Negotiators trying to end Latin America's oldest civil war agreed to set up a truth commission that addresses the deaths of thousands of people in five decades of conflict.
	The move is seen as a stride toward a possible peace deal in Colombia.
	"What we are announcing today is a historic step forward on the effort to put victims at the center of the (peace) process," said ex-vice president Humberto de la Calle yesterday.
	"These principles are unprecedented -- never heard of before in Colombia, or in any other peace process," the leader of President Juan Manuel Santos's negotiating team stressed at the Cuban-hosted talks.
	The Marxist FARC rebels and Colombian government also agreed to recognize victims on both sides of the conflict, as well as address victims' rights, reparations and safety guarantees.
	Preliminary truth commission panel hearings are due to start next month in several locations.
	"We are taking the first steps in a process full of thorny issues and enormous ...

Colombia government, rebels to set up truth commission

PTI Automatic

Two Kurdish protesters have died of gunshot wounds sustained during fierce clashes with Turkish soldiers in the country's southeast.
	Ramazan Baran, 24, and Abdulbaki Akdemir, 50, died in hospital yesterday after the clashes between soldiers and Kurdish protesters angry at government plans to build military barracks in the Lice district of Kurdish majority Diyarbakir province, medics said.
	Three people, including two soldiers, were hospitalised after the demonstrators opened fire, hurled stones and fireworks at security forces, according to an AFP reporter on the scene.
	Witnesses told AFP Turkish soldiers also fired live bullets in the clashes.
	Tensions have been on the rise in Lice since protesters blocked a road two weeks ago over the construction of new army posts in Kurdish-majority areas, seen as a threat to a peace process launched in 2012 between the government and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
	Earlier this week, six soldiers trying to remove protesters ...

Two Kurdish protesters killed in clashes with Turkey soldiers

Veteran anti-apartheid activist Epainette Mbeki, the mother of former president Thabo Mbeki, died today aged 98, her family and the government announced.
	Mbeki died in hospital where she was admitted two weeks ago with a chest infection and heart problem.
	President Jacob Zuma's office described her as a "consummate activist ... Who dedicated her life and that of her family to the struggle for liberation in South Africa from an early age."
	She "was fiercely outspoken on political and socio-economic issues till the end," it said in a statement.
	Mbeki was the mother of South Africa's second post apartheid leader, who took over from Nelson Mandela in 1999.
	Her husband was Govan Mbeki, a late stalwart of the African National Congress and South African Communist Party.

Mbeki's mother, S.Africa struggle veteran, dies at 98

Eleven sailors mostly from Asia held hostage for almost four years by Somali pirates have been freed and are safe on their way to Kenya, mediators who helped secure their release said today.
	The sailors, who had been held in dire conditions and suffered beatings and torture, included seven men from Bangladesh, one Indian, one Iranian, and two from Sri Lanka.
	John Steed, a former British army colonel who helped negotiate their release, confirmed they had been freed.
	"Currently airborne with hostages," Steed told AFP by text message.
	Their boat, the Malaysian-flagged container ship MV Albedo was captured in November 2010 but sank in rough seas last July.
	During their captivity, one colleague was shot by the pirates in an argument, and four others drowned.
	Seven other Pakistani crew members were released in 2012 after a businessman paid their ransom, but those remaining could not afford the hefty demands of the pirates.
	"The crew members and their families have suffered ...

11 sailors held by Somali pirates freed after 4 years

Flash floods have killed more than 70 people in northern Afghanistan, washing away hundreds of homes and forcing thousands to flee, officials today said warning that the death toll was expected to rise.
	The floods in a remote mountainous district of Baghlan province 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 added. "They urgently need water, food items, blankets and tents."
	Afghan disaster management officials said they were scrambling to get food and medical aid to the area after torrential 

Afghanistan flash floods kill more than 70

A suspected Al-Qaeda attack on an army checkpoint in southeast Yemen today killed one soldier and wounded another, a security source said.
	The attack targeted an army checkpoint in the Al-Qatn area of the semi-desert Hadramawt province, the source said.
	The source said that the gunmen, suspected Al-Qaeda militants, had fled.
	Yemeni troops launched an offensive in late April to dislodge Al-Qaeda militants from their strongholds in the south of the country.
	One hundred soldiers and 500 militants were killed in the operation, a military spokesman said on Thursday.
	Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is considered by Washington the global jihadist network's deadliest franchise.
	The group was created in a merger between the network's Yemeni and Saudi branches, and it has been targeted by US drone strikes this year.
	Taking advantage of a collapse of central authority during a 2011 uprising that forced veteran strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh from power, Al-Qaeda seized swathes of the south 

