Some 500,000 Iraqis have fled their homes in Iraq's second city Mosul after jihadist militants took control, fearing increased violence, the International Organisation for Migration said today.
	The Geneva-based organisation said its sources on the ground estimated the violence leading up to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's  takeover of Mosul yesterday "displaced over 500,000 people in and around the city".
	The violence in Mosul "has resulted in a high number of casualties among civilians," IOM said, adding that "the main health campus, a group of four hospitals, is inaccessible, as it is in the middle of an area in which there is fighting."
	"Some mosques have been converted to clinics to treat casualties," it said.
	Vehicles have been banned from the city centre, and people are being forced to flee on foot in the face of indiscriminate shelling.
	Neighbourhoods in the west of the city have been hit by a lack of drinking water after the main water station in the area was ..

500,000 Iraqis flee Mosul after seizure by militants: IOM

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The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which dealt a spectacular blow to Baghdad's Shiite-led government by grabbing Iraq's second city Mosul, now poses a threat across the Middle East.
	Known for its ruthless tactics and suicide bombers, ISIL has already controlled the Iraqi city of Fallujah for five months, and is also arguably the most capable force fighting President Bashar al-Assad inside Syria.
	Its takeover of Mosul yesterday prompted the United States to voice deep concern about the "extremely serious" situation and warn the jihadist Sunni group poses "a threat to the entire region".
	UN chief Ban Ki-moon's spokesman said he was "gravely concerned by the serious deteriorating of the security situation in Mosul".
	ISIL is led by the shadowy Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and backed by thousands of Islamist fighters in Syria and Iraq, many of them Westerners, and it appears to be surpassing Al-Qaeda as the world's most dangerous jihadist group.
	Western governments fear it could ...

ISIL, jihadist group tormenting Iraq, threatening region

Toyota on Wednesday recalled 2.27 million vehicles globally over an airbag system defect that could cause fires, dealing another blow to the world's biggest automaker whose safety reputation has been dented in recent years.
	The Japanese giant, which has now recalled about nine million vehicles in the past two months, said the announcement covered 20 models, including its Corolla sedan, Yaris subcompact and Noah minivan.
	The fire risk covers about 1.62 million cars overseas and 650,000 in Japan, Toyota said, and follows a mass recall last year for the same glitch with the vehicles' airbag inflator.
	"The involved vehicles were equipped with front passenger airbag inflators which could have been assembled with improperly manufactured propellant wafers," it said in a statement.
	"(That) could cause the inflator to rupture and the front passenger airbag to deploy abnormally in the event of a crash."
	A company spokesman in Tokyo said the automaker had received a complaint from a ...

Toyota recalls 2.27 mn vehicles over airbag defect

Emirates airline announced on Wednesday that it had cancelled an order for 70 long-haul A350 planes from European manufacturer Airbus.
	The decision was taken following "on-going discussions with the airline in light of their fleet requirement review", Airbus said on Wednesday.
	Airbus added that it was still very confident in the A350 programme and said there were almost 750 planes on the order book ready to enter service.
	"The programme of test flights for the A350 is progressing well and is on schedule for certification (by the Aviation Authorities) in the coming months," said Airbus.
	However, the cancellation of such a big order would seem to be a serious setback for the European manufacturer, based in Toulouse. John Leahy, the boss of Airbus was due to make a statement later on Wednesday.
	Emirates is one of Airbus' biggest clients and placed the order for A350s in 2007. The first deliveries were scheduled for 2019.

Emirates cancels order for 70 Airbus planes

Germany captain Phillip Lahm played down the significance of Portugal counterpart Cristiano Ronaldo's fitness ahead of the two sides' World Cup clash.
     Ronaldo, who has been struggling with knee and hamstring problems, returned to training Tuesday alongside his injury-hampered teammates midfielder Raul Meireles and defender Pepe ahead of their June 16 opener against Germany in Salvador.
	However, according to Lahm, Germany's preparation for the game will be the same regardless of whether Ronaldo plays of not.
     "With Ronaldo, I am taking it that he will play but it makes no difference to us," said Lahm.
     "He is an exceptional player but we are preparing normally as if he is going to play, as if he will be able to play and we think he will be able to play.
	"For him too, it must be special to face us again, he must be desperate to finally beat us."
	The two sides met at the same stage of Euro 2012, with Germany winning 1-0, and Lahm expects an equally difficult match two ...

