Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said today he "agreed 100 per cent" with a prosecutor's repeated suggestions that some charity boats rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean are colluding with traffickers in Libya.
	Sicily-based prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro sparked a row last week after claims in La Stampa daily that some aid groups battling Europe's worst migrant crisis since World War II may be in league with people smugglers.
	"I am 100 per cent in agreement with prosecutor Zuccaro as he asked a real question....Those who become indignant at the drop of a hat are hypocrites," Alfano told reporters in the Sicilian town of Taormina.
	The city will host the G7 summit at the end of next month.
	Zuccaro doubled down on his La Stampa comments on Thursday when he said he regretted being unable to investigate his claim that some NGOs were "perhaps" financed by traffickers and were potentially seeking to "destabilise the Italian economy".
	Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said today that 

Italian FM backs prosecutor on NGO migrant row

PTI Automatic

The US aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, today kicked off a joint drill with the South Korean navy, officials said, as tensions rose over North Korea's latest test-fire of a ballistic missile.
	"Immediately after the aircraft carrier arrived in the Sea of Japan, South Korea and the US strike forces launched a drill from 6:00 pm (0900 GMT) today," a defence ministry spokesman told AFP.
	The drill came hours after the North launched a ballistic missile in apparent defiance of a concerted US push for tougher international sanctions to curb Pyongyang's nuclear weapons ambitions.
	The drill aimed to verify the allies' capability to track and intercept enemy ballistic missiles, the spokesman said.
	He declined to clarify how long the drill would last, but Yonhap news agency said it was expected to continue until sometime next week.
	The drill will also include a live-fire exercise and anti-submarine manoeuvres, the spokesman added.
	It would mark the USS Carl Vinson's second operation in ..

US aircraft carrier starts drill with South Korean navy

Pope Francis appealed for dialogue to battle extremism as he addressed thousands of faithful today during a visit to Egypt to promote reconciliation with Muslims and support its embattled Christians.
	His visit, coming after the Islamic State group (IS) killed dozens of worshippers in three Egyptian church bombings earlier this month and in December, gave the country's beleaguered Christian community an occasion to be joyful.
	"The only fanaticism believers can have is that of charity," the pope said at a mass for Egypt's Catholics.
	"True faith... Moves our heart to love everyone... It makes us see the other not as an enemy to be overcome but a brother and sister to be loved," he told a crowd of about 15,000 pilgrims.
	"It spurs us on to spread, defend and live out the culture of encounter, dialogue, respect and fraternity."
	The mass came on the second and last day of Francis's visit, which saw him plead for tolerance and peace on Friday as he visited a Coptic church bombed by IS in 

Pope tells Egypt mass that dialogue can battle extremism

Championship leader Sebastian Vettel admitted it felt "fantastic" to lead Ferrari to their first front row lock out in nine years after he took pole position in Saturday's thrilling qualifying session for the Russian Grand Prix.
     The four-time world champion's blistering fastest lap and Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen's second place on the grid brought to an end rivals champions Mercedes long and dominant supremacy in qualifying.
     The 29-year-old German outpaced Raikkonen by 0.059 seconds with another Finn, Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes, third fastest with less than a tenth of a second separating the top three.
     Britain's Lewis Hamilton was fourth fastest, the first time Mercedes failed to have a car on the front row for 31 races.
     "If you have a rhythm here it feels fantastic," said Vettel, who has won the last nine races at which he started from pole position.
     "And I am glad I got it back. It is great to have both cars on the front row, but it is only part of the 

Vettel on pole for Russian GP in Ferrari one-two

Hundreds of Russian opposition supporters turned out today to protest against President Vladimir Putin's expected candidacy in elections set for 2018, with police detaining dozens of activists in the second- largest city of Saint Petersburg.
	Protests in several cities were called by the Open Russia movement founded by arch-Putin foe and former oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
	They were held under the slogan "We're sick of him" -- referring to Putin.
	About 30 to 50 protesters were hauled away by riot police in a crackdown in Saint Petersburg after around 200 people gathered for an unauthorised demonstration, an AFP journalist witnessed.
	Open Russia put the figure of detentions at about 50 people, while OVD-Info, which monitors detentions of political activists, said more than 125 were detained. Police have not yet issued numbers.
	"Putin is an usurper. He has to finally go. We're sick of him," said one of the protesters, 35-year-old Anton Danilov.
	"Everything is bad. Education, ..

