Qatar now has until midnight local time today to accept the allies’ list of 13 demands – including the closure of pan-Arab TV channel Al Jazeera – in order to be welcomed back into the fold

But the defiant wealthy gulf state has said the unrealistic list of demands were “meant to be rejected”. Qatar has already sent its full response to Kuwaiti mediators.

Officials from the UAE and Saudi Arabia have suggested that further sanctions, including the possibility of kicking out Qatar Gulf Cooperation Council, could be imposed if Doha fails to heed the demands.

As the deadline looms, here are live updates, breaking news and the most recent information on the escalating Gulf crisis. (All times BST)

“I think it is premature to talk about the extra sanctions and steps and procedures to be taken by these countries,” he said at a press conference with his German counterpart in Abu Dhabi.

“This depends on what we will hear from our brothers in Kuwait and the dialogue and conversations among ourselves and the examination of these responses.”

He added: “We are still waiting for the response from our brothers in Kuwait regarding the response that they received from Qatar and once we examine it among ourselves we will take the decision of course.”

Qatar’s Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, yesterday went to Kuwait to deliver its response to a list of 13 demands from the UAE and its allies.

The response will be debated during a meeting of foreign ministers in Cairo on Wednesday.

1.40pm: Speaking in Abu Dhabi, Germany’s foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel said he had agreed with his UAE counterpart that harbouring of terrorists or their financing must end.

He added that there were plenty of ways to prevent a further escalation of tensions in the region, where Qatar’s Arab neighbours are demanding it dial back its relations with Iran.

He is scheduled to fly to Doha to meet Qatar’s foreign minister later.

9am: Saad al-Kaabi, the CEO of state-run Qatar Petroleum, has told a press conference that the company “will not be affected by the siege”.

8am: In a phone call with Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, Theresa May urged all sides to take urgent steps to de-escalate the crisis and retain GCC unity.

A statement from Downing Street said: “The prime minister was also clear that Qatar should continue to work with its Gulf allies to tackle the threat of extremism and terrorism in the region”.

7am: UAE officials have told the BBC that after the deadline expires the offer will be taken off the table, the sanctions on it will become permanent and Qatar will be ostracised.

6am: French President Emmanuel Macron has discussed the crisis by phone with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

“During this telephone exchange, the emir said that in view of the situation, he expected to come to France at the end of summer,” said Mr Macron’s office.

5am: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said that they hope that Qatar will give “positive response” to a list of demands.

“We hope for a positive response to be able to resolve the crisis,” he said during a press conference with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel.

MORE:   http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/824456/Qatar-Gulf-crisis-live-updates-latest-news-Saudi-Arabia-demands-Doha