Prosecutors in Naples today asked the judge in Silvio Berlusconi's latest corruption trial to send the former prime minister and media tycoon to jail for five years.
	Court officials said the judge would deliver a verdict on July 8 in a case that centres on the centre-right political leader's alleged bribing of an Italian senator as part of a plot to destabilise a 2006-08 centre-left government.
	The prosecutors requested a four year and four months sentence for Valter Lavitola, an associate of Berlusconi who is accused of actually paying bribes totaling three million euros to Senator Sergio De Gregorio in order to induce him to leave the coalition of then premier Romano Prodi.
	The idea was to further weaken an already fragile coalition and the defection is widely seen as hurting Prodi's government, which collapsed in 2008, two years after it was elected. Berlusconi's Forza Italia party won the resulting election and he served a third term as Italian premier until 2011.
	"It was a ...

Prosecutors seek five-year jail term for Berlusconi

PTI Automatic

At least 19 Islamic State group fighters were killed today in a failed attack on an Alawite village in the central Syrian province of Homs, a monitor said.
	The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said three pro-regime militants were also killed repelling the attack on the village of Jub al-Jarah.
	The Britain-based monitor said the attack on the village in the northeast of the province came early today, with violent clashes breaking out after the jihadists tried to storm the area.
	"National Defence Forces and other pro-regime militias battled IS fighters with each side shelling the other," said the Observatory.
	"At least 19 Islamic State members were killed... Along with three National Defence Force fighters, and six people were wounded, including a child and two women."
	Jub al-Jarah lies northwest of the ancient city of Palmyra, which was captured by IS on May 21, and the group is also to the west of the village, in neighbouring Homs province.
	Its residents, like President ...

'IS fighters dead in failed attack on Syria Alawite town'

Kuwait's parliament today unanimously passed the first ever legislation in the oil-rich Gulf state to regulate the status of thousands of mainly Asian domestic helpers.
	As in neighbouring countries, domestic helpers in Kuwait are excluded under the labour law that covers workers in the private sector and are instead tied to labour contracts only.
	The new law grants the 600,000 domestic helpers in Kuwait -- most of them Asian women -- a 12-hour working day, a day off once a week, and 30 days' annual leave.
	It also obliges employers to open a bank account for maids and transfer their wages to the account to resolve the problem of delays or non-payment of salaries.
	Under the law, which takes effect after publication in the official gazette, maids who agree to work extra hours must be paid overtime.
	Kuwait and other Gulf countries, where at least 2.4 million domestic helpers work, have repeatedly come under strong criticism by international rights groups for alleged maltreatment of ..

Kuwait parliament approves first law for maids

The Netherlands, Malaysia and three other countries want a UN tribunal to be set up to try those responsible for the downing of the Malaysia Airlines flight over Ukraine last year, a senior diplomat said today.
	Malaysia is expected to present a draft resolution to the Security Council next month on setting up the tribunal, said the diplomat, who asked not to be named.
	"They are looking for agreement to establish a UN tribunal that would be the way to hold accountable," he said.
	It remains unclear, however, whether Russia would back the creation of the special tribunal, modelled after other courts set up by the United Nations for the prosecution of serious crimes.
	All 298 passengers and crew on board Flight MH17 -- the majority of them Dutch -- died when the plane was shot down on July 17 last year.
	Suspicions immediately turned to the pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine who may have used a surface-to-air missile supplied by Russia to shoot down the plane.
	Spurred by a global 

Netherlands, Malaysia push for UN tribunal for MH17 culprits

Airbus will sell 23 helicopters to Saudi Arabia for USD 560 million and launch a feasibility study into building two nuclear reactors in the country, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced today.
	A slew of deals worth billions of euros were announced following the first "Franco-Saudi Joint Commission" meeting in Paris, led by Fabius and Saudi Defence Minister Prince Mohamed bin Salman.

'Airbus to sell 23 helicopters to S.Arabia for 500 mn euros'

The global insurance industry gained momentum last year, as economies improved and the long suffering life insurance sector returned to growth in Europe and Japan, a study showed today.
	Insurance premiums rose 3.7 per cent to USD 4.8 trillion (4.2 trillion euros), a sharp rise over the 1.4-per cent growth recorded in 2013, according to the Sigma study, conducted for the Swiss Re insurance group.
	Developed countries saw growth of 2.9 per cent while insurance premiums shot up 7.4 per cent in emerging countries.
	"There was a return to positive growth in the life sector, with premiums up 4.3 per cent to USD 2.7 trillion after a 1.8-per cent decline in 2013," the Swiss insurer said.
	"Very strong growth in Oceania and solid results in Western Europe and Japan more than offset yet another year of contraction in North America, with falling sales of term and universal life products in the United States," it said.
	In the non-life sector, premiums rose 2.9 per cent to USD 2.1 trillion ...

