US-RUSSIA President Donald Trump has called for expanded cooperation with Russia over Syria as a cease-fire brokered by the two powers and Jordan came into effect. The agreement followed weeks of secretive talks between the U.S., Russia and Jordan in Amman to address the buildup of Iranian-backed forces near the Jordanian and Israeli borders. Shortly after the agreement came into effect, Trump tweeted that the cease-fire “will save lives.”
INDONESIA Police said yesterday that a man whose home-made bomb accidentally exploded in the West Java city of Bandung was obsessed with the idea of joining Islamic State group-affiliated militants in the southern Philippines.
JAPAN Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday pledged to increase cooperation with Finland in Arctic issues and on furthering Russian relations, after talks with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto. Abe said his country would increase its role in the agency by “positively contributing more than in the past to [its] activities.”
AUSTRALIA The most senior Vatican cleric to ever be charged in the Roman Catholic Church sex abuse scandal returned to Australia yesterday to stand trial in his home state on charges alleging he sexually assaulted multiple people years ago.
INDIA Police are patrolling for poachers as rhinoceros, deer and wild buffalo move to higher ground to escape floods devastating parts of northeast India, including a famed wildlife preserve.
TURKEY The leader of Turkey’s main opposition party has visited a party lawmaker whose imprisonment, for allegedly leaking footage to a newspaper suggesting Turkey smuggled arms to Islamist rebels in Syria, inspired a 25-day protest march.
BURUNDI An official says eight people have been killed in a grenade attack on a bar in the country’s rural northern area.
BRITAIN Prime Minister Theresa May is urging the opposition to help shore up her minority government as it leads the U.K. out of the European Union. The appeal comes nearly a year after May took office, and just over a month after she suffered a setback from voters in a snap election.
BRAZIL The IOC has balked at helping Rio Olympic organizers pay a debt estimated at USD35-40 million. The executive board of the International Olympic Committee, meeting in Switzerland, said it had already contributed a “record” $1.53 billion to last year’s Olympics and questioned giving more.
