As Bollywood's powerhouse performer Ranveer Singh ringed in his 34th birthday on Saturday, scores of celebrities flooded the social media with wishes for the actor.

As Bollywood's powerhouse performer Ranveer Singh ringed in his 34th birthday on Saturday, scores of celebrities flooded the social media with wishes for the actor. The first came from his upcoming film '83' director Kabir Khan who shared a picture on Instagram, striking a pose with the birthday boy and his wife Deepika Padukone. The director penned a heartfelt note for the actor and complimented him for his "incredible commitment and dedication." "Happy Birthday Ranveer Singh '83' is one of those once in a lifetime experiences and I`m so glad you are the one stepping into Kapil Dev's shoes for me. There is no way I would have pulled this one off without your incredible commitment and dedication. Your infectious enthusiasm motivates the team every day. So here's to yet another year of brilliance from you... sorry @deepikapadukone but I had no other photo of Ranveer and me together," he wrote. View this post on Instagram Happy Birthday @ranveersingh ‘83 is one of those once in a lifetime experiences and I’m so glad you are the one stepping into Kapil Dev’s shoes for me. There is no way I would have pulled this one off without your incredible commitment and dedication. Your infectious enthusiasm motivates the team everyday. So here’s to yet another year of brilliance from you... 👍🏼 sorry @deepikapadukone but I had no other photo of Ranveer and me together 🙏🏼😀 #HappyBirthdayRanveerSingh A post shared by Kabir Khan (@kabirkhankk) on Jul 5, 2019 at 4:27pm PDT × Ranveer's 'Dil Dhadakne Do' co-actors Shefali Shah and Anil Kapoor who essayed the role of his parents in the film also extended their birthday wishes. Shefali shared a picture from the film`s promotion on her Twitter handle and wrote, "Happy happy birthday Ran. Much love." Happy happy birthday Ran. Much love@RanveerOfficial #HappyBirthdayRanveerSingh pic.twitter.com/tk0xF7C5K2 — Shefali Shah (@ShefaliShah_) July 6, 2019 × Anil tweeted, "Happy Birthday, Tiger!!! Ranveer Singh! Always keeping your eyes on the prize & not giving up until you achieve it! The do or die attitude is inspiring! Love this look! Have a great year! Lots of love!" Happy Birthday, Tiger 🐅 !!! @RanveerOfficial! Always keeping your eyes on the prize & not giving up until you achieve it! The do or die attitude is inspiring! Love this look! Have a great year! Lots of love! pic.twitter.com/KvJzohYVot — Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) July 6, 2019 × Ayushmann Khurrana shared a selfie with the actor and wrote, "Happy Bday Mr Singh." Happy bday Mr Singh! 🧡 pic.twitter.com/LnGUW48jvj — Ayushmann Khurrana (@ayushmannk) July 6, 2019 × Alia Bhatt who shared screen space with the actor in 'Gully Boy' shared a picture with Ranveer on her Instagram story and called him "Tutu". "My most amazing brilliant Tutu...May you continue to shine and dazzle...You make us laugh, smile, jump and cheer every time you walk into a room, the big screen or our hearts!!! Happy Birthday You special one..." she captioned the picture. Wishing her 'Lootera' co-star, Sonakshi Sinha wrote on Instagram, "Hapiesssst Birthday to my crazy Lootera Baba Ranveer Singh." Ranveer who is known for his unique sartorial sense was wished by Zoya Akhtar in a hilarious manner. The filmmaker shared a picture of a queen with a tagline, 'dress for the job you want' and wrote, "Happy Birthday Ranveer, don't ever stop being you. Love-Kiss-Miss." Katrina Kaif shared a picture of the 'Padmavat' actor on her Instagram story and wrote, "Happy Happiest birthday Ranveer Singh. May all the love and joy you give to others come back to you multiplied." Dia Mirza wished the actor saying: "Happy Birthday @RanveerOfficial!!! You just keep raising the bar, you force of nature. Love love love always." Happy Birthday @RanveerOfficial!!! You just keep raising the bar, you force of nature. Love love love always 🐯💖 https://t.co/svvcHfSdq4 — Dia Mirza (@deespeak) July 6, 2019 × Siddhant Chaturvedi who shared screen space with the actor in 'Gully Boy' posted a throwback picture from the film and wrote, "Happy Birthday @ranveersingh! Bittoo se Murad tak har Kirdaar itne alag, par Dil wahi. Love you Bhai!" View this post on Instagram Happy Birthday @ranveersingh! Bittoo se Murad tak har Kirdaar itne alag, par Dil wahi.❤️ Love you Bhai! 🤗 #AadmiLegendHai A post shared by Siddhant Chaturvedi (@siddhantchaturvedi) on Jul 5, 2019 at 11:00pm PDT × Fianlly, Deepika Padukone, who is currently in London with Ranveer too posted an adorable picture to wish her reel life and real-life husband on Instagram and wrote, "Sensitive & emotional,caring & compassionate,generous & gentle,funny & intelligent,delightful & faithful...all this and so much more... To my husband,my friend,my lover,my confidante...but more often than not,my child,my infant,my toddler,my dot,my pineapple,my sunshine,my rainbow...May you forever and always be this way...I love you...❤️" View this post on Instagram Sensitive & emotional,caring & compassionate,generous & gentle,funny & intelligent,delightful & faithful...all this and so much more... To my husband,my friend,my lover,my confidante...but more often than not,my child,my infant,my toddler,my dot,my pineapple,my sunshine,my rainbow...May you forever and always be this way...I love you...❤️ A post shared by Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) on Jul 6, 2019 at 11:26am PDT × Yesterday, Ranveer shared the first look from his upcoming film '83.' '83' is based on Kapil Dev, who not only lifted the World Cup for India in 1983 but also coached the team from October 1999 to August 2000. Helmed by Kabir Khan, the movie is slated to release on April 10, 2020.

Wishes pour in for Ranveer Singh as he turned 34

Finishing nearly 5,000 metres above sea level after hundreds of kilometres winding past blackened glaciers and snow-capped peaks: a new Pakistani race presents a world-class challenge for cyclists -- climbing towards the "Roof of the World".

The Tour de Khunjerab -- its name a homage to its more famous French counterpart, which began on Saturday -- is still many years away from being another Big Loop, but with a solid claim to being the highest cycling race in the world, it has a lot to offer a certain type of athlete.

In the last week of June, some 88 cyclists, including two teams from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka as well as solo participants from Spain and Switzerland, took part in its second edition.

Less than half completed it within the allotted time.

The four stages -- three ranging from 68 to 94 kilometres (42 to 58 miles) plus a shorter time trial -- are much shorter than many other cycling events.

But there is one fundamental difference: the Pakistani Tour starts at 1,500 metres above sea level, and never stops climbing.

The final day of this year's event sums up the challenge.

Starting at 2,800 metres -- higher than the Iseran Pass, the summit of the Tour de France -- it ends at 4,700 metres, just over 100 metres short of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain.

The Khunjerab Tour must become "an attraction... for the most daring and adventurous cyclists in the world", said Usman Ahmed, the top official for the northern Gilgit region, home to some of the planet's tallest peaks and where the race was held.

The cyclists' tyres swallow up the asphalt of the Karakoram Highway, one of the highest paved roads in the world.

Named after the Karakoram mountain range -- just one of the ranges in Gilgit -- the road passes through an extraordinary landscape.

Soaring, jagged peaks contrast with vertiginous ravines, glaciers driving a chill wind, and tumbling aquamarine rivers. Landslides are common.

Guardrails are a flimsy suggestion of protection from steep falls of hundreds of feet.

"There is no place in the world that offers all these things," said Ahmed.

"No doubt it is the toughest cycle race in the world. We are aiming to make it our trademark," said Haroon General, president of the Pakistan Cycling Federation.

"The most difficult part of the race is the final stage where cyclists face shortage of oxygen and there is risk of heart issues... At such an altitude a person falls down (faints) after running for 200 metres, but our cyclists travelled for almost 59 kilometres," he said.

Five ambulances were on standby in case of emergencies in the final stage, he said, adding: "A majority of the cyclists made it but the support staff needed ambulances."

'Breathless'

The winner of the event, Najeeb Ullah -- a Pakistani from a hilltop village in the southwestern province of Balochistan who won three of the four stages -- told AFP that breathing was a "problem" for him in the final climb.

