe haven for ISIL in Syria. The longer ISIL is allowed to grow in Syria, the greater the threat it will pose," he added, using another name for IS.
	Cameron is expected to call a vote in parliament on the issue before recess begins on December 17.
	He has stepped up pressure for MPs to back ...

Britain should join Syria air strikes, Cameron tells MPs

PTI Automatic

Myanmar and Bangladesh face renewed pressure to tackle "the root causes" of an annual migration crisis after Thailand today announced a regional summit ahead of the new sailing season.
	Tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims have fled western Myanmar in recent years, joined increasingly by Bangladeshis escaping poverty, on dangerous and often fatal sea journeys through the Bay of Bengal towards Malaysia.
	Boats crammed with migrants traditionally depart following the end of the monsoon season expected in November.
	It is not clear whether migrants will take to the seas in the same numbers this year after Thailand launched a crackdown on major human trafficking rings in May.
	That resulted in thousands of migrants being abandoned in fetid jungle camps and at sea and the arrest of scores of people, including a Thai general and other officials for orchestrating the multi-million dollar trade.
	Stories of kidnap, coercion and hunger emerged from the hundreds who staggered ashore or were ...

Thai summit to spotlight Myanmar, B'desh over migrant crisis

South Korea today buried former president Kim Young-Sam, following a snow-swept state funeral for the man whose 1992 election victory brought a formal end to more than 30 years of military rule.
	The one-time pro-democracy activist, who served as president from 1993-1998, died in hospital on Sunday after a serious blood infection. He was 87.
	Kim's term was bookended by two major events, the first nuclear crisis with North Korea in 1994 and the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98, when he accepted a USD 58-billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
	He also had the two generals who served as presidents before him indicted and convicted on treason charges, although he pardoned both men at the end of his presidency.
	Kim's funeral casket, draped with the national flag, was carried from Seoul National University Hospital by 11 uniformed bearers shortly after midday and placed in a black, stretch hearse -- its bonnet decorated with a wreath.
	The hearse was then driven through ...

S Korea holds state funeral for ex-president Kim Young-Sam

A South African judge today lifted a domestic ban on trade in rhino horns, in a direct challenge to government policy put in place in 2009 to try to stem rocketing poaching numbers.
	The government gave no immediate reaction to the judge's ruling, which was delivered in the Pretoria High Court after two South African game breeders fought a legal battle to overturn the moratorium.
	The court decision came ahead of a meeting in Johannesburg next year of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which could lift the global ban.
	South Africa's rhino poaching epidemic saw a record 1,215 rhino killed last year for their horn, and some private rhino breeders say selling legally harvested horns could stifle the lucrative black market trade.
	"The moratorium on domestic trade in rhino horns is hereby reviewed and set aside," said the ruling from judge Francis Legodi.
	The environment ministry said no decision had been made on whether to ...

S African judge lifts domestic ban on rhino horn trade

French nuclear giant Areva today said it had linked up with Hitachi GE Nuclear Energy to help Japan dismantle boiling-water nuclear power stations.
	Following a massive accident at the Fukushima reactor, hit by a tsunami in 2011, Japan said it would shut down 11 nuclear reactors, although it has put two back on stream this year.
	Areva was involved in the Fukushima clean-up, but that reactor is not covered by the new agreement, the French group said in a statement.
	It has been working with Hitachi to improve Japanese reactors' safety for the past two years.
	Areva's role will now be to participate in preliminary studies for dismantling boiling-water reactors.
	Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government has been pushing for a return to nuclear power to generate electricity after Japan's several dozen reactors went offline in the wake of the 2011 disaster.
	The resource-poor nation's energy bill has soared since it was forced to turn to fossil-fuel imports to plug the gap.
	But the ...

French group to help Japan dismantle nuclear reactors

New Zealand have got over their stagefright and aim to leave Australia with their heads held high after the historic day-night third Test this week, skipper Brendon McCullum said today.
     McCullum admitted the Black Caps were struck by nerves as they went down by 208 runs in the Brisbane series opener, but he said they were back on track after forcing a high-scoring draw in Perth.
     The Kiwis get their chance to draw the three-match series if they beat the Australians in the pink-ball Adelaide Test, starting Friday.
     McCullum said his team could leave with plenty of respect if they chalked up a win in the first-ever day-night Test, which has caught the imagination of Australian and international cricket fans.
     "We were a bit nervous at the start of this series to be honest," he said. "We don't often get the opportunity to play in such a big series and test ourselves against the best over a long period of time.
     "We walked into this Test series as well prepared as we .

