Australian Cardinal George Pell, released from prison last week after a court overturned his child sex conviction, was warned by police Tuesday of online threats against him, as new abuse allegations also emerged.
Pell walked free last week after the Australian High Court cleared him of five counts of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choirboys in the 1990s, ending the most high-profile paedophilia case faced by the Catholic Church.
But on Tuesday, as Pell released excerpts from his prison diary and blamed his conviction on "culture wars" against conservative Christians, a major newspaper reported there was a fresh investigation into the 78-year-old.
The new allegation of child sex abuse -- being investigated by police -- dates back to the 1970s, the Herald Sun reported.
Police Tuesday visited the Sydney seminary where Pell has been staying to discuss his security, a spokesman for Sydney's Catholic Archdiocese said in a statement aimed at dispelling rumours it was related to the Herald 

Cardinal Pell threatened online a week after leaving jail

PTI Automatic

Chelsea and Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing Germany captain Manuel Neuer, whose contract extension talks have stalled at Bayern Munich, according to magazine Kicker.
The goalkeeper's current deal expires in June 2021 and Neuer, 34, is said to be angry that details of the renegotiations have been leaked to the German press, according to Kicker.
Germany's top-selling daily Bild claims that Neuer's agent Thomas Kroth has asked Bayern for a salary for his client of 20 million euros ($22 million) per season.
If the talks fail, club captain Neuer could be free to leave Bayern in June and attract the interest of the Premier League clubs.  Kicker's chief reporter Karlheinz Wild says the "willingness to resume negotiations" is weak on both sides between Bayern and Neuer.
"It could still take weeks, even months, before a final decision is taken. Positions have so far become too hardened."
According to Bild, Neuer reportedly wants a contract extension until 2025, but Bayern .

Neuer extension talks stall at Bayern Munich - reports

Greece's migration minister on Tuesday said dozens of unaccompanied migrant children would be relocated to other EU countries as a rights group described Athens' detention conditions for minors as "abusive".
"Twelve children will be relocated to Luxembourg (on Wednesday) and fifty to Germany on Saturday," Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi told Athens city radio.
Human Rights Watch earlier Tuesday called on the Greek government to release hundreds of unaccompanied minors held in "unhygienic police cells and detention centres" because of a lack of space elsewhere.
"Keeping children locked up in filthy police cells was always wrong, but now it also exposes them to the risk of COVID-19 infection," HRW Greece researcher Eva Cosse said in a statement.
"The Greek government has a duty to end this abusive practise and make sure these vulnerable kids get the care and protection they need," said Cosse.
HRW pointed to government data that over 330 children are in police custody awaiting ...

Greece to begin relocating migrant children amid criticism

Ukraine said Tuesday only small isolated fires remain at the scene of a blaze that erupted 10 days ago in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, scene of the world's worst nuclear accident in 1986.
"There is no open fire," the emergency services said in a statement, adding that radiation levels are within the norm.
Chernobyl polluted a large swathe of Europe when its fourth reactor exploded in April 1986. People are not allowed to live within 30 kilometres (18 miles) of the power station.
Police have said the fire was sparked on April 4 by a man burning dry grass near the exclusion zone around the ruined reactor. The flames spread quickly, fanned by strong winds.
Kiev has mobilised helicopters and more than 400 firefighters, with planes dropping hundreds of tonnes of water on the fire.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said late on Monday he is "closely" following the situation and was "grateful for the courage" of the firefighters.
On Tuesday the president said he will hear a report from ..

Kiev says 'no open fire' in forests of Chernobyl nuclear zone

Strong alcoholic drinks can be used "when absolutely necessary" instead of hand sanitiser in Japanese hospitals, authorities said, as supplies run dry as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Spirits with an alcohol proof of between 70 and 83 percent can be substituted to sterilise hands under new rules set out in a health ministry document obtained by AFP on Tuesday.
Some vodkas are that strong, but traditional Japanese tipples such as sake and shochu do not make the grade -- at a maximum alcohol proof of roughly 22 and 45 percent respectively.
But some sake makers have begun producing stronger alcohol products to meet the demand for sanitiser.
Japan beverage giant Suntory is already manufacturing sanitiser in the United States, the country hardest-hit by the outbreak.
Under Japanese regulations, liquids designed for disinfection should contain between 76.9 and 81.4 percent alcohol content.
Any more than this is less effective and should be diluted, officials say.
Japan has so far ...

