AFP, MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that “no consensus” has been reached over the timing of polls in rebel-held east Ukraine, after France and Germany pushed for elections to be held by the end of July. The top diplomats from Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany met…

AFP, ADEN: At least 16 people, including four Indian nurses, were killed when gunmen opened fire Friday at an elderly care home in Yemen’s main southern city of Aden, security officials said. Four gunmen stormed the facility in Aden’s Sheikh Othman district, killing a guard before tying…

AFP, SEOUL: South Korea and the United States were set to open talks Friday on the possible deployment—vehemently opposed by China—of an advanced US missile defence system to counter the growing threat from North Korea. South Korea’s defence ministry said initial discussions would…

AFP, BEIJING: China will raise its defence spending by seven to eight percent this year, a top official said Friday, a smaller increase than the double-digit rises of the past as Beijing seeks a more efficient military. At the same time the rising power is increasing its military heft and asserting…

AFP, UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations is reporting a “deeply concerning” increase in allegations of sex abuse by its peacekeepers, with…

AFP, NAIROBI: At least 25 people were massacred and 120 wounded when gunmen in army uniforms attacked then torched a UN camp that was sheltering civilians in South Sudan last month, the UN said Friday. The updated toll comes two weeks after the two-day gun battle inside the camp in the northeastern…