Israeli ministers approve bid to block Palestinian prisoner releases
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel took a step on Sunday toward enacting a law that could block any future release of Palestinian prisoners convicted of killing Israelis and impede any efforts to restart frozen peace talks.
Militants abduct, kill 20 soldiers in north Iraq: army
MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) – Militants in northern Iraq ambushed an army convoy and abducted at least 20 soldiers before shooting them in the head, army officials said on Sunday, the deadliest yet in a growing series of execution-style attacks in the countr…
Al Qaeda splinter group moves to take eastern Syrian city
BEIRUT (Reuters) – An al Qaeda splinter group has wrested control of key parts of the eastern Syrian province of Deir al-Zor from other rebel groups, activists said on Sunday, worsening infighting that has handicapped the insurgency against President B…
Suicide car bomber kills six soldiers in southern Yemen: official
ADEN, Yemen (Reuters) – A suicide car bomber killed six army officers in southern Yemen on Sunday and wounded many others after targeting a military police building in the coastal city of Mukallah, a local security official said.
Iranian president calls for more open, better-informed nuclear debate
DUBAI (Reuters) – President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday he wanted Iran to do a better job of explaining its nuclear program to prevent “evil-minded” people misleading world opinion, two days before Tehran resumes talks with world powers on its disput…
China, east African leaders sign up for new rail link
NAIROBI (Reuters) – East African leaders and China formally signed agreements on Sunday for the construction of a new multi-billion dollar railway linking the Kenyan port of Mombasa to Nairobi and running on to neighboring states.
Rare rallies in Vietnam say ‘hands off’ to China over sea row
HANOI (Reuters) – Hundreds rallied on Sunday in Vietnam’s biggest cities to denounce China’s setting up of a giant oil rig in the South China Sea, a rare protest likely to prolong a tense standoff between the two communist neighbors.
In Indonesia, moderate Islamic party returns to political centerstage
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesian presidential frontrunner Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has joined hands with the country’s most popular Islamic party, cementing the surprise resurgence of Muslim parties in this year’s election and possibly renewing their voice i…
A year on, bitter Italians keep Grillo flying high
ROME (Reuters) – Franco Picini, a schoolteacher in Italy’s capital city, says he has voted for the left all his life, but in this month’s European parliament elections, he will back the 5-Star Movement of comedian Beppe Grillo.
Thai government warns protesters as power struggle deepens
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s beleaguered government on Sunday warned people to stay away from anti-government protests, saying it had to step up security as the two sides in a lengthy political crisis squared off over who is running the country.
