MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin and his favored successor Dmitry Medvedev could take turns to run Russia for another quarter of a century, a senior Kremlin ally said in an interview published on Monday.

KABUL – Afghanistan’s government, largely reliant on foreign help for its security and economy, has called for the launch of another donors’ meeting to garner more international aid.

KABUL – Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said British politician Paddy Ashdown cannot become U.N. envoy to Afghanistan unless the world body clarifies his role, state newspapers said on Monday.