Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged to support Syria's government "politically, economically and militarily," the war-torn country's Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said in Moscow today.
	"I received a promise from President Putin to support Syria politically, economically and militarily," Muallem said at a press conference with his Russian counterpart after meeting Putin.
	Moscow has been a key backer of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad throughout the uprising against him that began in March 2011, providing diplomatic cover, as well as financial assistance to Damascus.
	It has also hosted talks between regime figures and members of the tolerated domestic Syrian opposition, though they reached no firm conclusions and did not include the main internationally recognised opposition National Coalition.
	After meeting Muallem, Putin reiterated that his country would continue to stand with Assad's government, quashing rumours to the contrary.
	"We are convinced that in the end the .

Russia pledges 'political, economic, military' support: Syria

PTI Automatic

US President Barack Obama recently sent a private message to Iran's leadership via Iraq's prime minister, an Iranian newspaper reported today on the eve of a deadline for a nuclear deal.
	Hamshahri, Iran's highest-circulation daily, citing a lawmaker, said "one of the leaders of a neighbouring country" took the message from Obama to officials in Tehran.
	The subject discussed was the nuclear talks between Iran and world powers led by the United States it said, without giving further details on its content.
	The newspaper suggested that the message bearer was Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who met Obama on June 8 on the sidelines of a G7 summit in Germany.
	Abadi visited Tehran on June 17, meeting Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well as President Hassan Rouhani.
	The newspaper also cited Abadi's visit in April to Washington where he sought arms to fight Islamic State group militants.
	There was no immediate official confirmation of the report which came on the ...

Obama sent Iran message ahead of nuclear deadline: report

A United Arab Emirates court sentenced an Emirati woman to death today after convicting her of the jihadist-inspired murder of an American teacher, according to a media report.
	Alaa Bader al-Hashemi, 30, was found guilty of stabbing to death school teacher Ibolya Ryan, 47, in a shopping mall toilet, Abu Dhabi newspaper The National reported.
	She was also convicted of "creating a handmade bomb" she placed in front of an Egyptian-American doctor's home, it added.
	The attacks took place within hours of each other in the UAE capital on December 1.
	Tracked down using CCTV footage of her going into and out of the restroom where the teacher's murder took place and near the doctor's building, Hashemi was arrested 48 hours later.
	She was dressed in black from head-to-toe as she carried out both attacks.
	Hashemi was arrested at her home where her car was found with blood on the steering wheel and bomb making materials inside.
	The National said that Hashemi "was also found guilty of ...

UAE woman sentenced to death for killing US teacher: report

Mozambique decriminalised homosexuality today when a new penal code came into force that swept away old Portuguese colonial laws, in a victory for campaigners for gay rights in Africa.
	The old code, dating back to 1886, targeted anyone "who habitually engages in vices against nature" -- but no known prosecutions took place after Mozambique became independent in 1975.
	Breaking the law was theoretically punishable by up to three years of hard labour.
	"It's a symbolic victory, as social inclusion remains the main challenge," Frank, a student gay rights activist who declined to give his full name, told AFP.
	The new penal code, which was announced last December by then president Armando Guebuza, also decriminalises abortion after lobbying by civil rights organisations.
	The code came into force today, though no official events or celebrations were scheduled to mark the occasion.
	The majority of African countries outlaw homosexuality, but Mozambique has seen little anti-gay violence or 

Mozambique scraps colonial-era homosexuality ban

Voting in Burundi's controversial elections opened today despite a string of grenade attacks on polling stations, the latest in weeks of violence sparked by the president's defiant bid for a third term.
	Assailants threw grenades in both the capital Bujumbura and at some provincial voting centres ahead of Monday's parliamentary and local elections, delaying the start of voting in many areas, police and election officials said.
	Another grenade exploded in the capital shortly after voting began.
	UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for the elections to be delayed after the opposition said they would not take part, as Burundi faces its worst crisis since its civil war ended nine years ago.
	"Armed groups tried to attack polling centres... They were shooting and threw grenades, but the police stopped them," deputy police chief Godefroid Bizimana said.
	Police patrolled the streets of Bujumbura, especially in opposition areas where the worst violence was seen during weeks of ...

