Germany’s Social Democrats narrow gap with Merkel’s conservatives: poll
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s center-left Social Democrats have closed to within one percentage point of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives, a poll showed on Saturday, seven months before a pivotal federal election with EU-wide ramifications.
Brazil police refuse to end week-long strike in state plagued by murders
VITORIA, Brazil (Reuters) – Police in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo did not return to work on Saturday, although the government announced hours earlier that a deal had been struck to end a week-long strike that has led to a sharp increase in mu…
Spain’s Rajoy cements grip on his party ahead of tricky term
MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy secured the backing of his conservative People’s Party (PP) on Saturday to stay on as its leader as his minority government attempts to forge pacts with the opposition to pass a budget and stay in…
Islamic State’s Syrian stronghold should be isolated by spring: UK minister
ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – Western-backed Syrian forces should isolate Islamic State’s de facto capital in Syria “by the spring” before an offensive on the city itself, British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said on Saturday.
Iraqi policeman killed in clashes with pro-Sadr protesters
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – An Iraqi policeman was killed and seven others wounded in clashes with protesters loyal to prominent Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr who had gathered in Baghdad on Saturday to demand political reforms, the interior ministry said.
Hundreds protest far-right meeting in Italy, scuffles break out
ROME (Reuters) – Hundreds took to the streets in the northern Italian city of Genoa to protest against a meeting of European far-right political groups on Saturday, and tension simmered at times with police.
NATO says it sees sharp rise in Russian disinformation since Crimea seizure
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO accused Russia of escalating a disinformation campaign since the Kremlin’s 2014 seizure of Ukraine’s Crimea region, saying Russian websites such as Sputnik and RT had posted false stories, the alliance’s spokeswoman said on Sa…
Suspected Istanbul nightclub attacker formally charged: agency
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A Turkish court on Saturday remanded in custody an Uzbek national accused of killing 39 people in an Istanbul nightclub on New Year’s Day, state-run media said, an attack the authorities blamed on Islamic State.
Iran says holds eight foreigners planning attacks
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian security forces have arrested eight hardline Sunni Islamists suspected of planning attacks to disrupt celebrations for Iran’s Islamic revolution in the past week, Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi said on Saturday.
Greece says bailout deal close, Juncker says it’s on shaky ground
ATHENS/BERLIN (Reuters) – Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras warned international lenders on Saturday not to heap new burdens on his country but said he believed the drawn-out bailout review with them would end well.
