Germany urges Britain to stop blocking closer EU defence ties
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen urged Britain on Thursday to stop blocking moves to strengthen defence cooperation among European Union members, saying the efforts were urgently needed to deal with changing threats.
Britain ratifies Paris climate agreement
MARRAKESH, Morocco (Reuters) – Britain said on Thursday it had ratified the Paris Agreement, the global deal to combat climate change.
Juppe keeps comfortable lead over Sarkozy for French presidential election ticket: poll
PARIS (Reuters) – Either former prime minister Alain Juppe or ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy, both old foxes of French politics, will win the conservative party’s ticket to run for president next year, with Juppe holding the lead, a survey showed on Thur…
Egypt’s Sisi pardons 82 prisoners, mostly student protesters: MENA
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pardoned 82 prisoners, mostly university students jailed for protesting, state news agency MENA said on Thursday.
Army on rise in Libya’s east, spurring hopes of normal life
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – At Benghazi University, graduation pictures shot at a wrecked campus symbolize hope for a return to normality in the city after more than two years of war.
Kremlin ‘awaits’ signals from Trump’s team to establish contacts
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Kremlin was expecting “signals” from the team of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in order to establish contacts with the future administration, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters on Thursday.
Putin to discuss disputed islands with Japan’s Abe at APEC summit: aide
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Peru this week to discuss a long-running territorial dispute over a group of Pacific islands, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters on Thursday.
Europe at risk of collapse; France, Germany must lead – French PM
BERLIN (Reuters) – The European Union is in danger of breaking apart unless France and Germany, in particular, work harder to stimulate growth and employment and heed citizens’ concerns, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said in the German capital on …
China’s interference in Hong Kong reaching alarming levels: U.S. congressional panel
HONG KONG (Reuters) – A U.S. congressional panel has warned of an “alarming” rise in China’s interference in Hong Kong, noting fears over the former British colony’s continued role as a global financial hub.
Hamas clamps down on Gaza’s ‘insecure’ Israeli SIM cards
GAZA (Reuters) – Hamas-run authorities in Gaza are trying to stop the sale and distribution of pre-paid SIM cards from Israeli cellular providers, arguing the cards pose economic and security risks and allow users to access “immoral” content.
