Libya's supreme court ruled today that the election of prime minister Ahmed Miitig in a chaotic session in the interim parliament in early May was unconstitutional.
	"The court has judged the election of Miitig at the General National Congress (the interim parliament) as unconstitutional," a judge at the court said after a short hearing.
	Outgoing premier Abdullah al-Thani had said he would await the judiciary's ruling before deciding whether to hand over power.
	The ruling will be examined by the administrative court today, lawyers said.
	Thani had announced his resignation earlier this year after an armed attack on his family, but he insisted that his successor should be chosen by a new parliament rather than its contested predecessor and refused to recognise Miitig's cabinet.
	Miitig, 42, an independent backed by the Islamists, had been due to lead the country for a short interim period until June 25, when the country is due to hold an election to replace the GNC.
	The GNC was ...

Court rules election of Libya PM Miitig unconstitutional

PTI Automatic

Japan's economic growth in the first three months of 2014 hit its fastest pace in more than two years, data showed today, while analysts said a pick-up in consumer confidence indicated sentiment was improving despite the impact of a sales tax hike.
	A surprise jump in capital spending powered the 1.6 per cent expansion in the world's number-three economy between January and March, slightly better than an initial estimate of 1.5 per cent.
	It also marked the best quarterly advance since a 2.6 per cent rebound several months after the 2011 quake-tsunami disaster.
	Cash registers across Japan rang up big sales ahead of the April 1 consumption tax rise, a move seen as crucial to paying down a massive public debt but which critics warn could throw a nascent recovery off track.
	Millions of shoppers scooped up everything from cars and refrigerators to televisions and alcohol in a spending spree that resulted in a 6.7 per cent annualised first-quarter expansion in the economy -- a ...

Japan's Q1 growth fastest in more than two years

Rafael Nadal is bracing himself for another Wimbledon letdown as he prepares to rekindle his love-hate relationship with the All England Club.
     The 28-year-old Spaniard stormed to a ninth French Open triumph yesterday with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 win over Novak Djokovic which also secured his 14th Grand Slam crown.
     But he is not optimistic about collecting a 15th major when Wimbledon gets under way on June 23 despite having been champion on two occasions.
     His first title in 2008 was followed by a knee injury-enforced absence 12 months later.
     In 2010, he was Wimbledon champion for a second time before finishing runner-up to Djokovic the following year.
     Things then got steadily worse with a second round exit against Lukas Rosol in 2012 sparking a seven-month absence from the tour as his knee problems flared up again while, in 2013, he was dumped out in the first round by Belgian journeyman Steve Darcis.
     That was the only time Nadal has ever exited a Grand Slam .

Nadal braced for new Wimbledon rollercoaster

Cristiano Ronaldo is in line for a morale-boosting return to the Portugal side for Tuesday's friendly in the United States against Ireland, just two days before the World Cup begins.
     The 29-year-old forward has missed Portugal's previous two warm-up matches through injury, hindering their preparations for the Brazil tournament and sparking speculation that he might not be fit in time.
     But the Real Madrid ace returned to training on Saturday with Paulo Bento's side, who have failed to sparkle in their captain's absence.
     Portuguese officials were tight-lipped Sunday about Ronaldo's availability for the Ireland encounter, but forward Vieirinha told reporters: "If he is fit to train, he is fit to play the match."
     Portugal face a daunting World Cup opener on June 16 against Germany in Group G, which also comprises the USA and Ghana.
     Bento has been keen to stress that Portugal -- who only made it to Brazil via a play-off with Sweden that saw Ronaldo fire a hat-trick 

Ronaldo in line for Portugal return

The first kick at the World Cup opening ceremony will be made by a paraplegic wearing an Iron Man-like robotic bodysuit controlled by signals from the brain.
     Brazilian doctor Miguel Nicolelis led a team of 156 scientists from around the world to create the futuristic exoskeleton, which was designed to enable paralysis victims to walk.
     At the World Cup opening ceremony Thursday in Sao Paulo, a paraplegic whose identity has been kept secret will leave behind his or her wheelchair to take to the pitch in the  suit and give the tournament's first kick.
     Electronic circuits in the device's "feet" will send a return signal to the user via an artificial skin worn on the arm, conveying the sensation of movement and contact.
     "It's the first time an exoskeleton has been controlled by brain activity and offered feedback to the patients," Nicolelis, a neuroscientist at Duke University, told AFP.
     "Doing a demonstration in a stadium is something very much outside our routine 