That's the spirit! Japan hospitals find way to beat sanitiser shortage

Prominent Taiwanese director Doze Niu was sentenced to four years in prison on Tuesday for sexually assaulting a female crew member working on a film he was making.
Niu, 53, was convicted of assaulting the woman in November 2018 after guests left a gathering at his home, Taipei's district court said in a statement.
A friend accompanied the woman to hospital after the attack and also to file a police report.
The court said the woman -- identified only as "A" -- had clearly declined Niu's advances.
Niu also "took advantage of his position as a director to speak to the media, to make it look like he and A had feelings for each other", the court found, adding that the defendant had also shown a "lack of remorse".
Niu, known for Taiwanese blockbusters "Monga" and "Love", denied the allegations, claiming that he "made a mistake but didn't commit a crime".
He has yet to comment on the ruling, which he can appeal, and remains free for now.
When the allegations first surfaced Niu told ...

Taiwan director convicted for crew member sex assault

Stock markets mostly rose on Tuesday as better-than-expected Chinese trade data lifted the economic gloom wrought by the coronavirus pandemic.
Oil prices fell, despite US President Donald Trump claiming that producers were mulling a global daily output cut of 20 million barrels.
And the dollar dropped against main rivals, helping to push gold above $1,700 an ounce -- the highest level for more than seven years -- traders said.
"Markets continue to react in an odd way, mostly ignoring all the bad figures that have come their way and focusing on the positives, such as the China figures," said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG trading group.
Asian stock markets kicked off the day with gains after official data showed Chinese exports fell 6.6 percent and imports slid 0.9 percent in March on a yearly basis.
But Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics warned "the worst is still to come" for China's export businesses, with more economic headwinds likely in the months ahead as ..

Stock markets rise as China data beats forecasts

World oil prices dropped in volatile trade on Tuesday as traders shrugged off news that crude producers agreed to cut production over the weekend, traders said.
Futures had earlier risen after US President Donald Trump indicated Monday that producers were considering cutting 20 million barrels per day -- more than double the announced figure.
At about 1100 GMT, European benchmark London Brent North Sea oil for delivery in June dipped 0.4 percent to trade at $31.61 per barrel.
US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery slid 1.7 percent to $22.04.
OPEC producers dominated by Saudi Arabia and allies led by Russia thrashed out a compromise deal on Sunday to cut production by nearly 10 million barrels per day from May.
Heading into the meeting however, prices had already jumped on expectations of a deal being reached to cut output.
Producers had hoped to address the market's recent collapse, fuelled by the coronavirus sapping global energy demand and a Saudi-Russian price .

Oil prices fall after output-cutting deal

Oil output cuts by OPEC and its allies, together with pledges from other G20 nations and purchases by strategic reserves, could remove 19.5 million barrels per day from the market, the Saudi energy minister said.
US President Donald Trump said Monday that the actual output cuts may be deeper than the headline figure of 9.7 million bpd -- with top producers considering slashing output by 20 million barrels a day under the deal.
"People are saying 10 million but we think the number they will actually hit is going to be closer to 20 million barrels a day," Trump said at a press briefing.
He did not give details, but the figures chime with the Saudi breakdown.
The OPEC+ alliance, led by Riyadh and Moscow, agreed on Sunday to slash daily production by 9.7 million bpd over the next two months to arrest a slump triggered by the coronavirus shutdown and a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.
Saudi media on Tuesday quoted Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman as saying that G20 ...

Saudi says total oil curbs could reach 19.5 mn barrels

JPMorgan Chase reported a staggering decline in first-quarter earnings Tuesday after setting aside nearly USD 8.3 billion for loans vulnerable to the economic devastation from coronavirus shutdowns.
The biggest US bank by assets reported profits of USD 2.9 billion for the quarter ending March 31, down 69 per cent from the year-ago period. Revenue dipped three percent to USD 28.3 billion.
Chief Executive Jamie Dimon described the bank's underlying results as "extremely good" during the first quarter, but said the addition of large credit reserves was needed because of the "likelihood of a fairly severe recession".
The bank said in a press release that the reserve build reflects "deterioration in the macro-environment as a result of the impact of COVID-19 and continued pressure on oil prices".
The provisions included USD 4.4 billion, primarily in its credit card business, and USD 2.4 billion across businesses, with the biggest amounts in oil and gas, real estate and retail.
The sums ...

