Air strike hits Syrian market, opposition says truce must be respected
BEIRUT/GENEVA (Reuters) – A Syrian or Russian air strike was reported to have killed at least 19 people and possibly many more at a market in northwestern Syria on Monday, straining a cessation of hostilities agreement meant to pave the way for peace t…
Turkey’s Zaman vows to continue as opposition newspaper in German exile
BERLIN (Reuters) – Turkey’s top-selling newspaper Zaman plans to continue publishing as an opposition daily in Germany after it was taken over by the state in its home country, the editor-in-chief of Zaman Almanya (Zaman Germany) said on Monday.
Swedish diplomat visits U.S. student detained in North Korea
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Swedish diplomat acting on behalf of the United States last week visited a U.S. student who has been held by North Korea since early January, the U.S. State Department said on Monday.
Slovak PM Fico stands little chance of forming government
BRATISLAVA (Reuters) – Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico on Monday looked to have little chance of forming a government after his leftist Smer party lost its parliamentary majority, raising the possibility that a center-right grouping may eventuall…
U.S. takes North Korea nuclear threats seriously: State Department
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department said on Monday the United States took North Korean threats to use nuclear weapons seriously and urged Pyongyang to halt its provocations, including testing nuclear devices and long-range rockets.
EU needs more time to agree Turkey migration plan: EU official
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union leaders will not be able to agree on Monday to an ambitious plan put forward by Turkey to stop migrants flooding into Europe but will welcome the proposals and keep working on them in coming days, an EU official said…
Europe must share refugee burden with Turkey: UNHCR chief
GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations refugee chief said on Monday he was “very concerned” about what solution European leaders were debating and called for countries to share the burden with Turkey by taking in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees…
Lula’s friend mulls plea bargain deal in Brazil probe: media
BRASILIA (Reuters) – A friend of Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrested in November for allegedly taking out a fraudulent loan for the ruling Workers’ Party is negotiating a plea bargain deal with prosecutors, newspaper Valor Econ…
Colombia mines minister Gonzalez resigns over energy problems
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s Mines and Energy Minister Tomas Gonzalez has resigned his post, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Monday, amid a series of energy generation problems sparked by drought.
Militants attack Tunisian forces near Libyan border, 50 killed
TUNIS (Reuters) – Dozens of Islamist fighters stormed through the Tunisian town of Ben Guerdan near the Libyan border on Monday, attacking army and police posts in a raid that killed at least 53 people, including civilians, the government and residents…