Yemen soldier killed in 'Qaeda attack': security

Maria Sharapova won her second French Open title in three years at Roland Garros today, defeating Romania's Simona Halep 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 in a gripping final, the first to go the full distance in Paris in 13 years and the second longest on record.
     It was the 27-year-old Russian's fifth Grand Slam title, bringing her level with Martina Hingis on the all-time list and it came 10 years after she won her first major at Wimbledon 2004.
     Sharapova, who completed a career sweep of all four Grand Slam titles in Paris in 2012 before losing to Serena Williams last year, also moved to number two on the all-time prize money earnings, with only the American ahead of her.
     But it took all her legendary grit and resolve to recover from the loss of the second set on a tie-break after she had stood just two points away from the title at 5/3.
     "It's the toughest Grand Slam final I have ever played," said Sharapova.
     "I can't believe that at 27 I have won the French Open more ...

Sharapova supreme once more at French Open

The Syrian government today condemned the European Union's criticism of its presidential election, branding it a "violation" of national sovereignty.
	The EU has described Tuesday's poll, which saw President Bashar al-Assad secure nearly 90 per cent of the vote, as "illegitimate".
	The comments amounted to "a flagrant violation of international law, which stipulates respect of the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their affairs," the foreign ministry said.
	"The EU's position is contrary to basic principles of democracy and respect for the right of peoples to elect their leaders and decide their future at the ballot box," it added.
	Assad was elected to a new seven-year term in an election that he was widely expected to win and declared a "farce" by the Western-backed opposition.
	Voting took place only in government-controlled areas and came despite three years of a brutal civil conflict which has killed more than 162,000 people.
	Assad's backers, including Russia and ...

Syria slams EU criticism of presidential election

An Egyptian appeals court today overturned the conviction of a policeman sentenced to 10 years in jail for the deaths of 37 prisoners from tear gas.
	It also overturned suspended one-year sentences handed to three other officers over the August deaths of the prisoners, who were alleged supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
	The 37, who were being transported from a police station to a prison near Cairo, died after the tear gas was thrown into their closed police van.
	The officer given 10 years was the deputy head of the police station who oversaw the transfer.
	The four were sentenced for manslaughter after the prosecution's investigation revealed they acted recklessly.
	The appeals court ordered the case to be transferred to the general prosecution for further investigation.
	Human rights lawyer Amr Imam told AFP the decision "means that the case is back to square one."
	Since Morsi was ousted by the army in July, the military- installed authorities have launched a .

Egypt court overturns conviction for Islamist prisoner deaths

Armed men burst into a church in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo overnight, killing more than 30 people including women and children, local sources said today.
	The sources said the victims were ethnic Bafuliru and were spending the night in the church in the South Kivu province after a meeting.
	In all, "eight men, 14 women, 10 children and a soldier" were killed, a local councillor said, adding that 28 people were wounded.
	South Kivu's Interior Minister Jean-Julien Miruho told AFP that the attack was likely a revenge killing over cattle raids in the region.
	"It is a problem of (stolen) cattle, and one side went to seek revenge," he said.
	Local sources also confirmed that there had been a problem of stolen cattle in the region.
	The identities of the assailants are unclear but the Bafuliru people have been in conflict with the Barundi ethnic group for years over property and custom issues.

At least 30 killed in east DR Congo church: official

US Secretary of State John Kerry today voiced hope that there would be a breakthrough on ending the Ukraine crisis, enabling Washington to avoid imposing new sanctions against Russia.
	"I hope that in the next few days we can see some steps taken that will reduce the tensions ...I'm confident there are ways forward, we look for Russia's help and our hope is that we won't have to move to more serious sanctions and other steps," he said.
	He spoke of the "possibility of a cease-fire, the possibility of Russia helping to be able to get the separatists to begin to put their guns away, get out of buildings and begin to build Ukraine, where people's needs can be met."
	Kerry spoke as Western-backed chocolate tycoon Petro Poroshenko was sworn in as Ukraine's new president.
	Yesterday Poroshenko held his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in France a since a May 25 election victory entrusted him with taming a bloody crisis that has shaken the post-Cold War order and redrawn ..

