The poll numbers are in after the debate. That’s the subject of this evening’s “Talking Points Memo.” A newABC News (search)poll and a“Newsweek” (search)poll both say Americans believe John Kerry won the debate by a decisive margin, but the polls diverge on what that means. ABC has Bush ahead, 51-46. …

HANOI, Vietnam – Vietnam’s prime minister on Thursday ordered a swift investigation into a scaffolding collapse that killed 13 workers and injured dozens, while a unit of South Korea’s Samsung Group involved in the construction project offered initial assistance to victims’ families. All the victims were Vietnamese subcontractors working on …

UNITED NATIONS – The global chemical weapons watchdog said in a new report that it has destroyed two Syrian chemical weapons facilities and expects the destruction of all 12 facilities to be completed this summer. Ahmet Uzumcu, head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, said in his …

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran said Thursday that a team of special operatives has freed an Iranian diplomat abducted more than 19 months ago in Yemen, a rare acknowledgement by Tehran of an intel operation carried out on foreign soil. The official IRNA news agency quoted deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdolahian …

BAMAKO, Mali – A Mali army official says at least two soldiers were killed in an ambush in the country’s north. Col. Souleymane Maiga said Monday that three more troops were wounded during the attack Sunday near Douekire, 30 miles (45 kilometers) west of the city of Timbuktu. The troops …

MOSCOW – A Russian court has arrested a mother of seven on treason charges for providing Ukraine with information on Russian troop movements. Moscow’s Lefortovsky court put Svetlana Davydova in custody last week on the charges, which carry a prison sentence of up to 20 years. The court didn’t provide …

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s interior minister says security forces have arrested a key suspect in the slaying of a prominent Pakistani politician who was stabbed to death in broad daylight in London in 2010. The slain politician, Imran Farooq, was a senior leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, one of Pakistan’s …

TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is harshly criticizing Saudi Arabia, warning that the Saudi royal family in Riyadh will harvest the hatred it is sowing in Yemen through its airstrike campaign. Since March 26, the Saudi-led coalition has been attacking Shiite rebels known as Houthis and allied fighters …

BEIJING – A Chinese official has publicly denied rumors of an “exodus” of bureaucrats from civil service following reports of widespread unhappiness over poor working conditions and an anti-corruption drive. Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security spokesman Li Zhong told reporters Friday that some resignations were to be expected. …

BERLIN – A German train drivers’ union says they will stage another strike after talks with the country’s main railway operator over the weekend failed to produce an agreement. The GDL union said Monday that freight train drivers would go on strike Tuesday and passenger train drivers would follow Wednesday, …