Lithuania to proceed with Germany’s Boxer in armored vehicle purchase
VILNIUS (Reuters) – The Lithuanian government said on Friday it would proceed with negotiations to buy 88 Boxer armored fighting vehicles in a deal worth up to 400 million euros ($439 million).
Putin orders military to be ‘extremely tough’ to protect Russian forces in Syria
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin on Friday ordered Russia’s armed forces to act in an “extremely tough way” in Syria to protect Russian forces striking Islamic State targets there.
As pension reform crunch nears, Greek coalition looks fragile
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ governing majority is looking fragile as crunch time approaches for a pension reform that will test his resolve to impose painful measures to satisfy Athens’ international creditors.
German Social Democrats struggle to profit from Merkel’s woes
BERLIN (Reuters) – Social Democrat (SPD) leader Sigmar Gabriel called his party “the stability factor” in Germany’s ruling coalition on Friday, trying to capitalize from infighting among Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives over Europe’s migrant cr…
Syrian antiquities chief says Turkey refuses to return looted art
VIENNA (Reuters) – Syria’s antiquities chief has accused Turkey of refusing to return looted objects from ancient heritage sites in Syria or to provide information about them, allegations denied by the Turkish government.
India, Japan close in on military pacts as Abe visits
TOKYO/NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India and Japan are likely to finalize an agreement on protection of military information during Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s trip beginning on Friday that will the lay the ground for Japanese arms sales to India, including s…
U.N. aid chief heads to Syria to try to boost deliveries
GENEVA (Reuters) – U.N. humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien will go to Syria this weekend to meet senior government officials to discuss how to boost aid to 13.5 million people in need of assistance following intensified fighting and military operations…
Turkey foreign minister calls on Russia for calm, says patience not unlimited
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey is calling on Russia for calm, but its patience is not unlimited, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday.
Taiwan’s likely next ruling party says open to China engagement
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan (Reuters) – Taiwan’s independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), likely to sweep to power in elections next month, is open to engaging with giant neighbor China, but more trust needs to be built on both sides, a senior pa…
New Zealand moves a step closer to new flag, possibly
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealanders could be a step closer to getting a new flag after the first phase of a two-part referendum wrapped up on Friday but many people are not in the mood for change.