Kerry says 'confident' of progress on Ukraine

Iran will hold two days of nuclear talks with the United States starting Monday, and then conduct two further days of negotiations with Russia, the foreign ministry said.
	The official IRNA news agency, quoting the ministry, said the discussions with US officials would be held in Geneva and that similar talks with Russia would follow on Wednesday and Thursday in Rome.
	"The Iranian vice foreign ministers will hold negotiations with their American counterparts," as well as lead talks with Russian diplomats, it said today.
	The unprecedented set of direct bilateral talks come immediately before Iran's next round of political discussions with the P5+1 group - Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States plus Germany -  in Vienna, between June 16-20.
	Today's announcement said Iran was also "working to arrange" other bilateral discussions with members of the P5+1 before the Vienna meeting.
	The negotiations with the major powers are aimed at securing a comprehensive agreement on the .

Iran announces nuclear talks with US, Russia

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma was today admitted to hospital for tests following a bout of exhaustion, his office said.
	"Doctors are satisfied with his condition," his office said in a statement without giving details.
	Zuma's spokesman Mac Maharaj told AFP the president has been advised to get some rest, but "there is no cause for concern. It's a case of exhaustion."
	Yesterday Zuma "was advised to rest following a demanding election and transition programme to the new administration," said the presidency.
	"It's been a hectic period and there has been a need for some rest," added Maharaj.
	Two weeks ago, Zuma, 72 was sworn in for a second term after his African National Congress (ANC) party won the May 7 elections with an overwhelming 62 percent of the vote.

South Africa's President Zuma hospitalised for tests

Flash floods have killed around 60 people in northern Afghanistan, washing away hundreds of homes and forcing thousands to flee, officials said today warning that the death toll was expected to rise.
	The floods in the remote mountainous district of Baghlan province 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 added. "They urgently need water, food items, blankets and tents."
	Afghan disaster management officials said they were scrambling to get food and medical aid to the area after torrential ..

Afghanistan flash floods kill around 60

Russia's deputy prime minister called today for the name Stalingrad to be restored to the city that was the site of a key World War II battle against the Nazis.
	   "I never doubted the need to give back great Stalingrad its name. Not for the sake of Stalin, but for the sake of the Stalingraders," Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin wrote on Twitter.
	   On Friday, President Vladimir Putin responded positively to a request by a Soviet veteran at the D-Day commemorations in France for the city -- now called Volgograd -- to return to its wartime name.
	   "According to our law, this is up to the region and the municipality. In this case the residents must hold a referendum and decide," Putin was quoted as saying by the ITAR-TASS news agency.
	   "We will do whatever the residents say."
	   The 1942-1943 Battle of Stalingrad saw the city besieged and occupied by Nazi forces who were eventually forced to surrender by the Red Army. It was the first major defeat for the Nazis and a turning 

Russian leadership backs restoration of Stalingrad name

The Philippines today said it was investigating signs that China was reclaiming land on disputed South China Sea reefs but stressed it would not be provoked into a rash response.
	President Benigno Aquino's spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the government was looking into reports that the Chinese were damaging the reefs in an alleged effort to turn two remote outcrops in the sea into islands.
	But she added that Manila would continue to pursue a diplomatic solution to the dispute.
	"We do not respond to provocative action, especially (through) military action... We always exhaust the diplomatic channels, as well as other legal means that can help us address this particular issue."
	She also reiterated Aquino's earlier remarks that Chinese ships had been spotted in the South China Sea, possibly carrying land reclamation equipment.
	The two reefs are within the Spratly Islands region, a disputed archipelago of reefs, islands and atolls in the South China Sea that is coveted by the ...

