Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani today denounced the sanctions imposed against Doha by Saudi Arabia and its allies as "unfair" and "illegal".
	"Whatever relates to our foreign affairs... No one has the right to discuss," Sheikh Mohammed said during a visit to Paris, calling for "dialogue based on clear foundations" over accusations that Qatar supports extremist groups.

Qatar foreign minister denounces 'unfair', 'illegal' sanctions

PTI Automatic

The EU's Brexit chief met British officials today to try to hammer out a date for the start of formal talks, as concerns grew that negotiations could be delayed by the fallout from Britain's chaotic election.
	Full negotiations had been due to start on June 19, but Brussels said the date was still not confirmed after British Prime Minister Theresa May unexpectedly lost her majority in parliament.
	In a sign of the confusion, the furthest the two sides have managed to progress is to have what a European Commission spokesman called "talking about talks" in a bid to move forward.
	EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier met senior British Brexit official Oliver Robbins in Brussels to discuss arrangements such as dates and the sequencing of talks once they do actually get started.
	"We are fully prepared and ready for negotiations to start," commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein told reporters.
	"When will be the point from moving to talking about talks, to more detailed talks, I cannot .

Impatient Brussels hosts Brexit 'talks about talks'

Pope Francis has given church officials in southern Nigeria a 30-day ultimatum to obey him by accepting the nomination of a bishop -- or face being suspended from office.
	During talks with a Catholic delegation from Nigeria, the pope demanded that priests and church members in the southern diocese of Ahiara write to him personally to "ask his forgiveness", the Holy See said in a statement at the weekend.
	"In the letter, one must clearly manifest total obedience to the pope, and whoever writes must be willing to accept the bishop whom the pope sends and has appointed," said the statement.
	It gave the faithful a 30-day deadline for sending such letters, which ends on July 9.
	"Whoever does not do this will be ipso facto suspended a divinis and will lose his current office," it warned.
	The dispute involves Monseigneur Peter Okpaleke who was named bishop of the Ahiara diocese in 2012 by Pope Benedict, Francis' predecessor.
	But his appointment was rejected on ethnic grounds by the ...

Pope gives rebel Nigeria priests ultimatum over bishop

At least 279 people have died and thousands sickened in Sudan from suspected acute diarrhoea since August, UN agencies said today, raising health concerns in the country ahead of the rainy season.
	About 87 per cent of those affected are children aged five and above from across 11 states including Khartoum, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Office (OCHA), said in its latest bulletin.
	"Between mid-August 2016 and 2 June 2017 almost 15,000 suspected cases of acute watery diarrhoea were reported in Sudan, including 279 deaths," OCHA said quoting figures provided by the World Health Organisation and Sudanese health ministry.
	OCHA said 48 per cent of the reported cases are males and 52 percent females. It said the outbreak is currently active in states like Khartoum, White Nile, Senar and North Kordofan.
	A health official said that new cases were being reported every day.
	"It is a real concern that these cases are being reported since August and from across 

Suspected diarrhoea kills 279 people in Sudan: UN

Finland's centrist Prime Minister Juha Sipila said today that his party and its conservative allies wanted to end their governing coalition with the eurosceptic Finns party, after it elected as president a hardliner convicted of hate speech.
	"The conditions do not exist that allow us to cooperate with the Finns led by Halla-aho," Sipila said on Twitter, referring to Jussi Halla-aho, who was named the party's new leader on Saturday.
	Though the governing coalition, in power since May 2015, has not formally collapsed it appeared likely to splinter. The conservatives and centrists could now enter into talks with possible new partners.
	The Finns elected Halla-aho their head on Saturday, replacing foreign minister and moderate Timo Soini.
	Participating in the three-party coalition has come at a heavy price for the Finns party.
	Its support has more than halved from 17.7 percent in the May 2015 general election to 8.4 percent in a February poll by Taloustutkimus.
	A member of the ...

