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A foetus, a two-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl were among 117 human remains recovered from a mass grave made by Mexican authorities in 2014, officials have said.
	It took 12 days for forensic experts to dig the pit in the central state of Morelos yesterday, and there was one more body than they previously believed were buried in a cemetery in Tetelcingo.
	Morelos attorney general Javier Perez said authorities are investigating why they had a registry of 116 bodies instead of 117.
	The case has caused outrage in Mexico, where more than 28,000 people have disappeared in a decade of drug violence.
	Perez said the foetus, a 36-week-old female -- nearly full term -- was found dead on a street in 2012 in the city of Cuernavaca.
	The seven-year-old girl was found on December 26, 2012, between Cuernavaca and Jiutepec, and an autopsy concluded that she had died of a contusion in the chest.
	The two-year-old boy was discovered in a river in April 2013, with his death caused by head ...

Foetus, two children among 117 bodies in Mexico mass grave

A British man was sentenced to 15 years in a US prison for conspiring to import 100 kilos (220 pounds) of North Korean methamphetamines into the United States.
	Scott Stammers, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy in August 2015, will be deported after serving his 181-month sentence.
	Dressed in khaki pants and an olive top, Stammers declined an opportunity to address the New York court.
	"No. I'm fine, thank you very much sir," he told US Federal Judge Andrew Carter yesterday.
	Stammers had faced a sentence of up to 30 years, but the judge cited mitigating factors that included the fact that he has two children and was held in harsh conditions in Thailand before being extradited.
	He said the defendant's "somewhat difficult upbringing" was another reason, as was his past use of alcohol, cocaine and methamphetamine, which "may have contributed to his involvement in this offense."
	"Mr Stammers I wish you the best of luck. I hope you can get your life back on track," said Carter, ...

Briton jailed 15 years in US over N. Korea drugs

US President Barack Obama has commuted the prison sentences of 42 people, most of them non-violent drug offenders, reflecting his calls for criminal justice reform.
	Most of those pardoned yesterday were small-time drug dealers who received long sentences under a code shaped by the government's war on drugs.
	The punishments were made under "outdated and unduly harsh sentencing laws," the White House said in a statement.
	"The individuals receiving a presidential commutation today have more than repaid their debt to society and earned this second chance."
	Some were serving life sentences. Held in various prisons across the country, they will be released between October 1, 2016 and June 3, 2018.
	Obama has now commuted sentences for 348 people, more than the total amount issued by the previous seven presidents combined.
	Obama has called for legislation to reduce sentences and provide alternative punishments for small-time offenders.
	"There remain thousands of men and women in ...

Obama commutes sentences of 42 prisoners

Syria's regime killed dozens of civilians with air strikes in and around Aleppo city, even as it agreed to allow access for ground convoys to deliver aid to 12 besieged areas.
	The raids on Aleppo were the most intense in more than a month, with dozens of barrel bombs -- crude, unguided explosive devices -- dropped on rebel-held eastern districts of the city, an AFP correspondent said.
	Fourteen people were killed when a bus they were travelling in was hit on the Castello road, a key rebel supply route out of Aleppo, the civil defence said.
	At least 43 other civilians were killed in regime strikes on neighbourhoods in the city's rebel-held east yesterday, said the civil defence, known as the White Helmets.
	"There are people under the rubble and we're still looking for the missing," said a volunteer who gave his name as Khaled.
	AFP footage showed a building in the city's east whose front had been blown off and bulldozers clearing debris from the roads.
	A man wearing medical gloves .

Syria regime kills dozens in raids, agrees aid convoys

Syria has agreed to allow access for ground convoys to deliver aid to 12 besieged areas during the month of June, the United Nations said today.
	Damascus has also agreed to restricted aid deliveries to three more areas but rejected requests for two others, the UN office of humanitarian affairs said.
	The approvals came as the Security Council discussed UN plans to carry out airdrops of food and medicine to civilians trapped in areas under siege.
	Some diplomats dismissed the move, saying such approvals had been granted in the past and failed to materialize on the ground.
	According to the United Nations, a total of 592,000 people live under siege in Syria -- the majority surrounded by regime forces -- and another four million live in hard-to-reach areas.
	Out of the total requests for access to 34 locations, 23 were approved in full, six were approved for some deliveries of medicine but not food, and five were rejected.
	Damascus refused access to the besieged areas of Al Wa'er of ...

