Saudi chairs G20 crisis talks as virus threatens recession Leaders of the G20 major economies will hold an online summit on Thursday in a bid to fend off a coronavirus-triggered recession, after criticism the group has been slow to address the crisis.

Pompeo slashes aid, meets Taliban on surprise Afghan mission US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday slashed aid to Afghanistan's government after a mission to Kabul failed to bridge a divide between feuding leaders as he moved forward with the Taliban on a deal to pull troops.

US retaliates in Iraq for deadly rocket attack The US military launched air strikes against a pro-Iranian group in Iraq following the deaths of two Americans and a Briton in a rocket attack, US military officials told AFP on Thursday.

US upbeat on Taliban peace, warns Afghan leaders The United States voiced optimism on Tuesday about reaching an accord to end the war in Afghanistan as a partial truce held with the Taliban, warning rival leaders in the Kabul government not to scuttle the "enormous opportunity."

Trump plans Southeast Asia summit in Las Vegas: Pompeo US President Donald Trump has invited Southeast Asian leaders to meet next month in Las Vegas, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday, after a summit last year was scrapped.

Pompeo lands in Saudi for talks focused on Iran US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo landed in Riyadh Wednesday for talks with Saudi leaders focused on countering Tehran, his first visit since a top Iranian general's killing sent regional tensions soaring.

US announces partial Taliban truce, Trump says peace deal 'close' The United States said on Thursday it has secured a seven-day reduction in violence in Afghanistan that it hopes will allow it to strike a deal with the Taliban, as President Donald Trump said a peace accord was "very close."

N.K official not to attend security conference in Munich: Seoul official A senior North Korean official will not attend a security conference in Germany next week, a decision seen as reflecting concerns about the global spread of the new coronavirus, a Seoul official said Thursday.

Iraqi force says 'US strike' killed top Iran, Iraq commanders at Baghdad airport Top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US strike on Baghdad's international airport on Friday, Iraq's powerful Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force has said, in a dramatic escalation of tensions between Washington and Tehran.

US committed to supporting a prosperous, independent Việt Nam US Assistant Secretary of State David Stilwell reaffirmed the US’s policy of maintaining security, safety, maritime and aviation freedom, and unobstructed trade in the South China Sea.