Iran says it’s ready for nuclear talks with the US but only if Washington rebuilds trust

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran says it is ready to engage in talks with the United States, but only if Washington takes meaningful steps to rebuild trust. The comments by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi on Thursday came on the eve of talks between Tehran and European nations. Iran is set to meet on Friday in Istanbul with Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3 nations, and the European Union’s deputy foreign policy commissioner. They will be the first talks since Iran’s 12-day war with Israel in June, which also saw U.S. B-52 bombers striking nuclear-related facilities in Iran.

Officials: Passenger plane crashes in Russia’s Far East, killing all 48 people on board

MOSCOW (AP) — Officials in Russia’s Far East say a passenger plane has crashed, killing all 48 passengers and crew on board. The Angara Airlines flight disappeared from radar earlier Thursday, and emergency officials say searchers later found the burning wreckage of the plane on a hillside south of its planned destination in the town of Tynda. Regional Gov. Vasily Orlov said in a statement that all 48 people aboard were dead, and announced three days of mourning in the Amur region over what he called a “terrible tragedy.” It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the crash, though Russia media cited bad weather at the time.

Thailand launches airstrikes on Cambodia as border clash leaves at least 14 dead

SURIN, Thailand (AP) — Thai and Cambodian soldiers have clashed along the two countries’ border in a major escalation of a festering dispute over territory that killed least 14 people, mostly civilians. The two sides fired small arms, artillery and rockets, and Thailand also called in airstrikes. Thai villagers could be seen in videos fleeing their homes as the clashes began Thursday morning. A Thai Defense Ministry spokesperson said fighting was ongoing in at least six areas along the border. The Southeast Asian neighbors have longstanding border disputes that periodically and briefly flare along their 800-kilometer frontier. But Thursday’s clashes were far bigger in scale and intensity.

Zelenskyy moves to restore independence of anti-graft agencies after public anger

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has submitted a new bill restoring the independence of the country’s anti-corruption agencies. The development seeks to defuse tensions caused by his earlier approval of a controversial law placing them under his authority. That sparked a public outcry and protests, the first major demonstrations since the war began, as well as sharp criticism from the European Union. Zelenskyy said on Thursday the new bill that was sent to parliament for review “guarantees real strengthening of Ukraine’s law enforcement system, the independence of anti-corruption bodies, and reliable protection of the legal system from any Russian interference.” The two main agencies quickly welcomed the new bill.