Pope calls for all parties to safeguard Syrian civilians in Idlib
Pope Francis on Sunday appealed to all parties who have influence in Syria to defend human rights and safeguard the civilian population in the rebel-held northern region of Idlib, which faces an imminent attack by government forces.
Baghdad: Reuters report of Iran moving missiles to Iraq is ‘without evidence’
Iraq’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday it was “astonished” at a Reuters report that Iran had moved missiles to Iraq and that the article was “without evidence”, but stopped short of denying its contents.
Despite Putin’s concessions, Russians protest pension reform law
Thousands of people across Russia joined protests on Sunday against government plans to raise the pension age, despite recent promises by President Vladimir Putin to soften the unpopular measure.
Al Shabaab car bomb kills at least six in central Mogadishu
At least six people were killed when a suicide car bomb struck a local government office in central Mogadishu on Sunday, destroying the building and a Quranic school opposite.
Rows, resignations underscore Afghanistan’s security crisis
A public row that saw two top security officials trade recriminations live on television has sharply highlighted the divisions undermining Afghanistan’s Western-backed government, even as insurgents have stepped up pressure on the battlefield.
JD.com CEO released after U.S. arrest; firm says he was falsely accused
The founder and chief executive of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com Inc, Richard Liu, was arrested in the U.S. state of Minnesota on a charge of criminal sexual conduct and later released, a county sheriff’s department jail roster showed.
Syrian state media says electrical fault behind airbase blasts
An electrical fault caused a series of loud blasts early on Sunday near a military airbase outside the Syrian capital Damascus, a Syrian military source cited by state media and an Iranian official said.
Long reach of U.S. sanctions hits Syria reconstruction
As Syrian President Bashar al-Assad attempts to turn military success into postwar reconstruction, Western sanctions are a major obstacle that could scare off foreign companies.
New U.S. general arrives in Afghanistan with peace still distant
U.S. Army General Scott Miller assumed command of NATO forces in Afghanistan on Sunday, arriving as Washington faces growing questions over its strategy to force the Taliban into talks to end the 17-year conflict.
Kuwait emir announces visit to Washington, talks with Trump
Kuwait’s ruler will travel to Washington on Monday for a working visit and hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, the state news agency KUNA announced on Sunday.
