A man charged with committing a terrorist act and attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a man in Sydney was inspired by the Islamic State group, police said.

Australia announced a police investigation into Google today amid accusations the internet giant breached privacy laws, becoming at least the second country to investigate the company's Street View mapping services.

US President George W Bush yesterday designated six prisoners to become the first people who could be tried before military tribunals, drawing renewed criticism from defence lawyers of the secretive special courts.