Reuters, Kabul
Afghan security forces killed 10 Taliban militants as a ceasefire announced by the president took effect, an official said on Friday, and security forces said they would respond if attacked.
The 10 included five Pakistanis killed in the clash in the eastern province of Nangarhar, the official said, adding, “We finished the operation and will now follow the ceasefire plan.”
Moon to meet Putin in Russia on June 23
Reuters, Seoul
South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in will visit Russia at the invitation of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin from June 23 to 25, South Korea’s presidential Blue House said on Friday.
In what will be the first state visit by a sitting South Korean president to Russia since 1999, the two leaders are expected to discuss issues such as North Korea’s denuclearisation and peace on the Korean peninsula, the Blue House said.
US, Russian military leaders meet in Finland
AP, Copenhagen
The top U.S. military chief is meeting his Russian counterpart in Finland to exchange views on U.S.-Russia military relations, Syria and the current international security situation.
Finnish news agency FNB said Friday’s meeting of Gen. Joseph Dunford, current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Russia’s chief of the military’s General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, took place in a Finnish state-owned manor used for meetings, negotiations and receptions north of the capital, Helsinki.
10 killed in Kenyan plane crash
AFP, Nairobi
All 10 passengers of a small plane, whose wreckage was discovered in central Kenya two days after it went missing, died in the accident, the airline and government said Thursday.
“Unfortunately, from the reports we are getting there are no survivors. The families of the passengers and the crew have been notified and as a ministry, we truly regret this very sad outcome and send out our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” said Paul Maringa, principal secretary of the transport ministry.