It makes no difference if Ronaldo plays, says Lahm

Top European football officials publicly called on Sepp Blatter to end his reign as FIFA president amid accusations of corruption against Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid.
     Michael van Praag, head of the Dutch football association, said Blatter should quit when his term ends next year. A similar demand was made by David Gill, vice-chairman of England's Football Association,
	Blatter, 78, officially opened FIFA's annual congress at a gala evening in Sao Paulo without mentioning the attacks or corruption controversy. He is expected to use the congress to announce on Wednesday that he will seek a new four year term.
    	"Tonight we are in a festive mood because let's say the discussions and all of what's linked with FIFA and is so important nowadays, we will discuss it tomorrow," Blatter said.
	The corruption allegations and criticism of Blatter have threatened to further taint the opening of the latest World Cup in Sao Paulo on Thursday. Brazil is already struggling with protests over ...

FIFA's Blatter urged to stand down

Brazil are desperate to make a powerful statement of intent in tomorrow's World Cup opener against Croatia as they seek to relieve the suffocating pressure that has engulfed the team in the build-up to the tournament.
     Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has the luxury of being able to field the same team that destroyed world champions Spain 3-0 in the final of last year's Confederations Cup, with Barcelona star Neymar the focal point of a powerful and settled line-up.
    	The five-time champions are expected to qualify from their group without too much trouble but Barcelona defender Dani Alves admitted there was anxiety ahead of the Sao Paulo opener, as they seek to ease the jitters.
     "I have always said that if you don't feel anxiety it is not worth being a professional athlete. The opening game is difficult, important," said Alves.
	"The three points count but so does the idea of sending out a message to our rivals. The most important game at the World Cup, for everyone, is the ...

Brazil desperate to make mark in World Cup opener

Cristiano Ronaldo had a hand in a goal and hit a post on his return as Portugal concluded their World Cup preparations with a 5-1 win over the Republic of Ireland.
     The Real Madrid striker, who missed his country's previous two warm-up games because of thigh and knee injuries, was not at his brilliant best for long periods of a one-sided friendly in the United States yesterday.
     But coach Paulo Bento will just be relieved to see his captain and talisman back after an injury layoff that had sparked fears that Ronaldo might not be fit for Brazil.
    	Ronaldo was substituted on 65 minutes, but it appeared to have been a planned change and there was no indication that he was suffering any ill effects from his injury problems.
	He was replaced by Real teammate Pepe, a key defender and another whose World Cup preparations have been badly hindered by injury.
	Portugal, who were to fly to Brazil immediately after the match, start their World Cup assault against Germany on June 16 in .

Ronaldo leads rampant Portugal to big win

Thousands of South Korean police forced their way into the compound of a splinter religious group today in their search for a fugitive businessman wanted in connection with April's ferry disaster.
	Live television reports showed police officers, many in full riot gear, streaming into the sprawling church and farming complex at around 8:00 am (0000 GMT) in Anseong, 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Seoul.
	A spokesman for the Gyeonggi province police force said 6,000 officers were involved in the raid.
	The huge operation came a day after President Park Geun-Hye urged police and prosecutors to step up a manhunt for Yoo Byung-Eun, 72, a leading member of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Korea.
	Yoo is the patriarch of the family behind the Chonghaejin Marine Co -- the company that owned and operated the 6,825-tonne Sewol passenger ferry which sank on April 16 with the loss of 300 lives, most of them school-children.
	"Yoo must be brought to justice," Park told a cabinet meeting.
	He is 

S Korea police storm compound in search for ferry owner

Attempts to fight alcohol abuse are being sapped by football's links with the booze industry, a report published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) said today.
	"Home team Brazil may be the favourite to win the 2014 World Cup. But whichever country hoists aloft the trophy on 13 July the real winner will be the alcohol industry," it said.
	Alcohol has now become culturally ingrained with football, it said. During the World Cup, millions of young people will be exposed to alcohol marketing.
	FIFA "has a long record of championing the financial interests of its commercial partners, including Budweiser, the tournament's official beer partner, by imposing extreme conditions on governments around the world," said the feature, authored by freelance writer Jonathan Gornall.
	These include tax waivers on any profits made by commercial partners during the World Cup and "bullying" the Brazil government into allowing fans to drink beer in stadiums during the tournament, temporarily overturning .

