Russia’s Olympic ban strengthens Putin’s re-election hand
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Opinion polls show Vladimir Putin is already a shoo-in to win a fourth presidential term. But a ban on Russia taking part in the Winter Olympics is likely to make support for him even stronger, by uniting voters around his message: T…
Mexico’s ruling party presidential hopeful trails leftist: poll
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Former Mexico finance minister Jose Antonio Meade, who resigned to seek the presidential nomination of the ruling party, is lagging far behind in public support ahead of next year’s election, according to a newspaper poll publis…
U.S., France urge Russia to ‘deliver’ Assad delegation to Syria peace talks
GENEVA (Reuters) – The United States and France called on Russia on Wednesday to deliver the delegation of President Bashar al-Assad to Syria peace talks in Geneva after discussions on ending the six-year war resumed with no sign of the government atte…
Czech president appoints Andrej Babis as new prime minister
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech billionaire businessman Andrej Babis was appointed prime minister on Wednesday after his ANO party came first in an October election, and he must now focus on securing parliamentary backing for a minority administration.
Defying warnings of new conflict, Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – President Donald Trump will announce on Wednesday that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and will move its embassy there, breaking with longtime U.S. policy and potentially threatening regi…
Irish PM says can pick up Brexit talks in new year if deal not possible
DUBLIN (Reuters) – Brexit negotiations can move to phase two next week only on the basis of the tentative Irish border agreement which collapsed on Monday, otherwise talks to break through the impasse will resume in the new year, Irish Prime Minister L…
Greek top court to decide Dec. 13 on Russia cyber suspect extradition
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s Supreme Court will decide on Dec. 13 whether to extradite a Russian to the United States where authorities want to put him on trial for laundering $4 billion via a bitcoin platform.
Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, defying warnings of unrest
WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – President Donald Trump will announce on Wednesday that the United States recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and will move its embassy there, breaking with longtime U.S. policy and potentially threatening regi…
Macron says time to move on from Algeria’s colonial past
ALGIERS (Reuters) – President Emmanuel Macron visited Algeria on Wednesday where he pressed for a new chapter in relations and said he would not be held hostage by France’s colonial past, in remarks published by a local newspaper.
Russia’s Putin says to decide soon if he will run for re-election
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday he would decide very soon whether to run for re-election next year, something he is widely expected to do and comfortably win.
