CAR BOMB ATTACK
Anatolia news agency has reported at least eight people were killed by a car bomb explosion in Kobane. A YPG official has stated ISIS fighters attacked the town and that fighting has been ongoing. This comes after Kurdish forces, backed by US-led air strikes retook the town from ISIS fighters 4 months ago.
HOSTAGE RANSOM POLICY
US President Barack Obama has announced that the US government should no longer threaten to prosecute hostages’ families if they pay ransom to hostage takers. The US’ 200-year policy had long been criticised and over the last year, several US hostages were killed, prompting the nation to review its policy. Many European governments pay ransoms, which has been a point of contention between the US government and hostages’ families during negotiations.
EMERGENCY BAILOUT TALKS
As the Greece’s June 30th IMF repayment deadline approaches, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and international lenders hope to reach a deal before eurozone finance ministers resume talks at 11:00 GMT. Greece and its international creditors failed to reach a solution regarding Greece's debt crisis at June 24th talks. If Greece does not make its 1.8 billion dollar repayment to the IMF on the 30th, it faces default, which could result in its exit from the EU. Tsipras has criticised the lenders for rejecting his recent reform proposals, which they have said are not viable.
MERS SLOWS ECONOMY
South Korea's finance ministry has announced it expects a slowdown in economic growth this year due to the recent outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. The MERS outbreak has lowered spending and tourism growth forecasts by 3 to 4 percent. T 29 people have died in the country and over 3,000 are quarantined due to the MERS outbreak.
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