Finland PM says seeking end to coalition with eurosceptics

Libyan authorities said today that Moamer Gaddafi's son Seif al-Islam, reportedly set free by a local militia at the weekend, was still wanted by a Tripoli court for a 2015 conviction.
	Seif al-Islam, the second son and heir apparent of the late deposed Libyan dictator, was said to have been released on Friday by a militia group that controls the town of Zintan in western Libya.
	The group, which had held Seif al-Islam for more than five years, said he had been set free under an amnesty law promulgated by the parliament based in the country's east during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
	But the prosecutor general's office in Tripoli, where a rival UN-backed administration is based, said the amnesty could not apply to Seif al-Islam because of the severity of his crimes.
	"Having been sentenced in absentia on July 28, 2015... (Seif al-Islam) is required to appear before the court," Tripoli prosecutor general Ibrahim Massud Ali said in a statement.
	There was no independent ...

'Freed' Gaddafi son still wanted by Libya court: prosecutor

A strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the Aegean coast of western Turkey and the Greek island of Lesbos today, the US Geological Survey said.
	The USGS said the epicentre of the quake was in the Aegean sea 11 kilometres south of Plomari, a village on the southern coast of Lesbos.
	The mayor of Plomari, Manolis Armenakas, told ERT state television: "We have damage to several buildings, old and new. We are now evaluating the damage."
	Reports said the quake was also strongly felt in the Karaburun district of Turkey's Izmir Province, as well as in Athens, Greece. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties in Turkey.
	AFP reporters in Izmir, Turkey's third-largest city, said the earthquake was felt in the city centre and caused alarm among residents.
	Turkey and Greece sit on significant fault lines and have regularly been hit by earthquakes in recent years.
	This year alone, Turkey's western Aegean coast was hit by several earthquakes of up to 5.5 magnitude, which brought 

6.3 quake rocks western Turkey, Greek island

Seven Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in just three days in renewed fighting with pro-Russian rebels in the east of the country, the military said today.
	Four soldiers were killed on Saturday, two yesterday and one today, bringing the death toll to 14 since the beginning of June.
	"The escalation began two to three weeks ago, the enemy is sending heavy weapons to frontline positions which is a violation of the peace agreements," military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told journalists.
	More than 10,000 people have died since the pro-Russian insurgency began in April 2014, which Kiev and the West accuse Moscow of masterminding.
	The US and EU have imposed sanctions on Russia, but Russia has denied backing the rebels.
	Efforts to secure a peace deal have ground to a halt as the fighting has dragged on, and neither side appears prepared to make concessions.
	The conflict, along with Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, have pushed ties between Moscow and the West to their .

Ukraine says seven soldiers killed in clashes in rebel east

French voters have put President Emmanuel Macron's party on course for a crushing parliamentary majority, though a record low turnout in the first round of voting raised concerns today over the strength of his future mandate.
	Projections showed Macron continuing his centrist revolution, with his Republique en Marche (Republic on the Move, REM) party and its ally MoDem tipped to win between 400 and 445 seats in the 577-member National Assembly in next Sunday's second round.
	Such a share would give Macron -- who founded his party just a year ago -- one of the biggest parliamentary majorities the modern French state has seen.
	"France is back," Prime Minister Edouard Philippe declared triumphantly, calling the result a vote for the president's "confidence, will and daring".
	But government spokesman Christophe Castaner admitted the 49 per cent turnout -- the lowest for six decades in such a vote -- was "a failure of this election" and that Macron's team would need to reach out to those 

Macron headed for huge majority, but low turnout a concern

A Tunisian soldier died today of his wounds from a landmine explosion on Mount Ouergha in the west of the country near the Algerian border, the defence ministry said.
	It said "martyr of the nation" Mohamed Ali Toujani, a term usually used for victims of jihadist attacks, died of injuries after Friday's blast in the Kef region.
	Another soldier was killed in a mine blast last summer in a mountainous region of northwest Tunisia where the army has been tracking down jihadists.
	Since its 2011 revolution, Tunisia has experienced an increase in jihadist attacks that have cost the lives of dozens of members of the security forces and also 59 foreign tourists.

Tunisian soldier dead after landmine blast

England called up uncapped quintet Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Tom Curran, Mason Crane and Craig Overton today for their three-match Twenty20 series against South Africa.
     The five, who have no international appearances between them in any format, are given their chance as several key players including Test captain Joe Root and star all-rounder Ben Stokes have been rested.
     Those two, alongside several other established players, will instead take part in day/night county championship matches ahead of the first Test against West Indies at Edgbaston, which will be played under similar conditions -- a first in England.
     "The series against South Africa presents us with an opportunity to incorporate several players who have come through the talent pathway into the senior group," said England chairman of selectors James Whitaker.
     "The squad has an exciting blend of youth and experience and we are looking forward to a competitive series against strong opposition.
     ...

