Afghanistan announces ceasefire with Taliban after clerics’ peace meeting
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday announced a ceasefire with Taliban insurgents until June 20, coinciding with the end of the Muslim fasting season, but said fighting against other militant groups, such as Islamic State, would…
Iraq launches air strike against Islamic State in Syria
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq launched an air strike on an Islamic State target inside neighboring Syria on Thursday, the military said.
UK ministers to meet to hammer out agreement on Brexit backstop
LONDON (Reuters) – British ministers will meet on Thursday to try to hammer out an agreement over a “backstop” plan for the Irish border after concerns were raised by the Brexit minister that a current proposal would keep Britain tied to the EU indefin…
Yemen peace plan sees ceasefire, Houthis abandoning missiles
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.N. peace plan for Yemen calls on the Houthi movement to give up its ballistic missiles in return for an end to the bombing campaign against it by a Saudi-led coalition and a transitional governance agreement, according to a d…
Russia’s Lavrov could meet U.S. counterpart in August in Singapore: RIA
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov could meet U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in August in Singapore, RIA news agency reported on Thursday citing a source at the Russian Foreign Ministry.
For Putin, World Cup shows Russia cannot be caged by hostile West
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin is struggling to get a summit with Donald Trump, has little hope of ending Western sanctions, and is seen in much of the West as a pariah. So hosting the World Cup this month is a welcome moment in the global limelight…
Taiwan holds large-scale military drills amid China tensions
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (Reuters) – Taiwan simulated repelling an invading force on Thursday and used civilian-operated drones for the first time as part of annual military drills on the self-ruled island amid escalating tensions with China.
China looks to bolster militancy fight at security summit
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will seek to bolster the fight against extremism at a regional security summit this weekend with some of its closest diplomatic allies, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Top U.S., Russian military officers to meet in Helsinki
HELSINKI (Reuters) – The top U.S. military officer Joseph Dunford Jr. will meet his Russian counterpart Valery Gerasimov in Helsinki on Friday, Finnish defense forces said in a statement.
Latte art and a gym ad: Kim Jong Un’s softer image in South Korea
SEOUL (Reuters) – With missile tests, nuclear threats and ruthless destruction of opponents, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been an ominous presence hanging over the South.