Kiwis aim to leave with heads held high

A Palestinian was shot and killed during clashes with Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank today, the Palestinian health ministry said.
	"Yahya Taha, 21, from the village of Qatanna... Died after he was shot and wounded in the head during clashes," a ministry statement said, referring to an area northwest of Jerusalem.
	The death brings to 95 the number of Palestinians killed in violence since October 1, including an Arab Israeli.
	Around half of them have been the alleged perpetrators of a wave of stabbing, shooting and car ramming attacks. Others have died in clashes with security forces.
	The violence has also left 17 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean dead.
	More than 800 Palestinians have been arrested over the past two months, Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon told public radio today.
	Attempts to ease the tensions, including a visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday, have so far proved unsuccessful.
	Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which controls the ..

Palestinian killed by Israel army fire in West Bank: ministry

Fifteen people were killed in Russia today when a civilian helicopter crashed in Siberia, regional authorities said.
	The Mi-8 helicopter, which was transporting 22 passengers and four crew members, crashed outside the town of Igarka in Western Siberia, some 2,800 kilometres (1,750 miles) northeast of Moscow.
	"Fifteen people were killed and 10 people were hospitalised as a result of the crash," regional transportation authorities said in a statement.
	Contact with the helicopter - which was headed to an oil pumping station - was lost just after 0930 IST, some 15 minutes after takeoff from Igarka airport, authorities said.
	The regional branch of the emergencies ministry said the helicopter had performed an emergency landing but did not elaborate on what might have caused the crash.
	Prosecutors said they would investigate possible safety violations.

Fifteen killed in Russian helicopter crash in Siberia

A large but very deep 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit western Brazil today, the US Geological Survey said.
	The quake struck at 12:45 am local time at a depth of 375 miles (604 kilometres). It occurred some 81 miles southwest of the town of Tarauaca and 436 miles northeast of Lima, Peru.

Magnitude 6.4 quake hits western Brazil: USGS

The last remaining bodies from a New Zealand helicopter crash that claimed seven lives were airlifted from a glacier today after rescue crews took advantage of a break in the weather.
	The sightseeing chopper, piloted by a New Zealander with four British and two Australian tourists on board, plunged into Fox Glacier on Saturday, but dismal conditions had stalled recovery efforts at the popular South Island tourist site.
	Specialist alpine rescuers brought out four bodies on Sunday but had been frustrated in their efforts to reach the other three.
	Police inspector Iain McKenzie said they were determined to make the most of improved conditions today.
	"Within five minutes of sunrise we had our first teams landing on the glacier and work commenced immediately," he told reporters.
	Police had originally said three bodies, not four, were recovered on Sunday.
	Alpine rescue team leader Marius Bron said the heavily-crevassed glacier presented a major challenge for his team.
	"It's really ...

Last NZ chopper crash bodies retrieved from glacier

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) on Wednesday defended its decision to sign up one of the world's top online betting companies to sponsor its flagship Davis Cup and Fed Cup events.
     Betway was introduced as an international sponsor at last week's Fed Cup final in Prague.
     The company's sponsorship of both the men's and women's team competitions will continue for three years until 2018.
     "All elements of the new partnership are fully compliant with the rules and interpretations of the tennis anti- corruption programme," an ITF statement said.
     ITF president David Haggerty was also quick to reassure fans that the sport's welfare was in good hands.
     "The ITF welcomes Betway to our family of sponsors," said Haggerty.
     "Betway is a well-respected international betting brand. The ITF and Betway share the mission to keep the sport of tennis clean.

