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A self-styled cleric who launched a deadly attack on a cafe in Sydney, Australia, last year led a complex and secretive life, an inquest has heard.
Man Haron Monis also made “grandiose” claims about being persecuted in the country of his birth, Iran.

The inquest, which began in January, is examining the circumstances of the December siege in which Monis took 18 people hostage.
The stand-off ended when police stormed the Lindt cafe in Martin Place.
Monis and two hostages died.

Isolated Existence

The inquest, which has resumed after several months’ break, will call more than 100 witnesses and examine the deaths of hostages Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson, as well as Monis.
It will run for several months and the findings will be delivered by the State Coroner Michael Barnes in early 2016.
The first two weeks will focus on Monis and his background.

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China is to focus on projecting its military presence beyond its borders at sea, according to a strategy document.
The navy will shift its focus to “open seas protection”, rather than “offshore waters defence” alone.
It will also speed up developing its cyber force to tackle “grave security threats”, the State Council said.
China has been accused of aggressively pursuing territorial claims in the South China Sea which has sparked concern in Washington.
The strategy document highlighted four areas of critical importance – the ocean, outer space, nuclear force and cyber space. Its recent naval policy has prompted the most controversy.
In recent years, China has focused on building up its navy. It has launched an aircraft carrier and invested heavily in submarines and other warships.
It has also exercised its claims over islands in the South China Sea which the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei variously dispute.

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Australians fighting overseas with terror groups could have their children removed from their care, Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has said.
His comments came after news emerged that the wife of one Australian Islamic State (IS) militant wanted to return home with their children.
But Mr Dutton said such decisions would be made on a case-by-case basis.

Proposals announced on Tuesday could see some Australians lose citizenship for supporting terror groups.

Best Interests

Local media have reported that the wife and children of Australian IS fighter Khaled Sharrouf are trying to return to Australia.

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Four gunmen have been killed after trying to storm a guesthouse in a diplomatic area of the Afghan capital, Kabul, police say.
The attack resulted in an overnight gun battle in the Wazir Akbar Khan district, home to several embassies and official buildings.
The Taliban says it launched the attack. It lasted at least six hours.
The assailants were armed with a rocket propelled grenade launcher and other weapons, the interior ministry said.
No civilian or military casualties were reported.
“Four attackers who had one RPG launcher, three AK-47s and one grenade launcher were killed in Wazir Akbar Khan,” deputy interior minister Mohammad Ayoub Salangi said on Twitter.

The four gunmen were killed before reaching their target, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said.
Afghanistan’s interior ministry told the BBC that the target was the former Heetal guesthouse, that was attacked by the Taliban in December 2009 and is now officially known as the Rabbani Guesthouse.

It is popular with foreigners and is owned by the Rabbani family, whose members include Afghanistan’s current Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, and its late former President, Burhanuddin Rabbani.

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Kenyan police have been involved in a fierce gun battle with militant Islamists in north-eastern Garissa County, leaving one officer wounded, a government spokesman has told the BBC.

The al-Shabab militants had ambushed the police near Yumbis town in Garissa County, Mwenda Njoka added.
He dismissed as propaganda al-Shabab’s claim that at least 20 policemen were killed in the attack.
Al-Shabab is a Somalia-based group which has stepped up attacks in Kenya.

In April, it carried out a siege on Garissa University College and 148 people were killed.

Vehicles Burnt

Last week, the militants briefly seized control of Yumbis, about 100km (62 miles) east of Garissa town, and warned residents not to work with the government.
Latest African news updates
BBC Somali service reporter Abdullahi Abdi says al-Shabab appears to be firmly establishing itself in Garissa County, despite government efforts to defeat the militants.
The policemen were ambushed while rushing to the aid of colleagues who had been hit by a landmine explosion, he says.
Four police vehicles were set ablaze by the militants, he adds. Read More