New York
U.N. warns U.S. against illegal spying
United Nations officials reacted to the latest leaks about U.S. National Security Agency spying with a reminder to the Obama administration of its legal obligation to respect the "inviolability" of diplomatic missions on U.S. soil. The German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that the NSA had infiltrated the U.N. videoconferencing network to eavesdrop on diplomatic missions in New York.
Mexico
Tropical storm Fernand kills 13
Tropical storm Fernand killed 13 people in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz. The storm hit Veracruz, on the Caribbean, late Sunday with strong winds, heavy rain, mudslides and flooding. The storm has been degraded to a tropical depression.
Afghanistan
Karzai, Sharif meet, pledge cooperation
Afghan President Hamid Karzai met with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and won a pledge of support for carrying out a joint campaign against militants, jump-starting peace talks with the Taliban and improving economic ties. The visit was Karzai's first to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad since Sharif was elected in May.
Cuba
FARC rejects vote on peace deal
The left-wing rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, have rejected a proposal by the Colombian government for a referendum on any peace deal. the group's chief negotiator, Ivan Marquez, said. He made the comment in Havana, as peace talks, which were interrupted by a dispute on Friday, resumed.
Japan
Power company loses control of Fukushima
Japan's government will lead "emergency measures" to tackle radioactive water spills at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, wresting control of the disaster recovery from the plant's heavily criticized operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co. "We've allowed Tokyo Electric to deal with the contaminated water situation on its own, and they've essentially turned it into a game of Whac-A-Mole," Trade Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said at Fukushima. "From now on, the government will move to the forefront." Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which is led by Motegi, is drawing up emergency measures to eliminate the roots of the contaminated water problem, the prime minister's office said. Last week, the power company said 300 tons of highly contaminated water had leaked from a storage tank.
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