UAE minister: no dialogue with Qatar until it revises policies

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates, one of four Arab countries that have imposed sanctions on Qatar, said on Saturday that Doha needed to change its policies before a dialogue could take place.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar and imposed an economic boycott last month, accusing it of financing extremist groups and supporting terrorism, charges Doha has repeatedly denied.

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said a call for dialogue by Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad al-Thani was welcome, but this could only happen after Doha had made changes.

He did not specify these, but the four countries involved have issued more than a dozen demands, telling Qatar to close down Al Jazeera television, curb relations with Iran and shut down a Turkish military base.

“Dialogue is necessary and needed but its backbone has to be revision,” Gargash said on his Twitter account.

He expressed disappointment with a speech by Sheikh Tamim on Friday, the first the emir had given since the start of the crisis.

“I had hoped that the speech of Sheikh Tamim would be an initiative for revision,” Gargash said.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, an ally of Qatar, will visit Saudia Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar during a two-day mediation trip that begins on Sunday. 

Palestinians die in new clashes over Jerusalem holy site

JERUSALEM: Two Palestinians died in clashes with Israeli forces Saturday as the army moved in to seal off an attacker’s home after violence over security measures at an ultra-sensitive holy site.

The UN Security Council will hold closed-door talks Monday about the spiralling violence after Egypt, France and Sweden sought a meeting to “urgently discuss how calls for de-escalation in Jerusalem can be supported.”

It came after another day of violence followed bloodshed on Friday, when a 19-year-old Palestinian killed three Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and three Palestinians died in clashes with Israeli forces.

On Saturday, Palestinian youths hurled stones and petrol bombs as the army used a bulldozer to close off the 19-year-old attacker’s West Bank village and prepare his house for probable demolition.

Israel frequently punishes the families of attackers by razing or sealing their homes as a deterrent, although rights groups say this amounts to collective punishment.

Clashes also flared in east Jerusalem and other Palestinian villages in the West Bank near Jerusalem, police said, adding that anti-riot measures were used against them.

At the Qalandiya crossing between the West Bank and Jerusalem, clashes wounded at least eight Palestinians, the Palestinian health ministry said.

A Palestinian died of wounds suffered in clashes east of Jerusalem, the ministry said.

It said 17-year-old Oday Nawajaa was hit by Israeli live fire at Al-Azariya.

Another Palestinian, 18, died nearby when a petrol bomb exploded prematurely.

The violence was triggered by security measures including metal detectors at the entrance to the Haram al-Sharif compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount, ahead of the main weekly Friday prayers.

Israel imposed the measures after a gun and knife attack killed two Israeli policemen on July 14.

The Palestinians reject the measures, viewing them as Israel asserting further control over the holy site.

The site in Jerusalem’s Old City that includes the revered Al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock has been a focal point for Palestinians.

In 2000, then Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon’s visit to the compound helped ignite the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, which lasted more than four years.

Israeli authorities say the July 14 attackers smuggled guns into the site and emerged from it to shoot the policemen.

On Friday, clashes erupted around the Old City.

Three Palestinians aged between 17 and 20 were shot dead. The Red Crescent reported 450 people wounded in Jerusalem and the West Bank, including 170 from live or rubber bullets.

Later Friday, the 19-year-old Palestinian broke into a home in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank and stabbed four Israelis, killing three.

He was shot by a neighbour and taken to hospital.

The Israeli army said he had spoken in a Facebook post of the Jerusalem holy site and of dying as a martyr.

The Israelis killed in Neve Tsuf, north of Ramallah and also known as Halamish, were a grandfather in his 60s and his son and daughter in their 40s, officials said. The grandmother was wounded.

Israeli soldiers raided the Palestinian’s nearby village of Kobar overnight and arrested his brother, the army said.

Amid mounting pressure to respond to the dispute, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas announced late Friday he was freezing contacts with Israel.

There was no immediate public reaction from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced what he called the “excessive use of force” by the Israelis in Friday’s clashes.

The European Union called on Israel and Jordan, custodian of Haram Al-Sharif mosque compound, to work together to “ensure security for all” in the Old City.

“Violence is likely to worsen absent a major policy shift,” said Ofer Zalzberg, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group.

“Netanyahu’s mistake was installing the metal detectors without a Muslim interlocutor. It is the coercive character more than the security measure itself that made this unacceptable for Palestinians.”

On Saturday, entrances to Jerusalem’s walled Old City were open amid heavy security.

