Tuesday morning news: May 1, 2018

Afghan suicide bombings » In Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, a pair of suicide bomb attacks… 

AUDIO: Bomb attack sound

Islamic State militants quickly claimed responsibility for the blasts that killed at least 29 people, including nine journalists, and injured 27 others.

The first bomb went off near NATO headquarters. Police said the second suicide bomber detonated his explosive after reporters arrived on scene, seeming to target them. 

At a news conference, Margaritis Schinas with the European Commission condemned the attacks.

SCHINAS: Even in war, there are laws. Civilians and journalists who risk their lives to report from dangerous and difficult places, must never be a target.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, another suicide bombing killed at least 11 school children. Sixteen other people sustained injuries.

Syrian missile attack » The Syrian government is denouncing as “a fresh aggression” a late Sunday missile strike that killed at least 26 pro-government fighters.

AUDIO: Syrian TV sound

Official Syrian Television showed fiery images of the attack, but revealed no location. 

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said missiles struck an arms depot with surface-to-surface missiles at a base near the northern city of Hama. More than 60 fighters remain missing. 

AUDIO: Artillery sound

The missile strike had no effect on fighting around Damascus Monday, where Syrian government artillery continue to pound rebel positions.

The missile attack killed mostly Iranians, increasing tensions between Iran and Israel following a separate airstrike in Syria last month. 

Syria, Iran, and Russia blamed Israel for the strike. Israel refused to comment.

Pompeo in Europe and Israel » Israeli-Palestinian peace remains a high priority of the Trump administration, according to its top diplomat. WORLD Radio’s Kent Covington has details.

KENT COVINGTON, REPORTER: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the statement Monday in Jordan on his first overseas trip since taking office last week. 

Pompeo visited Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Jordan but did not meet with Palestinian representatives. They’ve rebuffed U.S. diplomats since President Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Pompeo said it’s up to Israeli and Palestinian authorities to hash out the details of a peace agreement, but added, “We are certainly open to a two-party solution as a likely outcome.”

Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stunned an audience of Jewish leaders in New York Sunday, saying Palestinian authorities should make peace with Israel or “shut up.”

Reporting for WORLD Radio, I’m Kent Covington.

Arizona teachers still striking » Arizona Governor Doug Ducey says lawmakers have approved a deal to secure a 20 percent pay increase for teachers. But teachers in the state’s major cities still walked out on Monday, closing schools for a third straight day.

Arizona teachers say lawmakers aren’t taking their demands for more overall education funding seriously. This protester says that hurts students.

AUDIO: It’s our students. I think our students expect that of us. They want to have the best schools to go to, to attend, to graduate from and we’re not giving them to them right now. So we’re doing the best we can. We’re still making do with less and it’s unnecessary.

Arizona teachers want $1 billion in new education funding on top of the pay raise.

FBI probes creepy packages » The FBI has launched a probe of what authorities are calling “creepy” packages sent to two elementary school girls in Alabama last week. WORLD Radio’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: The Covington County district attorney says the unsolicited packages, apparently sent by a third-party vendor, contained food items and a letter signed by one “Atur Bhuck” of Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

The sender included two email addresses for responding, they carried an IP address corresponding to Houston, Texas.

The FBI has uncovered 50 more pending orders addressed to young girls in Alabama, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Authorities are warning parents to monitor their children’s online activity.

Reporting for WORLD Radio, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Clifford sues Trump » Pornographic performer Stephanie Clifford is suing President Trump for defamation.

Clifford, who goes by the stage name Stormy Daniels, filed suit Monday over a disparaging tweet the president posted about her.

Several weeks ago, Clifford revealed a sketch on ABC’s The View of a man she claimed threatened her in 2011 not to go public about an alleged affair she had with Trump.

The president then tweeted, “A sketch years later about a nonexistent man. A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)!”

Clifford’s lawsuit called the tweet false and defamatory. Trump has denied having an affair with Clifford.

I’m Jim Henry. Straight ahead: the nation’s report card. And Jenny Lind Schmitt reports on Ireland’s upcoming abortion referendum. This is The World and Everything in It.

(AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini) Security forces run from the site of a suicide attack after the second bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, April 30, 2018. 

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