"I had to face a lot of difficulties while reaching the finishing line," located at the Khunjerab Pass, the border between Pakistan and China, he said.

Especially since altitude was not the only obstacle: On the final day, fierce winds drove snowflakes into the cyclists' faces, forcing some already struggling to catch their breath to dismount.

"Our entire training is reduced to nothing when we reach the final stage," lamented Abdullah Aslam, a participant who could not finish the race.

"I could barely pedal and was feeling breathless," he admitted.

Aslam, a runner from Islamabad, had already had to dismount and walk to the finish on the second day.

"The road was so steep that a majority of the cyclists had to get off their cycles because even a normal vehicle (two-wheel drive) faces issues," he recalled.

Organisers said in some sections the competitors faced a gradient of 20 percent, an angle rarely seen in such competitions in around the world.&nbsp;

At each stage organisers wearing construction helmets scrutinised the surrounding mountains, peering closely for any sign of the rockfalls that periodically smash on to the road -- a potential peril to the cyclists below.

The threat of danger was in stark contrast with the joyful welcome the cyclists received in villages along the route, with residents playing traditional instruments to cheer them on.

"On each mountain, each town, there were welcome signs," said Ramon Antelo, a Spanish diplomat based in Pakistan, who called the race his "best cycling experience" and now hopes to pull together a team to compete next year.&nbsp;

He added: "A race like this is not in any other place. In Europe, Mont Blanc -- you cannot ride it by bike."

Finishing nearly 5,000 metres above sea level after hundreds of kilometres winding past blackened glaciers and snow-capped peaks: a new Pakistani race presents a world-class challenge for cyclists -- climbing towards the "Roof of the World".

Finishing nearly 5,000 metres above sea level after hundreds of kilometres winding past blackened glaciers and snow-capped peaks: a new Pakistani race presents a world-class challenge for cyclists -- climbing towards the "Roof of the World". The Tour de Khunjerab -- its name a homage to its more famous French counterpart, which began on Saturday -- is still many years away from being another Big Loop, but with a solid claim to being the highest cycling race in the world, it has a lot to offer a certain type of athlete. In the last week of June, some 88 cyclists, including two teams from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka as well as solo participants from Spain and Switzerland, took part in its second edition. Less than half completed it within the allotted time. The four stages -- three ranging from 68 to 94 kilometres (42 to 58 miles) plus a shorter time trial -- are much shorter than many other cycling events. But there is one fundamental difference: the Pakistani Tour starts at 1,500 metres above sea level, and never stops climbing. The final day of this year's event sums up the challenge. Starting at 2,800 metres -- higher than the Iseran Pass, the summit of the Tour de France -- it ends at 4,700 metres, just over 100 metres short of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain. The Khunjerab Tour must become "an attraction... for the most daring and adventurous cyclists in the world", said Usman Ahmed, the top official for the northern Gilgit region, home to some of the planet's tallest peaks and where the race was held. The cyclists' tyres swallow up the asphalt of the Karakoram Highway, one of the highest paved roads in the world. Named after the Karakoram mountain range -- just one of the ranges in Gilgit -- the road passes through an extraordinary landscape. Soaring, jagged peaks contrast with vertiginous ravines, glaciers driving a chill wind, and tumbling aquamarine rivers. Landslides are common. Guardrails are a flimsy suggestion of protection from steep falls of hundreds of feet. "There is no place in the world that offers all these things," said Ahmed. "No doubt it is the toughest cycle race in the world. We are aiming to make it our trademark," said Haroon General, president of the Pakistan Cycling Federation. "The most difficult part of the race is the final stage where cyclists face shortage of oxygen and there is risk of heart issues... At such an altitude a person falls down (faints) after running for 200 metres, but our cyclists travelled for almost 59 kilometres," he said. Five ambulances were on standby in case of emergencies in the final stage, he said, adding: "A majority of the cyclists made it but the support staff needed ambulances." 'Breathless' The winner of the event, Najeeb Ullah -- a Pakistani from a hilltop village in the southwestern province of Balochistan who won three of the four stages -- told AFP that breathing was a "problem" for him in the final climb. "I had to face a lot of difficulties while reaching the finishing line," located at the Khunjerab Pass, the border between Pakistan and China, he said. Especially since altitude was not the only obstacle: On the final day, fierce winds drove snowflakes into the cyclists' faces, forcing some already struggling to catch their breath to dismount. "Our entire training is reduced to nothing when we reach the final stage," lamented Abdullah Aslam, a participant who could not finish the race. "I could barely pedal and was feeling breathless," he admitted. Aslam, a runner from Islamabad, had already had to dismount and walk to the finish on the second day. "The road was so steep that a majority of the cyclists had to get off their cycles because even a normal vehicle (two-wheel drive) faces issues," he recalled. Organisers said in some sections the competitors faced a gradient of 20 percent, an angle rarely seen in such competitions in around the world. At each stage organisers wearing construction helmets scrutinised the surrounding mountains, peering closely for any sign of the rockfalls that periodically smash on to the road -- a potential peril to the cyclists below. The threat of danger was in stark contrast with the joyful welcome the cyclists received in villages along the route, with residents playing traditional instruments to cheer them on. "On each mountain, each town, there were welcome signs," said Ramon Antelo, a Spanish diplomat based in Pakistan, who called the race his "best cycling experience" and now hopes to pull together a team to compete next year. He added: "A race like this is not in any other place. In Europe, Mont Blanc -- you cannot ride it by bike."

Tour de Impossible? Pakistan hosts 'world's toughest cycle race'

African leaders will meet Sunday in Niger for the African Union (AU) summit, to sign a landmark free trade agreement, and to discuss looming security and migration crises on the continent.

In a "historic" moment for the 55-member bloc, according to its chairman Moussa Faki, heads of state will officially launch the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at the two-day summit in Niamey, the Nigerien capital.

The agreement comes after 17 years of tough negotiations, and was formalised at the end of April when the agreement had crossed the launch threshold, which required ratification by at least 22 countries.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country and largest economy, announced this week it would, after all, join the pact in Niamey, having unexpectedly pulled back from the agreement last year.

Nigeria's chief trade negotiator, Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, said President Muhammadu Buhari would sign the landmark agreement, "opening Africa up to abundant opportunities.

"We weren't dragged into this, we are a leading advocate," Osakwe told AFP. "But it is about assessing how to make it work for Nigeria and indeed the continent."

State trade ministers agreed the zone should be operational from July 2020, AU Trade and Industry Commissioner Albert Muchanga told AFP, as countries needed time to adapt to the agreed changes.

An official start date will be agreed by heads of state Sunday -- with only Benin and Eritrea still to sign the agreement.

There are still key issues that need to be ironed out however, such as setting common criteria to determine rules of origin for traded products.

Amaka Anku, Africa analyst at Eurasia group, described the deal as a positive step but said the AfCFTA was still "a long way from taking off".

The AU estimates that implementing the AfCFTA will lead to a 60-per cent boost in intra-African trade by 2022.&nbsp;

At the moment, African countries trade only about 16 per cent of their goods and services among one another, compared to 65 per cent with European countries.

High security

Also on the summit agenda is security -- an issue afflicting the Sahel in particular.

Summit host Niger has faced constant attacks by jihadist groups.

Its fellow members in the G5-Sahel security pact -- Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania -- will seek backing at the AU summit to push for a greater UN security force to address the terror threat.&nbsp;

The countries hope to activate Chapter VII of the UN Charter, a Nigerien security source told AFP. The chapter allows for the UN Security Council to determine a threat to peace and propose measures, including military deployment, to deal with it.

"No prosperity, no integration is possible without peace," said Faki, who stressed the importance of an AU Peace Fund launched in 2018 to finance security activities and called on member states to fulfil their financial promises.

So far, only $116 million has been received for the envisaged $400-million fund.

Niamey is under high surveillance, with summit facilities subjected to strict access controls and a heavy security presence.&nbsp;

"We have a special unit of several thousand men" on duty, said Defence Minister Mohamed Bazoum.

The city has been revamped and boasts a brand-new airport, upgraded roads, and new hotels for the occasion.&nbsp;

Migration crisis

The leaders will also discuss boosting intelligence cooperation and the global migration crisis.

An airstrike Tuesday on a migrant detention centre near the Libyan capital, Tripoli, killed 53 and injured more than 130.

