Costa Rica closes San Jose airport due to volcanic ash
SAN JOSE (Reuters) – Authorities in Costa Rica temporarily closed the airport in the capital city San Jose on Thursday after the eruption of the Turrialba volcano, the company which operates the airport said.
China draft law lets foreign NGOs open offices with government OK
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – The Chinese legislature has amended a draft law on international non-governmental organizations to give them special permission to set up branches in China, after an earlier draft sparked concerns of a crackdown.
Taiwan ruling party says chief to meet China’s Xi Jinping
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Chinese President and Communist Party chief Xi Jinping will hold talks with the chairman of Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang (KMT) in Beijing next month, the KMT said on Friday, in what would be the first meeting between the heads of the t…
Biden, seeking to ease U.S.-Israel strains, pledges delivery of new warplanes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Seeking to ease U.S.-Israeli tensions, Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday promised Israel delivery of top-flight fighter jets next year to maintain its military edge and vowed that any final nuclear deal with Iran would ensure Israel’s security.
U.S. strike inadvertently killed U.S., Italian hostages; Obama apologizes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. drone strike in January targeting an al Qaeda compound in Pakistan near the Afghan border inadvertently killed an American and an Italian who had been held hostage for years by the group, U.S. officials said on Thursday.
Japan government draft: nuclear to be 20-22 percent of power mix by 2030 – media
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s government has proposed making nuclear energy account for between 20 and 22 percent of the country’s electricity mix by 2030, with renewable energy to account for slightly more, media reported on Friday.
Pentagon dismisses Moscow claim of U.S. troops in Ukraine combat zone
MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that U.S. troops were training Ukrainian forces in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine, but the Pentagon flatly denied it, accusing Moscow of a “ridiculous attempt” to obscure…
Biden says U.S. will deliver new F-35 jets to Israel
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Vice President Joe Biden said on Thursday the United States would deliver new F-35 fighter jets to Israel next year to help its ally maintain its military edge in the Middle East.
Shocked by drowned migrants, Europe restores rescue mission
BRUSSELS/ROME (Reuters) – Four days after up to 900 desperate people drowned trying to reach Europe from Libya, EU leaders agreed on Thursday to triple its naval search mission in the Mediterranean, restoring its funding to last year’s level.
Diplomats press on in Vienna for final Iran nuclear deal
VIENNA (Reuters) – U.S. Under Secretary Wendy Sherman and Tehran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met in Vienna on Thursday in the latest push to secure a final nuclear deal by a June 30 deadline, Iranian media said.
