Iraq attacks kill 17, army fights to retake town from militants
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) – At least 17 people were killed in attacks across Iraq on Sunday as troops fought to evict Islamist militants from the northern town of Sulaiman Pek, security sources and medics said.
Spotlight on ex-first lady Bruni as France’s Sarkozy eyes comeback
PARIS (Reuters) – As he quietly bides his time preparing a possible 2017 political comeback, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has a winning asset very much in the spotlight – his wife.
Germany’s Merkel to meet coalition leaders Tuesday as crisis looms
BERLIN (Reuters) – Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet leaders of her coalition partners, the Social Democrats (SPD) and Christian Social Union (CSU), on Tuesday to try to resolve a crisis over the forced exit of a conservative minister.
Italy’s Renzi must reform troubled economy with awkward alliance
ROME (Reuters) – Center-left leader Matteo Renzi, expected to form Italy’s next government this week, must overhaul one of the euro zone’s most troubled economies without an electoral mandate and while awkwardly sharing power with a center-right rival….
Barroso ruffles Scottish feathers over EU membership
LONDON (Reuters) – European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said states breaking away from existing EU countries would struggle to gain EU membership, further complicating Scottish nationalists’ already uncertain plans for independence.
Ex-government officials in Oman jailed for abuse of office
DUBAI (Reuters) – A court in Oman sentenced two ex-government officials on Sunday to three years in jail for abuse of office, local media reported, one of a series of trials that began last year to curb corruption in the Gulf Arab state.
Iraq Shi’ite cleric who fought U.S. forces says quitting politics
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Shi’ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who led revolts against U.S. forces in Iraq before their pullout and became a major influence in the government, said he is leaving political life and has dissolved his movement.
Thai police fail to reach deal with protesters
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai police and a prominent protest leader failed to reach a deal on Sunday to reopen state offices and roads in Bangkok that have been occupied for months by protesters seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
North Korea prison camp survivor awaits U.N. report with hope, despair
SEOUL (Reuters) – After a year of investigation, the United Nations is set to release a detailed report on human rights violations in North Korea that could pave the way for criminal prosecution in an international court.
Kerry tours giant mosque in Indonesia
JAKARTA (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spent part of his Sunday in his stocking feet at an Indonesian mosque, at one point beating a huge drum used to call Muslims to prayer.
