ISLAMABAD, June 29: A fresh round of talks between the U.S. and the Taliban is to begin in Qatar Saturday, just days after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington is hoping for an Afghan peace agreement before Sept. 1.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 29: In a mission to clean up trash floating in the ocean, environmentalists pulled 40 tons (36 metric tons) of abandoned fishing nets this month from an area known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

France roasts in record heatwave, two die in Spain

Published On: June 29, 2019 10:58 AM NPT By: Reuters

PARIS/MADRID, June 29: France registered its highest temperature since records began on Friday as the death toll rose from a heatwave suffocating much of Europe.

Trump, Xi set for high-stakes trade war talks in Japan

Published On: June 29, 2019 09:38 AM NPT By: Reuters

OSAKA, June 29: U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set for a high-stakes meeting in Japan on Saturday that could salvage trade talks or plunge the world’s two largest economies into a deeper trade war.

SYDNEY, June 29: Heavy fog caused delays and cancellations at Australia’s busiest international flight hub, Sydney Airport, on Saturday morning.

TOKYO,June 28: Environmentalists from around the world urged global leaders at the G20 summit on Friday not to “turn a blind eye” to what they called a “cruel assault on whales” planned by host Japan when it restarts commercial whaling next week.

GENEVA, June 28: This year is on track to be among the hottest ever and that would make 2015-2019 the world’s hottest five-year period on record, the World Meteorological Organization said on Friday.

KINSHASA, June 28: The number of artisanal miners killed by a landslide at a copper and cobalt mine run by Glencore in southeast Congo rose to 43 on Friday and could climb further as the search for missing workers continues, local officials said.

GENOA, June 28: A spectacular planned explosion on Friday knocked down the remaining spans and supporting pillars of the Italian bridge that collapsed last year with the loss of 43 lives.

VIENNA, June 28: World powers will warn Iran to stick to the terms of their nuclear deal when they meet on Friday for “last chance” talks, but with Tehran feeling the pressure from punishing U.S. sanctions expectations of saving the 2015 accord are low, diplomats say.