Toronto council may further restrict embattled mayor’s powers
TORONTO (Reuters) – The Toronto city council may further curb the powers of embattled Mayor Rob Ford on Monday, slashing his office budget and offering his staff a chance to transfer to new jobs.
Russia steps up diplomatic push for Syria peace talks
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia hosted Syrian and Iranian delegations for separate rounds of talks on Monday in a renewed diplomatic push for a Syrian peace conference in which Moscow says Tehran must also play a role.
Argentina’s Fernandez eases back to presidential duties after surgery: government
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Argentine President Cristina Fernandez resumed her duties on Monday though her agenda was confined to meetings with senior officials after recuperating from brain surgery the past five weeks, her office said.
South African court postpones case against Zuma critic Malema
POLOKWANE, South Africa (Reuters) – A South African court on Monday postponed a corruption case against politician Julius Malema until late next year, removing a potential obstacle to the vocal critic of President Jacob Zuma standing in elections again…
U.S.-Afghan security pact hits impasse as time runs out
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan President Hamid Karzai has rejected a provision of a U.S.-Afghan security pact, putting the entire deal in jeopardy just days before the country’s elite gather to debate it, a senior Afghan official and a Western diplomat said….
Putin accused of Soviet tactics in drafting new history book
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A call by President Vladimir Putin for a new textbook that reconciles differences over Russia’s past has left him facing accusations of copying Soviet leaders by rewriting history for political ends.
Danish PM’s party rebound fuels speculation of early election
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – The Danish prime minister’s Social Democratic Party edged ahead of its main rival for the first time in two years in a poll released on Monday, fuelling media speculation of an early election.
Iranian dissidents say Iran has built secret new nuclear site
PARIS (Reuters) – An exiled Iranian opposition group said on Monday it had information about an underground nuclear site being built in Iran and that this was among a number of secret venues for an atomic bomb program.
Sectarian violence spreads in Pakistan after days of unrest
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (Reuters) – Sectarian violence spread in Pakistan on Monday after clashes between minority Shi’ite and majority Sunni Muslims near the capital Islamabad prompted the government to impose a curfew and block mobile phone servic…
Pakistan wants to try former dictator Musharraf for treason
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan moved on Monday to put former military dictator Pervez Musharraf on trial for treason for suspending the constitution and declaring a state of emergency while he was in power.
