Russia sees growing acceptance of Assad as key to Syria talks
GENEVA (Reuters) – U.N.-led Syria talks have a chance of making progress because demands for the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad have receded, Russia’s ambassador in Geneva, Alexei Borodavkin, told reporters on Saturday.
Merkel’s rival to meet Macron in Paris on Thursday
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) leader Martin Schulz will meet French President Emmanuel Macron for talks in Paris on Thursday, a party spokesman said on Saturday.
France calls for swift lifting of sanctions on Qatari nationals
DOHA (Reuters) – France called on Saturday for a swift lifting of sanctions that target Qatari nationals in an effort to ease a month-long rift between the Gulf country and several of its neighbors.
Exclusive: Australia-U.S. refugee swap again in doubt as officials exit Nauru
SYDNEY/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. officials interviewing refugees held in an Australian-run offshore detention center left the facility abruptly, three detainees told Reuters on Saturday, throwing further doubt over a plan to resettle many of the deta…
Iran blames Trump for instability, rejects ‘rogue’ label
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran on Saturday blamed what it called Donald Trump’s “arbitrary and conflicting policies” for global security threats, rejecting the U.S. president’s description of Tehran as a rogue state.
Singapore protest calls for inquiry over PM’s alleged abuse of power
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Around 400 protesters gathered at Singapore’s Speakers’ Corner on Saturday calling for an independent inquiry into whether Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong abused his power in a battle with his siblings over what to do with their la…
Gunmen attack military bases in Ivory Coast cities Abidjan, Korhogo
ABIDJAN (Reuters) – Gunmen attacked military bases in Ivory Coast’s main city of Abidjan and the northern city of Korhogo on Saturday, but were repulsed, a senior military official said.
Merkel tells voters: Brexit, French poll changed my view on Europe
ZINGST, Germany (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel told voters on Saturday that Britain’s decision to leave the European Union and France’s election of President Emmanuel Macron had changed her view on the bloc, adding it was worth fighting fo…
Berlin ‘dismayed and furious’ over murder of German women in Egypt
HURGHADA, Egypt/BERLIN (Reuters) – German officials said on Saturday they had been left “dismayed and furious” by the stabbing of two German women at an Egyptian beach resort, calling it a deliberate attack on foreign tourists.
EU leaders willing to compromise on freedom of movement, says Tony Blair
LONDON (Reuters) – European Union leaders are willing to change the bloc’s rules for the freedom of movement of workers, opening an opportunity for Britain to avoid a damaging “hard Brexit”, former prime minister Tony Blair said on Saturday.
