AFP, KABUL: Several senior sources within the Taliban on Sunday cast doubt on the authenticity of an audio message purporting to prove Mullah Akhtar Mansour was alive, highlighting mistrust within the ranks following the cover-up of Mullah Omar’s death. The insurgent group released the 16-minute…

AFP, ANKARA: Turkey on Sunday said it was “astonished” by Iranian accusations that Ankara is supporting Islamic State and involved in oil dealing with the jihadists in Iraq and Syria. Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said in a statement there was nothing in Tehran’s…

AFP, CARTAGENA, Colombia: Colombia says it has found the shipwreck of a storied Spanish galleon laden with gold, silver and precious stones, three centuries…

AFP, BAKU: Azerbaijan was on Sunday searching for 29 missing oil workers after a storm caused their offshore oil rig to catch fire, as the president ordered a day of mourning. A fire broke out on the rig in the Caspian following a storm on Friday “leading to many deaths,” said a statement…

AFP, WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John Kerry warned Saturday about the consequences of any collapse of the Palestinian Authority, saying it would be a threat to Israel. Since October 1, almost daily assaults and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers and violence between Palestinians…