Pakistan, Taliban start peace talks in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – A long-awaited first round of peace talks between Pakistani Taliban insurgents and the government began in Islamabad on Thursday after persistent delays and growing doubt over the chance of their success.
Egyptian court orders retrial in soccer stadium disaster
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian court on Thursday ordered the retrial of 21 people sentenced to death in a politically charged case for involvement in deadly soccer stadium violence in 2012, judicial sources said.
Ukraine parliament to work on constitution bill
KIEV (Reuters) – The parties in Ukraine’s deadlocked parliament agreed on Thursday to try to draft a joint bill on constitutional amendments that could be put to a vote as early as next week, the speaker said.
Ukrainian activist forced to admit being U.S. spy under torture
VILNIUS (Reuters) – A Ukrainian anti-government activist who fled the country after being abducted said on Thursday he had been forced under torture to declare himself an American spy.
Bangladesh garment factories intimidate workers over unions: group
DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladeshi garment factory owners use beatings, the threat of murder and sexual intimidation to stop workers from forming trade unions, a human rights group said on Thursday.
Syria can meet June 30 chemical weapons deadline: U.N. chief
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday he was confident Syria would meet a June 30 deadline to eliminate its entire chemical weapons program under a US-Russian plan.
Putin aide warns U.S. on Ukraine, says Russia could act
KIEV (Reuters) – A senior Kremlin aide accused the United States on Thursday of arming Ukrainian “rebels” and, urging the Kiev government to put down what it called an attempted coup, warned it could intervene to maintain the security of its ex-Soviet …
Cypriot president says ‘serious prospects’ reunification talks can resume
NICOSIA (Reuters) – Cyprus’s president said on Thursday there were “serious prospects” that long-stalled talks to reunify the island could resume between the estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.
Seven car bombs across Baghdad kill at least 13
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Seven car bombs exploded across Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 13 people in apparently coordinated attacks that targeted mainly Shi’ite Muslim districts, security sources said.
India delays Rafale deal after exhausting capital budget
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s military has postponed until the next financial year a plan to buy 126 fighter planes from France’s Dassault Aviation, the defense minister said on Thursday.