Global insurance rebounds in 2014: Swiss Re

France said it would look into building two nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia, which is part of some USD 12 billion in deals announced today with the conservative kingdom.
	Under one of the agreements Airbus will sell 23 h-145 multipurpose helicopters to Saudi Arabia for USD 560 million as well as launch a feasibility study into building the reactors, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said.
	A slew of deals worth billions of euros were announced following the first 'Franco-Saudi Joint Commission' meeting in Paris, led by Fabius and Saudi Defence Minister Prince Mohamed bin Salman.
	Fabius also mentioned the Saudi Arabian Airlines order for 50 Airbus passenger planes worth some USD 8 billion, first announced at last week's Paris Air Show.
	The reactor study takes on added significance given the current efforts by Saudi Arabia's rival, Iran, to develop its own nuclear capabilities.
	France has been reinforcing links with the conservative kingdom despite persistent criticism of its ..

France to study building nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia

A top pro-Russian rebel said today that nearly half the wreckage of the Malaysia Airline jet shot down over Ukraine last year remain strewn across fields controlled by the separatists.
	Insurgency leader Andrei Purgin said about 40 per cent of the plane's charred parts were left behind by international investigators and recovery teams.
	Kiev and its Western allies accuse the militants of accidentally shooting down the Boeing 777 liner after mistaking it for a Ukrainian jet.
	All 298 passengers and crew who boarded the Kuala Lumpur-bound flight MH17 in Amsterdam were killed.
	The rebels and Moscow accuse the Ukrainian military of shooting the jet out of the sky in a seeming bid to damage the separatists fighters and Russia's global reputation.
	Purgin said that "a huge part of the plane's wreckage was left behind."
	The investigators "assured us they do not need those parts," he was quoted as saying by the rebels' official news site.
	International teams have collected body remains and 

Nearly half of MH17's wreckage still in Ukraine: rebel

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams were named top seeds for Wimbledon today as two-time champion Rafael Nadal was seeded at 10, his lowly status reflecting his recent struggles.
     Defending champion Djokovic and five-time winner Williams are both current world number ones and their top billing was a formality.
     Former number one Nadal, the Wimbledon champion in 2008 and 2010, has endured a miserable record at the All England Club in recent times, losing in the second, first and fourth round on his last three visits.
     He was dethroned as French Open champion this season and despite winning the grass-court title in Stuttgart, he was then bundled out of Queen's by Ukrainian journeyman Alexander Dolgopolov in his opening match.
     As 10th seed, Nadal could play one of his major rivals such as Djokovic, seven-time champion Roger Federer or 2013 winner Andy Murray as early as the fourth round at Wimbledon which gets under way on Monday.
     Federer, fresh from his eighth Halle 

Djokovic, Serena top seeds at Wimbledon, Nadal at 10

Islamist militants in four regions of Russia's Caucasus have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, according to a recording which was welcomed by IS after being posted online.
	The voice recording posted on YouTube Sunday said militants in Russia's Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria regions had all swore fealty to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, head of the feared jihadist group.
	"Obeying the order of Allah... We are declaring our allegiance to Caliph Ibrahim ben Awwad ben Ibrahim al Badri al-Qoureishi al Husseini for obedience and subordination," the recording in both Arabic and Russian says, referring to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
	"We testify that all mujahedeen of the Caucasus... Are united in this decision and there are no disagreements among us on this issue," the male voice says, listing the four Russian regions.
	A spokesman for Islamic State group, Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, yesterday welcomed the news in a recording of his own.
	"We congratulate the soldiers of ...

Russia's Caucasus Islamists 'pledge allegiance' to IS

France summoned the US ambassador today to complain about "unacceptable" spying on President Francois Hollande and his two predecessors that was apparently revealed in leaked documents.
	Hollande was due to discuss the documents released by WikiLeaks with US President Barack Obama in the coming hours.
	France "will not tolerate any acts that threaten its security" the presidency said, after a meeting between Hollande and his top intelligence officials and cabinet ministers.
	US Ambassador Jane Hartley has also been summoned to meet French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, diplomatic sources told AFP.
	The documents -- labelled "Top Secret" and appearing to reveal spying on Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy and Hollande from 2006 to 2012 -- were published by WikiLeaks in partnership with French newspaper Liberation and the Mediapart website.
	The leak coincides with a vote later today in the French parliament on a controversial new law granting the state sweeping powers to spy on its ...