Paraplegic in 'Iron Man' bodysuit to open World Cup

Daniel Ricciardo ended Mercedes early-season domination when he drove his Red Bull car to a memorable maiden victory in a crash and incident-packed Canadian Grand Prix.
     The 24-year-old Australian took full advantage of power problems that hit both championship leader Nico Rosberg and his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages to claim a stirring triumph yesterday.
     Briton Hamilton was forced to retire, but German Rosberg managed to nurse his car home in second place ahead of Ricciardo's Red Bull team-mate defending four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany.
     Rosberg opens up a 22-point lead on Hamilton in the championship standings.
     The final lap was run behind a Safety Car after a horrifying high-speed collision between Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India and Brazilian Felipe Massa of Williams saw them fly off into the barriers.
     Both appeared not to be seriously injured after the incident as they braked from speeds of more than 240 kph at .

Ricciardo wins drama-laden race to end Mercedes run

Ten-time boxing world champion Oscar de la Hoya was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, using the occasion to call for unity in the sport.
     The 41-year-old Mexican-American earned his place in the boxing shrine with a professional career that included 10 world titles in six different weight divisions.
     He turned pro after a sparkling amateur career that included an Olympic gold medal.
     "Today marks an incredible personal achievement, but it is only the latest milestone that never would have been possible without my family, my friends and, most of all, my fans," De la Hoya said at his induction ceremony yesterday.
     He went into the Hall as part of an All Star class that included rival Felix "Tito" Trinidad of Puerto Rico and undefeated Super Middleweight World Champion Joe Calzaghe of Wales.
     Calzaghe, 42, finished a 15-year pro career 46-0 with 32 knockouts and defended his super middleweight crown 21 times. In his final fights at light ...

De la Hoya inducted into Hall of Fame

Kane Williamson's sixth Test hundred and a battling 83 by opener Tom Latham put New Zealand in control at 240 for two at stumps on day one of the first Test against the West Indies.
     Justifying captain Brendon McCullum's decision to bat first on a pitch devoid of grass yesterday, Williamson, who resumes Monday on 105 in partnership with former skipper Ross Taylor (34 not out), put on 165 for the second wicket with Latham.
     It came at the expense of a completely revamped West Indies bowling attack from the one that featured in the Caribbean side's last Test six months ago against the same opponents in Hamilton.
     Fast bowler Jerome Taylor impressed on his return after a four-and-a-half year absence through a series of injuries, taking the early wicket of Peter Fulton to a catch at the wicket by Denesh Ramdin, the home side's new Test captain.
     He should have added the scalp of Latham in the first over after lunch when the left-hander, on 39, edged a drive to gully only ..

Williamson, Latham put New Zealand in control

At least 23 people including several Shiite pilgrims were killed in a gun and suicide attack on the restive Pakistan-Iran border late tonight, officials said.
	The attack came when a bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims returning from a visit to holy Muslim sites in Iran stopped at a restaurant in the Pakistani town of Taftan in the border area.
	"So far we can confirm 23 people killed including several Shiite pilgrims and security personal. Seven others are injured," Akbar Durrani, home secretary of Pakistan's southwest Baluchistan province, said.

Gun and suicide attack kills 23 near Pakistan-Iran border

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi today warned, hours after being sworn in, that there will be "no leniency" for those who commit acts of violence.
	In a televised address to the nation, Sisi promised to work toward "reconciliation" but not with those who have "shed blood".
	Sisi ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi last July, since when authorities have crushed his Muslim Brotherhood movement, jailed its leaders and put them on trial.
	Sisi said there will be "no leniency and truce with those who resort to violence".
	"I am looking to a new era built on reconciliation and tolerance.. Except with those who committed crimes or used violence as a tool," he said.
	"I am saying clearly that those who shed the blood of the innocent and killed ... The sons of Egypt, they don't have a place in (our) march.

'No leniency' for acts of violence: Egypt's President Sisi

A Swiss man today set a new world record when he leapt from a hot-air balloon from an altitude of 8,000 metres without oxygen, the ATS news agency reported.
	Remo Lang, 38, threw himself out of the balloon early in the morning and landed around 10 minutes later at Aarberg, in the Berne canton of Switzerland.
	Wearing a "wingsuit", his freefall lasted five minutes.
	Lang's team said he prepared himself for the jump by taking in oxygen from a tank intensively for half an hour before the stunt.

