Armed with new U.S. money, NATO to strengthen Russia deterrence
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Backed by an increase in U.S. military spending, NATO is planning its biggest build-up in eastern Europe since the Cold War to deter Russia but will reject Polish demands for permanent bases.
Ukraine needs new-look government, says outgoing economy minister
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine needs a new technocratic government led by the present finance minister to have any hope of pushing through long-promised reforms, the outgoing economy minister told Reuters on Friday, two days after his shock resignation.
Militant group sidelined as Turkey unveils plan to end Kurdish unrest
MARDIN, Turkey (Reuters) – Turkey all but ruled out direct talks with Kurdish militants to end one of the worst periods of bloodshed in a three-decade insurgency on Friday, saying the government would instead bring what it called civil society groups t…
Scuffles break out over construction of migrant center on Greek island of Kos
ATHENS (Reuters) – Scuffles broke out on Friday on the Greek island of Kos between police and a small group of residents protesting against the construction of a registration and reception center for migrants, police officials said.
Pope, Russian Orthodox patriarch to hold historic meeting in Cuba
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church will meet in Cuba next week in what could be a historic step toward healing the 1,000-year-old rift between the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity.
German far-right’s language is close to that of Nazis, Gabriel says
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s far-right, led by the rising anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, is using language similar to that deployed by Hitler’s Nazis, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said on Friday.
French PM defends emergency rule, says terror threat ‘here to last’
PARIS (Reuters) – Thousands of house searches since November’s Islamist attacks in Paris have helped foil another terrorist plot, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Friday as his government sought to extend emergency rule.
Poland wants Britain in EU, backs some of Cameron’s proposals
WARSAW (Reuters) – Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo reiterated on Friday that Poland wanted Britain to stay in the European Union and said her cabinet supported some of its demands on reforming the block.
Indian trucks cross freely into Nepal for first time in four months
KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Residents and traders in southern Nepal on Friday dismantled tents and roadblocks set up by protesters at a key border crossing, allowing trucks to cross freely from neighboring India for the first time in four months.
Iraq’s top Shi’ite cleric suspends weekly political sermons
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s top Shi’ite cleric said on Friday he would no longer deliver regular weekly sermons about political affairs, which for years have been a source of guidance for Iraqi politicians and his millions of followers.
