Cambodia Angkor Wat: Ancient statue unearthed

Image copyright AFP Image caption Experts say the statue is the most important to have been found at Angkor Wat in recent years

Archaeologists at Cambodia's celebrated Angkor Wat temple complex have unearthed a large statue believed to date back to the late 12th century.

The 2m (6.5ft) sandstone human figure probably functioned as a guardian who stood at the entrance to an ancient hospital, researchers say.

The Cambodia Daily described Saturday's find as "like something that only happens in the movies".

Angkor Wat is one of south-east Asia's most popular tourist destinations.

Last year the complex - which was built over different periods of the Khmer empire from the ninth to the 15th centuries - attracted about 2.5 million visitors.

But many of the complex's most valuable items have been looted.

Experts say that is why the latest find is so extraordinary and is the most important statue to have been found at Angkor in recent years.

Archaeologists found the statue buried 40cm (16in) underground while excavating a hospital built during the reign of King Jayavarman VII who reigned from 1181 to around 1220.

The king had a reputation for social programmes, with the hospital being one of the most prominent.

Image copyright AFP Image caption The 2m (6.5ft) sandstone human figure probably functioned as a guardian who stood at the entrance to an ancient hospital, experts say

The statue's arms and legs are broken but engravings on its body and head can still clearly be seen.

Experts say the hope now is that other objects will be unearthed at the site so that more information can be gleaned on the lifestyles of people of the era.

Historian Rethy Chhem told the Cambodia Daily that the hospital is one of four built in the area, none of which has been properly excavated.

Each hospital contained various statues of divinities, he said, the most prized of which was a statue of the Medicine Buddha.

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Media captionLiving in the shadow of Angkor Wat (January 2017)

"We would hit gold if we found the statue of the Buddha," Dr Chhem said.

Most Buddha statues were destroyed during Jayavarman's reign as part of his push to reintroduce Brahmanism. Many of those that were not damaged were looted, although it is thought some were buried so they could be preserved.

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Pakistan lawmakers to elect new prime minister

Image copyright EPA Image caption The ruling party want Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to serve until Nawaz Sharif's brother can take over

Lawmakers in Pakistan are to elect a new prime minister to replace Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted last week over corruption allegations.

The ruling party has nominated former oil minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to serve as interim leader.

They want him to take on a caretaker role until Mr Sharif's brother, Shahbaz Sharif, can take over.

He is chief minister of Punjab province and must win a parliamentary by-election to be eligible for PM.

Opposition groups have also nominated candidates but the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) holds a majority in the National Assembly and Mr Abbasi is expected to win the vote.

PML-N lawmaker Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan told Reuters news agency the prime objective was "to give Pakistan stability".

"As a responsible party we have to take Pakistan ahead," he said.

Shahbaz Sharif is to contest the parliamentary seat left vacant by his ousted brother but that process is expected to take at least 45 days.

Mr Abbasi is a long-time ally of Nawaz Sharif. He was jailed for two years in 1999 after the military toppled Mr Sharif, ending the second of his three spells as prime minister.

Mr Sharif's third spell came to an end on Friday when he stepped down following a decision by the Supreme Court to disqualify him from office.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Shahbaz Sharif must be elected to parliament before he can take over

The ruling came after an investigation into his family's wealth following the leak of the Panama Papers in 2015, which linked Mr Sharif's children to offshore companies and assets not shown on his family's wealth statement.

The court said Mr Sharif had been dishonest in not disclosing his earnings from a Dubai-based company in his nomination papers during the 2013 general election.

It recommended anti-corruption cases against several individuals, including Mr Sharif, his daughter Maryam and her husband Safdar, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and others.

Allegations of corruption have dogged Mr Sharif since the 1980s, but he denies any wrongdoing.

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Kim Kardashian West sued over selfie case design

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Kardashian is regularly seen promoting and using the LuMee case

Kim Kardashian West's company is being sued over a selfie case.

The LuMee smartphone case, which is promoted by Kimisaprincess Inc, comes with an integrated light to help users take the perfect selfie.

But now a man called Hooshmand Harooni has claimed in a $100m (£75m) lawsuit that the idea was copied from him.

He says he patented an "integrated lighting accessory and case for a mobile phone device" in 2013, which he licensed to a company called Snaplight.

Mr Harooni's patent infringement lawsuit reportedly claims Snaplight's profits have suffered as a result of the LuMee case and Kardashian's promotion of it.

Kardashian receives a cut of LuMee's profits, according to the court documents.

In a statement, Snaplight's founder Bardia Rahim said LuMee "created doubt in our technological and operational integrity" by launching the product.

