Syria says army retakes Homs district from rebels
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian troops drove insurgents from central Homs on Monday, tightening their siege on remaining rebel bastions in the city, which links Damascus to the Mediterranean heartland of President Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite sect.
Egypt to push ahead with smart cards for gasoline
CAIRO (Reuters) – The new Egyptian government will press ahead with a smart card program for distributing fuel products that its predecessor had started before it was ousted by the military, the Finance Ministry said on Monday.
Italian bus crash kills 39; second European transport disaster in five days
MONTEFORTE IRPINO, Italy (Reuters) – Thirty-nine people were killed and around 10 injured when a bus plunged off a viaduct in southern Italy in what Prime Minister Enrico Letta described on Monday as a huge tragedy.
China military puts best foot forward, plays down tensions
LINTONG, China (Reuters) – With handshakes and smiles, China’s military put its best foot forward on Monday as it opened a secretive base to a rare visit by journalists, in an effort to allay Asia’s growing fears about the country’s strategic intention…
Kurds could help shift course of war in Syria
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The head of Turkey’s main Kurdish party has welcomed contacts between the Ankara government and Syria’s Kurds, saying it could step up pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and help change the course of the civil war,
Iran’s Rouhani to pack cabinet with old hands
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian President-elect Hassan Rouhani will pick a cabinet of experienced insiders and will appoint the head of a powerful charity-cum-business foundation as his chief nuclear negotiator, Iranian news agencies said on Monday.
Pope says Vatican bank must be ‘honest and transparent’
ROME (Reuters) – Pope Francis said the troubled Vatican bank must become “honest and transparent” and that he will listen to the advice of a commission he has set up on whether it can be reformed or needs to be shut down altogether.
Tunisian army declares protest area ‘closed military zone’
TUNIS (Reuters) – The Tunisian army used barbed wire to shut down a main square being used by pro- and anti-government protesters in the capital on Monday, declaring it “a closed military zone”.
Vatican confirms deal on bank information with Italy
ROME (Reuters) – Italy and the Vatican have signed an agreement over exchanging financial and bank information to combat money laundering, the Vatican said on Monday.
India, Pakistan edge toward talks but old distrust remains
NEW DELHI/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Nuclear-armed rivals Pakistan and India are edging closer to restarting peace talks that stalled in January after two Indian soldiers were killed and their bodies mutilated in a clash in the disputed Himalayan region of …