The metal detectors also remained at the entrance to the mosque compound.

“Al-Aqsa – that’s for the Muslims, not for the Jewish,” said Mohammad Haroub, a 42-year-old shopkeeper.

Like hundreds of others, he prayed outside on Friday instead of passing through the metal detectors.

Sharon Kopel, a 46-year-old Israeli tour guide, said he felt the metal detectors were unnecessary and politically motivated, but also criticised Palestinians for “lies” about Israel trying to take over Al-Aqsa.

“I don’t think it’s really effective anyway,” he said of the new measures. “But on the other hand... they brought guns into a holy place.”

The Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount is central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

It is in east Jerusalem, seized by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed in a move never recognised by the international community.

It is considered the third holiest site in Islam and the most sacred for Jews. 

Thanks to Malaysian, Syrian IS transferred a lot of money to Marawi

JAKARTA: The central command of the Islamic State in Syria has funnelled tens of thousands of dollars to militants in the Philippines over the last year, most likely aiding their spectacular seizure of the southern city of Marawi, a report said yesterday.

The report from the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, a research institute based here, describes how Dr Mahmud Ahmad, a high-level IS figure from Malaysia, who is based near Marawi, worked through the group’s chain of command to Syria to get money and international recruits to help local militants seize territory in the Philippines for the caliphate.

The report provides insight into a question that has bewildered policymakers since IS militants swept into Marawi two months ago: How were they able to seize an important city, and what role did the IS’s central command play in the seizure?

The city has remained largely under the control of the militants for nearly two months despite a government military campaign to retake it with ground forces and aerial bombardments.

Some senior politicians in the Philippines have dismissed the Maute group, the major militant group behind the seizure of Marawi, as “IS wannabes”, characterising it as a drug mafia with little in common with the ideologically-driven IS fighters.

But the report suggests that IS commanders in Syria took the Maute Group’s strategic ambitions seriously.

IS’s ability to support its Philippine offshoots appears limited mainly to periodic Western Union transfers of tens of thousands of dollars, the report found, suggesting that direct support from Syria was a relatively minor factor in the Maute Group’s ability to seize Marawi.

The report argues that local recruiting and fundraising among pious Muslims, who resented the central government, have probably played a significant role in the insurgents’ successes.

The institute’s research is based on field visits this year to Mindanao, the island where Marawi sits, interviews with people close to Indonesian militants in the Philippines, and militants’ messages o from Telegram, the highly-encrypted messaging service used by IS.

Intercepted chats show that IS has a sophisticated command structure in Southeast Asia, allowing for complex coordination among its supporters.

In one instance last year, two Indonesian militants were connected via a Malaysian contact to another militant based in Thailand, who helped them support a prison break in that country.

The goal was to free a group of Uighurs, members of a Muslim ethnic group from western China, who had been detained there.

Though the prison break was successful, the Uighurs were recaptured by Thai police.

Still, the report noted: “The story illustrates how well-connected the IS network has become, with an Indonesian connecting easily with contacts in Turkey, the Philippines and Thailand, as with his own friends in prison.”

It said international coordination of IS leaders with Southeast Asian militants might amplify the terrorism threat to neighbouring Indonesia.

The last 18 months have produced a steady trickle of low-casualty IS-inspired terrorist attacks in Indonesia, but, until now, the actions tended to be poorly planned and executed.

For example, two Indonesian suicide bombers struck in the Kampung Melayu neighbourhood in East Jakarta in May, but only three victims were killed.

A major concern for the Indonesian government is that some of the 20-odd Indonesian fighters who have joined IS groups in Mindanao will acquire the equipment and expertise to commit serious attacks at home.

The report called for Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to improve their security services’ coordination and intelligence sharing, so that the names of key suspects are passed along.

Still, the first step is ousting IS from Marawi.

When the city was seized in May, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte pledged that the militants would be defeated quickly.

But, groups aligned with IS continue to maintain their grip on sections of the city, and it appears unlikely that Marawi will be fully liberated when Duterte delivers his annual address to the nation on Monday.

Philippines pulls out of hosting 2019 Sea Games

MANILA: The Philippines has abandoned plans to host the 2019 Southeast Asian (Sea) Games, the government said Friday, to focus on rebuilding a city ravaged by a two-month battle between security forces and Islamic militants.

The country's sports officials formally pulled out of hosting the games after a series of meetings with President Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez said.