Syria approves aid to 12 besieged areas: UN

The machine Hitler used to send coded messages to his generals met the supercomputer that revealed its secrets today, watched on by veteran operatives whose painstaking work helped bring World War II to an end.
	Scientists at Bletchley Park in southern England, the WWII code breaking headquarters, fired up the valves, whirring wheels and spinning tors of the two machines to recreate how German military chiefs sent secret messages and how they were deciphered.
	Hitler's Lorenz machine boasted 1.6 million billion possible coding combinations thanks to a series of twelve rotors, a million times more complex than the more feted Enigma machine.
	Through luck and the ingenuity of engineer Tommy Flowers, scientists were able to deduce how the machine operated and then build a machine to work out the settings of Lorenz's rotors.
	"Colossus" is regarded as the world's first programmable, electronic digital computer, but received little attention as the project was kept secret for decades, ...

Hitler's coding machine meets its nemesis

A group of American-led scientists and entrepreneurs has announced the start of a 10-year project aimed at creating synthetic human genomes in a move that could revolutionize the field of biotechnology but raises troubling ethical concerns.
	The ambitious proposal could make it possible to grow human organs for transplant and speed up the development of vaccines, the project backers said in a paper published yesterday in the journal Science.
	But the idea has already sparked criticism due to the potential of one day creating children with no biological parents, and due to the secrecy surrounding a recent closed-door meeting on the subject.
	Its proponents envision a project on the same scale as the Human Genome Project, which mapped and published the full, sequenced human genome in 2003 -- or the 99.9 per cent that we all have in common.
	Dubbed "Human Genome Project-write" or "HGP-write" -- since synthesizing would amount to "writing" rather than "reading" our genetic code -- the ...

Scientists unveil plan to create synthetic human genomes

One of Europe's smallest states, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, cast its eyes to the cosmos today, announcing it would draw up a law to facilitate mining on asteroids.
	Extracting precious metals, rare minerals and other valuable commodities on passing asteroids is a staple of science fiction, but Luxembourg says incentives are urgently needed to turn this dream into fact.
	"Comprehensive legislation" will be drawn up with the help of space law experts, the economy ministry said in a statement.
	Expected to take effect in 2017, it is billed as providing a legal framework that will spur investment in exploiting resources in Near Earth Objects (NEOs) -- the scientific term for asteroids as well as comets.
	"(It) will guarantee operators the right to resources harvested in outer space in accordance with international law," the ministry said.
	"Space resources-dedicated licences will be issued under the new law, and government supervision of the activities of operators and regulating ...

Luxembourg takes first steps to 'asteroid mining' law

Donald Trump today again lambasted the judge handling a pair of lawsuits over his defunct online university, insisting that the jurist's Mexican heritage prevents him from being impartial.
	The Republican presidential frontrunner slammed Judge Gonzalo Curiel in a speech last week as "a hater" and "a total disgrace" whose Mexican parentage poses an "absolute conflict" in the cases.
	He doubled down on those comments in an interview appearing in today's Wall Street Journal, saying Curiel -- a US-born native of Indiana -- might be "biased" by Trump's controversial campaign vow to build an anti-immigrant wall on America's southern border with Mexico.
	"I'm building a wall. It's an inherent conflict of interest," Trump told the daily, noting that Curiel also had belonged to an organization of Hispanic judges -- another disqualifier in his eyes.
	The developer and reality television host has enthused supporters and enraged many others with his calls for building the wall on the US-Mexican ..

Trump lashes out again against 'hater' judge

Ash and dust particles from the massive forest fires ravaging western Canada for the past month have been found in Switzerland, according to Swiss meteorologists.
	"The fires have injected an enormous quantity of dust into the atmosphere, (which) is now being detected over Switzerland," the Swiss meteorological authorities said in a report discreetly issued on Tuesday and picked up by Swiss media today.
	MeteoSwiss said it had determined that particles observed at the Payerne measurement station in the western canton of Vaud on May 24 and 25 had been emitted from western Canada around May 19-20.
	The concentrations measured over Switzerland did not constitute a health risk, it stressed.
	The wildfires, which forced the evacuation on May 3 of about 100,000 residents of Fort McMurray and surrounding areas in Alberta province, remains out of control.
	But the fires have moved away from populated areas and tracked eastward, allowing Fort McMurray's residents to gradually return to the ...

