Lebanon has been going through the worst political crisis since the 1975-90 civil war. The country has been without a president since November as leaders of its rival factions are unable to agree on a national unity government.

ISLAMABAD – Militants took hostage up to 250 Pakistani school children in the northwestern town of Bannu on Monday, the interior minister said.

RAFAH, Egypt – Thousands of Palestinians streamed home through the breaches in Gaza’s border with Egypt on Sunday after Egyptian authorities choked off supplies to the area and moved to restore control.