Russia not interfering in French elections, says candidate Fillon
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s conservative presidential candidate on Friday dismissed as “fantasy” concerns that Russia could be interfering in the election and said he would seek a better balance in relations with a country that was nevertheless “danger…
Syria’s warring sides trade insults after Geneva talks
GENEVA (Reuters) – Negotiators from Syria’s government and opposition traded insults on Friday, calling each other “terrorists” and “adolescents” after an eight-day round of peace talks in Geneva.
As Europe left struggles, Portugal’s alliance wins over voters and Brussels
LISBON (Reuters) – While the European left is largely struggling where it holds power, Portugal’s government alliance stands out as a remarkable exception; it is raising wages and gaining popularity and yet delivering the lowest budget deficit in livin…
Ukrainian intelligence officer killed in car blast in Mariupol port
KIEV (Reuters) – A Ukrainian state security service officer was killed in a car explosion in the eastern port city of Mariupol on Friday, the security service (SBU) said, blaming Russian-backed separatists.
At Syria peace talks, U.N. mediator’s fate now part of the game
GENEVA (Reuters) – Syria peace talks being hosted by the U.N. in Geneva have descended into bureaucratic wrangling since resuming this year, and even an optimist would struggle to conclude they are inching toward a settlement between the warring sides….
IOM expects to fly up to 10,000 migrants out of Libya in 2017
TUNIS (Reuters) – Up to 10,000 migrants stranded in Libya will be flown back to their home countries this year, but the returns can only play a limited role in tackling migrant flows toward Europe, the head of the U.N. migration agency’s Libyan office …
U.S. diplomatic delays, Trump agenda snarl Italy’s G7 agenda
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s preparations for hosting this year’s Group of Seven major powers meetings have been hampered by the slow transition at the U.S. State Department, which has created decision-making bottlenecks, European diplomatic sources said.
Hungarian PM denounces Soros-backed college, U.S. urges restraint
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday a Budapest university founded by financier George Soros had “cheated” in awarding its diplomas and violated Hungarian laws.
China downplays tensions with U.S. as Xi prepares to meet Trump
BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Beijing sought to play down tensions with the United States and put on a positive face on Friday as the U.S. administration slammed China on a range of business issues ahead of President Xi Jinping’s first meeting with Pr…
U.N. Secretary General calls for more aid as people flee Mosul
HASSAN SHAM CAMP, Iraq (Reuters) – United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday called on the international community to increase aid to help people fleeing the Iraqi city of Mosul which government forces have been battling to retake fro…
