Russia sending aid convoy to Ukraine despite Western warnings of ‘invasion pretext’
BRUSSELS/DONETSK (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin said on Monday Russia is sending an aid convoy to eastern Ukraine despite urgent Western warnings against using humanitarian help as a pretext for an invasion.
Mexican president signs landmark energy reform into law
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Monday signed a package of laws that will serve as a rule book for comprehensive energy reform designed to lure billions of dollars in investment to the country’s ailing oil, gas and elect…
U.S. to monitor South China Sea for de-escalation after China rebuff
SYDNEY (Reuters) – The United States will monitor the South China Sea to see whether “de-escalatory steps” are being taken, a U.S. State Department official said on Monday, a day after China resisted pressure to rein in actions in the disputed waters.
FARC chief says Colombia peace deal unlikely this year
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia is unlikely to sign a peace accord with Marxist rebels this year as the remaining items on the negotiating agenda are complex and time consuming, FARC guerrilla leader Rodrigo Londono said.
Kerry condemns South Sudan, rebels as deadline passes
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Monday condemned South Sudan’s government and rebels for failing to form a transitional government by Sunday’s deadline, calling it “an outrage and an insult to their citizens.”
Yemeni president vows relentless fight against militants
ADEN (Reuters) – The Yemeni president vowed on Monday a relentless fight against al Qaeda insurgents who killed 14 soldiers last week, as the army dispatched troops and warplanes to try and track down the militants.
NATO chief says will have to decide on Afghan pullout soon
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO will soon be forced to take a decision on a total pullout from Afghanistan unless a deadlock over the country’s election ends and a new president signs an agreement allowing foreign forces to stay, the head of the alliance sai…
Turkey’s Erdogan seeks strong, but pliant successor as PM
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish president-elect Tayyip Erdogan began the process of picking his successor as prime minister on Monday, a figure he hopes will triumph in next year’s general election and secure his goal of forging a powerful presidency.
Central African rebels reject new PM, refuse to join government
BANGUI (Reuters) – Central African Republic’s northern Seleka rebels said on Monday they would not take part in a national unity government as they were not consulted about the choice of prime minister and said they may rethink last month’s ceasefire d…
East Africa seeks help to stem surge in heroin smuggling: U.N.
NAIROBI (Reuters) – East African states worried by a surge in heroin smuggling via their Indian Ocean ports want to boost intelligence sharing and possibly try suspected traffickers in local courts, an official at the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (OD…
