Abdullah wins key ally in Afghan presidential race
KABUL (Reuters) – Former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah received a boost in the race for the Afghan presidency on Sunday when one of the pre-election favorites dropped out and backed his team ahead of next month’s expected run-off.
South Sudan’s army, rebels blame each other for breaking ceasefire
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudan’s army and rebel forces blamed each other on Sunday for violating a ceasefire hours after it came into effect, fighting that will frustrate international mediators who had pressured both sides to stop the ethnic-fuelled con…
U.N. nuclear watchdog, Iran to meet before May 15 deadline for progress
VIENNA (Reuters) – The U.N. nuclear watchdog plans talks with Iran on Monday ahead of a May 15 deadline for the country to implement a series of measures that could allay concern about its nuclear program that the West fears may have military goals.
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.
