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World and regional powers have begun fresh talks aimed at putting the Syrian peace process back on track. Germany’s foreign minister told reporters in Vienna that the aim was to strengthen a fragile truce and boost humanitarian aid. That would encourage the opposition to resume negotiations on a political settlement to end the war, he said. The opposition pulled out ...

Thai authorities are set to close the island of Koh Tachai, saying heavy tourism is negatively affecting natural resources and the environment. The island, off Phang Nga province, is part of the Similan National Park. Almost all Thai marine national parks close from mid-May to mid-October, for monsoon season, but Tachai will not reopen, the Bangkok Post reported. The park ...

Donald Trump, who defeated 16 top political leaders of his party to become the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, said he is fighting for survival. “I mean, I view myself as a person that, like everybody else, is fighting for survival. That’s all I view myself as,” Trump told the Fox News. “I really view myself now as somewhat of a ...

Andre Vallini criticised the use of English in France’s official Euro 2016 anthem Leading politician Andrew Vallini reacted with horror to the French team’s official anthem. Chosen by the French Football Association, the song I Was Made For Lovin’ You by American rock band Kiss, has been updated for the tournament. French group Skip The Use have changed the words ...

The Australian politician who declared war on Johnny Depp’s dogs has a new enemy – the European carp. Barnaby Joyce, the deputy prime minister, said the only way to get rid of the “bottom-dwelling, mudsucking” fish was to unleash herpes on it. The A$15m ($11m; £8m) eradication program, dubbed “Carpageddon” by the government, aims to rid the Murray-Darling Basin of ...

As Barack Obama prepares to visit Saudi Arabia, the Saudi royal family has taken custody of nine longtime Guantánamo Bay detainees, bringing Obama closer to his goal of shuttering the infamous detention facility. US officials on Saturday described the nine detainees, all Yemenis, as possessing close family ties to Saudi Arabia. Some, one official said, are “practically Saudis”. The transfer ...

The president of Iceland is expected to come under pressure this week after leaked documents appeared to show that part of his wife’s considerable fortune was held in offshore tax havens. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, who has been in office for 20 years, last month surprised many by declaring he would stand for re-election again after serving five terms. His decision ...

Chinese police are joining Italian officers on the streets of Rome and Milan in an experiment aimed at helping tourists from China feel safe, Italy’s interior ministry has announced. The experiment is the first of its kind in Europe, China’s ambassador to Italy, Li Ruiyu, said at a meeting to announce the project, according to a statement from the Italian ...

Saudi brides will be given a copy of their marriage contracts in the latest breakthrough for women’s rights in the kingdom. Justice Minister Waleed Al Samaani said that the decision allows women to be fully aware of their rights and of the marriage contract conditions. Under the minister’s decision, two copies of the contracts are given to the groom and ...

Researchers in the US believe they may be a step closer to locating the ship in which British explorer Captain James Cook sailed to Australia in 1768. The Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (Rimap) has known for some time the ship was scuttled in Newport Harbour in 1778. But they now believe they have narrowed down the search to a ...