A roundup of today's other world news in brief:
Iran denies nuclear work is provocation
VIENNA - A senior Iranian diplomat said yesterday Tehran's resumption of uranium enrichment on the day world powers presented incentives to it to halt nuclear work was "a technical decision, definitely not a provocation".
An International Atomic Energy Agency report said Iran began a fresh round of feeding uranium gas into its network of 164 centrifuges on June 6th after a pause of several weeks to do test runs of the machines without the gas.
- (Reuters)
Catalans look set to vote for autonomy
MADRID - More than half of Spain's Catalans will vote Yes in a referendum on whether to adopt a new statute granting their region greater autonomy, according to a poll published yesterday.
Some 53.4 per cent of people in the wealthy northeast region plan to vote Yes in next Sunday's referendum, 16.4 per cent No while 20 per cent remain undecided, according to the poll for El País newspaper.
- (Reuters)
Army officers die in PKK ambush
TUNCELI - Two Turkish army officers were killed yesterday in an ambush by Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas in eastern Turkey, a provincial governor said.
Five army officers and two civilians were also wounded in the ambush on an army convoy in Tunceli province, the statement said.
- (Reuters)
Duchess's father dies aged 89
DORSET - The Duchess of Cornwall's father Maj Bruce Shand (89) died yesterday, Clarence House announced.
The former Cavalry Officer died at his home in Dorset this morning with his family at his bedside.
- (Reuters)
Hurricane Alberto heads for Florida
MIAMI - The first tropical storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season, Alberto, formed off Cuba yesterday and seemed headed for Florida, the US National Hurricane Centre said.
The storm located in the Gulf of Mexico, was about 645 km west of Key West, Florida.
- (Reuters)
Refugees flock to Italian island
LAMPEDUSA - More than 400 migrants landed on Lampedusa yesterday, one of the largest single arrivals of boat people ever on the Italian island which has become a gateway for illegal immigrants and refugees.
The rusty ship was packed with 402 men and women, apparently of African and Middle Eastern origin.
- (Reuters)
Briton killed in Afghanistan
LONDON - A member of Britain's armed forces was killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said in London yesterday.
A ministry spokeswoman said the death occurred during an "incident" in Helmand Province in the southwest of the country.
- (Reuters)