Australian PM announces Afghanistan troop increase on Kabul visit
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced on Monday a small increase in the Australian troop commitment to the NATO-led force supporting the Afghan central government during a surprise visit to Kabul.
Pope visits Rome synagogue, condemns violence in name of religion
ROME (Reuters) – Pope Francis made his first visit as pontiff to a synagogue on Sunday, where, in a reference to Islamist attacks, he condemned violence in the name of religion.
Turkish court remands 10 Syrians over bomb attack
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A Turkish court on Sunday remanded in custody 10 Syrian nationals detained in connection with a suicide bomb attack blamed on Islamic State that killed 10 German tourists in Turkey’s largest city last week, media said.
Powers aim to draw Taliban into Afghan peace talks
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States hold talks on Monday aimed at laying the ground for a negotiated end to almost 15 years of war between U.S.-supported government forces and Taliban insurgents now firmly on the offens…
Rocket lands near Italian embassy in Afghan capital Kabul
KABUL (Reuters) – A rocket landed near the Italian embassy in Kabul on Sunday, a police official said, a day before a meeting of Afghan and international officials aimed at laying the groundwork for possible peace talks with the Taliban.
Maldives puts conditions on jailed ex-leader for UK travel: lawyers
COLOMBO (Reuters) – The Maldives on Sunday backtracked on an unconditional agreement to allow jailed former leader Mohamed Nasheed to travel to Britain for surgery, his lawyers said.
False emissions reporting undermines China’s pollution fight
BEIJING (Reuters) – Widespread misreporting of harmful gas emissions by Chinese electricity firms is threatening the country’s attempts to rein in pollution, with government policies aimed at generating cleaner power struggling to halt the practice.
UK opposition leader invites Trump to visit London mosque
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s opposition leader invited U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who sparked an outcry by calling for a ban on Muslims from entering the United States, to join him on a visit to a London mosque.
Suicide bomber kills 13 people in eastern Afghanistan: officials
JALALABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) – A suicide bomber killed 13 people in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Sunday at the home of a tribal elder when people had gathered to celebrate his son’s release from Taliban captivity, local officials said.Th…
Pakistan PM looks to play peacemaker with Saudi Arabia, Iran visits
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will travel to Saudi Arabia and Iran on Monday, in a bid to bridge the growing divide between the two countries after the Sunni kingdom’s execution of a Shi’ite cleric sparked a bitter row.