Grenade attacks as Burundi holds controversial polls

A revolutionary solar-powered aircraft was past "the point of no return" and flying over the Pacific Ocean bound for Hawaii today, on the most ambitious leg of its quest to circumnavigate the globe.
	After a month of delays in Japan and a last-minute false start last week, mission controllers declared Solar Impulse 2 had taken off from the central Japanese city of Nagoya shortly after 3:00 am (1800 GMT Sunday).
	"No Way Back! This is a one way ticket to Hawaii," tweeted @solarimpulse. Pilot "Andre Borschberg has passed the point of no return and must now see this 5 days 5 nights flight through to the end".
	Around 12 hours after take-off, the aircraft was more than 1,000 kilometres into its 7,900-kilometre flight, according to the Solarimpulse.Com website, which showed the flight expected to describe an arc between Japan and Hawaii.
	"We have to follow like a corridor with no clouds," mission initiator Bertrand Piccard told AFP.
	"All of the calculations, of the trajectory, of the ...

Solar Impulse past 'point of no return' from Japan to Hawaii

IMF chief expressed disappointment that talks broke down on between Athens and its creditors

IMF 'ready to provide assistance' in Greek crisis: Lagarde

Press Trust of India

A Palestinian woman stabbed a female Israeli soldier in the neck at a checkpoint between Jerusalem and West Bank city Bethlehem today, police said, in the latest such attack in recent days.
	The Palestinian had arrived at the checkpoint, which has separate lines for men and women, and "pulled out a knife and stabbed a military policewoman," a police statement said, adding she had been detained at the scene.
	Israel's emergency medical service Magen David Adom said the soldier was in moderate condition.
	The attack came in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, during which Israel has eased some restrictions on Palestinian movement from the occupied West Bank to Jerusalem.
	There has been sporadic Palestinian violence during Ramadan.
	On Friday, a Palestinian opened fire at Israeli soldiers at a West Bank checkpoint before being shot dead.
	On June 21, a Palestinian from the West Bank stabbed an Israeli policeman near Jerusalem's Old City before being shot. Both were seriously wounded.
	In .

Palestinian stabs Israel soldier at Jerusalem checkpoint

European nations on Sunday urged their nationals to carry cash with them when vacationing in Greece as the country hurtles towards a banking crisis.The German foreign ministry recommended that tourists "take sufficient amounts of cash" when visiting Greece, a top vacation spot for Germans, keep tabs on the evolving situation and check for any updates to its travel recommendations.Britain's foreign office warned travellers "of the possibility that banking services - including credit card processing and servicing of ATMs - throughout Greece could potentially become limited at short notice". It said "make sure you have enough euros in cash to cover emergencies, unforeseen circumstances and any unexpected delays".If capital controls are imposed, businesses may not want to accept credit cards any longer as they would have trouble accessing their bank accounts, even if card transactions are authorised."There is some information according to which some restaurants and filling stations haven't

Europe urges tourists to carry cash

Agencies

The Australian mother-in-law of a notorious Islamic State group fighter said today she was "devastated" that police had refused to help bring her five grandchildren home from Syria.
	Karen Nettleton's daughter Tara is married to Khaled Sharrouf, who gained global infamy last year when he posted pictures of himself and his seven-year-old son on Twitter holding up the severed heads of soldiers.
	News emerged last week that Sharrouf may have died in the same drone attack believed to have killed fellow Australian jihadist Mohamed Elomar, raising concerns about what would happen to his children who were taken to Syria last year.
	"My advice to the family is to engage with the proper legal authorities and not to conduct this discussion through the media," Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said on Wednesday.

Australia police will not help IS fighter's kids: grandmother

A 20-year-old partygoer died today after suffering 90 percent burns from a fireball that injured nearly 500 people at a Taiwan "colour party", with organisers facing charges after plumes of decorative powder ignited.
	She is the first fatality from the disaster, which saw crowds of young revellers engulfed in flames after being sprayed with clouds of multi-coloured corn starch.
	The company which produced the starch said users had been warned of a potential fire hazard.
	Around 1,000 spectators had attended the Color Play Asia event at the Formosa Fun Coast water park, just outside the capital Taipei, on Saturday evening.
	More than 200 suffered serious injuries and are being treated across 43 hospitals.
	Victim Lee Pei-yun, 20, was pronounced dead at Taichung's Chung Shan Hospital in central Taiwan at 0620 GMT Monday.
	"Doctors pronounced Lee dead after her mother agreed to stop the treatment provided to her daughter," an official at the Taichung city government's health bureau told .

