Varsity cyber course

SYDNEY: Australia said yesterday it will offer the world’s first university course to train intelligence analysts to fight cyber crime.

The measure expands on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s attempts to increase policing of money transfers amid concerns that organised crime and militant groups are using the “dark web” and crypto-currencies to make their payments hard to trace.

In the past year, Turnbull has expanded the role of money-tracking agency the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre. – Reuters

Ceasefire continues

MAPUTO: Mozambique’s Renamo opposition party and rebel movement has extended a ceasefire by two months to allow further peace talks with President Filipe Nyusi’s government, raising hopes of an end to a number of years of tit-for-tat violence.

A long-ter m deal would strengthen Nyusi’s position ahead of a conference of the ruling Frelimo party in September at which he is expected to be re-elected leader. The ceasefire was due to end yesterday having been extended on January 3. – Reuters

WW II bomb found

LONDON: A British Army bomb disposal team was yesterday called in to dispose of a 227kg World War II German bomb found buried on a building site in the northwest of the city.

Schools, businesses and homes were evacuated and roads closed as experts from the Army’s Royal Engineers worked to make the bomb safe before removal.

London was heavily bombed in the war, especially during the Blitz of 1940 and 1941 which concentrated on civilian and industrial targets. – AP

More join al-Qaeda

DAKAR: Three extremist groups in Mali have merged and pledged allegiance to alQaeda’s leader, according to a group which monitors jihadist websites. In a video distributed on Thursday, leaders declared they had for med “Jama’at Nusrat alIslam wal Muslimeen,” which translates to “Support of Islam and Muslims”.

The declaration comes a week after former Tuareg separatist rebels began joint patrols with Malian forces in northern Mali, a key step forward for a 2015 peace deal. – AP

Focus on hitting

HARARE: Zimbabwe is considering banning corporal punishment of children after its high court ruled on Wednesday that the practice was unconstitutional at school and home.

The case dealt with a complaint by a parent whose 6-yearold child had serious bruises after being beaten by a teacher for failing to finish homework.

Health Minister David Parirenyatwa said the government was considering its response and would legislate if necessary. – dpa

Sex doll orders rise

COPENHAGEN: Norwegian police say they are worried about the increase in men ordering child-like sex dolls from Hong Kong.

Norway’s National Criminal Investigation Service says those who have ordered the dolls — described as very lifelike — are men aged between 18 and 60 and include some convicted of sexual offences against children. – AP

Bomb scare on jet

STOCKHOLM: A plane bound for Thailand was evacuated yesterday at Arlanda airport after a bomb threat.

Almost 300 passengers on the Thai Airways plane bound for the popular resort of Phuket disembarked.

The plane was moved to a different part of the airport where bomb disposal experts were to inspect it, police said. – dpa