World News Briefs -- August 22, 2017 (Evening Edition)



New York Times: Tillerson sees possible pathway to North Korea dialogue 'in near future'

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appeared to make a peace overture to North Korea on Tuesday, welcoming what he called the restraint it had shown recently in its weapons programs and saying a path could be opening for dialogue "sometime in the near future.""We have had no missile launches or provocative acts on the part of North Korea since the unanimous adoption of the U.N. Security Council resolution," Tillerson told reporters, referring to U.N. sanctions on North Korea agreed on Aug. 5.

"We hope that this is the beginning of this signal that we've been looking for - that they are ready to restrain their level of tensions, they're ready to restrain their provocative acts, and that perhaps we are seeing our pathway to sometime in the near future having some dialogue," Tillerson added.

Tillerson said he was "pleased" to see Pyongyang had "demonstrated some level of restraint that we've not seen in the past."

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MIDDLE EAST

Saudi crown prince discusses Mideast peace with U.S. officials.

Syria war: 'Dozens of civilians killed' in Raqqa air strikes. Raqqa: US-led attacks 'kill 100 civilians' in 48 hours. 250 US-led strikes in, around Raqa in past week: coalition.

Syrian opposition meeting in Riyadh ends in stalemate.

North Korea shipments to Syria chemical arms agency intercepted: U.N. report.

IS conflict: Iraqi forces enter outskirts of Tal Afar. Iraqi forces recapture five villages in Tal Afar.

Thousands flee IS-held Tal Afar: UN.

Pentagon chief, in Baghdad, says militants are ‘on the run’.

Iran back to high enrichment 'in 5 days' if US quits nuclear deal.

Iran in talks to unblock Twitter, says new minister.

Erdogan vows to thwart any 'Kurdish state' in Syria.

UN accuses two sides in Yemen war of international law violations.

ASIA

U.S. puts more pressure on Pakistan to help with Afghan war.

Officials say Trump’s Afghan plan involves 3,900 more troops.

Trump to expand US military intervention in Afghanistan.

Donald Trump's new Afghanistan strategy welcomed by 'fully committed' NATO.

Trump's Afghan shift praised in Kabul but leaves Pakistan wary. Afghanistan hails Trump support in 'joint struggle'.

Taliban responds to Trump's Afghan strategy.

N Korea's fiery rhetoric on US-S Korea military drills.

U.S. Admiral says diplomacy key to resolving North Korea crisis.

Maldives army occupies parliament to block no-confidence vote.

Muslim 'instant divorce' unconstitutional, India's Supreme Court rules.

AFRICA

Exclusive: U.S. to withhold up to $290 million in Egypt aid.

Moroccans shaken by links to extremist attacks in Europe.

UN slams use of children in Nigeria bombings. Boko Haram Nigerian child bombings this year are quadruple 2016's: UNICEF.

Burundi send fresh peacekeepers to Somalia.

Former Libya PM kidnapped in Tripoli: family.

Libya’s biggest oil field shut down as tensions rise.

Angola to elect new president as dos Santos retires.

Egypt set to reopen its Gaza crossing on regular basis in September.

South Sudan threatens to suspend UN planes.

EUROPE

Kremlin says support for ceasefire in Ukraine 'decisive'.

Barcelona attacker Younes Abouyaaqoub shot dead after manhunt, Spanish police say.

Barcelona attack suspects questioned in court. Barcelona attack: Suspect says bigger attack was planned.

Quake hits Italian island causing buildings to collapse. 3 children pulled from rubble on quake-hit Italian island.

German foreign minister blames Erdogan over family 'threats'.

France's Macron, seeking to re-shape Europe, heads east.

UK outlines approach to cross-border legal disputes post-Brexit.

No longer an also-ran, British opposition leader hits campaign trail.

Russia pays off balance of Soviet Union's foreign debt.

Torso found off Denmark may belong to missing Swedish journalist.

AMERICAS

Venezuela-U.S. relations at lowest point ever: Maduro.

Argentina labor unions protest job losses, Macri policies.

US says some remains of sailors found on USS John McCain.

Trump backs off Afghan withdrawal, lambasts Pakistan.

Big protests expected as Trump plans Phoenix rally. Phoenix on high alert for Trump rally.

Black caucus has had it with Trump, plans to discuss impeachment.

Washington will impose greater sanctions on Venezuela.

More diplomats hurt in mysterious Cuban sonic attack.

Rare total solar eclipse spreads wonder across United States.

Canada seeks to 'aggressively' dispel asylum system myths.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Barcelona van attackers plotted major bombings, Spanish court hears.

Four Muslim men accused of plotting Christmas Day terror attack were 'found with very volatile chemicals used to make Mother of Satan bomb'.

Trump talks tough on Pakistan's 'terrorist' havens, but options scarce.

Moroccan who admitted killing two in Finland knife attack was refused asylum.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Stocks surge, put shaky few weeks further behind them.

World Bank says not currently looking at financing projects in Iran.

Johnson & Johnson faces $417m payout in latest talc case.

Cambridge University Press reverses decision to censor books in China.

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