Young partygoer dies after Taiwan water park disaster

Dimuth Karunaratne hit 50 off 56 balls as Sri Lanka trounced Pakistan by seven wickets in the second Test in Colombo today to square the three-match series 1-1.
     Chasing 153 to win, the hosts made light of a delayed start of 30 minutes due to a wet outfield and raced to victory in 26.3 overs before lunch on the fifth and final day at the P. Sara Oval.
     Karunaratne and skipper Angelo Mathews added a brisk 72 for the third wicket after two wickets had fallen with the score on 49 to raise Pakistan's hopes.
     Mathews remained unbeaten on 43, sharing a fourth-wicket partnership of 32 with Lahiru Thirimanne, who hit the winning boundary off leg-spinner Yasir Shah.
     The win ended Sri Lanka's three-match losing streak at the P. Sara Oval and set up a potentially thrilling finale when the third Test begins at the Pallekele stadium near the popular hill resort of Kandy on Friday.
     Mathews said it was a very good comeback by his team after losing the first Test in Galle by 10 .

Sri Lanka victory romp levels Pakistan series

Several Somali soldiers were killed when Shebab fighters attacked a base in the southern Kismayo region, officials and witnesses said today.
	The attack is the latest in a string of assaults by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgents, who last week stormed a base manned by the African Union forces in Somalia (AMISOM), killing dozens.
	Heavy gunfire was reported late Sunday for several hours, with the Shebab briefly taking over the camp near Kismayo and beheading some of those captured before looting supplies and leaving, witnesses said.
	"There was heavy fighting that left several of the soldiers dead," said security official Abdirashid Moalim, speaking from Kismayo.
	"There were machine guns and rockets, and the fighting ended when the soldiers were overpowered," said Abdi Bakar, a witness, who said he had seen nine bodies.
	The Shebab is fighting to overthrow Somalia's Western-backed government which is propped up and protected by the 22,000-strong AMISOM force.
	On Friday, the Shebab ...

Somali Shebab attack army camp killings several

The president of the European Commission will make his latest proposals later today to try to avoid a Greek default, the EU commissioner of economic affairs said, adding that Athens was 'centimetres' away from a deal when discussions broke down over the weekend.
	Jean-Claude Juncker "will indicate the route to follow, I hope everyone will commit themselves to a way of compromise," Pierre Moscovici told French radio, adding there was still "room for negotiation" between Athens and its international creditors.
	Athens was "a few centimetres" away from a deal when talks broke down over the weekend, Moscovici said.
	"We must continue to talk," Moscovici said, adding that "the door is always open to negotiations."
	French Finance Minister Michel Sapin meanwhile said that negotiations "could re-start at any moment.

EU to make latest proposals on Greek crisis today: Moscovici

At least 11 Afghan soldiers were killed in a Taliban ambush in western Afghanistan, officials said today, as security forces face their first fighting season without NATO combat support.
	"The Taliban ambushed a convoy of soldiers in Karukh district of Herat, killing 11 Afghan army soldiers last evening. The soldiers were riding in pickup trucks," Ehsanullah Hayat, spokesman for the governor of the western province of Herat, told AFP.
	Najibullah Najibi, a spokesman for the army in western Afghanistan, confirmed the attack and said four soldiers were also wounded.
	There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Taliban militants have increased their attacks on Afghan security forces since launching their annual spring offensive.
	The Taliban launched their offensive, named "Azm" (determination), in late April, vowing nationwide attacks in what is expected to be the bloodiest summer in a decade.
	Afghan security forces, stretched on multiple fronts and facing record casualties, ...

Taliban ambush kills 11 Afghan soldiers: officials

Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan ended a 56-day hunger strike after Israel agreed to release him, his lawyer and the Palestinian Prisoners Club announced.
	Adnan, 37, has been in prison for a year under administrative detention, which allows imprisonment without charge for renewable periods of six months indefinitely, and his case had been at the heart of concerns in the occupied Palestinian territories.
	Officials and activists had recently sounded the alarm, warning that he could die "at any moment".
	"Khader Adnan ended his hunger strike last night, after an agreement was reached to release him on July 12," his lawyer Jawad Boulos said, adding that doctors at the Israeli hospital he was transferred to were considered ways to start feeding him.
	In a statement yesterday, the Palestinian Prisoners Club also confirmed that Adnan had broken his hunger strike.
	An Israeli official confirmed that Adnan would be set free on July 12, telling AFP the deal was made possible after Adnan ...