"Resources shall be focused on rehabilitation and rebuilding of Marawi instead of funding the 2019 hosting of the Southeast Asian Games," Ramirez said in a statement on the commission's Facebook page.

Muslim militants flying the black flag of the Islamic State group occupied parts of the southern city of Marawi two months ago, triggering prolonged fighting with military forces.

More than 550 people have been killed and air strikes and artillery have left much of the city of 200,000 in ruins.

Duterte has imposed martial law over the southern third of the Philippines to stamp out the militant threat.

The Philippines agreed in 2015 to host the 2019 Sea Games after two other countries, Brunei and Vietnam, declined.

70 villagers kidnapped in Afghanistan, at least 7 killed: police

KANDAHAR: Seventy Afghans were abducted Friday from their village along the main highway in the south of the country, and at least seven were killed, police said, accusing the Taliban of the kidnappings.

Around 30 villagers have been released but at least 30 others are still missing, Abdul Raziq, the head of Kandahar provincial police told AFP.

“The Taliban abducted 70 people from their house in a village along the Kandahar-Tarinkot highway, Friday. They killed seven of them today,” Raziq said. “Their bodies were found by villagers this morning.”

“They released 30 and are still keeping around 30 others,” he said, adding they were “civilian Pashtuns“, the ethnicity of many Taliban fighters.

The highway runs from Kandahar, the largest city in southern Afghanistan, to Tarinkot, capital of Uruzgan province, a poppy-growing area where the Taliban have a heavy presence.

It is not clear why the villagers were seized. Government officials and security forces are usually the target of such incidents.

Civilians are increasingly caught in the crosshairs of Afghanistan’s worsening conflict as the Taliban step up their annual spring offensive, launched in April against the Western-backed Kabul government.

Highways around Afghanistan passing through insurgency-prone areas have become exceedingly dangerous, with the Taliban and other armed groups frequently kidnapping or killing travellers.

But it is unusual for the Taliban to go into villages to take civilians as hostages. In general they intercept vehicles on the road, checking to see if passengers have links to the government.

In July, Taliban fighters closed a highway connecting Farah to Herat city, stopping a bus and forcing 16 passengers to dismount. They shot at least seven of them, while the remaining nine were taken hostage.

Friday’s incident was confirmed by officials at the Independent Human Rights Commission in Kandahar and Kabul in a statement condemning the kidnappings and executions.

Fighting is underway in several northern and southern provinces in Afghanistan, including Helmand where 16 Afghan police officers were killed by a US airstrike on Friday night – the latest setback to Washington’s efforts to bring peace to the war-torn country.

The strike hit a compound in Gereshk district, large parts of which are under Taliban control. 

Erdogan visits Gulf in hope of easing Qatar crisis

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan began on Sunday a key visit to the Gulf region aimed at defusing the standoff around Turkey’s ally Qatar, saying no one had an interest in prolonging the crisis.

Erdogan arrived in Jeddah to meet the Saudi leadership before heading to Kuwait, and on Monday to Qatar for his first face-to-face talks with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani since the crisis began.

“No one has any interest in prolonging this crisis any more,” said Erdogan at Istanbul airport before leaving on the two-day trip.

He accused “enemies” of seeking to “fire up tensions between brothers” in the region.

Erdogan praised Qatar’s behaviour in the crisis, saying it had sought to find a solution through dialogue. “I hope our visit will be beneficial for the region,” he said.

On June 5, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt cut ties with Qatar accusing it of backing extremism and fostering ties with their Shiite rival Iran. Doha denies the claim and has been strongly backed by Ankara throughout the standoff.

The crisis with Qatar has put Turkey in a delicate position and Erdogan has repeatedly said he wants to see the end of the dispute as soon as possible.

Over the last years, Qatar has emerged as Turkey’s number one ally in the Middle East, with Ankara and Doha closely coordinating their positions on a number of issues including the Syria conflict where both are staunch foes of President Bashar al-Assad.

Crucially, Turkey is in the throes of setting up a military base in Qatar, its only such outpost in the region. It has sped up the process since the crisis began and reportedly now has 150 troops at the base.

“From the first moments of the Qatar crisis, we have been on the side of peace, stability, solidarity and dialogue,” said Erdogan.

But Turkey, which is also going through a turbulent time with the European Union and the United States, also does not want to wreck its own relations with regional kingpin Saudi Arabia.

As well as meeting King Salman, Erdogan is also due to hold talks with Mohammed bin Salman for the first time since he was elevated to the role of crown prince and his father’s heir in a dramatic June reshuffle of the royal house.