Swiss man breaks world record for 8,000m jump without oxygen

Former UN envoy for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi has warned that the war-torn country was heading toward becoming "another Somalia" ruled by warlords, in an interview published in a German weekly this weekend.
	He also said that the entire region may "blow up" if a political solution is not found.
	Brahimi, the former special representative on Syria for the United Nations and the Arab League, resigned in frustration last month after making little progress towards ending the brutal civil war, now in its fourth year.
	When asked what he predicted would ultimately become of Syria, the veteran Algerian diplomat told der Spiegel: "It will become another Somalia. It will not be divided, as many have predicted. It's going to be a failed state, with warlords all over the place."
	Brahimi also painted a grim picture for the countries neighbouring Syria.
	"Unless there is a real, sustained effort to work out a political solution, there is a serious risk that the entire region will blow up. The ...

Former UN envoy warns Syria becoming 'another Somalia'

Pope Francis today hosted an unprecedented joint peace prayer in the Vatican with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in a symbolic gesture aimed at fostering dialogue.
	Abbas and Peres greeted each other warmly after arriving in the Vatican and meeting Francis outside his residence, along with the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I who was also present.
	All four then took a white minibus to the Vatican Gardens for the ceremony, after which Abbas, Peres and Francis are expected to plant an olive tree.
	Peres said it was "an unusual call for peace", which included Christian, Jewish and Muslim prayers.
	Abbas said he hoped the ceremony would "help Israel decide" to make peace and told La Repubblica daily that the pope's invitation had been "courageous".
	"With this prayer we are sending a message to all believers of the three major religions and the others: the dream of peace must not die," he said.
	Peres, who is 90 years old and will be .

Pope Francis hosts Israeli-Palestinian peace prayer

Rafael Nadal clinched his ninth French Open and 14th career Grand Slam title on Sunday with a brutal 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 victory over a battling Novak Djokovic.
	The world number one also became the first man to win five Roland Garros crowns in succession as the 28-year-old took his record at the tournament to 66 wins against just one defeat.
	His tally of 14 majors equals the mark of Pete Sampras and puts him just three behind the all-time record of Roger Federer who is almost five years older.
	Defeat was cruel for world number two Djokovic, the 2012 runner-up, who still needs a French Open title to become just the eighth man to complete the career Grand Slam.
	"Every moment was crucial, all the points were so hard," said Nadal.
	"Playing against Novak is always a big challenge, I have lost to him the last four times. Every chance I have to beat him it's because I have had to play to my limit. I feel sorry for Novak. He deserves to win this tournament one day and I am sure he ...

Tennis: Nadal wins ninth French Open, 14th Grand Slam

Ukraine's new Western-backed President Petro Poroshenko today said that fighting in the separatist east of the ex-Soviet country must stop by the end of the week.
	"We must end the fighting this week. For me, every day in which people die, every day in which Ukraine pays such a high price, is unacceptable," Poroshenko said in a statement published on his official website.
	"And to do that, we must restore the Ukrainian border so that the safety of each Ukrainian citizen is guaranteed."
	His comments followed a round of talks with Moscow's ambassador to Kiev and an envoy from the Vienna-based Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and came a day after the 48-year-old confectionery tycoon was sworn into office as the fifth post-Soviet president of Ukraine.
	Both militants and weapons have been crossing into Ukraine's industrial rustbelt from Russia since shortly after the insurgency began eight weeks ago.
	Russian President Vladimir Putin issued orders yesterday for 

New Ukraine leader says fighting must 'end this week'

Rafael Nadal clinched his ninth French Open and 14th career Grand Slam title on Sunday with a brutal 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 victory over a battling Novak Djokovic.
     The world number one also became the first man to win five Roland Garros crowns in succession as the 28-year-old took his record at the tournament to 66 wins against just one defeat.
     His tally of 14 majors equals the mark of Pete Sampras and puts him just three behind the all-time record of Roger Federer who is almost five years older.
     Defeat was cruel for world number two Djokovic, the 2012 runner-up, who still needs a French Open title to become just the eighth man to complete the career Grand Slam.
     The Serb dominated the early stages of Sunday's final, the pair's 42nd meeting, seemingly immune to the sweltering 30-degree heat on Philippe Chatrier court.
     But Nadal, playing in his 20th Grand Slam final to Djokovic's 13th, grew stronger as the final wore on as he ended a four-match losing streak against 

