Natural gas supply cleared for Europe

Ukraine today accepted a deal on the European Union-led monitoring of Russian gas transit across its territory, opening the way for restarting Russian natural gas supplies to a freezing Europe after a four-day halt in shipments.

Russia wanted the written deal to renew gas shipments suspended amid a bitter contract dispute with Ukraine.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, shuttled between Moscow and Kiev on Saturday to mediate the deal. He finally persuaded Ukraine to accept the monitoring pact during marathon talks that dragged past midnight.

Washington

Canada tops list for Obama travel

President-elect Barack Obama plans to take his first international trip to Canada.

Transition aides said Saturday that Obama picked the United States’ northern neighbor as his first venture outside the country as president. Aides say they could not discuss the date for the trip or its agenda.

Obama meets Monday with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, his first in-person meeting with a world leader since winning election.