ITALY
Foreign minister to ascend
Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni was tapped Sunday to form a new, Democrat-led government and end a political crisis so the country can quickly tackle pressing problems, which include troubled banks, an economy resisting growth and an electoral reform aimed at finally making the nation more governable. Italy is due to participate in a European Council meeting on Thursday in Brussels, where participants are expected to discuss key problems including migration, security and how to deal with Britain’s decision to quit the European Union. If no snags develop, Gentiloni, 62, could be sworn in as premier early this week.
New Zealand
Prime minister to be sworn in
Bill English, New Zealand’s finance minister and a former farmer, will be sworn in as the 39th prime minister on Monday after his colleagues in the Parliament chose him as their new leader. English emerged victorious from a meeting of the conservative National Party caucus. His ascension from deputy prime minister follows the surprise resignation last week of John Key after eight years as prime minister. Key was expected to contest a fourth straight election next year, but he said he wanted to spend more time with his wife and children.
TURKEY
U.S. resolves to back nation
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has issued a statement expressing his condolences to victims’ families after the twin bombings in Istanbul. Carter also said “this attack only redoubles our resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with our Turkish allies in condemning these attacks and relentlessly combatting terrorism.” He said that the U.S. remains “committed to working closely with Turkey within NATO” and the coalition fighting the Islamic State group. A Kurdish militant group has claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attacks near a soccer stadium that killed 38 people, mostly police, and wounded scores of others.
Macedonia
‘Queen of Gypsy music’ dies
Esma Redzepova, one of the top voices in the world of Gypsy music, died in Skopje on Sunday after a brief illness, local media reported. She was 73. Called the “Queen of Gypsy music,” Redzepova in 2010 was ranked among the 50 greatest voices in the world by National Public Radio. She was the leading voice of her husband Stevo Teodosievski’s ensemble, which played Roma and Macedonian folk music. In 2013, she participated in the Eurovision song contest.
Compiled from wire reports.