Taliban overrun Afghan forces in northeast, killing 18
KABUL (Reuters) – Dozens of Taliban fighters aided by foreign militants seized Afghan government checkpoints in a previously stable northeastern province, officials said on Monday as the annual spring fighting season began in the 13-year-old war.
Iran, Israel cooperate in nuclear test detection drills
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Iran and Israel have been cooperating under the auspices of an international body set up to monitor a ban on nuclear bomb tests, its director said on Monday.
Greece dismisses speculation of early elections: government official
ATHENS (Reuters) – Athens dismissed media reports on Monday that the government was considering calling early elections.
Nigerian governor elections see swing to president-elect’s party
LAGOS (Reuters) – Results in Nigeria’s governorship vote saw a swing toward president-elect Muhammadu Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) party on Monday, two weeks after it made history by unseating the incumbent in a presidential poll.
Time running out on Greek debt talks, says top EU official
ROME (Reuters) – Greece is not moving fast enough to draw up and implement structural reforms and there is limited time to prevent it running out of cash, European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said on Monday.
Berlin’s Schoenefeld airport re-opened after security alert
BERLIN (Reuters) – Schoenefeld International Airport in Berlin was re-opened after being briefly evacuated on Monday after a security alarm, authorities at the German capital’s second airport said.
Dutch journalist acquitted of Turkish terrorism propaganda charge
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) – A Dutch journalist tried on a charge of disseminating “terrorist propaganda” was acquitted by a Turkish court on Monday.
Islamic State militants breach Iraq refinery perimeter, repelled
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State militants breached the security perimeter around Iraq’s largest refinery in Baiji early on Monday but were beaten back by security forces and coalition air strikes, local officials said.
Iran calls for new Yemeni government, increasing tension with Saudis
ASTANA (Reuters) – Iran on Monday urged the formation of a new Yemeni government and offered to assist in a political transition, comments likely to anger Saudi Arabia, which is backing Yemen’s president against a rebel force allied with Iran.
Morocco says breaks up Islamic State cell with Dutch ties
RABAT (Reuters) – Morocco has broken up a militant cell it said was loyal to Islamic State and was planning to stage attacks at home and in the Netherlands, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.