Israel to free Palestinian hunger strike detainee, lawyer says

Israeli naval forces boarded and took over an activist vessel seeking to break the Gaza blockade, and were escorting it to an Israeli port early today, the military said, saying that the navy did not use force.
	"In accordance with international law, the Israeli Navy advised the vessel several times to change course," it said in a statement. "Following their refusal the Navy visited and searched the vessel in international waters in order to prevent their intended breach of the maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip."
	"The forces have reported that use of force was unnecessary, and that the process was uneventful," it added. "The vessel is currently being escorted to Ashdod Port and is expected to arrive within 12-24 hours."
	A military spokeswoman confirmed to AFP that the vessel was the Swedish-flagged Marianne of Gothenburg, part of the so-called Freedom Flotilla III - a convoy of four ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists including Arab-Israeli lawmaker Basel Ghattas, Tunisia's ..

Israel navy seizes ship seeking to break Gaza blockade: army

Controversial sprinter Justin Gatlin fired a World Championships warning shot, winning the 200m title at the US athletics championships in a blistering 19.57sec.
     "I wanted to come out and make a statement, and that's what I did," Gatlin said yesterday after a career-best that improved on the season-leading 19.68 he set on the same Hayward Field track at the Eugene Diamond League meeting in May.
     The 33-year-old, who completed a four-year doping ban in 2010, is now the fifth-fastest man of all time in the event, behind Usain Bolt -- who holds the world record of 19.19 -- Yohan Blake, Michael Johnson and Walter Dix.
     With his dominance this season -- he also owns the fastest 100m time of the year of 9.74sec -- he has set the stage for a scintillating showdown with Bolt in both the 100m and 200m at the August 22-30 World Championships in Beijing.
     Gatlin came off the turn well in front and powered home.
     "I know I had a great start, attacked coming off the turn and ..

Gatlin blazes to 200m win in 19.57sec

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced today that the country's crisis-hit banks will be shut tomorrow and capital controls imposed to prevent withdrawals, after cash machines ran dry.
	The emergency measures were agreed at a cabinet meeting after a gathering of Greece's systemic stability council, called after Eurogroup eurozone finance ministers refused to extend its bailout beyond Tuesday, sparking default fears over an IMF loan repayment due the same day.
	The European Central Bank (ECB) subsequently left its Emergency Liquidity Assistance (ELA) financial lifeline for Greek banks unchanged on Sunday.
	"This decision (by Eurogroup) led today the ECB not to raise ELA for the Greek government and made the Bank of Greece ask for the activation of measures of bank holiday and restriction of bank withdrawals," Tsipras said in a statement that also called again for an extension to Greece's current bailout programme.
	The Greek stock market will also remain closed on Monday as part 

Crisis-hit Greece imposes capital controls, bank holiday

The US military has repatriated two Tunisian men who were brutally interrogated in a secret CIA prison and held in Afghanistan for more than a decade, the Pentagon said today.
	Ridha Ahmad al-Najjar and Lutfi al-Arabi al-Gharisi were flown home on June 15, officials said.
	Both men had been incarcerated by the Afghan regime since December, when the United States handed over control of prison operations in Afghanistan under a bilateral security treaty.
	"The Defense Department transported two Tunisian males in Afghan custody to Tunisia in support of the government of Afghanistan," Pentagon spokesman said Lieutenant Colonel Myles Caggins said.
	"These individuals remained under Afghan government control until they were handed over to Tunisian officials."
	Najjar, whom the CIA suspected of having been Osama bin Laden's bodyguard, was captured in May 2002 in Karachi and became the first prisoner of the CIA's notorious "Salt Pit" prison in Afghanistan that has since closed.
	According to ..

Two Tunisians once held by CIA repatriated from Afghanistan

The gruesome "selfie" taken by the man suspected of beheading his boss during an attack on a gas factory in France was sent to Syria, sources close to the investigation said today.
	The macabre picture of Yassin Salhi and the severed head was sent via the WhatsApp messaging service to a number in Canada but authorities had said yesterday that the number could be a relay for a recipient elsewhere.
	Authorities were convinced that the final recipient would be in Iraq or Syria, where hundreds of people from France have gone to wage jihad.
	Anti-terrorist authorities have identified 473 people who have left France to fight in Iraq or Syria and Prime Minister Manuel Valls said earlier today that 1,800 people in France were "linked" in some way to the jihadist cause.

AFP

AFP

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