“As the elder statesman in the Gulf region, Saudi Arabia has a big role to play in solving the crisis,” said Erdogan, taking care not to explicitly criticise the kingdom.

Erdogan said he supported the mediation efforts of Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, a possible indication Ankara sees Kuwait as the key to solving the crisis.

The Qatari emir said Friday he was ready for talks to resolve the crisis so long as the emirate’s sovereignty is respected.

His call received a cold reception from the UAE’s state minister for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, who said he hoped the emir had pledged to reconsider Qatar’s position.

“Dialogue is necessary, but it should be based on a revision” of Qatar’s stance, he tweeted.

Erdogan is likely to get a warm welcome in Doha where Turkey has been loudly applauded for sending in food, including fruit, dairy and poultry products by ship and by plane to help Doha beat an embargo.

Turkey has also benefited, with its exports to Qatar doubling in the last month to over US$50 million. According to the economy ministry, Ankara has sent around 200 cargo planes filled with aid since the crisis began.

Erdogan’s tour concides with a visit to Kuwait by the EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, who held talks Sunday with Kuwaiti officials.

Mogherini voiced earlier this month the EU’s support to Kuwaiti mediation.

Wan Azizah asks why MPs' questions on 1MDB being dropped

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today called for a White Paper on the controversy surrounding the investigations on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

The Pakatan Harapan president and other opposition members said this was important as there were attempts and efforts made to undermine the information and explanations on the 1MDB investigations, adding that the people need to have a clear answer on the case.

Azizah said she would submit a set of questions each time the Dewan Rakyat session starts but for now, based on the standing order provided by the Dewan Rakyat secretary today, some of the questions she had put forward had been dropped.

One of the questions in particular reads: "To ask the Prime Minister to state whether the government is ready to present the White Paper to clarify foreign intervention in connection with the 1MDB fund scandal investigation".

She said the reason given as to why the issue could not be debated was because it was considered subjudice.

Azizah said more than 30 questions submitted by the opposition lawmakers have been rejected.

"Why more than 30 of our questions have been dropped on the basis that it is 'hurtful' (sakit hati). Who's feeling is hurt?" she told the media during a press conference at the media centre.

DAP's Puchong Member of Parliament Gobind Singh Deo said the government could not run from reality because 1MDB has become a huge international issue.

He said his rejected question was simple: "What is the status of the 1MDB and SRC (International Sdn Bhd) investigation and what actions will be taken?".

"I ask this because the Inspector-General of Police (Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar) had stated that it has been investigated," he said.

He also said the Speaker's role should be reviewed, stating that the the latter's role is to facilitate debates in Parliament so questions could be answered.

He added that it was a "golden opportunity for the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to address related questions during the Dewan session.

Gobind said the Opposition MPs will file a motion on the rejected questions, urging the Speaker to give them a chance to debate the motion.

MANCHESTER City have signed defender Danilo from Spanish champions Real Madrid on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club said on Sunday.

The 26-year-old joined Madrid in 2015 and played 24 matches for Zinedine Zidane’s side last season as they

won the Spanish league title, sealed their second consecutive Champions Legaue trophy and won the Club World Cup.

“I am very, very happy to be joining Manchester City,” Danilo told City’s website (mancity.com).

“There has been strong interest from other clubs, but it has always been my ambition to play for Pep Guardiola. As soon as I heard of his interest, I knew immediately I wanted to be a City player.

“I can’t wait to get started and I’m looking forward to getting to know my new teammates over the coming weeks.”

British media reports claimed the Brazilian joined City for a fee of around £26 million (US$33.78 million), making him manager Guardiola’s second major defensive signing in the current window following Kyle Walker’s arrival earlier this month.

Danilo, who previously won two league titles in four years at Portuguese club FC Porto, will join his new team mates in their pre-season U.S. tour and could face his former club when City play Madrid on Wednesday.

Neymar staying at Barcelona, says teammate Pique

WASHINGTON: Brazilian superstar striker Neymar will stay with Barcelona, according to teammate Gerard Pique, who posted a Twitter message on the striker’s status Sunday.

Spanish international defender Pique indicated the South American maestro would continue at Camp Nou by tweeting a photo of Neymar with the caption “He’s staying.”

The message came hours after Neymar gave Barcelona fans a dazzling reminder of what he brings, the talisman scoring twice as the Spanish giants defeated Juventus 2-1 in a pre-season friendly Saturday in New Jersey.

