U.S. trying to form ‘alternative bodies of authority’ in Syria: Russia’s Lavrov
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that the United States, despite denying setting up local forces in northern Syria, is trying to form “alternative bodies of authority” that contradict a commitment to Syri…
Merkel upbeat SPD will approve talks with her conservatives
PARIS (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday she was optimistic that Social Democrats (SPD) would approve the start of formal coalition talks with her conservatives at a special party congress this weekend.
U.S. funding hold will hurt U.N. effort to help Palestinian refugees: Russia’s Lavrov
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a U.N. news conference on Friday that the U.S. decision to withhold funds for a U.N. agency that assists Palestinians would seriously undermine efforts to meet the needs of refugees…
Iran nuclear deal cannot survive if U.S. pulls out: Russia’s Lavrov
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday the Iran nuclear deal cannot survive if the United States pulls out of the agreement.
Ex-Honduran minister gets nearly two-and-a-half years prison in U.S. drug case
NEW YORK (Reuters) – A former member of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez’s cabinet was sentenced by a New York federal judge to nearly 2-1/2 years in prison on Friday, after pleading guilty to attempting to launder drug money from the Central …
Protect the Amazon from big business and greed, Pope Francis urges
PUERTO MALDONADO, Peru (Reuters) – Pope Francis issued a ringing defense of the people and the environment of the Amazon on Friday, saying big business and “consumerist greed” could not be allowed to destroy a natural habitat vital for the entire plane…
Germany likely to approve tank upgrades for Turkey: Spiegel
BERLIN (Reuters) – The German government is moving to approve upgrades of Turkey’s Leopard battle tanks by German arms maker Rheinmetall as a further step towards normalizing strained ties with Ankara, Der Spiegel magazine said on Friday.
In Russia, Trump inauguration euphoria leaves lasting hangover
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A year ago on Saturday, Russian nationalists partied in central Moscow to celebrate Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 45th president of the United States.
Venezuelans flock to Colombia in last half of 2017: government
BOGOTA (Reuters) – The number of Venezuelans living in Colombia jumped 62 percent in the last half of 2017 to more than 550,000, its migration authority said on Friday, as Venezuela’s economic devastation hastens migration to the neighboring country.
U.N. seeks release of more Ethiopian ‘political detainees’, reforms
GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations on Friday welcomed Ethiopia freeing 115 detainees, including a senior opposition leader, this week, but called for it to review the status of thousands still jailed and to loosen anti-terror laws and curbs on activ…