"It's illegal to try and monopolise the market, but more than that, it's un-American to do it when you're being deceptive and unethical the entire time," he added.

A representative for Kardashian said: "The patent lawsuit filed by Snaplight has no merit and is just another attempted shakedown. Kim has done absolutely nothing wrong."

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New Zealand police netball team stop fight, win game

Image copyright Waitemata Police Image caption Netball players don't usually need stab vests and handcuffs

Auckland police officers have arrested a man for an alleged aggravated assault which took place next to where they were playing an off-duty game of netball, it's been reported.

Five of the seven players on their team work for Waitemata Police in Auckland's North Shore, and they temporarily abandoned their match against Shore Rovers to arrest a 31-year-old man, who is now accused of assaulting a worker at the netball courts, the New Zealand Herald reports.

"None of us said anything to each other, I didn't even look at the other girls again, but I think we pretty much came to the same decision at the same time," Constable Laura Hadwen said.

According to the Stuff.nz news website, the officers have never advertised the fact that they work in law enforcement. "We're not called the Police Team, or anything like that," Ms Hadwen explained.

"It was just his bad luck as to where it occurred. We have sort of had a laugh about it, the coincidence of it."

One of her colleagues said that even off-duty, police officers are on the alert: "Where ever we are, whatever we're doing, we'll stop at any time to help anyone, that's how we are in the police, that's what we do," Newshub reported her as saying.

Despite the temporary break in play, the Waitemata Police officers returned to their match, which they subsequently won 40-34.

Image copyright Waitemata Police Image caption The team doesn't advertise that they are serving police officers

Reporting by Alistair Coleman

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Etihad Airways 'assisting' Australia with plane probe

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Raids took place in the Sydney suburbs of Surry Hills, Lakemba, Wiley Park and Punchbowl

Etihad Airways has said it is assisting Australian police with their investigation into a suspected terrorism plot to bring down a plane.

Police have been searching five properties across Sydney after four men were arrested in raids on Saturday.

Investigators have said the alleged plan most likely involved detonating an improvised explosive device.

Police did not name the airline involved, but officials have described the operation as "sophisticated".

"The Etihad Airways aviation security team is assisting the Australian Federal Police with its investigation and the matter is ongoing," the airline said in a brief statement on Tuesday.

"Etihad is complying fully with the enhanced security measures at airports in Australia and monitoring the situation closely." It did not give further details.

Local media reported the men planned to use poisonous gas or a crude bomb disguised as a meat mincer, but police have not confirmed details of the alleged plot.

Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull has said the raids had been a "major joint counter-terrorism operation".

Image copyright EPA Image caption Enhanced security measures at Australian airports have caused large queues

On Sunday, a magistrate gave permission for an additional period of detention, meaning the four can be held for up to seven days without charge.

Police said no charges have been laid.

Australian airports have increased their security measures and passengers were left waiting in lengthy queues after being advised to arrive earlier than usual.

The national terror threat level remains at "probable".

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Turkey coup trial: Almost 500 to appear in court

Image copyright EPA Image caption The coup was an attempt to oust Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pictured on the first anniversary)

Almost 500 people arrested after last year's failed coup in Turkey are to go on trial accused of taking part in the plot.

The trial centres around the Akinci air base which, the government alleges, was the plotters' headquarters.

Defendants will appear in a purpose-built courtroom outside the capital Ankara, facing charges from attempting to assassinate the president to murder.

Rebel soldiers tried to grab power in July 2016, leaving 249 civilians dead.

The trial is the largest yet relating to the coup.

Read more on this story:

Orders were allegedly sent out from Akinci air base, north-west of Ankara, to bomb parliament as troops attempted to oust President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In the aftermath of their botched attempt, thousands of people have been arrested, many suspected of having links to Fethullah Gulen, a cleric living in exile in the US.

Mr Gulen - the chief suspect in the case - is among those being tried, albeit in absentia. He denies the charges.

Critics say Mr Erdogan is using the purge that followed the coup to stifle political dissent.

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Venezuela key opposition leaders seized after poll

Image copyright AFP

The wives of Venezuelan opposition leaders Leopoldo López and Antonio Ledezma say their husbands have been re-arrested.

The two men were under house arrest after being found guilty of inciting violence during anti-government protests in 2014.

Their wives said they did not know where the two had been taken.

The move comes just two days after a controversial vote for a constitutional assembly saw violence on the streets.

Days before the vote, Mr López had released a video on YouTube calling on Venezuelans to take to the streets in protest.

Mr López was transferred from a military prison to house arrest on 8 July after spending more than three years in jail.

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