Missing Chinese columnist released from custody: lawyer
BEIJING (Reuters) – A prominent Chinese columnist has been released after being detained earlier this month, possibly in connection with an online letter critical of China’s President Xi Jinping, his lawyer said on Sunday.
After somber week, Pope leads Catholics into Easter stressing hope
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – After a Holy Week blighted by bomb attacks in Brussels, Pope Francis led the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics into Easter celebrations on Saturday night by urging them not to lose hope in a gloomy world.
Turkish soldier killed in northern Iraq after Islamic State fires rockets: army
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A Turkish soldier was killed and another wounded in northern Iraq on Saturday when rockets fired by Islamic State during clashes with Iraqi Kurdish fighters landed in a base where Turkish troops were deployed, the army said.
Tens of thousands of Yemenis mark a year of war, denounce Saudi-led offensive
SANAA (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Yemenis took to the streets of the capital Sanaa on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of the war between a coalition led by Saudi Arabia against Iran-allied fighters who had overthrown the government.
Greece arrests six people for forging asylum seekers’ documents
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek police arrested six people on Saturday in an operation to break up a gang which counterfeited documents for asylum seekers on a Greek island, the coastguard said.
Belgium charges three men with terrorism after Brussels bombs
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgian prosecutors have charged three men with terrorist offences, including a suspect who local media said appeared on security footage with two suicide bombers at Brussels airport shortly before they detonated their bombs.
Pakistan, Iran aim to boost trade to $5 billion
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan and Iran aim to increase annual trade volumes between the two countries to $5 billion by 2021, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Saturday.
Afghan electoral commission head quits, clouding political landscape
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s top electoral official resigned on Saturday, potentially complicating efforts to organize parliamentary elections for this autumn.
Syrian army, with Russian air support, advances inside Palmyra
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian government forces advanced into Palmyra on Saturday with heavy support from Russian air strikes, taking control of several districts in a major assault against Islamic State fighters, Syrian state media and a monitoring group …
Taiwan’s Hung makes Nationalist Party comeback with leadership win
TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan’s opposition Nationalist Party picked as its new leader a woman it had ditched as its presidential candidate weeks before January’s election after a wave of criticism of her campaign.