Betting company to sponsor Davis Cup, Fed Cup

A first-half strike from Mario Mandzukic saw last season's beaten finalists Juventus into the last 16 of the Champions League with a 1-0 win over injury-hit Manchester City.
     City, already qualified following their 3-1 win at Sevilla last time out, travelled to Turin looking to secure top spot in Group D as well as avenge their 2-1 defeat to the Bianconeri at the Etihad Stadium in September.
     But a second successive defeat to the Italian champions means City now look likely to finish second behind Juve in the group. Juventus are now two points clear before facing Sevilla away next month, when City host Borussia Moenchengladbach.
     "Hats off to the lads, they've gifted me qualification with a game to spare," said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.
     "It wasn't an easy group. Borussia (Moenchengladbach) had a fantastic last season and Manchester are a technical side with top players.
     "It's never easy to win a Champions League game. We've done that, again, while not .

Mandzukic fires Juve into last 16 with City win

On the first anniversary of the tragic death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, questions are being asked whether cricket administrators have done "everything humanly possible" to ensure player safety.
     Hughes, who played 26 Tests, died from bleeding on the brain on November 27 last year after being hit on the base of the skull by a rising ball at the Sydney Cricket Ground during a domestic match.
     His death -- a freak accident -- stunned Australia and the world cricket community, sparking an outpouring of grief.
     While Cricket Australia immediately boosted the medical presence at grounds and now requires all players to wear a helmet that meets certain safety standards, Hughes' long-time coach and mentor Neil D'Costa said he was still not convinced it was enough.
     "Safety is our absolute top priority and I'm not sure we're doing everything humanly possible to honour Phillip's memory," he told Thursday's Sydney Morning Herald.
     "You can erect plaques, and that's .

Safety in focus, one year after Hughes tragedy

Hundreds of firefighters battled a devastating blaze for a second day in Australia today that has left two dead and 13 in hospital, with grave fears the death toll will rise.
	Cooler conditions and lighter winds aided fire crews as dawn broke but South Australia state Premier Jay Weatherill said it would be days before the situation was brought under control.
	"Even though a significant proportion of the fire perimeter is under control and the conditions were milder overnight many fire fronts are still active within the fire grounds and they'll continue to be battled for some days," he said.
	The premier late yesterday said two people had died in the inferno around the town of Pinery, some 70 kilometres north of Adelaide.
	"Obviously we have had the awful news of the tragic death of at least two people and we hold grave fears for many more," Weatherill said.
	"We can't be entirely sure that we have identified every single person within the fire ground. That work will continue this ...

Australia firefighters battle deadly inferno

A white Chicago policeman caught on tape shooting dead a black teenager had at least 20 complaints filed against him but was never disciplined, a database shows, in the latest such incident to inflame racial sentiment in the US.
	The graphic video released shortly after officer Jason Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder on Tuesday has also reignited impassioned debate about the use of force by law enforcement in the United States, with Chicago left dangerously on edge.
	Protesters there have likened the Laquan McDonald killing to that of Michael Brown, the black teenager shot dead by a white policeman in Ferguson, Missouri last year, triggering 15 months of demonstrations in major US cities over perceived police brutality against black men.
	Chicago police initially said that McDonald was high on the hallucinogen PCP, acting erratically and lunged at officers with a knife when he was shot 16 times in October 2014.
	But the dashcam video showed the 17-year-old walking away ...

US policeman charged with murder had 20 earlier complaints

A Hungarian man detained by anti-terrorist police on suspicion of plotting to carry out mass killings has no connections with terror groups and is in fact a World War II hobbyist, a court has said.
	The man was part of a group of four people detained last weekend after Hungary's anti-terrorist police said it found explosives in a car during a raft of spot-checks sparked by the deadly November 13 attacks in Paris.
	The discovery led detectives to a "bomb-making lab" in a house containing "explosives and devices that were suitable for killing people to the utmost extent," head of Hungary's Counter-Terrorism Centre (TEK) Janos Hajdu told a television channel Tuesday.
	Hajdu refused to deny the suspects had jihadist links and said the case had "international ramifications".
	Prosecutors applied to the Metropolitan Court in Budapest to remand the chief suspect, Roland S, in pre-trial custody but the court refused, citing a lack of evidence.
	The man "lives with his mother and stepfather ...

