TRANSCRIPT
- Police in Austria arrest two people suspected of planning extremist attacks on the capital Vienna
- Hockey player Tom Craig arrested in Paris trying to buy cocaine
- Australia has won the men's cycling team pursuit at the Paris Olympics
Police in Austria have arrested two people suspected of planning extremist attacks on the capital Vienna.
Police have stepped up security measures for three concerts by Taylor Swift, after becoming aware of preparations for a possible attack on large events in the city.
A 19-year-old Austrian citizen was arrested in Ternitz, while a second arrest took place in Vienna.
A public security official says the two suspects were radicalised online, with the 19-year-old allegedly making an oath of allegiance to IS at the beginning of July.
Authorities say chemical substances were found and are now being analysed.
_
Australian men's Olympic hockey player Tom Craig has apologised after being arrested in Paris.
The 28-year-old was in custody at a Parisian police station for buying cocaine at a night out on Tuesday.
The Sydneysider says it was a mistake.
"I'd firstly like to apologise for what has occurred over the past 24 hours. I made a terrible mistake. I take full responsibility for my actions. My actions are my own and in no way reflect the values of my family, my teammates, my friends, my sport and the Australian Olympic team. I’ve embarrassed you all and I'm truly sorry.”
No charges have been laid at this stage.
The alleged seller of the drugs was also arrested, carrying 75 ecstasy tablets and seven vials of cocaine.
_
A court in Thailand has ordered the dissolution of the progressive Move Forward Party, which finished first in last year's general election.
It says the party violated the constitution by proposing an amendment of a law against defaming the country’s royal family.
The law, known as Article 112, protects the monarchy from criticism with penalties of up to 15 years in jail per offense.
The court ruling also imposed a 10-year ban on political activity on those who held the party’s executive positions while it campaigned for the proposed amendment.
Politicians of a dissolved political party can keep their seats in Parliament if they move to a new party within 60 days.
Move Forward Party party support Therameet Jaiyabood says the ruling is devastating.
"I am a suspect in a Section 112 case and a person with disabilities. I don't know what to say to the Constitutional Court for delivering the ruling to dissolve the party like this. I am at a loss for words."
_
British police are bracing for further anti-migrant riots as far-right groups plan to target asylum centres and immigration law firms across the country.
An escalating wave of violence erupted early last week when three young girls were killed in a knife attack in Southport, northwest England.
The violence has been fuelled by false information online that wrongly identified the suspected killer as an Islamist migrant.
Specialist immigration law firms and migrant support centres have shut their doors as a safety measure.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley told UK broadcaster Sky News, officers are adapting to the situation.
"We've seen that list circulated. Obviously that's at the centre of our planning. I'm also keeping an open mind on other possibilities and other intelligences coming into our system. That's why we have thousands of officers on tonight. We will protect those people. It is completely unacceptable, regardless of your political views, to intimidate any sector of lawful activity. And we will not let the immigration asylum system be intimidated. They're operating lawfully. The thugs and criminals who are targeting them are not. And we will stop that."
_
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Ukraine is carrying out what he called a "large-scale provocation" in the border region of Kursk, where fighting continues for a second day.
Mr Putin convened a meeting with senior officials as Russia's defence ministry said around 300 Ukrainian troops crossed into the Kursk region on Tuesday.
Ukrainian officials have not spoken about the incursion.
_
Australia has won the men's cycling team pursuit at the Paris Olympics - their first gold in the event since Athens 2004.
Oliver Bleddyn, Sam Welsford, Conor Leahy and Kelland O’Brien beat their British rivals by more than two seconds, in a thrilling final at the National Velodrome.
Meanwhile, Italy overpowered Denmark to take the bronze medal.
And skateboarder Keegan Palmer has defended his Olympic title in the men's park event.
