It's 15: 00 Universal Time, and here is the news from the Voice of America. From the VOA News Center in Washington, I'm Gloria Gibson. The United States and Britain closed the embassies in Yemen Sunday because of concerns over ongoing terrorist threats. The closures come after two nations pledged to boost counterterrorism (support) to the Yemeni government. More from VOA's Elizabeth Arrott. The US embassy's website said the (threats) come from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the group linked to the (failed) Christmas Day airplane bombing attempt in the United States. The Nigerian suspect in the case told US authorities he received (training) from al-Qaeda affiliates in Yemen. The closures come a day after US General David Ptraeus visited the capital, Sana'a, to discuss security (issues) with President Ali Abdullah Saleh. The influential (general) who oversees the US wars in Afghanistan and Iraq recently announced that Washington would more than double its security aid to the impoverished nation. Editor Hakim Almasmari of the Yemen Post newspaper. "Al-Qaeda right now is not very strong. If the US does attack Yemen, Al-Qaeda will get stronger and stronger. " The situation has gained new (urgency) as the government in Sana'a find itself overwhelmed not only by the growing terrorist threat but also two separate (rebellions), one of which is becoming something of a proxy war at least in rhetoric between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Elizabeth Arrott, VOA News, Cairo. Pakistani police say a roadside bomb has killed a former provincial minister and at least two other people in the country's (restive) northwest region. Officials say the blast hit the car in which Ghaniur Rehman was travelling. Police say his driver and bodyguards were also killed in Sunday's attack in the Hangu district in the North West Frontier Province. A spokesperson for Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai says he is not happy with parliament's rejection of 17 of his 24 cabinet (nominees). But they say that he will submit another roster of nominees for (approval). Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal says his Palestinian Islamic group is making great (strides) in reconciling with the rival Fatah faction. The death toll is up to at least 30 from a battle between two Islamic groups in central Somalia. The insurgent group al-Shabab tried to seize a town from a group that (backs) the Somali government. VOA correspondent Alisha Ryu has the details. Ahlu-Sunna spokesman Sheik Abdullahi Sheik AbuYusuf says heavily-armed al-Shabab fighters attacked Dhusamareb town early Saturday with (gunfire) and mortars. The spokesman says many al-Shabab fighters were killed in the day long battle and Ahlu-Sunna is still in control of the town in Galgadud region about 560 kilometers north of Mogadishu. His group, he says, will re-double its efforts to win the war against al-Shabab. But late Saturday the Mogadishu-based (spokesman) for al-Shabab, Ali Mohamed Rage, also claimed victory. Rage says al-Shabab received (assistance) from locals to defeat Ahlu-Sunna forces in Dhusamareb. He says al-Shabab now has control of the town. Eye witnesses say most of the residents have fled, fearing more violence between the Islamic rivals. Alisha Ryu, VOA News, Nairobi. Officials in Spain say the number of (illegal) immigrants reaching the country's Canary Islands from Africa has fallen to a ten-year low. They attribute the (decline) to stepped-up patrol of Spain's Coast and to a recession that has caused unemployment in Spain to rise nearly 20 percent. Each year tens of thousands of Africans tried to reach Europe via the Middle East to escape (poverty), prosecution or conflict in their homelands. The Ugandan military says its troops have killed a top commander of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army. Officials say General Bok Abudema was killed Friday during a raid in the southeastern Central African Republic. South African President Jacob Zuma is said to formally marry a third wife on Monday. Polygamy is a tradition among Zulu men who can (afford) it. In addition to his current three wives, Mr. Zuma has had two other wives in the past. Heavy snow hit the Chinese capital Beijing Saturday, slowing traffic and strangling thousands of people at the main airport. The Beijing Meteorological Station says snowstorms are (expected) to continue through Monday. I'm Gloria Gibson, VOA News. More news on the internet at voanews. com.