News Headlines - 15 June 2019

▽Is South Sudan on the brink of famine? | Al Jazeera

A record seven million people - more than half of the country's population - in South Sudan are facing severe hunger, according to a report by its government and three United Nations agencies.
A lack of rain, ongoing economic crisis and years of civil war are being blamed for the worsening situation.
The report stopped short of declaring a famine, but says nearly two million people go without food for long periods and suffer acute malnutrition, leading to many deaths.

▽Abe gov't won't hold double election while concerns linger over election prospects - The Mainichi

The government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe decided June 14 to abandon dissolving the House of Representatives for a snap general election to coincide with the summer House of Councillors election, multiple senior members of the ruling bloc said... Campaigning for the upper house election is expected to kick off on July 4 with an election date of July 21.

▽Japan Racing Association excludes 156 horses for possibly consuming banned substance - The Mainichi

The Japan Racing Association said Saturday it would exclude 156 horses from racing this weekend after finding a prohibited substance in their feed additives.
While the JRA will hold its races as scheduled on Saturday and Sunday with the remaining horses, the number of horses being excluded for possibly consuming the banned substance is unprecedentedly large.
According to the association, the additives, imported from abroad, contained a performance-enhancing substance called theobromine, a stimulant that also strengthens cardiac activities.

▽Toyota set pace as 24 Hours of Le Mans starts

Hot favourites to defend their crown, Toyota dominated the first hour's racing as the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race got under way on Saturday.
Mike Conway got a flying start in car No.7 from pole position, while defending champion and fellow Toyota driver Sebastien Buemi, in car No.8, was running second after the first hour in the 61-car race due to finish at 1300 GMT on Sunday.

▽Paris's Notre-Dame holds first mass since devastating blaze | AFP.com

The Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris hosted its first mass on Saturday exactly two months after a devastating blaze that shocked the world, with priests and worshippers wearing hard hats to protect themselves against possible falling debris.
Dressed in a white robe and helmet, Archbishop of Paris Michel Aupetit led the service, which was attended by just some 30 people -- half of them clergy.