Suspected Hungarian jihadist actually a World War II hobbyist

A Miami man who killed his wife and then splashed a photo of her bloodied body on Facebook has been found guilty of second-degree murder.
	Derek Medina, 33, who remained impassive after the jury delivered its verdict yesterday, could be jailed for life after he shot Jennifer Alfonso eight times in August 2013 in the kitchen of their home.
	Medina said he acted in self-defense after she threatened him with a knife and following years of abuse at the hands of his wife, 27. But after six hours' deliberation jurors rejected that claim and found him guilty of second-degree murder.
	The case attracted widespread attention because before surrendering to police, Medina photographed his wife's body, put the picture on Facebook and admitted in a posting at the social network that he had killed her.
	"I'm going to prison or death sentence for killing my wife love you guys miss you guys take care Facebook people you will see me in the news my wife was punching me and I am not going to stand ...

US 'Facebook killer' guilty of murdering wife

Away from public view, US President Barack Obama has signed a defense bill barbed with measures designed to undo his bid to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay.
	In a terse statement, the White House yesterday said Obama has signed the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016," along with several other pieces of legislation.
	Obama's signature significantly lengthens the odds that he will be able to close Guantanamo before leaving office in early 2017.
	The bill upholds a ban on transferring prisoners from Gitmo to the United States.
	In a separate written statement Obama said he was "deeply disappointed that the Congress has again failed to take productive action toward closing the detention facility at Guantanamo."
	He warned that his administration views some of the curbs on prisoner transfers as potentially unconstitutional.
	Along with transfers to foreign countries, moving the most dangerous prisoners to a specialized facility in the United States is at the heart .

Obama signs bill making Gitmo closure tougher

A newborn baby boy who was just a few hours old and still with his umbilical cord attached was found abandoned in a Christmas nativity scene in a New York church, police have said.
	A 60-year-old custodian found the infant wrapped in towels inside a manger at Holy Child Jesus Church in the borough of Queens after returning from his lunch break on Monday.
	The boy was in good health and transferred by paramedics to a hospital, police and church officials said.
	Parish vicar Christopher Heanue said the baby weighed five pounds, two ounces (2.3 kilos) and measured 17 inches (43 centimeters).
	"The custodian said he placed a small empty manger in the nativity scene on the main stage facing the pews and left for lunch break at 11:30am," a police spokesman told AFP.
	"No one else was outside the church at the time -- 1:10 pm he returns from lunch and immediately hears a baby crying. He observes a newborn baby wrapped in towels, the umbilical cord still attached and lying in the nativity ...

Newborn baby abandoned in New York nativity scene

Former Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader has been released from jail following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn a nine-year prison sentence for multi-million-euro embezzlement and order a retrial.
	"I do not do politics any more, that is a finished thing. I will concentrate fully on the trials ahead and I am convinced we will win them," Sanader told reporters yesterday in front of a Zagreb prison after three years behind bars.
	Sanader, 62, was convicted in March last year for diverting some ten million euros from state-run firms, mainly to benefit himself and to go towards slush funds for his former HDZ party.
	The court scrapped his conviction last month citing violations of criminal proceedings, notably the right to a fair trial, and Sanader was granted release on condition of a 12.4 million kuna (USD 1.7 million) bail.
	His trial had been one of Croatia's most important corruption cases since the country gained independence in 1991.
	It was also one in a series against ..

Croatian ex-PM freed after graft verdict overturned

A toddler left alone with her pre-school siblings in their Texas home suffered fatal burns after they put her in the oven and switched it on, US media reported.
	J'Zyra Thompson, 19 months, was left unsupervised along with her three-year-old twin siblings in the Houston apartment. A five-year-old was also present.
	Court records obtained by ABC-13 News in Houston said the twins told child protective services that one of them put their little sister in the oven and the other one made it "hot."
	Their mother Raqual Thompson, 25, is set to appear in court Monday on four counts of child endangerment, according to the Harris County Sheriff's office.
	Thompson reportedly told police that she had gone out with her boyfriend to collect a pizza and a prescription at the drug store when her child burned to death on November 16.
	When they returned home they found the three other children crying and pointing to the kitchen. The oven had toppled over with the door face down on the floor.
	Child ..

AFP

AFP

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