Sixth round of U.S., Taliban peace talks begin today: Taliban spokesman

American and Taliban officials are meeting on Wednesday in Qatar to resume talks aimed at ending a 17-year war in Afghanistan, a Taliban official said.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2IR7kgr

Extinction Rebellion has a message for the world: We've only just begun

After paralyzing parts of London, the co-founder of environmental group Extinction Rebellion has a message for the world: We've only just begun.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2V73aHG

The debate behind Trump's move to tighten Iran oil sanctions

U.S. President Donald Trump's unexpected decision to ban all Iranian oil purchases after May 1 - ending exemptions for eight nations - came after hawkish economic and security advisors allayed the president's fears of an oil price hike, according to three sources familiar with the internal debate.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2DI5I4c

U.S. envoy to Sri Lanka says threat is real; security forces maintain high alert

The U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka said on Tuesday that some of the Islamist militants behind Easter Sunday bombings that killed more than 250 people were likely still at large and could be planning more attacks.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2GKyWAd

Singapore deputy PM nods to future leadership role in speech to workers

Singapore's newly-appointed deputy prime minister hinted at a future leadership role in a speech on Wednesday in which he echoed a pledge made by previous prime ministers to support the city-state's labor movement.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2J7jK2Q

Venezuela's Guaido calls for 'largest march in history' in uprising effort

Venezuelans were expected to take to the streets on Wednesday for what opposition leader Juan Guaido pledged would be the "largest march" in the country's history, a day after he called for the military to oust President Nicolas Maduro.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2DHxKNd

U.S. military stops tracking key metric on Afghan war as situation deteriorates

The U.S. military has stopped tracking the amount of territory controlled or influenced by the Afghan government and militants, a U.S. watchdog said on Tuesday, one of the last remaining public metrics that tracked the worsening security situation in the war-torn country.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2UQleRx

Venezuela's Guaido calls for uprising but military loyal to Maduro for now

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on Tuesday made his strongest call yet to the military to help him oust President Nicolas Maduro but there were no concrete signs of defection from the armed forces leadership.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2GTTRSG

Miami’s Venezuelan expats pause and pray for Maduro’s ouster

Hundreds of Venezuelans packed into a Miami-area restaurant on Tuesday, their eyes fixed on television images of violence in their home country, yet hopeful that the unrest spelled the beginning of the end of President Nicolas Maduro's rule.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2J7KUqC

FAA bans low flights over Venezuela's airspace, citing political instability

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday evening issued an order prohibiting U.S. air operators from flying below 26,000 feet in Venezuela's airspace until further notice, citing "increasing political instability and tensions".

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2ITSNAG

Return of firebrand opposition leader Lopez energizes Venezuelan protests

When Felix Garcia woke up on Tuesday he was fired up by surprising news - Venezuelan opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez, under house arrest for the past two years, had appeared in public.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2ITtzSS

'Sense of solemnity': Japan emperor assumes throne

The following is an English translation by the Imperial Household Agency of Japanese Emperor Naruhito's speech on Wednesday at his accession ceremony.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2DCfqVF

And then there were three - Japan's shrinking pool of imperial heirs

Now that Japan has a new emperor, Naruhito, its imperial family will be left with just three heirs to the throne - one of whom is 83 - a situation likely to renew debate on the monarchy's males-only succession.

from Reuters: World News https://reut.rs/2UQBdPi