A British corporate investigator imprisoned in China for nearly two years has said he was "harassed" for a confession, in a claim immediately denied by the Chinese foreign ministry.
	"I was constantly harassed in prison over signing a thing that they call admission of guilt and a statement of remorse," Peter Humphrey was quoted as saying by The BBC after being deported to Britain yesterday.
	"I never signed those documents because I did not admit to having committed that offence... Therefore they tried to extort the confession by withholding medical attention for my prostate condition," he said.
	Lu Kang, a foreign ministry spokesman, denied Humphrey's claims at a regularly scheduled press briefing in Beijing today.
	"The relevant Chinese authorities carried out their duties in accordance with the law. We have protected his lawful rights and interests," Lu said.
	Humphrey and his wife Yu Yingzeng, a naturalised US citizen, were linked to a corruption case involving pharmaceutical ...

British deportee accuses China of prison mistreatment

PTI Automatic

South Korea's parliament endorsed the appointment of Hwang Kyo-Ahn as prime minister today, whose immediate priority will be to tackle a MERS outbreak which has claimed 23 lives.
	The move came a month after Hwang, a 58-year-old former justice minister, was selected by President Park Geun-Hye to become the prime minister, a post that has become something of a poisoned chalice under her administration.
	Initially opposition lawmakers refused to vote but changed their stance overnight following an appeal by Park's ruling Saenuri Party that Hwang should take charge quickly to help spearhead the government's drive to curb the spread of the virus.
	The National Assembly endorsed Hwang's appointment in a 156-120 vote.
	The post had been vacant since Hwang's predecessor, Lee Wan-Koo, was implicated in a bribery scandal and forced to quit in April after serving only two months.
	The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy has opposed Hwang over allegations he dodged mandatory ...

S Korean parliament confirms nomination of new PM

Moscow will extend its embargo on European Union agricultural products but is unlikely to go further if the EU extends sanctions as expected, economy minister Alexei Ulyukayev said today.
	"We'll just keep the status quo: the embargo on produce introduced in response to the sanctions regime -- of course, it's a symmetrical measure," Ulyukayev told RIA Novosti state news agency.
	"It could be extended with some finessing," he added.
	Asked if Russia might impose sanctions on other areas of EU imports, he said "I think it's unlikely."
	Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich also told RIA Novosti that "we will extend" sanctions if the EU does.
	When asked by how much longer, he said: "I don't talk deadlines."
	Russia has banned most dairy, meat, fish and fruit and vegetable imports from Australia, Canada, the European Union, Norway and the United States.
	EU member states agreed Wednesday to extend damaging economic sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis by another six months .

Russia to prolong embargo if EU extends sanctions: minister

Three Dutch tourists were killed and at least 29 people injured when their bus crashed in southern Portugal, officials said.
	The bus, which had 50 tourists aboard, crashed shortly after 11:00 pm (2300 GMT) in the country's southernmost Algarve region, the Lusa news agency quoted police as saying.
	Dutch foreign ministry spokesman Herman van Gelderen said that "three Dutch tourists have been killed and 29 others, many of them Dutch, have been injured."
	The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, police said.
	The wounded, some of them seriously injured, were transported to various local hospitals.

Three Dutch tourists killed in Portugal bus crash

Japan is holding its first ever toilet design contest, with organisers looking for "most comfortable", "cheapest for the developing world" and "safest for women", officials have said.
	In a bid to find the nation's loveliest lavatories, a government panel is seeking applications that prove designers are thinking big about the littlest room.
	The initiative comes as Tokyo appears to have grasped the soft-power potential of the country's high-tech toilets, whose seat warmers and pinpoint bidet jets amaze foreign visitors.
	"I hope efforts to make the world's best restrooms in Japan will spread broadly," Haruko Arimura, minister in charge of women's empowerment -- who is overseeing the project -- said in a recent press conference.
	"It is part of our efforts with hospitality for the (2020 Tokyo) Olympic and Paralympic Games," Arimura said.
	A 145-page report on improving quality of life claims the drive towards better bogs will "empower women" because by "improving comfort, cleanliness ..