The AU's Peace and Security Council on Friday condemned what it called a "savage attack", calling for an independent inquiry into the incident.

AU member states needed to quickly repatriate their nationals from Libya "in order to prevent any further exploitation of their fragile situation," they said in a statement.

African leaders will meet Sunday in Niger for the African Union (AU) summit, to sign a landmark free trade agreement, and to discuss looming security and migration crises on the continent.

African leaders will meet Sunday in Niger for the African Union (AU) summit, to sign a landmark free trade agreement, and to discuss looming security and migration crises on the continent. In a "historic" moment for the 55-member bloc, according to its chairman Moussa Faki, heads of state will officially launch the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at the two-day summit in Niamey, the Nigerien capital. The agreement comes after 17 years of tough negotiations, and was formalised at the end of April when the agreement had crossed the launch threshold, which required ratification by at least 22 countries. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country and largest economy, announced this week it would, after all, join the pact in Niamey, having unexpectedly pulled back from the agreement last year. Nigeria's chief trade negotiator, Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, said President Muhammadu Buhari would sign the landmark agreement, "opening Africa up to abundant opportunities. "We weren't dragged into this, we are a leading advocate," Osakwe told AFP. "But it is about assessing how to make it work for Nigeria and indeed the continent." State trade ministers agreed the zone should be operational from July 2020, AU Trade and Industry Commissioner Albert Muchanga told AFP, as countries needed time to adapt to the agreed changes. An official start date will be agreed by heads of state Sunday -- with only Benin and Eritrea still to sign the agreement. There are still key issues that need to be ironed out however, such as setting common criteria to determine rules of origin for traded products. Amaka Anku, Africa analyst at Eurasia group, described the deal as a positive step but said the AfCFTA was still "a long way from taking off". The AU estimates that implementing the AfCFTA will lead to a 60-per cent boost in intra-African trade by 2022. At the moment, African countries trade only about 16 per cent of their goods and services among one another, compared to 65 per cent with European countries. High security Also on the summit agenda is security -- an issue afflicting the Sahel in particular. Summit host Niger has faced constant attacks by jihadist groups. Its fellow members in the G5-Sahel security pact -- Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania -- will seek backing at the AU summit to push for a greater UN security force to address the terror threat. The countries hope to activate Chapter VII of the UN Charter, a Nigerien security source told AFP. The chapter allows for the UN Security Council to determine a threat to peace and propose measures, including military deployment, to deal with it. "No prosperity, no integration is possible without peace," said Faki, who stressed the importance of an AU Peace Fund launched in 2018 to finance security activities and called on member states to fulfil their financial promises. So far, only $116 million has been received for the envisaged $400-million fund. Niamey is under high surveillance, with summit facilities subjected to strict access controls and a heavy security presence. "We have a special unit of several thousand men" on duty, said Defence Minister Mohamed Bazoum. The city has been revamped and boasts a brand-new airport, upgraded roads, and new hotels for the occasion. Migration crisis The leaders will also discuss boosting intelligence cooperation and the global migration crisis. An airstrike Tuesday on a migrant detention centre near the Libyan capital, Tripoli, killed 53 and injured more than 130. The AU's Peace and Security Council on Friday condemned what it called a "savage attack", calling for an independent inquiry into the incident. AU member states needed to quickly repatriate their nationals from Libya "in order to prevent any further exploitation of their fragile situation," they said in a statement.

African leaders set to sign landmark trade deal at AU Summit

A powerful explosion from a suspected gas leak ripped through a shopping mall in Florida on Saturday, injuring 21 people, the fire department said.

The explosion sent debris flying across the parking lot of the Fountain Plaza shopping centre, damaging an LA Fitness gym, numerous cars and blowing holes in neighbouring buildings in the city of Plantation, about 50 kilometres north of Miami.

"We got our workout in, picked up the kids, walked out, got in the car, drove away and as we drove away everything exploded. It was a pretty crazy scene," said Jessi Walasheck, who witnessed the explosion.

Deputy fire chief Joel Gordon told reporters two of the injured were in serious condition after the blast, one of whom had potentially life-threatening injuries.

"We found patients scattered all around the debris area," he said, but added the injuries generally "are not as severe as what we thought they would be."

His department initially called it a gas explosion and Gordon said ruptured gas lines were found in the debris, but the cause of the blast has not been confirmed.

No one has been reported missing.

"As bad it was, it could have been a lot worse," he said.

A major avenue running past the mall was shut down as a rescuer aided by a dog combed through the wreckage.

A powerful explosion from a suspected gas leak ripped through a shopping mall in Florida on Saturday, injuring 21 people, the fire department said. The explosion sent debris flying across the parking lot of the Fountain Plaza shopping centre, damaging an LA Fitness gym, numerous cars and blowing holes in neighbouring buildings in the city of Plantation, about 50 kilometres north of Miami.

A powerful explosion from a suspected gas leak ripped through a shopping mall in Florida on Saturday, injuring 21 people, the fire department said. The explosion sent debris flying across the parking lot of the Fountain Plaza shopping centre, damaging an LA Fitness gym, numerous cars and blowing holes in neighbouring buildings in the city of Plantation, about 50 kilometres north of Miami. "We got our workout in, picked up the kids, walked out, got in the car, drove away and as we drove away everything exploded. It was a pretty crazy scene," said Jessi Walasheck, who witnessed the explosion. Deputy fire chief Joel Gordon told reporters two of the injured were in serious condition after the blast, one of whom had potentially life-threatening injuries. "We found patients scattered all around the debris area," he said, but added the injuries generally "are not as severe as what we thought they would be." His department initially called it a gas explosion and Gordon said ruptured gas lines were found in the debris, but the cause of the blast has not been confirmed. No one has been reported missing. "As bad it was, it could have been a lot worse," he said. A major avenue running past the mall was shut down as a rescuer aided by a dog combed through the wreckage.

Gas explosion at US mall in Florida injures 21

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polls-open-in-greeces-first-post-bailout-general-election-233710">Greeks head to the polls on Sunday</a> in a snap ballot that could bring an end to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's leftist government.

Here are five things to know about the vote, the third in Greece since May following European and local elections.

Greeks likely to abstain

Greece's third election in as many months is unlikely to set participation records, even more so as July 7 is right at the heart of the busy tourist season.

Voting is officially compulsory in Greece and abstention is theoretically punishable by law, but the penalty is never applied.

In May, fewer than 59 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots for the European Parliament and the first round of local and regional elections. A week later, participation fell below 42 per cent for the second round.

Will there be a stable government?

The memory of political instability in Greece at the height of the economic crisis is still recent. In 2011, the government collapsed and a few months later, back-to-back elections had to be held before a coalition administration could be pieced together.

The current electoral law gives a 50-seat bonus to the winning party, in principle enough to form a majority in the 300-seat parliament.

But if more than six parties enter parliament -- which is a possibility -- the winner may end up with a majority of just a few seats.

The conservative New Democracy party is heavily favoured to win, after a near-sweep in regional elections and a victory margin of over nine points in European parliament elections.

In that case, the conservatives could govern alone or alongside the socialist Kinal party in a repeat of the 2012 coalition.

But if the July 7 election fails to produce a government, a new electoral law will kick in without the 50-seat bonus, making uneasy alliances imperative.

Parties need at least three per cent of the vote to enter parliament.

Communists vote, rain or shine

The Communist KKE party, which turned 100 last year, has some of the country's most faithful supporters. It picked up 302,000 votes in the European Parliament elections, nearly the same amount garnered in national elections four years ago.

They also secured the re-election of a Communist mayor in Patras, Greece's third largest city.

Shifting sands of far-right

After a near-decade rise to the ranks of Greece's third most popular party, the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn suffered major losses in the last two voting campaigns, shedding half its electoral support.

Into the gap stepped Greek Solution, a new nationalist, pro-Russian party formed by journalist and TV salesman Kyriakos Velopoulos.

Out of the blue, Greek Solution won 4.18 per cent of the vote and a seat in the European parliament.

A former far-right lawmaker, Velopoulos scored well especially in the north of the country, where there is anger at Tsipras's deal with Macedonian prime minister Zoran Zaev to rename the neighbouring country North Macedonia.

Velopoulos has made no secret of his desire to attract Golden Dawn voters. Together, the two parties account for around nine per cent of the Greek electorate.