Uncapped England quintet called up for T20 series

Madrid is bracing for rising tensions over Catalonia's unilateral separatist drive, Spain's deputy prime minister said today, just days after the northeastern region announced an independence referendum for October.
	Catalonia's pro-independence executive has insisted on holding the referendum in a move strongly opposed by the central government which says it is illegal.
	On Friday, Catalonia President Carles Puigdemont said his regional government would hold the vote on October 1 in defiance of Madrid.
	"We need to prepare for a strategy of tension implemented by the regional government and pro-independence parties," Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said in a television interview.
	"They are looking to provoke and they are looking for the state to react," said Saenz de Santamaria, who is in charge of negotiations on the matter.
	Catalonia, a wealthy region of 7.5 million people, is fiercely proud of its language and customs and has long demanded greater autonomy from .

Spain says bracing for rising Catalonia tensions

Qatar's Central Bank said today banking transactions at home and abroad were continuing normally despite the diplomatic crisis which has seen several Gulf countries sever ties with the emirate.
	In a statement released on the state-run Qatar News Agency (QNA), Central Bank governor Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al-Thani dismissed concerns over liquidity levels.
	"The banking and banking transactions and procedures in the State of Qatar continue to be normal, both at the level of local financial transactions and between the Qatari banking sector and foreign banks," the statement read.
	It added that the governor "stressed that the liquidity levels in the Qatari banking sector are good and meet all customer requirements".
	Doha is seeking to reassure customers as it is gripped by the biggest diplomatic crisis to hit the region in years.
	Qatar has found itself isolated following a decision last week by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and others to cut ties with Doha over its .

Qatar Central Bank says operating normally despite crisis

A soldier was killed and two others were wounded in an Al-Qaeda attack today on a checkpoint in Yemen's Hadramawt province that also left three assailants dead, the army said.
	"A soldier was martyred and two soldiers were wounded in an attack by Al-Qaeda gunmen on our checkpoint near the Dowen military camp," said Major General Faraj al-Bahsani, a regional commander.
	Three of the assailants were shot dead and two injured in an exchange of gunfire that followed the attack in the southeastern province, Bahsani told AFP.
	Al-Qaeda extremists remain active in the vast region of Hadramawt, where a number of leaders of Yemen's Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) are based.
	Since January, the United States has intensified its controversial air attacks on AQAP, which it considers the global terror network's most dangerous branch.
	Al-Qaeda has flourished in Yemen as the country's deadly two-year-old civil conflict shows no sign of waning.
	More than 8,000 people have been killed and ..

Soldier, 3 assailants dead in Qaeda attack on Yemen army

South Korean President Moon Jae-In today urged parliament quickly to approve his USD 10-billion stimulus plan aimed at tackling youth unemployment, warning the issue could otherwise become a "national disaster".
	Moon, who took power in May after the ousting of impeached president Park Geun-Hye, has proposed a 11.2- trillion won (USD 10 billion) extra budget aimed at tackling unemployment and strengthening welfare provisions in Asia's fourth-largest economy.
	The proposal, which requires parliamentary approval, aims to help create 110,000 jobs -- including 71,000 in the public sector -- in response to a record-high jobless rate for the under-30s.
	"Unless we come up with drastic measures, the youth unemployment crisis could develop into a national disaster... creating a lost generation of jobless youth," Moon said in a speech to lawmakers.
	"Many say that today's youth will become the first generation whose quality of life will be worse than their parents'... The top priority of the ..

SKorea's Moon urges lawmakers to approve $10 bn stimulus plan

French President Emmanuel Macron's party is on course for an overwhelming parliamentary majority, after first round of voting for the National Assembly left traditional parties in disarray.
	Projections showed Macron widening his centrist revolution, with his Republique en Marche (Republic on the Move, REM) party and its ally MoDem tipped to win between 400 and 445 seats in the 577-member National Assembly in next Sunday's second round.
	Such a share would give Macron one of the biggest parliamentary majorities for 60 years.
	"France is back," Prime Minister Edouard Philippe declared triumphantly.
	"For the past month, the president has shown confidence, willingness and daring in France and on the international stage," Philippe said, calling the result a vindication of Macron's "winning strategy".
	But the vote was marked by record low turnout of 49 percent, possibly reflecting fatalism among Macron's opponents in the face of his seemingly unstoppable advance, experts said.
	The ...

