Iceland to Withdraw EU Application: Prime Minister

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Icelandic Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson was cited as saying that participation in EU talks isn't valid any more.
Iceland is expected to withdraw its application to become a member of the European Union, the Reykjavik Grapevine reported Monday, citing the country's prime minister.

"Participating in EU talks isn't really valid anymore. Both due to changes in the European Union and because it's not in line with the policies of the ruling government to accept everything that the last government was willing to accept. Because of that, we're back at square one," Icelandic Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson was cited as saying by the magazine.

US State Department Warns Citizens Against Visiting Crimea, East Ukraine

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The US Department of State has issued a new travel warning urging US citizens to put off their travel to Crimea and conflict-torn eastern Ukraine.

The State Department warned US citizens "to defer all travel to the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk" in a new travel warning issued Monday, as violent clashes continue in parts of the regions despite the Minsk ceasefire agreement, resulting in "thousands of injuries and deaths." The new travel advice supersedes a previous warning issued in August last year.

McCain, Other US, French Officials Accused of Visiting Syria Illegally

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Syria has filed a complaint with the United Nations accusing US Senator McCain as well as other high-ranking US and French officials of illegally entering the country without visas, thus violating its sovereignty.

Syria has accused several senior US and French officials, including Senator John McCain, former French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and former US diplomat Peter Galbraith, of entering the country without visas, thus violating its sovereignty, according to a Reuters report.
"Such actions are a blatant violation of Syria's sovereignty and of the resolutions of the Security Council concerning Syria," the agency quotes Syria's ambassador to UN Bashar Ja'afari as writing in a letter dated December 30, which Reuters received Monday.