Crisis gloom&nbsp;

Greece is struggling to recover from a near-decade-long debt crisis and a deep six-year recession. It emerged from its third straight bailout last year, but with a public debt of over 180 per cent of output, it remains under strict supervision by its EU and IMF creditors.

Greeks head to the polls on Sunday in a snap ballot that could bring an end to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's leftist government. Here are five things to know about the vote, the third in Greece since May following European and local elections.

Greeks head to the polls on Sunday in a snap ballot that could bring an end to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's leftist government. Here are five things to know about the vote, the third in Greece since May following European and local elections. Greeks likely to abstain Greece's third election in as many months is unlikely to set participation records, even more so as July 7 is right at the heart of the busy tourist season. Voting is officially compulsory in Greece and abstention is theoretically punishable by law, but the penalty is never applied. In May, fewer than 59 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots for the European Parliament and the first round of local and regional elections. A week later, participation fell below 42 per cent for the second round. Will there be a stable government? The memory of political instability in Greece at the height of the economic crisis is still recent. In 2011, the government collapsed and a few months later, back-to-back elections had to be held before a coalition administration could be pieced together. The current electoral law gives a 50-seat bonus to the winning party, in principle enough to form a majority in the 300-seat parliament. But if more than six parties enter parliament -- which is a possibility -- the winner may end up with a majority of just a few seats. The conservative New Democracy party is heavily favoured to win, after a near-sweep in regional elections and a victory margin of over nine points in European parliament elections. In that case, the conservatives could govern alone or alongside the socialist Kinal party in a repeat of the 2012 coalition. But if the July 7 election fails to produce a government, a new electoral law will kick in without the 50-seat bonus, making uneasy alliances imperative. Parties need at least three per cent of the vote to enter parliament. Communists vote, rain or shine The Communist KKE party, which turned 100 last year, has some of the country's most faithful supporters. It picked up 302,000 votes in the European Parliament elections, nearly the same amount garnered in national elections four years ago. They also secured the re-election of a Communist mayor in Patras, Greece's third largest city. Shifting sands of far-right After a near-decade rise to the ranks of Greece's third most popular party, the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn suffered major losses in the last two voting campaigns, shedding half its electoral support. Into the gap stepped Greek Solution, a new nationalist, pro-Russian party formed by journalist and TV salesman Kyriakos Velopoulos. Out of the blue, Greek Solution won 4.18 per cent of the vote and a seat in the European parliament. A former far-right lawmaker, Velopoulos scored well especially in the north of the country, where there is anger at Tsipras's deal with Macedonian prime minister Zoran Zaev to rename the neighbouring country North Macedonia. Velopoulos has made no secret of his desire to attract Golden Dawn voters. Together, the two parties account for around nine per cent of the Greek electorate. Crisis gloom Greece is struggling to recover from a near-decade-long debt crisis and a deep six-year recession. It emerged from its third straight bailout last year, but with a public debt of over 180 per cent of output, it remains under strict supervision by its EU and IMF creditors.

Five things to know about Greece's July 7 vote

Greeks began voting on Sunday in a snap election that opinon polls say will bring opposition conservatives to power, ending four years of leftist rule blamed for saddling the country with more debt and mismanaging crises.

The election is largely a showdown of two contenders. Incumbent Alexis Tsipras of the Syriza party is on one side - a 44-year-old radical leftist who stormed to power in 2015 vowing to tear up the austerity rule book only to relent weeks later.

On the other side of the fence is Kyriakos Mitsotakis, 51, of New Democracy. He is from a famous political dynasty - he hopes to follow the footsteps of his father as prime minister, while a sister of his was foreign minister.

Opinion polls put New Democracy's lead at up to 10 percentage points, potentially giving it an absolute majority in the country's 300-seat parliament. Voting starts at 7.00 am and ends at 7.00 pm, with first official projections expected about two hours after voting ends.

Greece endured a debilitating financial crisis from 2010 which saw the country needing a cash lifeline from its European Union partners three times.

The economy is the public's main concern, said Thomas Gerakis of pollsters MARC.

"Voters want to know the government can give Greeks a better tomorrow," he said. Some voters wanted to punish Syriza for reneging on past pledges, he added.

Tsipras was also roundly criticised for mismanagement of crises on his watch, and for brokering a deeply unpopular deal to end a dispute over the name of neighouring North Macedonia.

One hundred people died in a devastating fire which swept through a seaside village east of Athens last year; while Mitsotakis was quick to the scene to console survivors, Tsipras was out of the public eye for several days.

Greece wrapped up its last economic adjustment programme in 2018, but remains under surveillance from lenders to ensure no future fiscal slippage. Though economic growth has returned to the country, unemployment is the euro zone's highest at 18 per cent.

New Democracy has promised to invest in creating well-paid jobs with decent benefits. The outgoing government meanwhile hopes voters will reward it for upping the minimum wage by 11 per cent and reinstating collective bargaining.

Mitsotakis hopes that his reforms will convince lenders to show more flexibility in due course.

"The first thing that is necessary for economic growth to be boosted is a stable government, a strong majority in the next parliament," Mitsotakis told Reuters.

Tsipras says that a vote cast in favour of Mitsotakis would go to the political establishment which forced Greece to the edge of the precipice in the first place.

"Each and every one of you must now consider if, after so many sacrifices, we should return to the days of despair," he told voters, wrapping up the pre-election campaign on Friday.

Greeks began voting on Sunday in a snap election that opinon polls say will bring opposition conservatives to power, ending four years of leftist rule blamed for saddling the country with more debt and mismanaging crises.

Greeks began voting on Sunday in a snap election that opinon polls say will bring opposition conservatives to power, ending four years of leftist rule blamed for saddling the country with more debt and mismanaging crises. The election is largely a showdown of two contenders. Incumbent Alexis Tsipras of the Syriza party is on one side - a 44-year-old radical leftist who stormed to power in 2015 vowing to tear up the austerity rule book only to relent weeks later. On the other side of the fence is Kyriakos Mitsotakis, 51, of New Democracy. He is from a famous political dynasty - he hopes to follow the footsteps of his father as prime minister, while a sister of his was foreign minister. Opinion polls put New Democracy's lead at up to 10 percentage points, potentially giving it an absolute majority in the country's 300-seat parliament. Voting starts at 7.00 am and ends at 7.00 pm, with first official projections expected about two hours after voting ends. Greece endured a debilitating financial crisis from 2010 which saw the country needing a cash lifeline from its European Union partners three times. The economy is the public's main concern, said Thomas Gerakis of pollsters MARC. "Voters want to know the government can give Greeks a better tomorrow," he said. Some voters wanted to punish Syriza for reneging on past pledges, he added. Tsipras was also roundly criticised for mismanagement of crises on his watch, and for brokering a deeply unpopular deal to end a dispute over the name of neighouring North Macedonia. One hundred people died in a devastating fire which swept through a seaside village east of Athens last year; while Mitsotakis was quick to the scene to console survivors, Tsipras was out of the public eye for several days. Greece wrapped up its last economic adjustment programme in 2018, but remains under surveillance from lenders to ensure no future fiscal slippage. Though economic growth has returned to the country, unemployment is the euro zone's highest at 18 per cent. New Democracy has promised to invest in creating well-paid jobs with decent benefits. The outgoing government meanwhile hopes voters will reward it for upping the minimum wage by 11 per cent and reinstating collective bargaining. Mitsotakis hopes that his reforms will convince lenders to show more flexibility in due course. "The first thing that is necessary for economic growth to be boosted is a stable government, a strong majority in the next parliament," Mitsotakis told Reuters. Tsipras says that a vote cast in favour of Mitsotakis would go to the political establishment which forced Greece to the edge of the precipice in the first place. "Each and every one of you must now consider if, after so many sacrifices, we should return to the days of despair," he told voters, wrapping up the pre-election campaign on Friday.

Polls open in Greece's first post-bailout general election

The sweltering heat of the Venezuelan forest makes no difference to Jose Gregorio, who trembles with a cold chill. "I have pain everywhere, fever," he stammers.&nbsp;

Gregorio has the classic symptoms of malaria, a disease eradicated years ago among his Yukpa indigenous people, but it's back with a vengeance all across crisis-struck Venezuela.

"He had sore joints and then started vomiting, and it's been four or five days since he's eaten anything," says his worried wife Marisol.&nbsp;

Their four-month-old baby babbles beside his father on the bed.