Nadal wins ninth French Open, 14th Grand Slam

Rescuers today scrambled to deliver food and medical supplies to Afghan families marooned on mountaintops after flash floods killed 80 people in a remote northern district, washing away hundreds of homes and forcing thousands to flee.
	The death toll was expected to rise, with scores of people said to be missing in the mountainous district of Baghlan province after torrential rains unleashed the floods on Friday.
	The floods come a month after a landslide triggered by heavy rains buried a village and killed 300 people in a nearby region.
	The twin disasters highlight the challenges facing underdeveloped Afghanistan's next leader as the country heads into the second round of the presidential election on June 14.
	"People have lost everything they had -- houses, property, villages, agricultural fields, cattle," Baghlan police spokesman Jawed Basharat said about the floods.
	"There's nothing left for them to survive. People don't even having drinking water," he said.
	Television channels 

Rescuers battle to aid Afghan flood victims as toll hits 80

Ukraine's new Western-backed President Petro Poroshenko today got down to the Herculean task of pacifying a deadly pro-Kremlin insurgency and averting a devastating Russian gas cut.
	The 48-year-old candy magnate -- dubbed the "chocolate king" -- delivered a forceful inauguration address the day before in which he vowed to pursue Ukraine's new pro-European course and never to accept Russia's annexation of Crimea.
	He flatly rejected dialogue with "gangsters and killers" who have declared independence in two heavily-Russified eastern regions and are waging a bloody campaign against Ukrainian forces that Kiev and the West accuse the Kremlin of choreographing.
	Europe's worst security crisis in decades has now plunged East-West relations into a Cold War-style standoff and left the ex-Soviet country of 46 million facing disintegration and economic collapse.
	Daily battles in the economically vital region have killed more than 200 people since mid-April and continued unabated today.
	A ...

Poroshenko assumes Herculean task of saving Ukraine

Spain's Juan Carlos, who announced plans to abdicate last week, today presided over his last military ceremony as king before he cedes the throne to his more popular son Prince Felipe.
	Hundreds of onlookers applauded and chanted "Long live the king!" as the 76-year-old monarch, dressed in a brown military uniform, reviewed troops at Spain's annual armed forces day ceremony in central Madrid.
	The king, who walks with a cane after multiple hip operations, was flanked by his wife Queen Sofia, and Felipe, who wore a white navy uniform, and his wife Princess Letizia, a former TV news reader.
	Felipe, 46, ascends to the throne amid smoldering republican sentiment in a nation with a towering 26 per cent jobless rate which has fuelled growing discontent with the political elite.
	Within hours of the king's announcement on June 2 that he was abdicating in favour of his son, thousands of people massed in central Madrid and other cities to demand a referendum on the monarchy.
	Thousands took ..

Spanish king presides over final military ceremony

The Palestinian foreign ministry today summoned Australia's diplomatic representative after a top judicial official said Canberra would no longer refer to annexed east Jerusalem as "occupied."
	Last week, Australian attorney general George Brandis sparked Palestinian fury by saying Canberra would not use such "judgemental language" to describe an area which was the subject of negotiations.
	Israel hailed the remarks as "refreshing", but the Palestinian leadership denounced them as "disgraceful and shocking", with the ministry making a formal diplomatic protest today.
	"The Palestinian foreign ministry summoned the Australian representative Thomas Wilson over the recent comments by the Australian attorney general asking to stop referring to east Jerusalem as occupied territories," a ministry statement said.
	Speaking to reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, foreign minister al-Malki said he was "worried" about the remarks which contravened the position of the international ...

Palestinians summon Australia diplomat over Jerusalem

Thai police arrested seven anti-coup protesters after a flashmob rally held today outside a Bangkok shopping centre in defiance of thousands of security forces deployed city-wide to enforce a ban on political gatherings.
	Small and increasingly creative protests have been held since the military seized power from the civilian government on May 22.
	The majority have taken place in the Thai capital where demonstrators have adopted a three-finger salute from the "Hunger Games" films as an unofficial symbol of resistance against the military regime.
	More than 6,500 police and soldiers were deployed at several sites across the city.
	In the biggest action of the day, around 20 protesters briefly gathered outside a downtown shopping centre -- in full view of dozens of police.
	Some made the three-finger salute while others held their hands over their mouths in an apparent rebuke to the muffling of dissent.
	They then walked through the mall before getting on the overground train, followed 

AFP

AFP

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