The 25-year-old Brazilian superstar is at the centre of frenzied speculation linking him to a world record 222-million-euro ($256.8 million) transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde swatted down talk of Neymar departing to France on Friday, dismissing “rumors” while saying the squad wants him to stay for years to come.

“This is a time of rumors. We understand it’s how it is,” Valverde said. “He is with us right now. One of us. It’s a player we love and we want. Not only football-wise, but also for the things he brings to the locker room.

“It’s only rumors. There’s no need to worry about something we don’t know if it’s going to happen or not. If it happens in the future, we’ll see. But no need to worry about it now.”

De Gea staying put at Man United, says Mourinho

MANCHESTER United goalkeepr David De Gea will stay put at the Premier League club this season, manager Jose Mourinho said, amid media reports of continued interest in the 26-year-old by teams including Spanish champions Real Madrid.

In six years at United, De Gea has played 269 matches and won seven titles with his eye-catching displays gaining interest from clubs across Europe.

Mourinho said United were open to a move for the keeper but clubs had withdrew their interest.

“I can guarantee that he is not going this season,” Mourinho told reporters in San Jose ahead of Sunday’s pre-season International Champions Cup match against Real Madrid.

“My feeling is it will very difficult for him to go. He is a very honest, straight boy. He was contacted for a long time, the club was closed and then we opened. I always have this feeling when a player has a desire to go, then I don’t like to stop players...

“So we opened it and then they decided to close it. I see him really happy, focused, working better than ever and 100 per cent he stays with us.”

United playmaker Ander Herrera stressed the importance of his Spanish team mate, whose deadline-day deal with Real Madrid collapsed in the 2015 summer window.

“If you lose the top three in any position, like David is... it is a great loss,” Herrera told British media.

“We don’t want to lose them... For me, he’s the best in the world, so I want to keep him here at United.

“He is a goalkeeper who can give you points. That is very important. I want to keep him here, to play with him, because he’s a fantastic keeper and also my friend, and I think you can see he’s very focused on Manchester United.” 

Man United edges Real Madrid on penalty kicks

SANTA CLARA: Anthony Martial offered Jose Mourinho a timely reminder of his attacking prowess Sunday despite missing from the spot in Manchester United’s penalty shootout victory over Real Madrid.

After a hugely impressive debut campaign at Old Trafford under Louis van Gaal, Martial struggled to consistently produce the goods under Mourinho last season – prompting speculation throughout the summer that the French international could depart.

But a stunning individual run saw Martial lay-on Jesse Lingard’s opening goal in the International Champions Cup tie at Santa Clara before Real Madrid’s young guns produced an energetic second half fightback to earn a 1-1 draw and prompt a penalty shoot-out.

Intensity levels will rise several degrees when these two teams meet in the European Super Cup final in a fortnight, with Real’s big names understandably rusty during the first half, in their first pre-season outing.

After three Stateside games in the previous eight days, United were the sharper outfit, particularly Lingard, who caused Real plenty of problems drifting inside off the right.

The England international went close to opening the deadlock with an early screamer, when he collected Martial’s lay-off and hit a swerving shot from 25 yards that was pushed past the post by Keylor Navas.

In first half stoppage time, Lingard finally got his reward, albeit the goal owed much to the brilliance of Martial.

The Frenchman’s quick feet saw him leave both Daniel Carvajal and Luka Modric for dead as he surged inside from the left, before squaring the ball across the six-yard box. Lingard was ready and waiting at the far post to tap home.

Zinedine Zidane changed his entire 11 at the start of the second half and it prompted a much-improved display from Real, despite the absence of their key figures.

The Spanish giants drew level midway through the half when Victor Lindelof brought down Real summer signing Theo Hernandez in the area and Casemiro smashed the resulting spot-kick down the middle of David De Gea’s goal.

Real came close to going ahead moments later, but De Gea smartly tipped away Luis Miguel Quezaeda’s free kick.

The unmarked Marouane Fellaini should have secured victory for United in the 83rd minute, but produced an appalling finish after being picked out by Scott McTominay’s cross.

In the desperately low quality shootout that followed, only three players converted their penalties – Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Daley Blind notching the successful ones for United.

IF ANWAR AND MAHATHIR HAVE KISSED AND MADE UP, SHOULD NAJIB BE WORRIED?i

Top political duo, once thought permanently split, form coalition to take on embattled prime minister in next general election

Nineteen years ago Mahathir Mohamad, while prime minister of Malaysia, denounced his freshly sacked deputy Anwar Ibrahim as “morally unfit” for leadership, following allegations of corruption and sodomy.