France calls US spying 'unacceptable' after WikiLeaks claims

A Thai student was today charged over a peaceful anti-coup protest in Bangkok last month, her lawyer said, as dozens of activists gathered in support of other demonstrators summoned by police.
	The May 22 rally marking a year since Thailand's generals seized power was a rare act of defiance against the junta, quashed when police dragged away and held overnight dozens of students at the protest.
	Supporters of seven activists expected to face charges over the protest gathered outside a police station in downtown Bangkok today, cheering them on and holding up photos of the protesters being pulled away by police last month.
	An eighth anti-coup protester was charged over the May rally at the city's military court.
	Natchacha Kongudom, 21, was charged for violating a junta order banning political gatherings of more than five people, said Pawinee Chumsri, one of the lawyers representing the activists.
	"She was arrested this morning while at hospital, taken to the military court and ...

Thai student charged over anti-coup protest

Former UBS trader Kweku Adoboli, jailed for seven years for gambling away USD 2.3 billion in Britain's biggest ever fraud, has been released from prison, a source said today.
	Adoboli, 35, was released from Maidstone Prison in southeast England last week, having served half of his sentence, the source close to the investigation said.
	The Ghanaian-born banker was convicted to seven years for fraud by abuse of position for losing the Swiss bank's money, and to four years for a second count of the same offence, which he was to serve concurrently.
	He was sentenced in November 2012 but had already been detained for nine months prior to his trial.
	Adoboli is understood to be staying with friends while he attempts to put his life back together.
	During Adoboli's trial, he claimed senior managers were fully aware of his activities and encouraged him to take risks to make profits for Switzerland's biggest bank.
	But prosecutors said that in a bid to boost his bonuses and chances of ...

UBS rogue trader who lost USD 2.3bn freed from jail

A suicide bomber detonated a car bomb at a gathering of Iraqi Sunni tribal leaders, killing 14 people in an attack claimed today by the Islamic State group, police said.
	"Fourteen people were killed and at least 24 wounded," a police captain said of the Tuesday night bombing in the Baladruz area of Diyala province, north of Baghdad.
	A medical source at the Baladruz hospital confirmed the toll.
	The bomber struck "a gathering of notables and figures, most of them from the Al-Nida tribe," the officer said.
	An army colonel said that the Al-Nida -- a major Sunni tribe in Diyala province -- had supported the government against Islamic State (IS) group jihadists.
	IS claimed the suicide bombing in an online statement today, saying a Tajik man carried out the attack.
	The jihadist group is made up of Sunni Muslims, but does not hesitate to attack Sunnis who oppose it.
	Iraq announced in January that Iraqi forces had "liberated" Diyala, significant parts of which had been overrun by IS ...

14 killed in Iraq suicide bombing claimed by IS

Sierra Leone has announced the return of Ebola to its capital Freetown, dashing hopes that health authorities in the densely-populated city of 1.2 million had beaten the deadly outbreak.
	The government's National Ebola Response Centre (NERC) told AFP late yesterday three cases had emerged in the east-end slum of Magazine Wharf -- three weeks after the last known infections in the capital.
	Health officials said six people have been under observation since the first of the new cases -- a casual labourer -- tested positive on June 17.
	Authorities are concerned that the case could lead to a mini-outbreak in the overcrowded fishing community, which has poor sanitation and is regularly hit by outbreaks of malaria and cholera.
	Liberia was declared Ebola-free in May, but hopes that neighbouring Sierra Leone and Guinea would quickly follow suit have been dashed recently, with the weekly toll of infections in the two countries hovering around 25.
	The World Health Organization (WHO) warned .

Ebola returns to Sierra Leone's capital: government

Pope Francis today said that it may be "morally necessary" for some families to split up, marking a change of tone in the Catholic Church's attitude to troubled marriages.
	"There are cases in which separation is inevitable," he said during his weekly general audience, with a message hoping to encourage greater compassion in the Church ahead of a highly anticipated global meeting on family life in October.
	"Sometimes, it can even be morally necessary, when it's about shielding the weaker spouse or young children from the more serious wounds caused by intimidation and violence, humiliation and exploitation," he said.
	Francis said there were many families in "irregular situations" and the question should be how to best help them, and "how to accompany them so that the child does not become daddy or mummy's hostage".
	The issue is likely to be addressed during the upcoming synod -- a gathering of bishops -- on the family, which Francis hopes will help reconcile Catholic thinking with ..

