The mass abduction took place in rural villages in a portion of Syria that's less than 150 miles west of Mosul, Iraq, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The Greek plan would keep Athens' budget under control while spending more on social programs. European ministers agreed to extend financial assistance by four months, but the IMF was more skeptical.
In a claim that's meeting with skepticism in Kiev, Russian-backed separatists say they've started to withdraw heavy weapons in eastern Ukraine, as required by a recent cease-fire.
Blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah and 24 others were convicted of violating a law banning unlicensed protests. Activists said the sentences underscore the lengths the government will go to to stifle dissent.
Tiny patches of Tanzanian farmland contain more rats than do nearby forests. These rats are more likely to carry the bacteria that cause the plague in humans.
A federal jury has found the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization liable for attacks that occurred in Israel more than a decade ago.
A year ago, Kiev's central square was the center of the protest movement that ousted Ukraine's president. The square remains a home for free speech, including criticism of the current government.
The defense secretary said Saturday that the U.S. may slow its withdrawal from Afghanistan to make sure "progress sticks." NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Kate Clark of the Afghanistan Analyst Network.