Dozens detained as Russian protesters say 'sick of Putin'

A presumed US drone strike in south Yemen today killed three suspected members of Al-Qaeda, a Yemeni security official said.
	The strike targeted a car in which the suspects were travelling in the Rawda region of Shabwa province, according to the official who did not want to be identified.
	Since President Donald Trump took office in January, the United States has intensified its air war against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, regarded by Washington as the most dangerous branch of the extremist group.
	The Pentagon said on April 3 that it had carried out more than 70 strikes against jihadist targets in Yemen since February 28.
	Al-Qaeda has taken advantage of the chaos caused by more than two years of civil war to expand its presence in Yemen.

Drone strike kills 3 Qaeda suspects in Yemen

A French warfare ship arrived in Japan today for an international drill as tensions mounted over North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch in defiance of a US push for tougher global sanctions.
	The amphibious assault ship arrived at the Sasebo naval base in southwestern Japan ahead of the first joint exercise among Japan, France, the US and the UK.
	The drill comes as tensions run high in East Asia after North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile early Saturday amid speculation that Pyongyang could conduct another nuclear test.
	The drill will run from May 3 through May 22 in the waters surrounding Japan as well as the Pacific islands of Guam and Northern Marianas, according to Japan's Self Defence Forces.
	As many as 700 military personnel are expected to take part in the Jeanne d'Arc mission for young officers, also to be joined by French frigate Courbet.
	Some 60 British sailors as well as 220 Japanese military personnel will go on board the French vessels, along with their ...

French ship in Japan for naval drill as N Korea tensions rise

Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen announced Saturday she would name a eurosceptic from outside her National Front party as prime minister if she wins France's presidency in the May 7 run-off.
	In a bruising contest against pro-European centrist Emmanuel Macron, Le Pen is hoping to broaden her base wide enough to win the decisive second-round election, despite polls suggesting she is 20 points behind.
	The anti-immigration Le Pen, who wants to withdraw France from the euro, told reporters that she and Nicolas Dupont- Aignan, who lost in the election's first round with 4.7 percent of the vote, shared a "common project that we will promote together".
	"We will build a national unity government that will bring together people chosen for their skills and their love of France," said Le Pen, 48.
	Dupont-Aignan, 56, heads the Debout la France (France Stand Up) movement and, like Le Pen, favours pulling the nation from the eurozone.
	"It's an historic day because we are putting France before ..

Le Pen announces eurosceptic PM pick, if she wins

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today urged Britain and the European Union to secure a "smooth and transparent" separation, saying that open trade in Europe was "a matter of concern to the world".
	Abe met with British Prime Minister Theresa May yesterday, assuring her that he "continued to trust the UK economy after separation from the European Union," he told a press conference in London today.
	But he warned that "all the stakeholders, including investors from countries outside the region" needed to have "clear future prospects" in a post-Brexit Britain.
	More than 1,000 Japanese companies do business in Britain, employing some 140,000 local people, and Japan's direct investment in the country has topped 10 trillion yen (USD 96 billion) to date.
	Japan has already warned that businesses with their European headquarters in the UK may decide to transfer their head-office function to continental Europe if EU laws cease to be applicable in the UK after its withdrawal.
	Japan's major 

Japan's Abe warns of 'confusion' without UK/EU Brexit deal

European Union leaders unanimously adopted their Brexit strategy at a special summit in Brussels today, in a show of unity ahead of two years of tough talks with Britain.
	The 27 leaders quickly agreed on the negotiating guidelines as they met without Britain for the first time since Prime Minister Theresa May triggered the divorce process a month ago.
	They say talks on a future trade deal with Britain can only start once London agrees divorce terms on citizens' rights, its exit bill and Northern Ireland.
	"Guidelines adopted unanimously. EU27 firm and fair political mandate for the Brexit talks is ready," EU President Donald Tusk said on Twitter, shortly after the summit began.
	Leaders adopted the guidelines, unchanged, within one minute, an EU source said.
	Tusk earlier said leaders "need to remain united as the EU 27" but said it was "also in Britain's interest" if unity boosted the chances of a swift Brexit deal.
	May this week accused the EU of ganging up on London, in a war of 