Drinks firms are 'real winner' in Brazil: BMJ report

Spanish police today said they found five snakes, two lizards and thousands of insects alive and hidden inside two suitcases that arrived on the holiday island of Gran Canaria on a flight from Madrid.
	A man who had checked in the luggage in the Spanish capital was detained for questioning at the airport of Las Palmas, police said in a statement, without giving further details.
	The luggage contained species often sold as exotic pets: a boa constrictor, a python molurus, found in Southeast Asia, and three python regius, a species found in Africa.
	It also contained two leopard gecko lizards, a species naturally found in the deserts of Asia, two frogs and 200 dubia cockroaches which are normally found in Central and Southern America.
	The suitcases also contained 3,500 crickets, about 1,000 worms, 100 grasshoppers and several snails.
	The snakes, frogs, lizards, snails and cockroaches were kept in plastic containers while the crickets, worms and grasshoppers were stored in cardboard ...

Spain police find live snakes, lizards inside checked luggage

International prosecutors today said it is still possible to go after those responsible for war crimes in Syria despite Russian and Chinese efforts to block cases being referred to the International Criminal Court.
	"Just because we have had one veto in the (UN) Security Council should not stop any of us from moving forward and seeking justice for the people of Syria," said David Crane, the former international prosecutor who indicted Liberian president Charles Taylor.
	China and Russia last month vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution to refer Syria to the ICC for crimes committed by both sides in the three-year civil war.
	It was the fourth time the two countries have blocked Western resolutions related to the conflict that is estimated to have killed more than 162,000 people.
	But Crane insisted there were other options for seeking justice, including through special national or regional courts.
	"All options are on the table," he insisted to an event on the sidelines of a UN 

Possible to prosecute Syria crimes, despite veto: prosecutors

The Irish government today said it would launch a full-scale investigation into controversial Catholic homes for unmarried mothers, following reports that up to 800 infants died in one such institution over a 35-year period.
	The minister for children and youth affairs, Charlie Flanagan, said it was "absolutely essential" to establish the facts about the Church-run "Mother and Baby" homes, which accommodated thousands of pregnant unmarried mothers.
	He said "The government and the cabinet have decided to establish a Commission of Investigation with full statutory powers to examine all matters pertaining to 'Mother and Baby' homes throughout the state."
	The move follows new research that shows 796 children, from newborns to a nine-year-old, died in a home run by the Bon Secours Roman Catholic order of nuns in Tuam in County Galway, between 1925 and 1961.
	Historian Catherine Corless, who made the discovery, says death records from the home show the children died from malnutrition and .

Dublin announces full probe into Catholic baby homes

South Sudan's president and rebel chief met today in a bid to end six months of civil war, agreeing to forge a transitional government within a 60-day deadline, Ethiopia's prime minster said.
	"They agreed to complete the dialogue process within the coming 60 days on what how, when and who... (for) the formation of the transitional government," Ethiopia's Hailemariam Desalegn said, after the rare meeting between President Salva Kiir and rebel chief Riek Machar alongside regional leaders.
	A ceasefire deal signed by Kiir and Machar on May 9 has been repeatedly violated, deepening the crisis in the young nation which has already killed thousands and forced more than 1.3 million people from their homes.
	It was the first encounter of the enemies in a month, and only the second since the civil war began in mid-December.
	Kiir and Machar met on the sidelines of a regional leaders' summit in Addis Ababa organised by the East African IGAD bloc, which is brokering slow-moving negotiations ...

S Sudan's warring leaders agree deadline for new govt

French President Francois Hollande, who is struggling with lousy poll numbers, has given a major shake-up to his team of advisers, his office announced today.
	Among the half-dozen new names arriving at the Elysee Palace is Laurence Boone, a chief economist at Bank of America who until very recently was an ardent critic of the president's economic policy.
	Boone, who is Hollande's new economic and financial adviser, wrote an article just a fortnight ago in Paris magazine L'Opinion titled "Stop the massacre!" in which she railed against the government's "total absence of economic policy" and warned that France was just three years away from massive debts, three million unemployed and a young generation desperate to emigrate.
	Boone, 45, has also pressed for closer European integration -- including EU-wide budgets, commercial taxes and unemployment insurance -- while calling for countries that mismanage their finances to be punished with bankruptcy.
	Hollande's shake-up will also see ...

French president shakes up adviser ranks in bid to boost polls

Nintendo today said it is adding real-world game figures to Wii U play to help boost the popularity of its console, which has lagged rivals in the market.
	Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said "amiibo" game pieces embedded with computer chips to swap data with Wii U tablet controllers would debut in the "Mario Smash Brothers" game later this year.
	The Japan-based video game stalwart planned to add amiibo characters to a variety of its games, including "Mario Kart."
	The move allows players to take a favoured toy or action figure with the embedded hardware and insert that character into the video game.
	Nintendo will also be letting players put themselves into games as animated "mii" characters, virtually doing battle with some classic characters from the Japan-based video game company.
	As with interactive figures, putting customised "mii" fighters into matches will begin with "Super Smash Brothers," according to Nintendo.
	"We are not simply throwing miis into the ...