Pope says family separation can be 'morally necessary'

Somalia's Shebab insurgents killed at least six people today in a suicide attack on a diplomatic convoy from the United Arab Emirates in the Somali capital Mogadishu, police and the Islamists said.
	"We have confirmed the death of six people, four of them civilians, while six others were also wounded, some seriously," police officer Abdukadir Hassan told AFP.
	He said no UAE diplomats were hurt in the attack, with the Somali security staff escorting them stopping the bomber with their truck as the blast went off.
	The Shebab said they carried out the attack, which is believed to be the first time the Al-Qaeda affiliate has targeted the UAE in Somalia. The UAE is involved in a number of security, infrastructure, development and humanitarian projects in Somalia.
	"The mujahedeen fighters... Carried out a successful attack on a delegation from the apostate government of the United Arab Emirates," said a Shebab statement posted on an extremist website.
	"A suicide bomber rammed his car ...

Six killed in Somalia Shebab attack on UAE embassy convoy

Prime Minister David Cameron today blasted the "totally unacceptable" scenes as growing numbers of migrants attempt to enter Britain illegally by hiding in trucks at the French seaport of Calais.
	Yesterday, striking French ferry workers triggered severe transport disruption at Calais, while would-be illegal immigrants living around the port tried to capitalise on the hold-ups by getting through fences and boarding stationary trucks.
	There are around 3,000 migrants camped out in Calais attempting to cross the Channel -- a presence that is causing friction between Britain and France.
	Britain's interior minister Theresa May said the majority of the migrants arrived on European shores in Italy, having been trafficked across the Mediterranean Sea from north Africa.
	"It is totally unacceptable scenes that we've all been witnessing," Cameron told parliament.
	"Of course we want to see migrants better documented and fingerprinted but frankly a lot of that needs to happen in Italy, where ..

British PM slams 'unacceptable' border migrant chaos

A suicide car bomber smashed into a pickup truck carrying security officers in the Somalia capital Mogadishu today, a security official said, in the latest in a string of attacks.
	"A suicide bomber rammed his car into the pickup truck and there were casualties," said security official Abdi Dahir. "There was a heavy explosion."
	One witness said they had seen two dead bodies following the attack, which took place near the embassy of the United Arab Emirates.
	A military convoy from the African Union force in Somalia (AMISOM) was also passing nearby at the time of the attack, witnesses said, and it was not clear what the exact target had been.
	"I saw the dead bodies of two people, and there were several wounded soldiers," said Abdulahi Yasin, who saw the aftermath of the attack.
	"The explosion was very heavy and it destroyed the pickup truck," said Hassan Bile, another witness.
	There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Somalia's Al-Qaeda linked Shebab carry out regular ...

Casualties in Somalia suicide car bombing: security official

France's economy minister has warned against the creation of an "a la carte" European Union but said he was willing to discuss reform proposals put forward by British Prime Minister David Cameron.
	"I think we have to be extremely cautious not to create a sort of EU a la carte," Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with the BBC broadcast today.
	"If you speak about treaty change, the answer is no," he said in a reiteration of French policy, adding: "Having said that, it clearly depends on the details.
	"If it's a way to reduce freedom of movement I think that's a problem because it's part of the European DNA. If it's just to adapt rules and if it's feasible with the others we can discuss," he added.
	Cameron has promised to hold a referendum on Britain's EU membership by the end of 2017 and has said that he will campaign to stay in as long as he can negotiate a series of reforms with EU partners.
	These included stricter requirements for EU migrants in claiming British welfare ...

France rejects 'a la carte' Europe for Britain

Total said today it had pulled out of the Shtokman natural gas project in the Barents Sea, with development of one of the world's largest untouched gas fields apparently falling victim to Western sanctions in Russia.
	"Total has passed to Gazprom its 25 per cent share in Shtokman Development AG and expressed its interest to further cooperate on the project should it enter an active phase," the French energy company said, confirming a report in the Russian business daily Vedomosti.
	The project had been frozen for two years waiting for new technology to make it profitable, but Vedomosti said development solutions Total had recently proposed were prevented from moving forward by sanctions.
	The United States and European Union slapped sanctions on Russia last year over its role in the Ukraine crisis, targeting in particular the oil and gas sector where Russia needs Western technology to profitably access deposits in hostile climates.
	At 3.8 trillion cubic metres of gas, the Shtokman ...

AFP

AFP

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