JPMorgan Chase reports 69% drop in 1Q profits to USD 2.9 bn

Bill Beaumont has pledged an independent review of World Rugby's governance should he be re-elected as the global body's chairman next month.
Former England captain Beaumont is facing a challenge from vice-chairman Agustin Pichot, with the Argentina great campaigning on a reform platform.
Beaumont is keen to avoid being portrayed as the 'establishment' candidate, concerned solely with the fate of rugby union's current major nations.
"Our aim is to have a more representative and diverse international federation that better serves the game, not one that is seen to only support the 'old guard'," said Beaumont, who published his manifesto on Tuesday.
Beaumont, running on a ticket that has French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte standing for vice-president, added: "To achieve our aim of a strong international federation with a clear vision, we are proposing a wide-ranging governance review led by two independently appointed people." The aim was to "bring in fresh ideas and ...

Beaumont pledges World Rugby review in re-election bid

A northeast China province is offering cash rewards of up to 5,000 yuan ($700) for help in catching people who illegally cross the Russian border after a flood of imported coronavirus cases.
Weeks after it drastically cut international flights and banned entry to foreigners to prevent a resurgence of the coronavirus crisis, China is still struggling to contain a spike in imported cases.
Most of the new infections have been in Chinese citizens returning home.
A new front has emerged in Heilongjiang province, which on Tuesday reported 79 new cases in arrivals from neighbouring Russia, taking its total of imported infections to 326.
Provincial authorities said Monday that people who report illegal border crossings will receive a 3,000-yuan reward.
"If the citizen captures and hands over (offenders) to relevant departments, there will be a one-off reward of 5,000 yuan," the virus prevention and control working group said in a statement.
This is "to step up prevention and control work ...

China offers reward for catching Russia border crossers over virus fears

NATO countries need to learn lessons from the coronavirus crisis by looking at boosting national stocks of medical equipment to avoid over-reliance on outside suppliers, the alliance's chief said Tuesday.
"We have to look into the issues of the supply of medical equipment and protective suits, medicines and all that kind of stuff. And also ask questions like: are we too dependent on production coming from outside?" Jens Stoltenberg said in a videolink media conference.
"National resilience in NATO's responsibility," he said.
"All of these issues -- resilience, national resilience including ensuring we have the necessary medical equipment -- will be part of the lesson-learning process after this crisis."
Stoltenberg spoke a day before NATO defence ministers were to hold a videoconference focused on the consequences of the pandemic.
He said the talks would aim to boost support between member states, particularly by identifying spare capacity in supplies and in military transport to get .

NATO chief urges more self-sufficiency in medical stocks

US chain McDonald's has apologised after a sign telling black people they were banned from entering a branch in southern China prompted outrage online, following reports of discriminatory treatment towards Africans in the city.
Tensions have flared between police and Africans in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou after local officials announced a cluster of COVID-19 cases in a neighbourhood with a large migrant population.
As the row escalated, posts widely shared online showed a sign at fast food chain McDonald's saying black people were not allowed to enter the restaurant.
The chain apologised and a spokesman for McDonald's told AFP that the notice was "not representative of our inclusive values".
In an emailed statement, Mcdonald's said it removed the sign and temporarily closed the Guangzhou restaurant "immediately upon learning of an unauthorized communication to our guests."
Several Africans have told AFP they had been forcibly evicted by police from their accommodation, ...

McDonald's apologises after China store bans black people

Former Pakistani first-class cricketer Zafar Sarfraz became the first professional player in the country to die after contracting the novel coronavirus, his family confirmed Tuesday.
The 50-year-old first fell ill earlier this month and was put on a ventilator at a hospital in Peshawar after his condition deteriorated.
He died late Monday.
"Sarfraz was healthy and lively but some 10 days ago he developed symptoms of the coronavirus and did not survive," said a family member who spoke to AFP.
Sarfraz, a middle-order batsman, played 15 first-class games in Peshawar and retired in 1994.
Pakistan has recorded more than 5,000 coronavirus cases to date and nearly 100 deaths.
Lack of testing and an underfunded health care sector, however, has raised fears the country is ill-equipped to handle a spike in cases.

