International news in brief

Yemen flights suspended as bombs are found on planesA MAJOR international terror alert was in place today after explosive devices were found on planes at airports in Britain and Dubai.

Security staff found printer cartridges with wires attached at cargo hubs at East Midlands Airport in the UK, and Dubai, reportedly containing a powerful explosive.

The packages were addressed to synagogues in Chicago, and were on cargo planes that had set off from Yemen in the Middle East.

US president Barack Obama said he was dealing with a "credible terrorist threat" and was combating plots by a Yemeni cell of terror group al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: "The package which originated in Yemen was removed for forensic examination by UK experts. That examination continues. The device did contain explosive material. But it is not yet clear that it was a viable explosive device. The forensic work continues."

She said that Cobra, the UK government's emergency planning committee, met yesterday after the find and would meet again later today. All direct flights from Yemen to the UK have been suspended.

Celebrity prescriptions worry

LEGAL experts say the convictions of a psychiatrist and the lawyer boyfriend of Anna Nicole Smith, left, for using fake names on drug prescriptions could scare doctors into rejecting celebrity clients. The practice of celebrity patients using aliases has been common for years.

Green light for bike case

A JUDGE says a New York City girl is old enough to be sued over a bicycle accident that happened when she was four. Juliet Breitman, her mother and others are being sued by the estate of a woman who said she was badly hurt by bicycles that Juliet and a boy were racing down a pavement.

'Abuse victim' batters priest

A MAN allegedly molested by a priest in the 1970s lured the clergyman to the lobby of his Jesuit retirement home and beat him in front of shocked witnesses, police said today.

William Lynch, 43, was arrested yesterday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon for the May 10 attack on the Rev Jerold Lindner, 65, in Los Gatos, California

Lynch had fantasised for years about confronting the priest, who also allegedly molested his younger brother.

Iran 'ready for nuclear talks'

IRAN has offered to negotiate with Britain and five other world powers over its disputed nuclear programme in a new bid to end growing concern that it could be used to produce weapons.

Yesterday's move follows an invitation to the Iranian leadership last month by chief EU envoy Catherine Ashton.

Guyana: Twelve people died in a road tragedy when a lorry hit a minibus filled with passengers.A tyre on the lorry reportedly blew out and caused the driver to lose control.

Bermuda: Authorities breathed a sigh of relief today as it emerged that Tropical Storm Shary was missing the tiny British Atlantic territory. Experts said Shary was moving well to the east of the island with sustained winds of 70mph.