Two years after annexation, Putin seeks to bind Crimea by bridge to Russia
Tuzla Island, CRIMEA (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin, marking the anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, on Friday exhorted workers building a bridge between the Black Sea peninsula and Russia to fulfil an “historic mission” first conceived…
U.S., Philippines agree on five base locations under defense deal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and the Philippines have agreed on five locations for U.S. military facilities in the Philippines under a security deal agreed amid rising tensions with China, a senior U.S. official said on Friday.
Former German Foreign Minister Westerwelle dies at 54
BERLIN (Reuters) – Former German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, the first openly gay leader of a mainstream political party, has died from blood cancer at the age of 54, his foundation said on its website on Friday.
France carries out biggest ever attack drill ahead of Euro 2016
PARIS (Reuters) – France has staged a mock chemical weapons attack on a soccer “fan zone” as it prepares for the Euro 2016 soccer championships in June, less than a year after Islamist militants killed 130 people in attacks in and around the French cap…
U.N. tells Syrian government to go faster in Geneva talks
GENEVA (Reuters) – Syria’s government must do more to present its ideas about a political transition and not merely talk about principles of the peace process, U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura said on Friday after a fifth day of peace talks.
Russia pulls most strike aircraft from Syria, now using artillery: U.S.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Russia has withdrawn most of its strike aircraft from Syria, the U.S. military said on Friday, adding that it was now entirely carrying out strikes in support of Syrian government forces using artillery instead of aircraft.
Russia says groundwork laid for routing Islamic State in Syria’s Palmyra
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia’s defense ministry said on Friday that conditions had been created for a complete defeat of Islamic State forces in the Syrian city of Palmyra.
Breivik hearing ends with plea to ease mass killer’s prison conditions
OSLO (Reuters) – Mass killer Anders Behring Breivik’s prison conditions should be eased because the “mental fragility” he displayed at a hearing show his human rights have been breached, his lawyer told a Norwegian court on Friday.
Exclusive: EU fears new surge of migrants from Libya, plans mission – letter
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Nearly half a million people displaced in Libya could travel to Europe, the EU’s foreign policy chief has told the bloc’s foreign ministers in a letter, urging action to prevent another escalation in the region’s migration crisis.
Autonomy bid in north Syria divides Kurdish-Arab opposition alliance
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The co-leader of a Kurdish-Arab political alliance in Syria has condemned a decision by the country’s Kurdish-controlled northern regions to seek autonomy, demonstrating that opposition to the move exists even among the Kurds’ closes…
