Exclusive-Thailand seeking to re-engage Myanmar junta with ASEAN meeting – letter, sources

By Panu Wongcha-um, Poppy McPherson and Ananda Teresia BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand’s caretaker government is proposing to “fully re-engage” Myanmar’s military rulers and has invited ASEAN foreign ministers to an informal meeting on Sunday to discuss a stalled peace plan, according to a letter seen by Reuters and sources aware of the invitation.    The proposal…

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US, Iran in talks to cool tensions with a mutual ‘understanding’

By Parisa Hafezi, John Irish and Arshad Mohammed DUBAI/PARIS (Reuters) -The United States is holding talks with Iran to sketch out steps that could limit the Iranian nuclear programme, release some detained U.S. citizens and unfreeze some Iranian assets abroad, according to Iranian and Western officials. These steps would be cast as an “understanding” rather…

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U.S., Japan, Philippines discuss S China sea, North Korea

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The national security advisers of the United States, Japan and the Philippines on Friday discussed regional security issues and ways to strengthen the trilateral alliance, they said in a joint statement. It was the first meeting between White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and his counterparts, Akiba Takeo of Japan and…

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Pentagon chief expresses optimism over eventual talks with Chinese counterpart

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed optimism on Friday that he would eventually hold talks with his Chinese counterpart after being snubbed by Beijing during an event in Singapore earlier this month. “I’m confident that, over time, that’s going to happen. We’re going to meet at some point in time. But we’re…

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Pentagon chief urges Turkish counterpart on Sweden’s NATO entry

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he urged Turkey to allow Sweden’s entry into NATO during an introductory meeting on Friday with his new Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler during a gathering of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. “My purpose in meeting him today was an introductory meeting, just to congratulate him on being…

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Mexico interior minister steps down to vie for presidential bid

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexican Interior Minister Adan Augusto Lopez has resigned from his post to compete for the ruling party’s candidacy in next year’s presidential elections, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday. Lopez Obrador said during a regular press conference that the interior minister had resigned the day before. Lopez later confirmed his…

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