Philippines won't be provoked by signs of Chinese reclamation

Clashes between Iraqi security forces and militants killed 59 people in Mosul today, as heavy fighting in the northern city entered its second day, officials said.
	   The dead comprised 21 police and 38 militants, a police lieutenant colonel and a mortuary employee said.
	   Fighting broke out in Mosul yesterday morning and continued into the night, while twin suicide bombings targeted a minority group east of the city and soldiers shot dead suicide bombers to its south.
	   At least 36 people were killed in yesterday's violence in Mosul and elsewhere in Nineveh province.
	   Today's deadly fighting came as jihadists took students and staff hostage at Anbar University in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, prompting an assault by security forces to try to free them.
	   Militants have stepped up their attacks in recent days.
	   On Thursday, militants seized several parts of the city of Samarra, north of the capital, in a major assault that was only repelled after house-to-house fighting and ...

59 dead as police battle militants in Iraq's Mosul

A body found on a Malaysian island is that of British tourist Gareth Huntley who went missing during a jungle hike last month, police said today.
	Zakaria Ahmad, head of crime investigation in the eastern state of Pahang, said DNA results showed that the body discovered on Tioman island Wednesday was the 34-year-old.
	"We already received the confirmation from the chemistry department that the DNA of the deceased belongs to Gareth," Zakaria told AFP.
	He added the cause of death had not yet been determined, pending further laboratory test results and investigation.
	Huntley disappeared on the island off the east coast of Malaysia on May 27, leading to a major manhunt and rising concern in Britain, including from Prime Minister David Cameron.
	Speculation has so far centred on whether Huntley had suffered a fatal mishap in the island's rugged hills.
	"We are still investigating," Zakaria said, adding police had informed British High Commission officials of the positive ...

Body found on Malaysia island is missing Briton: police

An 89-year-old veteran who ran away from his care home to join the D-Day commemorations in France returned to Britain today, hailed as the embodiment of World War II fighting spirit.
	Bernard Jordan said he had no regrets after slipping out of The Pines nursing home in Hove on the southern English coast on Thursday wearing his medals under his raincoat.
	The former Royal Navy officer joined a coach party heading for events marking the 70th anniversary of the landings at Ouistreham in Normandy, northern France.
	Jordan was missing for around 12 hours before a younger veteran contacted the home to say he was fine but in France with former comrades.
	"I had a great time, I'm really pleased I did it," said Jordan after arriving back on a ferry into Portsmouth.
	He accepted that his stunt might get him in trouble at the care home when he got back.
	"Yeah, I'm going to have to face that but it's just one of those things," he added.
	Ferry official Sonia Pittam, who met Jordan on his journey 

British veteran back at care home after D-Day 'Great Escape'

An Egyptian court today postponed to July 5 the verdict in the trial of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie and 37 others for inciting violence that killed two people last summer.
	   But it sentenced to death 10 defendants who are on the run, and a final ruling on their cases is expected the same day once they are reviewed.
	   After the army ousted Islamist Mohamed Morsi last July, Badie was one of thousands of the deposed president's supporters arrested in a crackdown that also left more than 1,400 dead.
	   He is being tried in nearly 40 cases, all of which potentially carry the death penalty, and has already been sentenced to die in one case.
	   In April, a court in the city of Minya sentenced him and nearly 700 alleged Morsi supporters to hang over the murder and attempted murder of policemen. A final ruling in those sentences is expected on June 21.
	   Death sentences in Egypt are referred to the country's top Islamic scholar for an advisory opinion before being ratified. 

Verdict postponed for Egypt Islamist over inciting violence

West Indies will be bent on revenge while New Zealand are concerned about the crooked arm of a key opposition bowler heading into the first match of the three-Test series starting on Sunday at Sabina Park in Jamaica.
     While much of the local focus on the fixture has centred on local hero Chris Gayle becoming just the ninth Caribbean cricketer to play 100 Tests, the bludgeoning opening batsman's impending landmark has taken a backseat in the minds of the visitors, with coach Mike Hesson raising questions as to the match referee's ability to effectively police the action of Shane Shillingford.
     Suspended from the international game for the second time in his career following two Tests in India last November, the tall off-spinner is set for a return on a pitch that may lack the venom of old but should still have enough bounce to allow both the Dominican and the even more gangling left-armer Sulieman Benn of Barbados to pose significant threats.
     "It's quite hard to see how ...

AFP

AFP

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