Syrian rebels renew fight for Aleppo
AMMAN (Reuters) – Syrian rebels battled President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in and around the northern city of Aleppo on Sunday, seeking to reverse gains made by loyalist forces in the commercial hub over the last two months, activists said.
Egyptian government faces blame in mob sectarian killing
ZAWIYAT ABU MUSALLEM, Egypt (Reuters) – Egypt’s government promised “exemplary punishment” on Monday after the mob killing of four Shi’ite Muslims near Cairo raised fears of wider sectarian bloodshed at a time of grave national crisis.
Czech president signals may appoint technocrat PM on Tuesday
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech President Milos Zeman confirmed on Monday he would announce the name of a new prime minister on Tuesday and gave strong hints he would opt for a technocrat rather than a political nominee, a move that may spark an early electio…
Qatar readies new leadership, little policy change expected
DUBAI (Reuters) – Qatar appeared on Monday to be preparing its population for new leadership that could see the emir and prime minister step down, a step analysts say would not herald big changes in energy, investment or foreign policies.
Egypt steps up Gaza tunnel crackdown, dismaying Palestinians
GAZA (Reuters) – Egypt has intensified a crackdown on smuggling tunnels between its volatile Sinai desert and the Gaza Strip, causing a steep hike in petrol and cement prices in the Palestinian territory.
Italy’s Berlusconi faces verdict in underage sex trial
MILAN (Reuters) – Judges in a Milan court retired to consider their verdict on Monday in a trial in which former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is accused of paying for sex with a minor and abusing the powers of his office to cover it up.
Suicide bomber kills Iraqi counter-terrorism official
TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) – A suicide bomber wearing a vest packed with explosives killed an Iraqi counter-terrorism official on Monday as he left university in the city of Tikrit after sitting an exam, police said.
Conditions for Taliban talks not met yet: Kerry
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday that conditions for talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan had not been met yet, after a spat over a new Taliban office in Qatar threatened to derail peace negotiations.
EU ministers clash over reviving Turkish talks after protests
LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) – European Union ministers clashed over whether to revive membership talks with Turkey on Monday with several countries joining Germany in arguing it would send the wrong signal to reward Ankara after a crackdown on protests.
Man arrested over British family murder in French Alps
LONDON (Reuters) – Police in Britain have arrested a man on suspicion of conspiracy to murder a British family of Iraqi origin who were killed in a high-profile murder in southern France last year.