"The baby and I also had malaria," says Marisol. "Before, that was not the case here, there was only chikungunya and dengue, malaria came back here last year."&nbsp;

She doesn't bat an eyelid at the mention of either of the other mosquito-borne viruses, whose spread has been fueled by the collapse of Venezuela's health system.

"Here" is El Tucuco, a small village at the foot of the mountains that form the border with Colombia, a three-hour drive from Maracaibo in Venezuela's western Zulia state.

With 3,700 people, El Tucuco is the Yukpas' "capital" and malaria is rapidly making its presence felt here as in the rest of Venezuela -- a country that could once boast of being the first to have eradicated the disease in 1961.

'Pandemic'

There are no official statistics on malaria's reach into El Tucuco, nor on the number of deaths, it causes.&nbsp;

But from his consulting room at the Catholic Mission, Dr Carlos Polanco is seeing a developing crisis.&nbsp;

"Out of 10 people who are tested for malaria in the village laboratory, four to five come out with a positive test. This is an alarming figure."

Brother Nelson Sandoval, a Capuchin friar who presides over the mission, adds: "Before entering the order, I already knew this community and I had never seen a case of malaria. Today we are in the middle of a pandemic."

El Tucuco is affected by Plasmodium vivax, the most geographically widespread malarial species. The more lethal Plasmodium falciparum strain is prevalent in the Amazonian regions of southeastern Venezuela.

According to Sandoval and Polanco, the reason for malaria's sudden virulence in El Tucuco is simple: once-regular fumigation missions by the Venezuelan government stopped.

"And as the population of mosquitos increased, cases exploded," said Polanco.

Added to this is the malnutrition that weakens resistance to the disease, a new phenomenon since the economic crisis took hold at the end of 2015.&nbsp;

"Before, it was possible to vary one's diet, but with inflation the Yukpa cannot afford it," instead making do with what they can grow, like cassava and plantain, according to Polanco.

Rosa, 67, knows all about malnutrition. Lying on the floor of her house, she is battling malaria for the third time. "The doctor weighed me yesterday -- 37 kilograms. I was 83 kilos before."

A report published in British medical journal The Lancet in February warned of an epidemic of malaria and dengue fever as a result of the continuing crisis in Venezuela.

Between 2016 and 2017 alone, the number of malaria cases in the nation jumped 70 per cent.&nbsp;

"The situation is catastrophic," said Dr Huniades Urbina, secretary of the National Academy of Medicine. In 2018, "there were 600,000 cases of malaria and we, the scientific organizations, estimate that in 2019 we could reach a million cases" -- one in every 30 people.

But these figures are only estimates, "because the government conceals the statistics."

'Nobody answers us'

The malaria explosion has gone hand in hand with the worsening economic crisis. According to Nicolas Maduro's government, inflation reached a staggering 130,000 per cent in 2018 and GDP halved between 2013 and 2018.&nbsp;

In the oil-rich state of Zulia, service stations have been dry for more than a month. Electricity blackouts are commonplace and residents flee abroad in their thousands.

Despite a poster of late president Hugo Chavez at the entry to the clinic, there is little sign of government presence in El Tucuco. Dr Luisana Hernandez despairs of ever seeing any state help.

"Every day, everything is deteriorating a bit more," she says, exasperated. Refrigerators intended to keep vaccines cold do not work "because we have no gasoline to run the generator," and both the clinic's broken-down ambulances are gathering rust in the garden.

"We've knocked on every door. But nobody answers us," said Hernandez.

Without fuel to bring drugs from the city, without resources to prevent illnesses, eradicating malaria in an almost impossible task.

Brother Nelson does what he can, with help from the Catholic charity Caritas and the Pan American Health Organization. His mission distributes the antimalarial drugs chloroquine and primaquine to sick Yukpa people.

Maria Jose Romero, 22, was able to benefit from treatment. "Repeated seizures are due to the fact that many people cannot follow the treatment," for lack of drugs, she said.

Romero now lives across the border in Colombia, having fled Venezuela. She is visiting El Tucuco to see her family. Soon she will return to the other side of the mountain, on foot.

"It's three days' walk," she says.

The sweltering heat of the Venezuelan forest makes no difference to Jose Gregorio, who trembles with a cold chill. "I have pain everywhere, fever," he stammers. Gregorio has the classic symptoms of malaria, a disease eradicated years ago among his Yukpa indigenous people, but it's back with a vengeance all across crisis-struck Venezuela.

The sweltering heat of the Venezuelan forest makes no difference to Jose Gregorio, who trembles with a cold chill. "I have pain everywhere, fever," he stammers. Gregorio has the classic symptoms of malaria, a disease eradicated years ago among his Yukpa indigenous people, but it's back with a vengeance all across crisis-struck Venezuela. "He had sore joints and then started vomiting, and it's been four or five days since he's eaten anything," says his worried wife Marisol. Their four-month-old baby babbles beside his father on the bed. "The baby and I also had malaria," says Marisol. "Before, that was not the case here, there was only chikungunya and dengue, malaria came back here last year." She doesn't bat an eyelid at the mention of either of the other mosquito-borne viruses, whose spread has been fueled by the collapse of Venezuela's health system. "Here" is El Tucuco, a small village at the foot of the mountains that form the border with Colombia, a three-hour drive from Maracaibo in Venezuela's western Zulia state. With 3,700 people, El Tucuco is the Yukpas' "capital" and malaria is rapidly making its presence felt here as in the rest of Venezuela -- a country that could once boast of being the first to have eradicated the disease in 1961. 'Pandemic' There are no official statistics on malaria's reach into El Tucuco, nor on the number of deaths, it causes. But from his consulting room at the Catholic Mission, Dr Carlos Polanco is seeing a developing crisis. "Out of 10 people who are tested for malaria in the village laboratory, four to five come out with a positive test. This is an alarming figure." Brother Nelson Sandoval, a Capuchin friar who presides over the mission, adds: "Before entering the order, I already knew this community and I had never seen a case of malaria. Today we are in the middle of a pandemic." El Tucuco is affected by Plasmodium vivax, the most geographically widespread malarial species. The more lethal Plasmodium falciparum strain is prevalent in the Amazonian regions of southeastern Venezuela. According to Sandoval and Polanco, the reason for malaria's sudden virulence in El Tucuco is simple: once-regular fumigation missions by the Venezuelan government stopped. "And as the population of mosquitos increased, cases exploded," said Polanco. Added to this is the malnutrition that weakens resistance to the disease, a new phenomenon since the economic crisis took hold at the end of 2015. "Before, it was possible to vary one's diet, but with inflation the Yukpa cannot afford it," instead making do with what they can grow, like cassava and plantain, according to Polanco. Rosa, 67, knows all about malnutrition. Lying on the floor of her house, she is battling malaria for the third time. "The doctor weighed me yesterday -- 37 kilograms. I was 83 kilos before." A report published in British medical journal The Lancet in February warned of an epidemic of malaria and dengue fever as a result of the continuing crisis in Venezuela. Between 2016 and 2017 alone, the number of malaria cases in the nation jumped 70 per cent. "The situation is catastrophic," said Dr Huniades Urbina, secretary of the National Academy of Medicine. In 2018, "there were 600,000 cases of malaria and we, the scientific organizations, estimate that in 2019 we could reach a million cases" -- one in every 30 people. But these figures are only estimates, "because the government conceals the statistics." 'Nobody answers us' The malaria explosion has gone hand in hand with the worsening economic crisis. According to Nicolas Maduro's government, inflation reached a staggering 130,000 per cent in 2018 and GDP halved between 2013 and 2018. In the oil-rich state of Zulia, service stations have been dry for more than a month. Electricity blackouts are commonplace and residents flee abroad in their thousands. Despite a poster of late president Hugo Chavez at the entry to the clinic, there is little sign of government presence in El Tucuco. Dr Luisana Hernandez despairs of ever seeing any state help. "Every day, everything is deteriorating a bit more," she says, exasperated. Refrigerators intended to keep vaccines cold do not work "because we have no gasoline to run the generator," and both the clinic's broken-down ambulances are gathering rust in the garden. "We've knocked on every door. But nobody answers us," said Hernandez. Without fuel to bring drugs from the city, without resources to prevent illnesses, eradicating malaria in an almost impossible task. Brother Nelson does what he can, with help from the Catholic charity Caritas and the Pan American Health Organization. His mission distributes the antimalarial drugs chloroquine and primaquine to sick Yukpa people. Maria Jose Romero, 22, was able to benefit from treatment. "Repeated seizures are due to the fact that many people cannot follow the treatment," for lack of drugs, she said. Romero now lives across the border in Colombia, having fled Venezuela. She is visiting El Tucuco to see her family. Soon she will return to the other side of the mountain, on foot. "It's three days' walk," she says.

