NATO troops deploy in Lithuania, underscoring commitment to defense
RUKLA, Lithuania (Reuters) – Germany and NATO on Tuesday underscored their commitment to beefing up the defense of eastern Europe’s border with Russia as the first of four new batallions under the North Atlantic alliance’s banner arrived in Lithuania.
France’s Macron dismisses affair as rival Fillon battles scandal
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s presidential race sank deeper into smear and sleaze on Tuesday after centrist Emmanuel Macron was forced to deny an extramarital affair and conservative Francois Fillon pressed on with efforts to salvage his reputation.
Scottish lawmakers reject triggering Brexit in symbolic vote
EDINBURGH (Reuters) – Scotland’s devolved parliament overwhelmingly rejected British Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan to exit the European Union in a symbolic, non-binding vote on Tuesday.
Blasts echo across Somali capital on eve of vote: witnesses
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – About three blasts, possibly caused by mortar shells, echoed across the Somali capital on Tuesday, on the eve of a presidential election, Reuters witnesses reported.
Cars torched as tensions flare in Paris suburb
PARIS (Reuters) – Gangs of French youths torched cars and bins in a showdown with police in a north Paris suburb overnight in a grim reminder of the simmering tension that sparked weeks of more serious rioting in the area a decade ago.
British police say disruptive passenger reason for PIA plane diversion
LONDON (Reuters) – A passenger aircraft which was intercepted and escorted by fighter jets to Stansted airport northeast of London was diverted because of reports of a disruptive passenger, British police said on Tuesday.
Merkel urges Putin to help end violence in eastern Ukraine
BERLIN (Reuters) – German leader Angela Merkel urged Russia’s Vladimir Putin in a telephone call on Tuesday to use his influence on separatists in eastern Ukraine to stop the violence there, and the two agreed on the need for new ceasefire efforts, a G…
Philippines’ defense minister says peace talks with rebels possible
MANILA (Reuters) – Peace talks between the Philippine government and communist rebels to end nearly five decades of conflict are still possible even though the president has ordered “all-out war”, the defense minister said on Tuesday.
Merkel says in Europe’s interests to have good ties with U.S.
WARSAW (Reuters) – Germany and Europe have an innate interest in having strong ties with the United States, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday, adding that NATO members would discuss the alliance’s future in light of comments by the new U.S. admi…
Air strikes hit Syria’s rebel-held Idlib, around 30 dead: residents, monitor
AMMAN (Reuters) – At least 30 people died in air strikes on the rebel-held Syrian city of Idlib on Tuesday, in some of the heaviest raids there in months, witnesses and rescue workers said.
