'Doomsday clock' stays at 3 min to midnight

WASHINGTON • Nuclear threats and climate change pose strong threats to the planet and a symbolic "doomsday" clock will stay at three minutes to midnight, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has said.

The clock serves as a metaphor for how close humanity is to destroying the planet, and was most recently moved closer to midnight last year.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Syria opposition meet again over peace talks

RIYADH • An important component of Syria's opposition resumed discussions in the Saudi capital yesterday to decide whether to join peace talks in Geneva.

High Negotiations Committee spokesman Monzer Makhous said the talks could last "perhaps all day".

United Nations-brokered talks, now scheduled to begin tomorrow, have been delayed since Monday over who will represent the opposition.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Tajik president names daughter chief of staff

DUSHANBE (Tajikistan) • Tajikistan's President Emomali Rakhmon yesterday named his eldest daughter his chief of staff, in the leader's latest appointment of a relative to a top post.

The President appointed his 38-year-old daughter, Ms Ozoda Rakhmon, to the role after she served as deputy foreign minister from 2014, Ms Rakhmon's office said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE