Exclusive: Russia signs deal to forgive $29 billion of Cuba’s Soviet-era debt – diplomats
HAVANA (Reuters) – Russia and Cuba have quietly signed an agreement to write off 90 percent of Cuba’s $32 billion debt to the defunct Soviet Union, a deal that ends a 20-year squabble and opens the way for more investment and trade, Russian and Europea…
Yanukovich backs Ukraine compromise talks as tensions rise
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich backed a call for talks with the opposition on Monday to end weeks of protests in Kiev, but tension was high with pro-Europe demonstrators barricading their protest camp in preparation for police i…
Former rebel mayor of Colombia’s capital removed from post
BOGOTA (Reuters) – The leftist mayor of Colombia’s capital was removed from his post on Monday for the mismanagement of garbage collection and banned from holding office for 15 years, a blow to the nation’s left as peace talks continue with Marxist FAR…
Putin dissolves state news agency, tightens grip on media
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin tightened his hold on Russia’s media on Monday by dissolving the main state news agency, seen by hawks as too liberal, and creating a new outlet to improve Moscow’s image under a more conservative editor.
Turkish court frees lawmaker in coup plot case pending appeal
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Journalist and elected parliamentarian Mustafa Balbay was freed from prison on Monday pending appeal after Turkey’s Constitutional Court ruled his pre-trial detention period of more than four years had violated his rights.
U.N. to inspect Libya’s uranium stocks amid worsening security
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A U.N. nuclear team will visit Libya this month to assess the safety of thousands of barrels of milled uranium – known as yellowcake – amid concerns about the country’s deteriorating security situation, a U.N. official said o…
Canada to lay claim to North Pole amid Arctic resources rush
OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada intends to lay claim to the North Pole as part of a bid to assert control over a large part of the resource-rich Arctic, Foreign Minister John Baird said on Monday.
Finance watchdog welcomes Vatican reform, urges bank oversight
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – A European committee evaluating the Vatican’s financial reforms said the Holy See had made significant progress but needed more internal controls over its bank and another key financial office, sources familiar with the report …
Saudi call for Gulf Arab union faces hurdles at summit
KUWAIT (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s dream of binding the Gulf Arab states into a union will get a skeptical hearing at a summit this week, with differences over Iran, Egypt and Syria demonstrating that the Gulf’s absolute monarchs do not all speak with o…
Turkish court frees lawmaker in coup plot case pending appeal
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Journalist and elected parliamentarian Mustafa Balbay was freed from prison on Monday pending appeal after Turkey’s Constitutional Court ruled his pre-trial detention period of more than four years had violated his rights.