Canada fires spew dust all the way to Switzerland

Iraqi forces made progress today neighbourhood of the Islamic State group's bastion, commanders said.
	An AFP photographer embedded with interior ministry SWAT teams said Iraqi forces had managed to enter the Shuhada neighbourhood, on the southern edge of the city centre.
	"The security forces have advanced from Naimiya neighbourhood to Shuhada," Lieutenant General Abdelwahab al-Saadi, the operation's overall commander, told AFP.
	"The clashes between the security forces and Daesh members were fierce," said another officer, using an Arab acronym for IS.
	Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the launch of an operation to retake Fallujah on May 23.
	After an initial phase of shaping operations aimed at cutting off the jihadists' last supply lines, elite forces on May 30 attempted to enter Fallujah from three directions.
	They have not pushed deep into the IS bastion however, slowed in their advance by tough resistance and widespread concern over the fate of 50,000 civilians believed 

Iraq forces inch into Fallujah: commanders

British girls receive on average 77 pence a week less pocket money than boys -- a sharp jump in the pay gap since last year, according to a study by the Halifax bank published today.
	On average, boys aged between 8 and 15 years old receive 6.93 pounds (USD 10, 8.95 euros) per week compared to 6.16 pounds for girls of a similar age.
	But boys are more likely (44 per cent) than girls (39 per cent) to think they should receive more.
	The pocket money gender gap has soared from last year, when boys received on average 6.25 pounds and girls 6.14 pounds -- an 11 pence difference, according to the survey of 1,202 children and 575 parents.
	Women in Britain on average earn 19.2 per cent less than men, according to official statistics.
	Critics argue that using average pay and bonuses does not take into account differences in occupations, positions, education, career breaks to have children, job tenure or hours worked per week.
	According to recent official figures, British women between the .

British girls lose out in pocket money stakes

Britain's UKIP leader Nigel Farage said today he would lead a flotilla up the Thames to campaign for Brexit, seizing momentum after Prime Minister David Cameron endured a bruising television debate.
	Farage, who heads the UK Independence Party, said he would board a trawler at the head of a 60-boat procession which will sail to the Houses of Parliament on June 15 in a mass protest organised by campaign group "Fishing for Leave".
	"It will be big, visual and dramatic, and the demand will be clear -- we want our waters back," he told LBC radio, arguing that Britain's fishing industry was in decline because of European Union quotas.
	The announcement came amid another busy day of campaigning by both sides ahead of the June 23 vote, as polls suggest the "Leave" campaign is getting a boost with its focus on cutting back on EU migration to Britain.
	Cameron visited a brewery to make the case for staying in, after a challenging performance in a live question and answer session on television .

Brexit flotilla to hit the Thames after PM bruising

US warplanes today conducted "combat sorties" in support of the ongoing campaign against the Islamic State (IS) group from an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean, the US Navy's Sixth Fleet announced.
	The statement did not specify if the planes had carried out strikes or hit any possible targets after taking off from the USS Harry S. Truman, which returned to the Mediterranean yesterday.
	It had been based since December in in the Persian Gulf, where it was one of the main launchpads for allied strikes aimed at degrading IS and eliminating its leadership.
	A US official had earlier confirmed ammunition drops today to a US-backed group advancing on the northern Syrian town of Manbij, which is held by Islamic State.
	In a statement the Sixth Fleet said: "The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group conducted combat sorties from the Mediterranean in support of Operation Inherent Resolve over Syria and Iraq June 3, 2016."
	Sixth fleet commander James Foggo said: "While the Harry S. Truman ..

US planes in combat sorties from aircraft carrier in Med

Belgium will next week examine France's request for the extradition of Mohamed Abrini, who has been linked to both the Paris and Brussels attacks, federal prosecutors said today.
	A court hearing will be held in Brussels on January 9 to "examine the request" to transfer Abrini from Belgium to France, the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement.
	In March, Belgian police arrested the 31-year-old Abrini, a key suspect in the Paris attacks last November 13 in which 130 people were killed.
	He also turned out to be the so-called "man in the hat" seen in CCTV footage with two bombers shortly before they staged the Brussels airport assault on March 22.
	The bombings, combined with another an hour later at a Brussels metro station, killed a total of 32 people.