EU adopts tough Brexit talks stance

EU leaders today unanimously adopted tough guidelines for two years of Brexit talks, in an unprecedented show of unity ahead of divorce negotiations with Britain.
	"Guidelines adopted unanimously. (The) EU-27's firm and fair political mandate for the Brexit talks is ready," said EU president Donald Tusk in a tweet as leaders met at a summit in Brussels without British Prime Minister Theresa May.

EU leaders 'unanimously' adopt Brexit guidelines: Tusk

Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen announced today that if she wins France's May 7 runoff she would name eurosceptic Nicolas Dupont-Aignan as her prime minister.
	Le Pen told a press conference that she and Dupont- Aignan, who lost in the election's first round with 4.7 percent of the vote, shared a "common project that we will promote together".
	"We will build a national unity government that will bring together people chosen for their skills and their love of France," Le Pen said.
	During the bruising campaign, Le Pen has attempted to wear down lingering resistance to her National Front party's tainted brand by portraying her centrist rival Emmanuel Macron as an elitist money man.
	Polls give him a commanding lead of up to 20 points over Le Pen in the runoff but show the gap narrowing slightly after Macron's sluggish start to his second-round campaigning.
	Le Pen says she wants to build up France's borders, take it out of the eurozone and hold a referendum on the ...

French candidate Le Pen announces eurosceptic PM pick, if

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned Southeast Asian leaders Saturday they were facing a "massive" illegal drug menace that could destroy their societies, as he called for a united response.
	Duterte, who has faced international condemnation for his own crackdown on drugs that has claimed thousands of lives, also insisted that outsiders should not interfere in Southeast Asia's affairs.
	"The illegal drug trade is massive but it is not impregnable," Duterte said in a speech to open an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders summit.
	"With political will and cooperation, it can be dismantled. It can be destroyed before it destroys our societies."
	Duterte urged the leaders to be "resolute in realising a drug-free ASEAN".
	Duterte was elected last year largely on a law-and-order platform in which he promised to eradicate illegal drugs in the Philippines by killing tens of thousands of people.
	His pledge proved wildly popular with millions of Filipinos looking for a 

Southeast Asia faces 'massive' drugs menace: Duterte

Pope Francis led a jubilant mass for thousands of Egyptian Catholics today during a visit to support the country's embattled Christian minority and promote dialogue with Muslims.
	Worshippers released yellow and white balloons with Francis, flanked by security, circling the Cairo stadium on a golf cart and waving to the crowds as a chorus sang a joyous hymn.
	The smiling pontiff was then greeted by a group of children wearing pharaonic head dresses.
	Francis kissed an altar set up under a canopy and bowed his head listening to the liturgy before saying a prayer then listening to a recital from the Bible's Acts of the Apostles, which tells the story of the church's founding.
	It is the second and last day of Francis's visit, which saw him plead for tolerance and peace on Friday as he visited a Coptic church bombed by the Islamic State group in December.
	The spiritual leader of the world's almost 1.3 billion Catholics also became the first pope to visit the headquarters of the grand ...

