Briefly

AFGHANISTAN

Ghani and rival Abdullah sign power-sharing deal

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing deal on Sunday, ending a bitter months-long feud. Ghani spokesman Sediq Sediqqi tweeted that a political deal had been signed in which Ghani would remain president of the war-torn nation. The deal calls for Abdullah to lead the country's National Reconciliation High Council, and some members of Abdullah's team would be included in Ghani's cabinet. Abdullah's spokesman, Fraidoon Khawzoon, confirmed the deal, saying the agreement ensures Abdullah's group gets 50 percent of the cabinet and other provincial governors' posts. Abdullah said the deal commits to forming a "more inclusive, accountable and competent administration".

IRAQ

Two attacks claim six IS militants, policeman

Six Islamic State militants and a policeman were killed on Saturday in two attacks in the provinces of Salahudin and Diyala, security sources said. In Salahudin province, the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi artillery pounded IS positions in al-Zarga, east of the provincial capital Tikrit, leaving six IS militants dead, the Hashd Shaabi said in a statement. In the eastern province of Diyala, a policeman was killed and an officer wounded when IS militants opened fire on their police checkpoint in al-Abbara in the northeast of the provincial capital Baquba, Ahmed al-Shimmary of the provincial police said. The attacks came as the extremist IS militants intensified attacks on security forces since the holy month of Ramadan began.

UNITED STATES

At-home coronavirus tests await approval

An at-home coronavirus testing project in Seattle backed in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation remains in limbo. The Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network, or SCAN, said it was suspending its testing of patient samples collected at home after the Food and Drug Administration tightened guidelines to require emergency approval first. In March, the Gates Foundation said it was providing technical assistance for SCAN. On Thursday, SCAN said it had been in talks with the FDA since March 1 and initiated its request for emergency use authorization on March 23, submitting data on April 13. Representatives for the FDA did not have an immediate comment on SCAN's status.

Agencies - Xinhua