Malaria surges back in crisis-hit Venezuela

Four hundred thousand people turned out on the streets of Madrid Saturday for a Gay Pride parade dedicated this year to pioneers of the LGBT+ cause, amid growing fears of fresh repression with the rise of the far-right in Europe.

The marchers converged on the Spanish capital's main Atocha train station for the start of the festivities. The 400,000 figure was later given by police.

The slogan for this year's march was "History, struggle and memory" and participants marked 50 years since the Stonewall riots in New York in 1969 which were the foundation of the gay rights movement worldwide.

Catholic Spain at the time was controlled by dictator General Francisco Franco and homosexual acts were illegal. Thousands of gay people were shipped off to rehabilitation centres or even jailed.

Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1978, three year's after Franco's death, since when Spain has become one of the most LGBT-tolerant countries in the world, authorising gay marriage and adoptions by gay couples in 2005.

"I'm 53 years old and I have suffered," said Manuel Carmona, carrying a large rainbow flag for Saturday's march.

"But those who are 63-years-old suffered more and those who are 73-years-old even more and I want us to recognise these people who have helped us," added Carmona, who has been attending the pride march for 30 years.

Resurgent homophobia

Madrid's city hall swung to the right in June after a conservative candidate was elected mayor with the support of newly-emerged far-right party Vox, in a move that has caused concern in Spain.

Vox has said that the Madrid Gay Pride Parade should be moved to a park in the suburbs and opposes public subsidies for the event.

"They do not want to understand that when we talk about LGBT rights, we are talking about human rights," said Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who is himself gay and took part in the march.

Activists say organised opposition against LGBT rights is growing across the continent, with populist politicians in Poland, Hungary and other European countries presenting gay rights as a threat to family values.

Resurgent homophobia made the headlines in Britain recently after a lesbian couple became the high-profile victims of a homophobic attack after refusing to kiss for a gang of youths on a London night bus.

The couple joined the annual Pride march through the heart of the British capital Saturday, which organisers said drew hundreds of thousands.

In the Hungarian capital Budapest, marchers carried rainbow banners and flew balloons at a rally that passed from parliament through the city centre.

Meanwhile, bishops in conservative, Catholic-majority Poland on Saturday denounced Swedish furniture giant Ikea for what they called "LGBT indoctrination" after an employee was sacked for refusing to take down a homophobic comment he had posted on the firm's internal website.

The bishops congratulated the man -- who had quoted passages from the Old Testament in the post -- on his "courage" in defending his faith in everyday life in an "exemplary" way.

Four hundred thousand people turned out on the streets of Madrid Saturday for a Gay Pride parade dedicated this year to pioneers of the LGBT+ cause, amid growing fears of fresh repression with the rise of the far-right in Europe.

Four hundred thousand people turned out on the streets of Madrid Saturday for a Gay Pride parade dedicated this year to pioneers of the LGBT+ cause, amid growing fears of fresh repression with the rise of the far-right in Europe. The marchers converged on the Spanish capital's main Atocha train station for the start of the festivities. The 400,000 figure was later given by police. The slogan for this year's march was "History, struggle and memory" and participants marked 50 years since the Stonewall riots in New York in 1969 which were the foundation of the gay rights movement worldwide. Catholic Spain at the time was controlled by dictator General Francisco Franco and homosexual acts were illegal. Thousands of gay people were shipped off to rehabilitation centres or even jailed. Homosexuality was decriminalised in 1978, three year's after Franco's death, since when Spain has become one of the most LGBT-tolerant countries in the world, authorising gay marriage and adoptions by gay couples in 2005. "I'm 53 years old and I have suffered," said Manuel Carmona, carrying a large rainbow flag for Saturday's march. "But those who are 63-years-old suffered more and those who are 73-years-old even more and I want us to recognise these people who have helped us," added Carmona, who has been attending the pride march for 30 years. Resurgent homophobia Madrid's city hall swung to the right in June after a conservative candidate was elected mayor with the support of newly-emerged far-right party Vox, in a move that has caused concern in Spain. Vox has said that the Madrid Gay Pride Parade should be moved to a park in the suburbs and opposes public subsidies for the event. "They do not want to understand that when we talk about LGBT rights, we are talking about human rights," said Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who is himself gay and took part in the march. Activists say organised opposition against LGBT rights is growing across the continent, with populist politicians in Poland, Hungary and other European countries presenting gay rights as a threat to family values. Resurgent homophobia made the headlines in Britain recently after a lesbian couple became the high-profile victims of a homophobic attack after refusing to kiss for a gang of youths on a London night bus. The couple joined the annual Pride march through the heart of the British capital Saturday, which organisers said drew hundreds of thousands. In the Hungarian capital Budapest, marchers carried rainbow banners and flew balloons at a rally that passed from parliament through the city centre. Meanwhile, bishops in conservative, Catholic-majority Poland on Saturday denounced Swedish furniture giant Ikea for what they called "LGBT indoctrination" after an employee was sacked for refusing to take down a homophobic comment he had posted on the firm's internal website. The bishops congratulated the man -- who had quoted passages from the Old Testament in the post -- on his "courage" in defending his faith in everyday life in an "exemplary" way.

Hundreds of thousands march across Europe for Gay Pride

Britain's interior minister Sajid Javid will this week formally endorse <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-race-for-no-10-uks-johnson-and-hunt-vow-to-splash-the-cash-231797">Boris Johnson</a> to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and the country's next prime minister, the Sunday Times reported.

Johnson is the frontrunner in a contest with foreign minister Jeremy Hunt to be the next leader. Voting is due to close on July 22, with the winner set to be announced the following day.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/genius-or-joker-british-prime-minister-favourite-boris-johnson-set-to-face-the-world-231110">Johnson has pledged</a> to leave the European Union with or without a deal on October&nbsp;31 if he becomes prime minister, while Hunt has said that he would, if absolutely necessary, go for a no-deal Brexit.

The Sunday Times said Javid has positioned himself to be Johnson's finance minister, taking over from current finance minister Philip Hammond.

It reported that in a speech on Tuesday, Javid will say: "Trust in our democracy will be at stake if we don't make October&nbsp;31 a 'deal or no deal' deadline. To prepare that, we are agreed on the need for ramped-up no-deal preparations, including a budget."

Watch:&nbsp;'I take personal responsibility for the vote to leave the EU', says Boris Johnson

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/boris-johnson-i-take-personal-responsibility-for-the-vote-to-leave-the-eu-231915/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The newspaper also said that Johnson would visit the United States before the end of September to meet President Donald Trump.

Britain's interior minister Sajid Javid will this week formally endorse Boris Johnson to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and the country's next prime minister, the Sunday Times reported.

Britain's interior minister Sajid Javid will this week formally endorse Boris Johnson to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and the country's next prime minister, the Sunday Times reported. Johnson is the frontrunner in a contest with foreign minister Jeremy Hunt to be the next leader. Voting is due to close on July 22, with the winner set to be announced the following day. Johnson has pledged to leave the European Union with or without a deal on October 31 if he becomes prime minister, while Hunt has said that he would, if absolutely necessary, go for a no-deal Brexit. The Sunday Times said Javid has positioned himself to be Johnson's finance minister, taking over from current finance minister Philip Hammond. It reported that in a speech on Tuesday, Javid will say: "Trust in our democracy will be at stake if we don't make October 31 a 'deal or no deal' deadline. To prepare that, we are agreed on the need for ramped-up no-deal preparations, including a budget." Watch: 'I take personal responsibility for the vote to leave the EU', says Boris Johnson The newspaper also said that Johnson would visit the United States before the end of September to meet President Donald Trump.

UK interior minister Sajid Javid to endorse Boris Johnson as prime minister: Report

Dozens of powerful Afghans including bitter rivals will meet with the Taliban in Doha Sunday, amid <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-taliban-talks-to-pause-for-intra-afghan-summit-233612">separate talks between the US and the insurgents</a> seeking to end 18 years of war.