Former Pakistani cricketer dies of coronavirus

Tour de France organisers are working feverishly in the shadows to find a new start date for cycling's biggest stage race after public gatherings were banned until mid-July in the latest extension of the French cornavirus lockdown.
Originally slated to start from Nice with a caravan of around 4,500 people on June 27 and arrive in Paris July 19, there is no chance the event can go ahead as planned and organisers face a mammoth logistical task of rescheduling.
So far organisers Amoury Sports Organisation (AS0) have remained silent publicly, but several mayors of the French towns along the planned route say they have been consulted on the matter of the new date.
French President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address Monday that a strict lockdown in France would continue until at least May 11 and public gatherings were banned until mid July.
Tour director Christian Prudhomme has said previously that riders would need two clear months after the lockdown ended to get ready for the ...

Tour de France working on new start date

Sweden on Tuesday reported that more than 1,000 people have died from the novel coronavirus, while the number of confirmed cases crossed 11,000.
Sweden's Public Health Agency said it had recorded a total of 11,445 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,033 deaths.
It cautioned that the true number of deaths might be higher as not all deaths had yet been reported over the four-day Easter weekend.

Coronavirus deaths in Sweden cross 1,000: health agency

European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said Tuesday the EU may need a 1.5-trillion euro (USD1.6 trillion) economic recovery fund following the coronavirus pandemic, but the financing of such joint spending remains murky.
"I could imagine that kind of level of financing," Dombrovskis told German business daily Handelsblatt when asked about the 1.5 trillion figure, although "so far nothing is decided".
Finance ministers from the 19 euro single currency nations last week agreed a package worth over 500 billion euros to cushion the immediate impact of the virus.
The toolbox includes loans from the financial-crisis-era European Stability Mechanism (ESM) but without the tough economic and fiscal reform conditions normally involved.
The ESM is flanked by guarantees for business lending from the European Investment Bank and a eurozone unemployment reinsurance scheme.
But after a war of words lasting several weeks, the finance chiefs could not agree on so-called "coronabonds", ..

Brussels mulls 1.5 trn euro virus recovery fund

The WHO said its emergency committee would meet Tuesday to discuss whether the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo still constitutes an international health emergency, after fresh cases were detected.
The meeting comes a day after DR Congo had been expected to announce that the outbreak in the east of the country that began in August 2018 was over.
The epidemic has killed 2,276 people to date. For it to be declared over, there have to be no new cases reported for 42 days -- double the incubation period.
But as the World Health Organization's emergency committee met last Friday to determine whether its declaration of a so-called Public Health Emergency of International Concern, or PHEIC, could be lifted, a new case was reported.
"We now have three cases, two people who have died, one person who is alive," WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters in a virtual briefing in Geneva on Tuesday.
She said that all of the contacts of those cases had been traced and ...

WHO emergency committee meets on Ebola after new DRC case

Football fans and concert-goers could be barred from seeing their favourite teams and bands play live in Germany for 18 months due to the coronavirus, according to a science expert.
Keeping Germany's stadiums and music venues closed until well into 2021 "would certainly be very wise" according to Gerald Haug, president of the Leopoldina Academy of Sciences, which advises Angela Merkel's government on measures to combat the virus.
In an interview aired by broadcaster ARD on Monday, Haug added that "as to whether it will last a year and a half, we have to wait and see - there are also more optimistic assessments of the situation.
"But it will certainly last several months more, it could go up to a year and a half."
The German Football League (DFL) suspended all Bundesliga matches on March 13 but will meet Friday to discuss whether football can resume in early May, most likely in empty stadiums with fans locked out.
The DFL would need the go-ahead from the health authorities for leagues .

German venues should stay shut for 18 months: expert

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is bemused as to why he remains a constant source of criticism despite missing most of the campaign through injury.
The 27-year-old has been restricted to just eight appearances this season due to a persistent ankle injury.
Former Liverpool captain and manager Graeme Souness has been one of the most outspoken critics of Pogba since he returned to United from Juventus for a then world record 89 million pound ($112 million) fee in 2016.
However, Pogba claimed he did not even know who Souness was.
"I didn't even know who he was, really," Pogba told the official Manchester United podcast. "I heard he was a great player and stuff like that. I know the face but (not) the name.
"Like I said I'm not someone that watches a lot of (punditry), I watch a lot of football but I don't stay after the game to listen to what they say about why they did this, or why they did that. I like to focus on football."
Souness - who won three European Cups, and five league 

AFP

AFP

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