Now the duo – formerly known for a father-and-son-like closeness – has seemingly reunited to take down a common foe: embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is facing global scrutiny following his alleged involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal.

Mahathir, now 92, has criticised Malaysia’s current head of government and described him as dictatorial. Meanwhile, Anwar is still serving a prison sentence following a second sodomy charge in 2008.

Keputusan aksi United, Real Madrid

keputusan aksi persahabatan Piala Juara-Juara Antarabangsa antara Manchester United dan Real Madrid sebentar tadi:

Manchester United 1 (Lingard 45+1) Real Madrid 1 (Casemiro 69-pen)

(Manchester United menang penalti 2-1)

Qatar-Gulf crisis: All the latest updates

The latest news after some of the Gulf states and Egypt cut ties with Qatar and imposed a land, sea and air blockade.

The latest developments since several countries, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt, cut ties with Qatar on June 5. (All times local Doha time).

5:55pm - Erdogan meets Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince

·         Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Saudi Arabia's King Salman  and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman separately on Sunday in the Saudi city of Jeddah on the first leg of his Gulf tour, which will also include Kuwait and Qatar.

4:30pm - US army commander meets Qatar's Emir in Doha

·         Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with General Joseph Leonard Votel, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), on Sunday in Doha.

·         According to Qatar's state news agency, they discussed the ways of increasing their defence cooperation and reviewed joint operations between Qatar and the US in combating terrorism.

·         General Votel thanked Sheikh Tamim's pivotal role in this field.

1:35pm - EU foreign policy chief visits Kuwait

·         Federica Mogherini has arrived in Kuwait as part of efforts to resolve the Gulf crisis. 

·         She met Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah and other officials on Sunday.

10:35am - Erdogan: Prolonging Gulf crisis 'not in anyone's interest'

·         Prolonging the crisis in the Gulf is not in the interest of anyone, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said as he embarked on a visit to the region.

·         "No-one has any interest in prolonging this crisis any more," the president said before leaving Istanbul airport. He accused "enemies" of seeking to "fire up tensions between brothers".

22 July 2017

9:30pm - UAE: No dialogue with Qatar until it revises policies

·         Anwar Gargash, the foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates, said a call for dialogue by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was welcome, but it could only happen after Doha had made changes in its policies. He did not specify the required changes.

·         "Dialogue is necessary and needed but its backbone has to be revision," Gargash said on his Twitter account.

·         He expressed disappointment with by Sheikh Tamim's Friday speech: "I had hoped that the speech of Sheikh Tamim would be an initiative for revision."

5:30pm - Qatar's BeIN sports network back on air in UAE

·         Qatar's BeIN sports satelite network was broadcasting again on Saturday in the United Arab Emirates, according to subscribers to its channels which have been blocked since the start of a Gulf crisis.

·         "We are again receiving the network of BeIN sports channels, distributed by Du," one of two telecommunications companies in the Emirates, one customer told AFP news agency.

·         Etisalat, a UAE-based telecommunications giant, had also reinstated BeIN sports, according to several subscribers to its channels. Customers were informed of the move in an email from Etisalat.

·         "We would like to advise that starting 22 July 2017 the BeIN package will be available to customers and normal charges will apply," the message said. "The provision of the BeIN package will be subject to an ongoing review."

03:10am - Key points of Qatari Emir's speech

·         The spirit of solidarity, harmony and defiance that had prevailed in the people of Qatar frustrated the hopes of those who banked on the opposite.

·         Qatar is fighting terrorism, relentlessly and without compromises and the international community recognises this.

·         Differences are resolved through dialogue and negotiation and we should not burden civilians with political differences.

·         We are opening our economy to initiatives, investments, production of food, medicine and ultimately to diversify our source of income.

·         We are open to dialogue to find solutions to lingering problems, within the framework of respect for the sovereignty and will of each state as mutual undertakings and joint commitments binding all.

12:41am - Turkish President to embark on a two-day Gulf tour

·         Recep Tayyip Erdogan will embark on a two-day Gulf tour starting on Sunday as part of his efforts to resolve the crisis in the region.

·         His first stop will be in the Saudi port city of Jeddah, during which he will meet Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

• Erdogan will then depart for Kuwait to meet Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who has led mediation efforts to resolve the crisis. His next stop will be Doha, where he will meet the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.