Iran invite to Syria talks withdrawn after boycott threat
UNITED NATIONS/ANKARA (Reuters) – U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon withdrew a last-minute invitation to Iran to attend peace talks on Syria on Monday after the Syrian opposition threatened to boycott this week’s conference if President Bashar al-Assad’s main spo…
Ban Ki-moon withdraws Iran’s invite to Syria talks
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday withdrew an offer for Iran to attend Syria peace negotiations after Tehran declared it does not support the June 2012 political transition deal that is the basis for the talks.
Central African Republic names new leader, EU to send troops
BANGUI/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Central African Republic lawmakers chose their capital’s mayor to become interim president on Monday and lead the country out of months of sectarian killings, as the European Union agreed to send in 500 troops to help restor…
German minister asks bankers to help with regulation
FRANKFURT (Reuters) – German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble on Monday urged financiers to use their knowledge to improve international rules aimed at preventing future financial crises.
West, Iran activate landmark nuclear deal
VIENNA/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Iran has halted its most sensitive nuclear operations under a preliminary deal with world powers, winning some relief from economic sanctions on Monday in a ground-breaking exchange that could ease a threat of war.
Italy’s Renzi outlines electoral reform plan, defies critics
ROME (Reuters) – Italian center-left leader Matteo Renzi promised on Monday to reform an electoral system blamed for creating chronic political deadlock, defying party critics who had attacked him for sealing a deal on the proposals with arch-enemy Sil…
Ukrainian leader urges dialogue after street battles
KIEV (Reuters) – President Viktor Yanukovich, reeling from the worst violence for decades in the Ukrainian capital, appealed for compromise on Monday as police and demonstrators clashed again in the streets.
Kerry to meet Israeli, Palestinian negotiators
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will meet Israeli negotiators in Washington on Monday and Palestinian officials later next week in U.S.-brokered peace talks to end their decades-long conflict, the State Department said.
South Sudan says retakes oil state capital Malakal, rebels deny
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudan’s president said his soldiers had seized the regional capital Malakal back from rebels on Monday, a report dismissed by insurgents battling in the world’s newest country.
Al Qaeda offshoot imposes strict Islamic rules in north Syria
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A group linked to al Qaeda, emboldened by its recent victory over rival rebels in Syria, has imposed sweeping restrictions on personal freedoms in the northern province of Raqqa as it seeks to consolidate control over the region.