Belgium to mull extradition of Paris attacks suspect Abrini

South Africa today ducked a much-feared downgrade of its debt to "junk" status as the S&P Global-Ratings agency stood by its current ratings.
	The agency warned, however, that the outlook for South Africa's rating remains negative because of weak growth and political tensions.
	S&P's currently rates South African longterm debt BBB-, just one notch above junk, a status that prevents many international investors from buying into sovereign bonds.
	The government welcomed S&P's decision to put a downgrade on hold.
	"The benefit of this decision is that South Africa is given more time to demonstrate further concrete implementation of reforms that are underway," the treasury said in a statement.
	"The rating outcome demonstrates that South Africans can unite, especially during difficult times, to achieve a common mission."
	South Africa has been plagued by political controversay as its growth this year is expected to hit its lowest since the 2008 world economic crisis.
	The ...

SAfrica dodges debt downgrade to 'junk': S&P

Tens of thousands of homosexuals, transgender people, gay activists and sympathisers thronged the streets of the Israeli city of Tel Aviv today for the annual Gay Pride parade.
	Scantily clad revellers streamed alongside a procession of floats through the Mediterranean coastal city in stifling heat, ending up at a beach where a massive rave party was held.
	Among the crowd were thousands of tourists, many of them holding the flags of their country of origin, as they paraded through Tel Aviv, known as a rare oasis for the LGTB community in the Middle East.
	Helicopters circled above the crowds and thousands of police officers and security personnel were stationed along the route.
	A 16-year-old girl, Shira Banki, was stabbed to death by Yishai Shlissel, an ultra-Orthodox Jew, during Jerusalem's Gay Pride march in August 2015.
	Shlissel had called the march an "abomination" and described his attack, in which five others were also wounded, as a religious duty.
	Palestinian attacks on ...

Tens of thousands celebrate Gay Pride in Tel Aviv

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will meet in a Grand Slam title clash for a seventh time on Sunday after comprehensive semi-final triumphs swept the world's top two players into the French Open final.
     Djokovic reached his fourth final in Paris with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 demolition of Austria's Dominic Thiem to move one match closer to a career Grand Slam.
     The world number one will now tackle second seed Murray who knocked out defending champion Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
     As well as the title, there will be a hefty chunk of history at stake on Sunday.
     Djokovic, playing in a 20th final at the majors, is seeking a first Roland Garros crown to become just the eighth man to complete the career Slam.
     Murray, also 29, can become the first British winner of the men's title since Fred Perry in 1935.
     Sunday will be Djokovic's sixth successive Grand Slam championship match as he looks to add to his collection of 11 majors.
     He already holds the Wimbledon, US and 

Djokovic, Murray set-up French Open final blockbuster

Around 1,000 demonstrators gathered in central Baghdad today to demand an end to corruption and a government reshuffle, in the latest in a long string of weekly protests.
	Unlike the previous week, no violence erupted between the massive deployment of security forces and the protesters, most of whom are supporters of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
	"We must keep up the pressure, this is the only way of getting the intended result: ending corruption and giving Iraq back to Iraqis," said Ali Chasseb, a taxi driver who came from the southern town of Amara for the protest.
	Sadrist protests have twice led to breaches of the fortified Green Zone, where the country's top institutions are located.
	The demonstrators want Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's plan to replace the government of party-affiliated ministers with a cabinet of technocrats to be implemented.
	The move is being opposed however by many politicians, including within Abadi's own party, who want to preserve the patronage system that .

Protesters demand reform in fresh Baghdad demo

More than 1,000 members of the Iraqi forces have been wounded since the start of the operation to retake Fallujah from the Islamic State group, a health official said today.
	"We have received 1,119 wounded since the start of the operation," a senior Baghdad health official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
	"The wounded fighters were treated at Kadhimiya, Abu Ghraib, Al Karama, Al Karkh and Yarmuk hospitals," he said.
	The official said the casualty toll included members of the army, police, counter-terrorism service and Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary organisation.
	Iraqi forces on May 22-23 launched a vast offensive aimed at retaking the IS bastion of Fallujah, a city only 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Baghdad that was the first to fall out of government control in 2014.
	Iraqi military commanders are not divulging casualty figures.
	The health official could not provide a figure for the number of fighters killed.
	The bodies of the dead are usually taken to a morgue near ...

AFP

AFP

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