Afghan militia beheads four Islamic State fighters
JALALABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Local village militia members loyal to a powerful Afghan lawmaker beheaded four Islamic State fighters and placed their severed heads on the side of a main road in eastern Afghanistan, local officials said on Sunday.
Taliban says no contacts with Russia over Islamic State
KABUL (Reuters) – The Taliban denied reports that representatives had met Russian officials to discuss the common threat from Islamic State in Afghanistan as a British newspaper reported that President Vladimir Putin had met the Taliban leader.
Filipino protesters land on disputed island in South China Sea
MANILA (Reuters) – A group of Filipino protesters has landed on a disputed Philippine-held island in the South China Sea, a local government official said on Sunday, in a risky expedition that may trigger a strong reaction from China.
German politicians slam Greece over handling of refugee crisis
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and a senior Bavarian politician criticized Greece on Sunday over the way it is managing its role in Europe’s biggest migration crisis since World War Two.
Iran’s Rouhani says it’s up to Muslims to correct Islam’s image
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that Muslims must improve the image of their religion, which has been tarnished by the violence of hardline groups such as Islamic State,
Pope urges help for Cuban migrants stranded in Central America
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis urged Central American governments on Sunday to find an urgent solution to help thousands of U.S.-bound Cuban migrants stranded on the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
Germany plans spot drug tests on pilots after Germanwings crash
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany plans legislation requiring random drug and alcohol testing of pilots, hoping to reduce the risk of a repeat of the Germanwings crash in March, Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt was quoted as saying on Sunday.
China passes first domestic violence law, gay couples excluded
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s largely rubber stamp parliament on Sunday passed the country’s first law against domestic violence, which covers unmarried people who cohabit but does not protect gay couples, a senior lawmaker said.
Russia says air force has not hit civilian targets in Syria
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian air forces have not hit civilian targets since they started a bombing campaign in Syria nearly three months ago, a senior Russian officer said in an interview with Rossiya 24 television.
Afghan opposition group pressures Ghani on security crisis
KABUL (Reuters) – Political horsetrading over appointments to Afghan police and army commands has created chaos for security forces fighting the Taliban in strategic areas such as Helmand province, a leading opposition politician said.
