Politics

  Istanbul / AFP Turkey on Wednesday denied agreeing to a US-brokered truce with Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria, saying it would not compromise with a “terrorist” group a week into an unprecedented cross-border offensive. Washington said on Tuesday the two sides—both US allies—had agreed to a cessation of hostilities between their forces in Syria after deadly clashes at the ...

  New Delhi / AFP The United States is united with its allies in upholding freedom of navigation rights in the South China Sea following a tribunal’s decision on the contested waters, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday. Speaking on a visit to New Delhi, Kerry called on China and the Philippines to abide by the arbitration tribunal’s ...

  Tripoli / AFP Thousands of migrants are “racing against the clock” to make the perilous crossing from Libya to Europe before summer ends, with authorities in the conflict-torn country at a loss to stem the flow. Abdel Hamid Al Souei of Libya’s Red Crescent said improved weather triggered this week’s mass outflow that has seen more than 10,000 migrants rescued ...

  Beirut / AFP US Secretary of State John Kerry pressed Tuesday for more cooperation with India on security and trade as the world’s two biggest democracies try to strengthen ties, in part to counter China’s rising influence. Kerry also said he was hopeful of moving ahead on a deal to provide nuclear energy assistance to India, as the nations seek ...

  Berlin / AFP Germany’s EU Commissioner Guenther Oettinger raised doubts on Tuesday about whether Britain would leave the bloc, saying he wouldn’t bet on “Brexit”. Oettinger told Germany’s daily Bild that he assumed June’s referendum outcome in favour of Britain exiting the EU was “binding”. “But it is possible that public opinion will tip if the economic situation in ...

  Naypyidaw / AFP Fresh fighting between ethnic minority rebels and Myanmar’s military is overshadowing an upcoming peace conference led by Aung San Suu Kyi’s new civilian government, people involved in the talks said on Tuesday. The five-day gathering, which officially opens on Wednesday, is Suu Kyi’s first big drive to end multiple insurgencies that have raged in Myanmar’s borderlands ...

  Mogadishu /AFP At least five people were killed and 28 injured when extremists exploded a suicide car bomb outside a popular hotel close to the presidential palace in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Tuesday. “We have confirmed five people killed including security guards”, police officer Mohamed Abdulkadir said. He said the vehicle rammed through a checkpoint and was fired on ...

Singapore / AFP Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang warned on Tuesday there would be no winners in any armed conflict sparked by territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Quang, who is on a state visit to Singapore, told a forum that recent developments there were threatening regional security. The Vietnamese leader did not mention any country but there is ...

  Jolo /AFP The Philippine military deployed thousands of extra troops on Tuesday to destroy an extremist group notorious for kidnapping foreigners, after 15 soldiers were killed, authorities said. President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered his security forces to wipe out the Abu Sayyaf, which has declared allegiance to the IS group and recently beheaded two Canadian hostages. But an assault ...

  Washington / AFP US President Barack Obama will meet controversial Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte next week, the White House said, despite concerns over a war on crime that has claimed more than 2,000 lives. Since taking office two months ago, Duterte has begun making good on an election pledge to kill tens of thousands of suspected criminals, prompting criticism ...