No loo-sers as Japan holds toilet design contest

Pakistan struck an early blow after sending Sri Lanka into bat in overcast conditions as play finally began in the rain-hit first Test in Galle, here today.
     After inclement weather had washed out the entire first day's play, the match began two hours late on the second day due to a wet outfield at the Galle International Stadium.
     In the 16 overs bowled in the shortened morning session, Sri Lanka moved to 40 for one by lunch with Kumar Sangakkara on four and Kaushal Silva on eight.
     Left-handed Dimuth Karunaratne made 21 in an opening stand of 30 with Kaushal Silva when he was dismissed by left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz in the 13th over of the innings.
     Karunaratne attempted to pull a short ball but only managed to edge a catch to wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed to provide the tourists a much-needed breakthrough.
     The wicket would have come as a relief to skipper Misbah-ul Haq, who surprisingly elected to field on a slow pitch after winning the toss. Wahab had Karunaratne 

Pakistan strike early in Sri Lanka Test

A Malaysian-registered tanker that disappeared a week ago in a suspected hijacking has been detected in Cambodian waters with a new name and fresh coat of paint, Malaysia's navy chief was quoted saying today.
	Abdul Aziz Jaafar said Malaysian and Australian aircraft were shadowing the MT Orkim Harmony, which vanished last Thursday off the southeastern Malaysian state of Johor along with its crew of 22.
	"We have found the vessel and RMAF (Malaysian air force), MMEA (Malaysian coast guard) and RAAF (Australian air force) aircraft are tailing it from the air," he was quoted as saying by the state-run Bernama news agency.
	The London-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has repeatedly warned that the waters of Southeast Asia were becoming the world's piracy hotspot.
	The IMB said pirates were increasingly preying on slow-moving small coastal tankers and that one attack is occurring every two weeks.
	Typically, armed pirates seize control of the ships and syphon off their cargoes of .

Malaysian navy says missing tanker found in Cambodian waters

England captain Eoin Morgan struck a blistering century in a record winning-chase as his side beat New Zealand by seven wickets in the fourth One-day International

Morgan leads England to stunning win over New Zealand

A suspected arson attack damaged a revered Christian shrine in northern Israel overnight with a church adviser pointing the finger at Jewish extremists.
	The Church of the Multiplication at Tabgha on the shores on the Sea of Galilee is where many Christians believe Jesus fed the 5,000 in the miracle of the five loaves and two fish.
	"During the night a fire broke out at the Tabgha church," a police statement said.
	"Fire service investigators and police are examining the scene. Graffiti in Hebrew was found on the wall of the church."
	Father Matthias, of the Roman Catholic Benedictine order, which administers the site, said the damage was limited to an external atrium, which was "totally destroyed."
	"The church, thank God is in good condition," he told AFP. "We're very happy that nothing happened to the church."
	The police statement did not elaborate on the content of the graffiti, but Israeli media said it called for the expulsion of "heathens" from Israel.
	An adviser to the Roman 

Suspected arson attack at revered Christian site in Israel

Somali security forces shot dead four suspected Shebab insurgents today, foiling an attack on a political conference in the central town of Adado, officials said.
	SMore than 400 local politicians, leaders and clan elders were meeting in the town to discuss the formation of a regional government when the gunmen tried to storm the building, with one blowing himself up in a bid to breach the gates.
	"Four Shebab militants tried to storm the conference centre in Adado this morning but the security forces stopped them," said security official Mohamed Sugule in the town, some 500 kilometres (300 miles) north of the capital Mogadishu.
	"One of them detonated himself at the gate to let others make their way into the compound, but all of them have been killed."
	Halimo Ismail Yarey, a key organiser of the conference, said all those at the meeting were safe.
	The attack comes at the start of Islam's holy month of Ramadan. The Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab have in past years intensified attacks during 

Four gunmen killed in Somalia conference attack: official

France and England both advanced to the last 16 of the Women's World Cup with wins as Colombia booked their spot as one of the best third-placed finishers.
     Third-ranked France bounced back from a shock defeat to Colombia by whipping Mexico 5-0 in Ottawa to finish top of Group F with six points.
     England, also on six points, but behind France on goal difference, beat Colombia 2-1 in Montreal and advance second from the group.
     The 28th-ranked South Americans also advance past the group stage for the first time with four points from three games as 15th-ranked Mexico are on their way home with one point.
     "We made things difficult for ourselves by losing against Colombia," admitted France coach Philippe Bergeroo of their 2-0 defeat which was one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's 24-year history.
     "A loss today would have sent us home. We've achieved our first objective, we can breath a bit easier now."
     France are bidding for their first title after ...

