South Africa’s deputy finance minister dismisses report of graft
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s Deputy Finance Minister Sfiso Buthelezi said on Tuesday he was dismayed by a media report alleging he improperly benefited from tenders during his time as chairman of the state-owned rail services company.
Thai junta chief to visit White House in July: spokesman
BANGKOK (Reuters) – The leader of Thailand’s military junta, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, will visit the White House in July following an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump, a spokesman for the Thai government said on Monday.
Foreign delegations meet in Afghan capital after bloody week
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan leaders met officials of two dozen foreign governments and institutions on Tuesday, launching a so-called Kabul Process aiming to set the stage for peace talks and clinch an international pact to end “cross-border terrorism”.
Uzbekistan’s deputy PM leaves post: media
ALMATY (Reuters) – Uzbekistan’s deputy prime minister, Rustam Azimov, has left his post after being appointed to another position, Uzbek news websites Kun.uz and Uz24.uz reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources who did not say what his new job would…
Trump takes sides in Arab rift, suggests support for isolation of Qatar
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump took sides in a deep rift in the Arab world on Tuesday, praising Middle East countries’ actions against American ally Qatar over Islamist militants even though the tiny Gulf state hosts the largest U.S…
U.S.-backed force launches assault on Islamic State’s ‘capital’ in Syria
HUKOUMIYA, Syria/BEIRUT (Reuters) – The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Tuesday it had launched a battle to capture Raqqa, Islamic State’s de facto Syrian capital, piling pressure on the jihadists whose self-declared caliphate is in …
U.N. rights boss says end of Israeli occupation would benefit both sides
GENEVA (Reuters) – The top United Nations human rights official called on Tuesday for an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, saying it would benefit both sides after 50 years of enmity.
Trump UK state visit to go ahead despite criticism of London mayor: foreign minister
LONDON (Reuters) – British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Tuesday he saw no reason to cancel Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain after the U.S. president criticized Mayor Sadiq Khan’s response to the London Bridge killings.
Two days from UK election, security dominates campaign after London attack
LONDON (Reuters) – Two days from a national election, Britain’s ruling Conservatives and opposition Labour Party battled to defend their records on security after an Islamist attack that killed seven people in London upended the campaign.
Trump’s ‘been clear to me’ to try to rebuild Russia ties: Tillerson
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump told his top diplomat that the dispute over probes into links between his inner circle and Russia should not undermine U.S. efforts to rebuild relations with Moscow, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sa…