Stakes are high for both sets of talks. Washington has said it wants to seal a political deal with the Taliban ahead of Afghan presidential polls due in September to allow foreign forces to begin to withdraw.

"These six days have been the most productive of the rounds we've had with the Talibs," the US lead negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad said Saturday of the US-Taliban talks in Qatar.

That engagement has been put on hold for the two-day Afghan dialogue and will resume on Tuesday, both sides have said.

"Essentially the four items we have been talking about ever since we started (are) terrorism, withdrawal of foreign troops, inter-Afghan negotiations and dialogue, and ceasefire," Khalilzad told AFP.

"For the first time I can say we have had substantive discussions, negotiations, and progress on all four issues."

The Taliban's spokesman in Qatar, Suhail Shaheen, said they are "happy with progress... We have not faced any obstacles yet".

Talks in 'personal capacity'

The separate intra-Afghan talks set to start Sunday are expected to be attended by around 60 delegates, including political figures, women and other Afghan stakeholders.

The United States will not participate directly in the two-day summit, which has been organised by Qatar and Germany.

The Taliban, who have steadfastly refused to negotiate with the government of President Ashraf Ghani, have stressed that those attending are only doing so in a "personal capacity".

Ghani's administration, which the Taliban consider a puppet regime, has also been excluded from the direct US-Taliban talks.

Sunday's gathering will be the third such meeting following similar summits in Moscow in February and May.

The first encounter was an historic breakthrough and saw the Taliban hear the opinions of the two women attendees before laying out their constitutional and political programme on live TV for the first time.

An agreement with the Taliban is expected to have two main points -- a US withdrawal from Afghanistan and a commitment by the militants not to provide a base for terrorists, the main reason for the US invasion nearly 18 years ago.

The United States, which by some estimates has spent $1 trillion in Afghanistan, will likely try to insist in the deal that the Taliban open negotiations with Ghani's government.

'Friendly' talks

But the thorny issues of women's rights, power-sharing with the Taliban, the role of regional powers including Pakistan and India, and the fate of Ghani's administration remain unresolved.

In areas of Afghanistan currently under Taliban control, they have shown little evidence of updating their strict interpretation of Islamic law and women continue to face violent repression.

The Taliban, believing they have the upper hand in the war, have kept up attacks even while talking to the United States and agreeing to the Afghan dialogue.

An attack last week that targeted the defence ministry damaged five schools, with at least six people killed and scores more -- including 50 children -- hurt mainly by flying glass.

Despite the violence, both the Taliban and US have been positive about their engagement.

"We've had friendly periods -- but (before) there has also been a lot of anger sometimes, strong words. Walking away," said US envoy Khalilzad.

The atmosphere of the latest session was "uniquely more positive," he told AFP.

Laurel Miller, the US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan until 2017, said there was "strong possibility" of reaching a deal before September.

"But an agreement that is just between the US and the Taliban is not a peace agreement for Afghanistan," she said.

"It doesn't address the really hard questions of what role the Taliban is going to play or not play in governing Afghanistan and what happens to the current government and system of government that the United States helped set up."

Dozens of powerful Afghans including bitter rivals will meet with the Taliban in Doha Sunday, amid separate talks between the US and the insurgents seeking to end 18 years of war.

Dozens of powerful Afghans including bitter rivals will meet with the Taliban in Doha Sunday, amid separate talks between the US and the insurgents seeking to end 18 years of war. Stakes are high for both sets of talks. Washington has said it wants to seal a political deal with the Taliban ahead of Afghan presidential polls due in September to allow foreign forces to begin to withdraw. "These six days have been the most productive of the rounds we've had with the Talibs," the US lead negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad said Saturday of the US-Taliban talks in Qatar. That engagement has been put on hold for the two-day Afghan dialogue and will resume on Tuesday, both sides have said. "Essentially the four items we have been talking about ever since we started (are) terrorism, withdrawal of foreign troops, inter-Afghan negotiations and dialogue, and ceasefire," Khalilzad told AFP. "For the first time I can say we have had substantive discussions, negotiations, and progress on all four issues." The Taliban's spokesman in Qatar, Suhail Shaheen, said they are "happy with progress... We have not faced any obstacles yet". Talks in 'personal capacity' The separate intra-Afghan talks set to start Sunday are expected to be attended by around 60 delegates, including political figures, women and other Afghan stakeholders. The United States will not participate directly in the two-day summit, which has been organised by Qatar and Germany. The Taliban, who have steadfastly refused to negotiate with the government of President Ashraf Ghani, have stressed that those attending are only doing so in a "personal capacity". Ghani's administration, which the Taliban consider a puppet regime, has also been excluded from the direct US-Taliban talks. Sunday's gathering will be the third such meeting following similar summits in Moscow in February and May. The first encounter was an historic breakthrough and saw the Taliban hear the opinions of the two women attendees before laying out their constitutional and political programme on live TV for the first time. An agreement with the Taliban is expected to have two main points -- a US withdrawal from Afghanistan and a commitment by the militants not to provide a base for terrorists, the main reason for the US invasion nearly 18 years ago. The United States, which by some estimates has spent $1 trillion in Afghanistan, will likely try to insist in the deal that the Taliban open negotiations with Ghani's government. 'Friendly' talks But the thorny issues of women's rights, power-sharing with the Taliban, the role of regional powers including Pakistan and India, and the fate of Ghani's administration remain unresolved. In areas of Afghanistan currently under Taliban control, they have shown little evidence of updating their strict interpretation of Islamic law and women continue to face violent repression. The Taliban, believing they have the upper hand in the war, have kept up attacks even while talking to the United States and agreeing to the Afghan dialogue. An attack last week that targeted the defence ministry damaged five schools, with at least six people killed and scores more -- including 50 children -- hurt mainly by flying glass. Despite the violence, both the Taliban and US have been positive about their engagement. "We've had friendly periods -- but (before) there has also been a lot of anger sometimes, strong words. Walking away," said US envoy Khalilzad. The atmosphere of the latest session was "uniquely more positive," he told AFP. Laurel Miller, the US special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan until 2017, said there was "strong possibility" of reaching a deal before September. "But an agreement that is just between the US and the Taliban is not a peace agreement for Afghanistan," she said. "It doesn't address the really hard questions of what role the Taliban is going to play or not play in governing Afghanistan and what happens to the current government and system of government that the United States helped set up."

Dozens of powerful Afghans including bitter rivals to meet Taliban today

After months of political uncertainty, Sudan has taken its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-welcomes-sudan-power-sharing-deal-as-important-step-forward-233635">first step towards a democratic transition</a>, but getting the ruling generals to deliver on a power-sharing accord with protesters remains a challenge.

"The only path forward is a negotiated deal between the two sides," said Alan Boswell, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank.

Sudan's ruling <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-military-council-opposition-reach-power-sharing-agreement-233296">military council and protest leaders reached the tentative deal</a> in the early hours of Friday, agreeing to form a joint civilian-military governing body.

That body is to oversee the formation of a transitional civilian administration that will govern for three years -- the main demand of demonstrators.

The two agreed the ruling body would have a rotating presidency, a breakthrough following months of political impasse after the army in April ousted longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir on the back of a popular uprising.

Tensions climaxed on June 3 when armed men in military fatigues stormed a longstanding protest camp in Khartoum, shooting and beating crowds of demonstrators in a pre-dawn raid.

Dozens were killed, triggering international outrage, although the generals insisted they did not order the violent dispersal of protesters.

The power-sharing deal comes after intense mediation by Ethiopia and African Union diplomats.

"Any agreement is a positive step. The challenge will be actually getting the military council to do as it promised," Boswell told AFP.

On Saturday, the head of that council General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan vowed to "implement" the deal and to work "in close cooperation" with the protest leaders.

The governing body will have a total of six civilians and five military representatives. The six civilians will include five from the umbrella protest movement, the Alliance for Freedom and Change.

A general will head the ruling body during the first 21 months of the transition, followed by a civilian for the remaining 18 months, according to the framework agreement.

'Giant red flag '

Against the backdrop of the June 3 raid, experts doubt whether the military will keep its part of the deal.

"The key question is whether the military or the security sector more widely will cooperate fully with civilian members of the board or is cooperation mere window dressing," said Andreas Krieg, assistant professor at King's College London.

