Syria’s Assad says wants actions, not words from Kerry
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad dismissed on Monday remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry that Assad should be included in negotiations to reach a political transition, saying “declarations from outside do not concern u…
Nigeria’s military says Bama city in Borno recaptured from Boko Haram
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s military said on Monday that it had recaptured Bama, the second biggest city in the northeasterly Borno state, from the Islamist Boko Haram insurgents who have controlled it since September.
Merkel invites Greek PM to Berlin as tensions simmer
ATHENS (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel has invited Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to Berlin for talks next week but tensions simmered as Germany’s finance minister accused the new Athens government of destroying all trust in Greece.
U.N. expert to probe conditions of North Korean workers abroad
GENEVA (Reuters) – The U.N. human rights investigator for North Korea said on Monday that he would probe allegations of an estimated 20,000 North Koreans working in slave-like conditions abroad, mainly in China, Russia and the Middle East.
EU and France deny any change in Syria policy
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union and France denied any change in Western policy on Syria on Monday after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States would have to negotiate with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a political tran…
Mali rebels reject proposed peace deal and demand more talks
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Rebels and community leaders in northern Mali have rejected a U.N.-brokered preliminary peace deal after days of discussions in the desert region they call Azawad and are demanding further negotiations.
U.S. returns scores of smuggled artifacts to Iraq government
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – More than 60 Iraqi cultural artifacts smuggled into the United States, including a limestone statue of an ancient king, were returned to the government of Iraq on Monday, the Department of Homeland Security said.
Russia’s Putin reappears after 10 day absence, laughs off ‘gossip’
STRELNA, Russia (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin reappeared on Monday after 10 unexplained days out of public view, laughing off the “gossip” over his health that had erupted during his absence.
EU chooses Italian negotiator as EU Middle East envoy
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union chose on Monday a veteran Italian negotiator as the bloc’s special representative to the Middle East, a decision EU officials said had no bearing on the role of former British prime minister Tony Blair in the reg…
U.N. concerned by Islamic State’s ability to unite Afghan insurgents
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations is concerned by the presence of Islamic State in Afghanistan but says the militant group’s power to unite insurgents is more significant than its capabilities in the war-torn country, a top U.N. official sa…