France's Macron heads for crushing parliamentary majority

At least six people were arrested today as Yangon authorities started to clear a huge slum on the city's northern fringes, as bitter competition for land in Myanmar's commercial capital intensifies.
	Armed police escorted hundreds of local authority workers wielding bamboo sticks, rakes and saws as they descended on the shantytown in Hlegu township -- the first major forced eviction under the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
	Furious occupants screamed at the workers as they started pulling down bamboo houses early in the morning.
	"You idiots... You are all evil. How dare you do this?" cried one woman.
	Many directed their anger at Suu Kyi's administration, accusing it of continuing the kind of land evictions that were common under military rule.
	"The government is useless and we were wrong to use our fingers to vote," one man shouted. "The government is always afraid of the army. How can we rely on the government?"
	An AFP journalist saw five men and one woman being hauled .

Arrests as Yangon authorities tear down shantytown

Three men from Australia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea are missing after their boat capsized off PNG, officials said today, as a fourth man was reportedly rescued on a isolated beach after scrawling "help" in the sand.
	The group left Port Moresby on Saturday before their boat sank in rough seas, Australian authorities said.
	PNG authorities launched a search for the missing men some 100 kilometres (62 miles) west of the capital Port Moresby, and are being assisted by Australia, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority told AFP.
	The fourth man, from PNG, swam to shore and was able to alert a helicopter passing overhead by writing "help" on sand and waving his shirt in the air, Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported.
	The men are staff of KPMG in Port Moresby and a spokeswoman for the accountancy giant said the company was hopeful they would be found.
	"We are in close contact with the families and our hopes and prayers are for successful rescue. We are in close contact with (Australia's ...

Trio missing off PNG coast after boat capsizes

Officials in Maryland and the US capital Washington will sue President Donald Trump for accepting payments and benefits from foreign governments through his business empire, news reports have said.
	The suit to be unveiled today centers on the so-called emoluments clause, which bans US officials from taking gifts or other benefits from foreign governments.
	An NGO that centers on ethics issues filed a similar suit in January. But this is the first one presented by government entities.
	The announced lawsuit adds to Trump's woes as he grapples with congressional and a special prosecutor's probes into his campaign's alleged ties with Russia, which US intelligence agencies say meddled aggressively in the 2016 election to held Trump win.
	Since taking power in January, Trump has turned day to day control over his real estate empire and other assets to his adult sons, but not sold them off as many in America said he should to avoid conflicts of interest.
	The lawsuit will be filed Monday ..

Trump faces new lawsuit over business empire: report

Lewis Hamilton revived his bid for a fourth driver's world title when he cruised to victory in the Canadian Grand Prix ahead of his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
     It was the three-time champion's sixth victory at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve -- where he claimed his maiden triumph in 2007 -- as well as his third this season and the 56th of his career.
     Hamilton yesteerday took full advantage of his 65th pole position and led from lights to flag to finish 15 seconds clear of Finn Bottas who, in turn, was 15 seconds ahead of third-placed Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull.
     "A big thank you to this crowd," said Hamilton from the podium where the actor Patrick Stewart served as interviewer. "Every year the energy grows! I had my first pole here and my first win here and to repeat it is incredibly special.
	"It was a great team performance and a Valtteri did a great job. I am just over the moon."
     It was the Mercedes team's first one-two finish of the year and ..

Hamilton wins as Mercedes reel off one-two finish

Despite fears over security and construction delays at several stadiums, Russia looks largely on course one year from the kick-off of the World Cup in June 2018.
     There was already a whiff of scandal around the first World Cup to be held in Eastern Europe after Swiss authorities opened a probe into possible corruption during the bidding for the event.
     Then worries of hooligan violence surged after gangs of Russian fans grabbed headlines by rampaging through the streets of Marseille at Euro 2016.
     But for strongman President Vladimir Putin the World Cup is an invaluable chance to burnish Russia's prestige as the country has slumped to its worst standoff with the West over Ukraine and Syria.
     And authorities insist they have all problems firmly in hand as they gear up for a test-run with the Confederations Cup tournament starting in second city Saint Petersburg on June 17.
     - Stadiums -
	============
     The World Cup will be the biggest international event that ...

AFP

AFP

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