Israel, Palestinians seek another meeting Monday: U.S. official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Israeli and Palestinian negotiators held “serious and constructive” talks Sunday and asked the United States to convene another meeting on Monday, a U.S. State Department official said.
Pakistani forces kill 30 separatists in Baluchistan: official
QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistani security forces killed 30 separatist militants on Monday in an offensive in Baluchistan, a senior official said, in one of the biggest clashes in months in the gas-rich province.
Spain busts group accused of plans to send arms machinery to Iran
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain said on Monday it had dismantled a group it accused of plotting to send industrial equipment to Iran that could be used for weapon manufacture in violation of international sanctions.
France says Southern Libya now a ‘viper’s nest’ for Islamist militants
PARIS (Reuters) – Southern Libya has become a “viper’s nest” for Islamist militants and the only way to tackle it is with a strong collective response from neighbouring countries, France’s defence minister said in remarks published on Monday.
Protests in eastern Ukraine aimed at bringing in Russian troops, warns PM
KIEV (Reuters) – Protests in eastern Ukraine in which pro-Russian activists seized public buildings in three cities are part of a plan to destabilize Ukraine and bring in Russian troops, Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said on Monday.
Japan, Australia clinch trade deal as U.S.-Tokyo talks heat up
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan and Australia clinched a basic trade deal on Monday to cut import tariffs, as U.S. and Japanese officials stepped up efforts to reach a parallel agreement that would re-energize stalled talks on a broader regional pact.
Bouteflika to focus on Algerian economic reform: official
PARIS (Reuters) – Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has recovered strongly enough from a stroke to govern and will push economic reforms, including loosening restrictions on foreign investors if re-elected this month, campaign spokesman Amara Ben…
Pakistan military will ‘preserve dignity’ despite ex-chief’s trial
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s military will protect its dignity “at all costs”, the army chief said on Monday in an apparent show of irritation over the treason trial of former army chief and president Pervez Musharraf.
Egypt court upholds jailing of leading pro-democracy activists
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian appeals court on Monday upheld the jailing of three leading figures of the 2011 pro-democracy uprising, tightening a crackdown on secular activists opposed to the army-backed government.
Syria’s Assad secure, will seek re-election: Hezbollah leader
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will stand for re-election this year and no longer faces a threat of being overthrown, the head of his Lebanese Shi’ite ally Hezbollah said in an interview published on Monday.