France, England, Colombia advance to last 16

Brazil superstar Neymar was sent off as the five-time world champions crashed to a 1-0 Copa America defeat against Colombia here.
     In sensational scenes after the final whistle, Neymar was shown a red card after an ugly melee involving players of both sides in which he appeared to aim a headbutt at Colombia goalscorer Jeison Murillo.
     Colombia striker Carlos Bacca was also shown red following the fracas at the end of a frenetic Group C battle.
     Neymar had already ensured he would miss Brazil's final first round game against Venezuela on Sunday by collecting his second yellow card of the tournament for a deliberate handball in the first half.
     Three teams -- Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela -- now have three points in Group C.
     Neymar's Brazil and Barcelona team-mate Dani Alves lashed out at Chilean referee Enrique Osses following the defeat.
     "Referees have to stop thinking that they are the stars, the stars are not them -- they are there to control the game," ...

Neymar sent off as Colombia stun Brazil

Experts were battling to prevent environmental damage after suspected FARC rebels blew up a stretch of Colombia's second-biggest oil pipeline, authorities said.
	Separately, also between midday yesterday and late Tuesday, the Marxist guerrillas attacked an army patrol in another part of the country, killing four troops and injuring four others.
	"The FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), using improvised explosive devices, were able to stop the flow of crude" in one area in Norte de Santander department, in Colombia's north, the army said in a statement.
	The amount of oil spilled from the Cano Limon-Covenas pipeline has not yet been determined. But the army said experts were trying to keep the oil from sullying local water supplies.
	State oil company Ecopetrol said work was under way on environmental damage control.
	Meanwhile in Cartagena del Chaira, in Caqueta, in the southwest, rebels launched an attack on an army patrol "using explosives installed by terrorists of the ..

FARC attack major Colombian oil pipeline

Vietnamese dissidents have pleaded for international help for prisoners of conscience jailed inside their country and warned that warming US ties with Hanoi may send the wrong message to the ruling communists.
	Prominent blogger Nguyen Van Hai, who was released from prison in late October and sent into exile in America, told US lawmakers that "his fellow prisoners entrusted me to relay their cries for help."
	They wanted the international community to "understand that the persecution of prisoners of conscience in Vietnam is systemic, to lay bare the deceit of Vietnam authorities when they commit to revise Vietnamese laws in order to participate in trade agreements but do not implement such laws."
	Hai -- alias Dieu Cay -- whose case was raised by US President Barack Obama, was freed two years after being jailed for 12 years by a court in southern Vietnam on charges of "anti-state propaganda."
	News of his release came only weeks after Washington partially lifted a 40-year ban on arms .

Vietnam dissidents urge US help to boost human rights

A 21-year-old self-declared US supporter of the Islamic State extremist group was arrested in New York after trying to stab an FBI agent today, officials said.
	Fareed Mumuni, 21, is the third suspect detained in connection with an alleged plot to bomb the city on behalf of the IS group, which has declared a "caliphate" based in Iraq and Syria.
	Prosecutors have identified one of the other suspects as fellow New Yorker, Munther Omar Saleh, from Queens.
	Mumuni was arrested at his home on Staten Island after lunging at an FBI special agent with a kitchen knife. The agent was wearing body armor and sustained only minor injuries.
	A search of his mother's car, which he also used, unearthed a duffel bag containing another large kitchen knife, court papers said.
	Mumuni allegedly confessed to pledging allegiance to IS, intending to travel to IS-controlled territory and to discussing how to build a pressure cooker bomb with Saleh.
	Saleh was arrested last Saturday -- also after allegedly ...

Suspects arrested over IS-inspired NY bomb plot

US banking regulators imposed fresh limits today on six banks' mortgage servicing activities for their failure to fully implement a 2011 settlement designed to address home-foreclosure abuses.
	The group, which includes JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, HSBC and Santander, faces new barriers in buying mortgage servicing rights from other companies and appointing senior mortgage service officials, among other restrictions, said the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
	The other two banks are EverBank and US Bank National Association.
	The OCC also said it expects to take additional enforcement actions against the banks, including possible fines.
	The banks were mandated under the 2011 settlements to upgrade their mortgage servicing operations after a probe of the industry uncovered widespread problems that could have led to improper foreclosures or foreclosure proceedings.
	The 2011 settlements required banks to improve their communications with borrowers and to ensure that ...

