Iran nuclear talks underway, expectations low
Iran began talks on Friday with six world powers trying to persuade it to rein in its nuclear programme, but there were few expectations of major progress, Western diplomats attending the talks in Istanbul said.
Western countries believe Iran is working to develop a nuclear bomb. Tehran says its nuclear programme is peaceful. Friday's talks in Istanbul are a follow-up to talks last month in Geneva, which were the first held in more than a year.
"No one is expecting any big breakthrough, but Iran needs to show that it is interested in engaging in a wider process," said one diplomat.
"There are fundamental issues Iran needs to address and those are pretty clear, but no one's expecting any great shift.
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China criticises blocs, invites 13 countries to Brics-related event
Besides the leaders of the Brics countries, China had invited leaders of 13 countries for the event, seen to be Beijing's push to expand the five-member bloc. It was a mix of countries: Algeria, Argentina, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Senegal, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Malaysia and Thailand.
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US Congress passes rare bipartisan gun legislation
In a rare political and legislative breakthrough, sparked by a surge in mass shootings across the country, the United States Congress, on a broadly bipartisan basis, passed a set of limited gun control measures on Friday. The Congressional push comes even as US Supreme Court limited the right of states to restrict people from carrying guns in public without special permit, striking down a New York law.
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Roe v Wade: US top court ends 50 yrs of federal abortion rights
In a judgment that will transform America's political, legal and social landscape, the United States' (US) Supreme Court, on Friday, struck down the historic Roe v Wade judgment that had institutionalised abortion-related protections in the country. Minutes after the judgment, Missouri became the first American state to ban abortion. Case and judgment The judgment was triggered by a case which involved a Mississippi legislation that banned abortion beyond 15 weeks.
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‘Horrific’, ‘heartbroken’: Biden, Obama, others react to abortion ruling
Trudeau called the abortion ruling 'sad day for the court and for the country', saying the Supreme Court 'took' right away. “My heart goes out to the millions of American women who are now set to lose their legal right to an abortion. I can't imagine the fear and anger you are feeling right now,” Trudeau wrote on Twitter. Here are some of the reactions on the US Supreme Court ruling.
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Abortion access threatened in these US states after Supreme Court ruling
The US Supreme Court's overturning of America's constitutional right to abortion gives all 50 states the freedom to ban the procedure, with nearly half expected to do so in some form. Idaho provides exceptions for rape or incest but Kentucky only does so if the pregnant woman's life is in danger. Laws in Louisiana could see health professionals jailed for up to ten years for carrying out in abortions. In Missouri, it's 15 years.