"It is the security sector's intent to accept civilian control that will determine whether Sudan can move to a fully civilian rule in the future."

Bashir, who came to power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989, ruled Sudan with an iron fist thanks to the security apparatus, especially the feared National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) -- accused by rights groups of trampling human rights and freedoms.

Experts say the power-sharing accord is far from a long-term solution to the country's overall political crisis.

One potential dispute is over the eventual formation of a transitional parliament.

Friday's agreement postponed the creation of a 300-seat transitional legislature -- 67 per cent of which would be lawmakers from the protest movement -- that had already been agreed in previous talks.

"Failing to agree yet on the legislative body is a giant red flag. This risks becoming the new impasse," said Boswell.

"Even in a best case scenario, Sudan will be navigating a very challenging transition for years to come."

'Huge responsibility'

Boswell said the protest movement "will almost certainly need to continue mobilising its street power to pressure the military council to uphold its commitments".

Prominent protest leader Babikir Faisal said that while the deal may not be a cure-all, an agreement with the generals was needed.

"Given the overall tension, agreeing on a sovereign council and a government is a step forward," he told AFP.

"The other choice would have been to take the path of confrontation."

The protest alliance says it is now in charge of appointing the new prime minister and a transitional government of technocrats.

Faisal said the first priority of the new administration will be to offer a "relief programme" aimed at tackling Sudan's economic crisis.

"The economic situation is very difficult," he said.

"This is one of the major challenges. This revolution was also triggered by the crisis of bread."

Protests first broke out after the government tripled the price of bread, but they swiftly escalated into nationwide rallies against Bashir's rule, culminating in his ouster on April 11.&nbsp;

And while addressing economic concerns will be key, it will be just one of many challenges facing the protest leaders in their new role, said Khalid Tijani, editor of Sudan's economic weekly Elaf.

"The government will be formed by the alliance, which means revolutionaries," Tijani said.

"They have taken on a huge burden of responsibility, because any failure will be blamed on them ultimately."

After months of political uncertainty, Sudan has taken its first step towards a democratic transition, but getting the ruling generals to deliver on a power-sharing accord with protesters remains a challenge.

After months of political uncertainty, Sudan has taken its first step towards a democratic transition, but getting the ruling generals to deliver on a power-sharing accord with protesters remains a challenge. "The only path forward is a negotiated deal between the two sides," said Alan Boswell, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank. Sudan's ruling military council and protest leaders reached the tentative deal in the early hours of Friday, agreeing to form a joint civilian-military governing body. That body is to oversee the formation of a transitional civilian administration that will govern for three years -- the main demand of demonstrators. The two agreed the ruling body would have a rotating presidency, a breakthrough following months of political impasse after the army in April ousted longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir on the back of a popular uprising. Tensions climaxed on June 3 when armed men in military fatigues stormed a longstanding protest camp in Khartoum, shooting and beating crowds of demonstrators in a pre-dawn raid. Dozens were killed, triggering international outrage, although the generals insisted they did not order the violent dispersal of protesters. The power-sharing deal comes after intense mediation by Ethiopia and African Union diplomats. "Any agreement is a positive step. The challenge will be actually getting the military council to do as it promised," Boswell told AFP. On Saturday, the head of that council General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan vowed to "implement" the deal and to work "in close cooperation" with the protest leaders. The governing body will have a total of six civilians and five military representatives. The six civilians will include five from the umbrella protest movement, the Alliance for Freedom and Change. A general will head the ruling body during the first 21 months of the transition, followed by a civilian for the remaining 18 months, according to the framework agreement. 'Giant red flag ' Against the backdrop of the June 3 raid, experts doubt whether the military will keep its part of the deal. "The key question is whether the military or the security sector more widely will cooperate fully with civilian members of the board or is cooperation mere window dressing," said Andreas Krieg, assistant professor at King's College London. "It is the security sector's intent to accept civilian control that will determine whether Sudan can move to a fully civilian rule in the future." Bashir, who came to power in an Islamist-backed coup in 1989, ruled Sudan with an iron fist thanks to the security apparatus, especially the feared National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) -- accused by rights groups of trampling human rights and freedoms. Experts say the power-sharing accord is far from a long-term solution to the country's overall political crisis. One potential dispute is over the eventual formation of a transitional parliament. Friday's agreement postponed the creation of a 300-seat transitional legislature -- 67 per cent of which would be lawmakers from the protest movement -- that had already been agreed in previous talks. "Failing to agree yet on the legislative body is a giant red flag. This risks becoming the new impasse," said Boswell. "Even in a best case scenario, Sudan will be navigating a very challenging transition for years to come." 'Huge responsibility' Boswell said the protest movement "will almost certainly need to continue mobilising its street power to pressure the military council to uphold its commitments". Prominent protest leader Babikir Faisal said that while the deal may not be a cure-all, an agreement with the generals was needed. "Given the overall tension, agreeing on a sovereign council and a government is a step forward," he told AFP. "The other choice would have been to take the path of confrontation." The protest alliance says it is now in charge of appointing the new prime minister and a transitional government of technocrats. Faisal said the first priority of the new administration will be to offer a "relief programme" aimed at tackling Sudan's economic crisis. "The economic situation is very difficult," he said. "This is one of the major challenges. This revolution was also triggered by the crisis of bread." Protests first broke out after the government tripled the price of bread, but they swiftly escalated into nationwide rallies against Bashir's rule, culminating in his ouster on April 11. And while addressing economic concerns will be key, it will be just one of many challenges facing the protest leaders in their new role, said Khalid Tijani, editor of Sudan's economic weekly Elaf. "The government will be formed by the alliance, which means revolutionaries," Tijani said. "They have taken on a huge burden of responsibility, because any failure will be blamed on them ultimately."

Sudan deal first step to transition but challenges lie ahead

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-iran-to-resume-talks-over-nuclear-deal-and-its-consequences-233670">France, Iran to resume talks over nuclear deal and its consequences</a>

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday told his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani of his "strong concern over the risk of weakening the nuclear agreement" and of the consequences that would follow, his office announced.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gas-explosion-at-us-mall-in-florida-injures-21-233671">Gas explosion at US mall in Florida injures 21</a>

A powerful explosion from a suspected gas leak ripped through a shopping mall in Florida on Saturday, injuring 21 people, the fire department said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jair-bolsonaro-defends-child-labour-in-brazil-sparking-outcry-233674">Jair Bolsonaro defends child labour in Brazil, sparks outcry</a>

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, no stranger to controversy, sparked a new brouhaha this week by repeatedly defending the practice of child labour.

"I've been working since I was eight years old... and today I am what I am," the far-right leader said during his weekly live forum on Facebook.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/archie-baby-son-of-uks-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-christened-at-windsor-castle-233673">Archie, baby son of UK's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, christened at Windsor Castle</a>

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, the two-month-old son of Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, was christened on Saturday, in a small private ceremony at Windsor Castle.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/leadership-issue-comes-up-at-meeting-of-congress-leaders-no-names-discussed-233676">Leadership issue comes up at the meeting of Congress leaders, no names discussed</a>

The issue of leadership in Congress came up briefly at the informal meeting of party leaders here held to discuss the political developments in Karnataka but no names were discussed, party sources said.

France, Iran to resume talks over nuclear deal and its consequences French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday told his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani of his "strong concern over the risk of weakening the nuclear agreement" and of the consequences that would follow, his office announced.

France, Iran to resume talks over nuclear deal and its consequences French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday told his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani of his "strong concern over the risk of weakening the nuclear agreement" and of the consequences that would follow, his office announced. Gas explosion at US mall in Florida injures 21 A powerful explosion from a suspected gas leak ripped through a shopping mall in Florida on Saturday, injuring 21 people, the fire department said. Jair Bolsonaro defends child labour in Brazil, sparks outcry Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, no stranger to controversy, sparked a new brouhaha this week by repeatedly defending the practice of child labour. "I've been working since I was eight years old... and today I am what I am," the far-right leader said during his weekly live forum on Facebook. Archie, baby son of UK's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, christened at Windsor Castle Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, the two-month-old son of Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, was christened on Saturday, in a small private ceremony at Windsor Castle. Leadership issue comes up at the meeting of Congress leaders, no names discussed The issue of leadership in Congress came up briefly at the informal meeting of party leaders here held to discuss the political developments in Karnataka but no names were discussed, party sources said.

News brief: Big stories of the day

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