New US limits on 6 banks over mortgage problems

Jordan said today the suspected mastermind of an attack on a Paris Jewish restaurant in 1982 that killed six people and wounded 22 has been bailed and banned from travelling.
	Official sources said Zuhair Mohamad Hassan Khalid al-Abassi, alias "Amjad Atta", was "arrested on June 1 under an international arrest warrant.
	"A court imposed a travel ban pending a decision on whether he will be extradited," an official source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.
	A source in the security services said the 62-year-old suspect was freed on bail.
	"He was released on bail pending the court's decision," the security source said, adding: "The case is still before the courts."
	Between three and five men are thought to have taken part in the assault on the Chez Jo Goldenberg restaurant, which was blamed on the Abu Nidal Organisation, a Palestinian militant group.
	"Amjad Atta" is thought to have been the number three in the group's "special operations committee".

Jordan bails 1982 Paris attack suspect, bans from travel

At least 31 people were killed today and dozens wounded in five simultaneous bombings claimed by the Islamic State group at Shiite mosques and offices in the Yemeni capital, medics and witnesses said.
	IS, a Sunni Muslim radical group, said the attacks were in "revenge" against the Shiite Huthis, who have overrun Sanaa and much of the Sunni majority country and whom it considers to be heretics.
	The blasts come almost three months after IS carried out multiple bombings against Shiite mosques killing 142 people.
	Two car bombs targeted mosques, while a third hit the house of the head of the Huthi rebels' politburo, Saleh al-Sammad, witnesses and security officials said.
	The IS statement said the nearby politburo office was the target.
	One of the car bombs targeted the house of Huthi leader Taha al-Mutawakel and the adjacent Al-Hashush mosque, which was targeted in the March bombings claimed by IS.
	The other car bomb hit the Al-Quba Al-Khadra mosque in the central Hayel district, ...

Blasts claimed by IS kill 31 at Shiite sites in Yemen capital

The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at near zero today, while describing US economic growth as "moderate" after the winter slowdown.
	But predictions made by the individual participants in the Fed's monetary policy meeting indicated most expect the federal funds rate to rise above 0.5 percent by year-end.
	The Federal Open Market Committee trimmed its economic growth forecast for 2015 to just 1.8-2.0 percent, down from March's 2.3-2.7 percent outlook, to account for the unexpected contraction in the first quarter of the year.
	But the FOMC suggested it expected the economy to continue to strengthen slowly, with growth picking up to a 2.4-2.7 percent pace next year and the unemployment rate -- a key referent for monetary policy -- slipping from the current 5.5 percent to as low as 5.2 percent at the end of this year and 4.9 percent in 2016.
	Economic data since April, the FOMC said in its policy statement, "suggests that economic activity has been expanding ..

Fed keeps rate unchanged; calls US growth 'moderate'

A Uruguayan army bomb squad dismantled an "incomplete" explosive device today in front of an office tower housing the Israeli embassy, officials said.
	The device was contained in a sardine can and had a battery power source and cable but no explosive material, the military said.
	Army spokesman Yamandu Lessa said the contraption had been deemed an "incomplete device."
	It was the third such episode near the Israel embassy since late last year, Lessa told AFP.
	 The embassy is in a waterfront commercial district of Montevideo.

'Incomplete' explosive near Israeli embassy in Uruguay

Rebels surrounded a government-held Druze village on the Syrian side of the ceasefire line on the Golan Heights today after heavy fighting, a monitoring group said.
	The advance came a day after Israel, with a significant Druze minority, said it was preparing for the possibility that people fleeing fighting might seek to cross to the Israeli-occupied side of the strategic plateau.
	Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was "closely following what is happening close to our borders," and that he had "given instructions to do what is necessary."
	He did not elaborate.
	After fierce clashes with loyalists, rebels, including Islamist fighters, surrounded the village of Hader, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said.
	"Hader is now totally surrounded by rebels, who just took a strategic hilltop north of the village," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.
	The village lies along the ceasefire line, with the Israeli-occupied Golan to the west and the border ...

AFP

AFP

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