Nintendo adds real-world game figures to Wii U play

OPEC, the oil producing cartel, will likely stick by its output ceiling at a meeting here, member nations today indicated as they expressed satisfaction with current high crude prices.
	The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which pumps out about one third of the world's oil, has stood by a daily production ceiling of 30 million barrels for almost three years.
	OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia, the cartel's biggest and most influential producer, declared today that he expected no change to oil output levels.
	Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, speaking on the eve of the meeting, said the market was "stable and balanced" and that he therefore believed there would not be any decision to change output.
	"The price is at a comfortable level for producer and consumer countries as well as for the oil industry," Naimi said.
	 While OPEC appears satisfied with current price levels at around USD 100 a barrel, the cartel is in fact pumping below its collective target owing to abundant ...

OPEC nations see no reason to alter oil output ceiling

Jihadists who have seized Iraq's second city of Mosul pose a threat to the entire region, the United States today warned, voicing deep concern about the "extremely serious" situation.
	"It should be clear that ISIL is not only a threat to the stability of Iraq, but a threat to the entire region," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
	She stressed that Washington backed "a strong coordinated response to push back against this aggression" from the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL).
	The militants launched a major assault on Iraqi security forces late yesterday and grabbed Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, including its capital Mosul.
	Jihadists also seized several areas in Iraq's Kirkuk province today which borders Nineveh, an Iraqi police officer said.
	ISIL was drawing "strength from the situation in Syria, from which it transfers recruits, sophisticated munitions, and resources to the fight in Iraq," Psaki said in a statement.
	The most powerful militant group in ...

Iraqi militants threaten entire region: US

In another step towards reversing degenerative vision loss, scientists today said they had coaxed stem cells into growing into a tiny, light-sensing retina in a lab dish.
	The study is an important technical feat in using reprogrammed cells, whose discovery in 2006 has unleashed huge interest, they said.
	"We have basically created a miniature human retina in a dish that not only has the architectural organisation of the retina but also has the ability to sense light," said Valeria Canto-Soler of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore.
	The work is the latest advance towards the goal of creating transplant cells that reverse damage to the retina, the light-capturing surface on the back of the eyeball.
	Stem cells are infant cells that develop, or differentiate, into the various tissues of the body.
	Until 2006, the big focus was on stem cells culled from early-stage embryos, which are highly versatile but also ethically controversial.
	That changed with the discovery ..

Scientists create 'mini-retina' in lab dish

Biologists today said they had devised a new weapon against malaria by genetically engineering mosquitoes which produce mostly male offspring, eventually leading to a population wipe-out.
	The sex selection technique produces a generation of mosquitoes which is 95-per cent male, as opposed to 50 per cent in normal populations, they reported in the journal Nature Communications.
	So few females are left that the mosquito population eventually collapses, curbing the risk to humans from the malaria parasite that the blood-feeding females transmit.
	"Malaria is debilitating and often fatal and we need to find new ways of tackling it," said study leader Andrea Crisanti, a professor at Imperial College London.
	"We think our innovative approach is a huge step forward. For the very first time, we have been able to inhibit the production of female offspring in the laboratory, and this provides a new means to eliminate the disease."
	Malaria kills more than 600,000 people each year, with young 

GM mosquitoes open up new front in war on malaria

As many as 50,000 people are likely to attend the December 2015 talks in Paris aimed at forging a UN pact on climate change, host France said today.
	"Between 40,000 and 50,000 people from 195 countries are expected," Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told reporters at the site in Le Bourget, just north of the French capital, where the talks will be held.
	Roughly half this number will be official delegates, and the remainder will be support staff or observers, he said.
	The talks, under the banner of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), will run from November 30 to December 11, 2015.
	The biggest official turnout at climate talks was at the ill-fated 2009 summit in Copenhagen, which drew about 26,600 delegates.
	Taking effect from 2020, the Paris agreement must curb heat-trapping carbon emissions that are damaging Earth's fragile climate, amplifying risks from drought, flood, storms and rising seas.
	Efforts to secure a deal are intensifying in the run-up to Paris, ..

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