Pope Francis leads mass for thousands of Egyptian Catholics

Tearful relatives gathered outside a Thai temple today to bury an 11-month-old girl killed by her father in a harrowing murder he broadcast live on Facebook before committing suicide.
	The Buddhist ceremony on the southern island of Phuket concluded a week of funeral rites for baby Natalie, who was hanged from the side of an abandoned building on Monday by her 20-year-old father Wuttisan Wongtalay.
	Wuttisan, who hanged himself shortly after, filmed the macabre scene using his phone and broadcast it on Facebook Live.
	The video was seen by Natalie's 22-year-old mother and hundreds of thousands of others before it was taken down some 24 hours later, prompting calls for Facebook to move more swiftly to block graphic content.
	Today relatives held Natalie's sobbing mother as Buddhist monks chanted around a freshly-dug grave for the infant, who was pictured in a framed photo wearing a red dress.
	Her tiny body was swaddled in pink, red and white cloth before it was lowered into the ground 

Thai family buries baby murdered on Facebook Live

A landslide that swept over houses in a village in Central Asian Kyrgyzstan early today has killed 24 people including nine children, the emergencies ministry said.
	"All 24 citizens of Kyrgzystan, nine of them children, died under the landslide in the south of the country," emergencies ministry spokeswoman Elmira Sheripova told AFP, updating an initial statement that reported four dead and at least 20 missing.

24 dead in Kyrgyz landslide: emergencies ministry

Turkey and the United States can join forces to turn the Islamic State group's de-facto capital of Raqa in neighbouring Syria into a "graveyard" for the jihadists, the Turkish president said today.
	"The huge America, the coalition and Turkey can join hands and turn Raqa into a graveyard for Daesh," Erdogan told an Istanbul meeting, using an alternative name for the IS group. His comments come ahead of a meeting with President Donald Trump in mid-May in the United States.

Turkey, US can turn Raqa into 'graveyard' for IS: Erdogan

Thousands of opponents of Venezuela's leftist government marched to jails demanding the release of opposition leaders they say are political prisoners in the country's deadly crisis.
	It was the latest in a month of demonstrations that have left 28 people dead in clashes between riot police and anti- government protesters, according to prosecutors.
	A crowd yelling "Freedom!" rallied near the Ramo Verde prison yesterday on the outskirts of Caracas.
	That is where the most prominent of the prisoners, Popular Will party leader Leopoldo Lopez, is being held.
	It was the latest in a month of volatile and deadly demonstrations.
	The center-right-led opposition is demanding elections to remove President Nicolas Maduro. It blames him for an economic crisis that has caused shortages of food, medicine and other basics.
	Lopez was arrested in 2014 and later sentenced to 14 years on charges of inciting violence during deadly riots.
	A lead prosecutor in the case later alleged irregularities in ..

Venezuela opposition rallies for jailed members

North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile from an area north of Pyongyang today, a news agency report said, but it failed seconds after it was launched.
	The test comes with tensions high on the Korean peninsula, with this the latest in a series of missile launches by the North and warnings from US President Donald Trump's administration that it was running out of patience.
	"North Korea fired an unidentified missile from a site in the vicinity of Bukchang in Pyeongannam-do (South Pyeongan Province) early this morning," Yonhap reported, quoting a statement issued by South Korea's military.
	"It is estimated to have failed."
	In Washington, a US defence official confirmed to AFP that North Korea had test fired some kind of missile.
	The report added that the missile "apparently exploded seconds after liftoff".
	Seoul was analysing the type and flight distance of the projectile.
	The North has been ratcheting up tensions for months with a series of missile launches, including a volley .

N Korea launches failed missile test: Yonhap

North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile from an area north of Pyongyang today, a news agency report said, as the United States pushed for tougher sanctions to curb the country's nuclear threat.
	"North Korea fired an unidentified missile from a site in the vicinity of Bukchang in Pyeongannam-do (South Pyeongan Province) early this morning," Yonhap reported, quoting a statement issued by South Korea's military.
	The report added that Seoul was analysing the type and flight distance of the projectile.
	The launch comes with tensions high on the Korean peninsula, with this the latest in a series of missile launches by the North and warnings from US President Donald Trump's administration that it was running out of patience.
	At UN Security Council yesterday, Washington pushed for tougher sanctions to confront the North Korean threat, piling pressure on China to rein in its ally while warning it was keeping military options "on the table".

North Korea test-fires ballistic missile: Yonhap

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the Philippines today, the US Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
	It struck at a shallow depth in the Mindanao region, with the US National Weather Service warning that hazardous tsunami waves were possible off the coasts of the Philippines and Indonesia.

AFP

AFP

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