Syrian opposition wants rebel backing for Geneva talks
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Syria’s opposition is edging towards agreeing to international peace talks in Geneva but wants approval from fighters inside the country first to give the process more legitimacy, its spokesman said at talks in Istanbul.
U.N. expert on labor abuse urges Qatar to end sponsorship system
DOHA (Reuters) – A U.N. official called on Qatar on Sunday to abolish a sponsorship system for migrant workers he said was a source of labor abuse, raising pressure on the 2022 World Cup host for reforms of its workplace practices.
African workers in Riyadh seek repatriation after two riot deaths
RIYADH (Reuters) – Thousands of mostly African workers gathered in Riyadh on Sunday seeking repatriation after two people were killed in overnight rioting that followed a visa crackdown by Saudi authorities.
Czech leftist party gives leader Sobotka mandate to form cabinet
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech center-left Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka won a strong mandate from his party on Sunday to try to form a government with two centrist parties following an early election two weeks ago.
Bulgarian students protest to demand government resignation
SOFIA (Reuters) – Thousands of students marched in downtown Sofia on Sunday to complain that Bulgaria was still not stable, prosperous or well governed, exactly 24 years after the end of communist rule.
Nine go on trial for plotting to kill Yemeni president
SANAA (Reuters) – Nine suspected al Qaeda members went on trial in Yemen on Sunday, accused of plotting to assassinate President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, kill military and security officers and kidnap foreigners, state news agency Saba reported.
Founder of new China party aims to work within system
BEIJING (Reuters) – For someone who has just set up a new political party in the face of a de facto ban by a Chinese government that tolerates no dissent, Wang Zheng has surprisingly modest aims.
Israeli right-winger Lieberman to return as foreign minister
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – The Israeli cabinet approved on Sunday the return of far-right leader Avigdor Lieberman as foreign minister after his acquittal on corruption charges, in a move that could further complicate peace talks with the Palestinians.
Bahrain jails four for car bomb outside mosque
MANAMA (Reuters) – A Bahraini court sentenced two men to life in prison and two others to 15 years for a car bomb attack outside a mosque in July, state news agency BNA said on Sunday.
Twitter account associated with Iran’s leader criticizes France
DUBAI (Reuters) – A Twitter account Iran experts believe is run by the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated criticism of France on Sunday after Paris expressed reservations about a proposed deal to end a dispute over Tehran’s nucl…
