Vatican on alert for Islamist attack, but no plot: security chief
ROME (Reuters) – The Vatican is on alert in case of an attack by Islamist militants against the city-state or Pope Francis, but officials are not aware of any specific plot, the head of Vatican security said in a rare interview.
Tanzania albinos decry politicians as police halt protest over killings
DAR ES SALAAM (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Tanzanian police banned a demonstration on Monday to protest against attacks and murders of albinos, fuelling concerns that authorities are not committed to ending violence against albinos whose body parts are highly valued in witchcraft.
Pro-Russian rebels train for more fighting despite Ukraine truce
DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) – A ceasefire is broadly holding at last on the front line in eastern Ukraine, but fighters in the separatist stronghold of Donetsk are training for another round of clashes against government troops.
EU seeks to bolster Middle East Quartet via Arab involvement
JERUSALEM/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – High-level discussions are underway on increasing involvement of Arab powers to reinvigorate a four-member group overseen by Britain’s Tony Blair that has been seeking to mediate in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since …
Brazil truckers continue some roadblocks after crackdown
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – Striking truck drivers resumed some roadblocks in Brazil on Monday even as the government cracked down on protesters and promised to implement a law to lower toll costs and give other benefits to the transport sector.
Myanmar president hosts rare Suu Kyi talks amid constitution debate
YANGON (Reuters) – – Myanmar President Thein Sein had a rare meeting on Monday with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss constitutional changes and the first election under the country’s new democratic system, a minister said.
Nemtsov’s shaken girlfriend says she didn’t see killer
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Boris Nemtsov’s girlfriend has broken her public silence on the murder of the Russian opposition activist, saying she did not see the killer who gunned him down as they strolled across a bridge near the Kremlin.
Kerry rebukes U.N. Rights Council as ‘obsessed’ with Israel
GENEVA (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry accused the U.N. Human Rights Council on Monday of being obsessed by allegations of Israeli abuses and said the United States would defend Israel against efforts to isolate it.
U.S. ambassador meets Yemen’s Hadi in Aden
SANAA (Reuters) – The U.S. ambassador to Yemen visited President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi in Aden on Sunday, their first public meeting since Washington closed its embassy in Sanaa last month after Houthis took full control there.
Jordan cabinet reshuffle solidifies PM Ensour’s mandate
AMMAN (Reuters) – Jordan’s Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour announced a cabinet reshuffle on Monday that will solidify his mandate to accelerate economic reforms seen as crucial to meet the U.S.-allied country’s challenges.
