Daily briefing: Arab states issue demands to Qatar, healthcare bill under threat, Brexit one year on

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Qatar has been given a series of demands that it must comply with to end a crippling blockade by other Arab states. The 13-point list handed over by Kuwait, which is mediating in the dispute, includes the closure of the Al Jazeera satellite television channel, limiting relations with Iran, the immediate closure of a Turkish military base and an end to military co-operation with Ankara. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut all ties to Doha on June 5, accusing the gas-rich state of supporting terrorism. They have given Qatar 10 days to comply.

Few observers think the demands will be met, raising the prospect of extended diplomatic deadlock and causing the Qatari riyal to weaken to its lowest level since 1988. Doha has not commented on the list but Qatar’s foreign minister has previously said any demand to close Al Jazeera would be rejected, and the country’s ambassador to the US told the FT earlier this week that its opponents “want to undermine our sovereignty”. (FT, Reuters)

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Article source: https://www.ft.com/content/dd1c9566-5756-11e7-9fed-c19e2700005f