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.
Militants kill four in Tunisian border attack
TUNIS (Reuters) – Islamist militants disguised as security officials killed three Tunisian policemen and a civilian in an attack near the border with Algeria, the state news agency TAP said on Sunday.
Myanmar journalists on trial for reporting alleged chemical weapons factory
YANGON (Reuters) – Myanmar police have charged five journalists with “disclosing state secrets” after their newspaper carried a story about an alleged chemical weapons factory, state media reported Sunday.
Heavy snow kills 12 in Japan, disrupts power and flights
TOKYO (Reuters) – Heavy snow hit Tokyo and other parts of eastern Japan over the weekend, leaving 12 people dead, hundreds of thousands of households without electricity, and causing major disruptions to air and ground traffic.
Renzi set to become Italy’s youngest prime minister
ROME (Reuters) – Center-left leader Matteo Renzi was set to be nominated as Italy’s youngest prime minister in a matter of days after a party coup forced Enrico Letta to resign as premier of the euro zone state struggling to pull out of recession.
Mediator apologizes to Syrians for lack of peace progress
GENEVA (Reuters) – International mediator Lakhdar Brahimi apologized to the Syrian people for the lack of progress at peace talks in Geneva after their second round ended on Saturday with little more than an agreement to meet again.
