N Korea-US talks ‘on track’: Moon
Reuters, Seoul
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday that North Korea’s criticism of the United States after recent talks on denuclearisation was part of its strategy and negotiations between them are on the “right track”.
North Korea accused the United States on Saturday of making “gangster-like” demands in the talks in North Korea late last week, contradicting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who said the old enemies had made progress.
Putin meets Iran Supreme Leader’s aide in Moscow
Reuters, Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin met Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Thursday in Moscow, RIA news agency reported, without providing any details.
Velayati hailed Iran’s ties with Russia on Wednesday as “strategic” and said he would deliver messages to Putin from Khamenei and Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani. His visit comes as Iran braces for renewed U.S. economic sanctions.
Thai cave rescue site to become a museum
AFP, Thailand
Rescuers who pulled a young Thai football team from deep inside a flooded cave were dismantling their worksite Thursday, as plans emerged to turn the spot into a museum in tribute to the daring operation.
At least one film production house was already working on a scheme to make a Hollywood treatment out of the heroics of divers, cavers and medics who risked their lives to free the “Wild Boars”.
Taliban kills 15 Afghan troops, 4 cops
AP, Kabul
Afghan officials say the latest Taliban attacks have killed at least 15 soldiers and four policemen.
Army spokesman Mohammad Hanif Rezaie, who is based in Balkh province, says Taliban fighters tried to overrun security post in northern Kunduz province early on Thursday morning.
Trooper, militant killed in Kashmir
Xinhua, Srinagar
A trooper and a militant were killed, while another trooper was wounded in an ongoing fierce gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said Thursday. The gunfight broke out in Kandi forest area of frontier Kupwara district, about 120 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Japan rains death toll nears 200
AFP, Tokyo
Japanese rescue workers searched the ruins of homes Thursday looking for dozens of people still missing after deadly rains that killed nearly 200 people.
Operations were under way to dig out and clear up after the devastating floods and landslides that engulfed entire neighbourhoods.
But with around 60 people still feared missing, local authorities said they would continue searching house by house looking for survivors, or victims.
