World briefs

Trump-Kim With wide grins and a historic handshake, President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un met at the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone yesterday and agreed to revive talks on the pariah nation’s nuclear program. More on p15

China Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping have hit the reset button in trade talks between the world’s two biggest economies, at least delaying an escalation in tension between the U.S. and China that had financial markets on edge and cast a cloud over the global economy. More on p12

China’s factory activity contracted in June, adding to pressure on Beijing to shore up economic growth amid a costly tariff war with Washington.

Rainbow Tens of thousands of people turned out for gay pride celebrations around the world this weekend, including a boisterous party in Mexico and the first pride march in North Macedonia’s capital. Rainbow flags and umbrellas swayed and music pounded as the march along Mexico City’s Paseo de la Reforma avenue got underway, with couples, families and activists seeking to raise visibility for sexual diversity in the country.

Vietnam and the European Union signed a free trade agreement yesterday, opening opportunities to further boost trade between the euro bloc and one of Southeast Asia’s biggest manufacturing nations. More on p13

Afghanistan The seventh and latest round of peace talks between the U.S. and Taliban is “critical,” said Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen yesterday on the second day of talks with Washington’s peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in the Mideastern state of Qatar, where the militant group maintains a political office.

Pakistan Police have arrested a man for murdering his own transgender son, in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Istanbul Turkey’s Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar has said it is ready to retaliate against any attacks on Turkish vessels and interests by the forces of Libya’s Khalifa Hifter. He said there would be “heavy” consequences to any “hostile attitude or attacks.”

Mexico Immigration officials say they have returned 81 migrants to Haiti after attending to “technical” considerations and seeing to the security of the captain of the plane taking them to the Caribbean nation.

EU Leaders started a new marathon session of talks yesterday, desperately seeking a breakthrough in a diplomatic fight over who should be picked for a half dozen of jobs at top EU institutions.

US The Trump administration has agreed to postpone implementing a rule allowing medical workers to decline performing abortions or other treatments on moral or religious grounds while the so-called “conscience” rule is challenged in a California court.