U.S. has sense of urgency but no timeline on Syria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration has not set a timeline for responding to the use of chemical weapons in Syria but officials are preparing options for President Barack Obama with a sense of urgency, the State Department said on Monday.
White House says it is undeniable that chemical weapons used in Syria
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House said on Monday that it is undeniable that chemical weapons were used in Syria and that there is little doubt that the Syrian government used them.
Tropical depression Fernand kills 13 as it weakens over Mexico
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Thirteen people were killed when torrential rains triggered deadly landslides as a weakening tropical depression Fernand moved northwest over central Mexico on Monday and away from the country’s major oil installations.
Italy PM forges ahead with cuts even as coalition row rages
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s cabinet passed a package of measures to trim public spending on Monday, undeterred by a row with Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right party that is threatening to bring down the prime minister’s coalition and has rattled markets.
Cuban state begins to move out of the restaurant business
HAVANA (Reuters) – More than 20 state restaurants in Cuba are about to become employee-run cooperatives as Raul Castro’s communist government continues its retreat from running just about everything on the Caribbean island.
Congo army battles M23 rebels near eastern city of Goma
GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – Congo’s army said it clashed with eastern rebels on Monday, ending a brief lull in days of fighting that has killed and wounded dozens.
India’s Sonia Gandhi falls ill in parliament, hospitalized
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Sonia Gandhi, the president of India’s ruling Congress party who is widely seen as the country’s most powerful politician, was taken to hospital on Monday after feeling unwell during a marathon parliament debate on a major new foo…
United Nations says it will contact United States over spying report
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations said on Monday it plans to contact the United States over a report that the U.S. National Security Agency bugged its New York headquarters and warned that countries are expected to respect the world body’s …
Syrian Kurdish leader says Assad not to blame for attack
BERLIN (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would not be “so stupid” as to use chemical weapons close to Damascus, the leader of the country’s largest Kurdish group said.
Indian parliament approves $20 billion cheap grain plan for poor
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s lower house of parliament approved a plan worth nearly $20 billion on Monday to provide cheap grain to the poor, a key part of the ruling Congress party’s strategy to win re-election.