Thursday, June 17

*) Russia and US to launch nuclear arms control talks US President Joe Biden says he and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed in detail the steps to adopt arms control measures to reduce the risk of war. Biden said diplomats and military experts from both countries will discuss the groundwork for future arms control and risk reduction measures. Putin said that he and Biden agreed in a “constructive” summit to return ambassadors to their posts, lowering tensions. *) Several arrested as Hong Kong police raid Apple Daily newspaper Hong Kong police have arrested the chief editor and four other senior executives of the Apple Daily newspaper under the national security law. Police said five executives were arrested "for collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security". It is the second time that Hong Kong's police force have conducted an operation on Apple Daily, with police arresting founder Jimmy Lai and other executives last year. *) Myanmar village burned after fighting; residents blame security forces Security forces set ablaze a village in central Myanmar after clashing there with people opposing the ruling junta. At least two elderly people burned to death, several village residents said after the incident. State television said the blaze at Kin Ma, a village of about 800 people in the Magway region, was caused by “terrorists”. *) Iran presidential race narrows as more candidates drop out last minute Iran’s presidential contest is heading toward a showdown between the country’s hard-line judiciary chief and moderate former Central Bank chief. Ultraconservative lawmaker Alireza Zakani withdrew in the morning hours after reformist Mohsen Mehralizadeh had also thrown in the towel ahead of Friday's vote. In the afternoon another ultraconservative, Saeed Jalili, also pulled out. And finally ... *) China dispatches first crew to new Tiangong space station The first astronauts for China's new space station have blasted off for the country's longes