U.S., allies conduct 18 air strikes against Islamic State militants: military
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S.-led forces targeted Islamic State militants in Syria with nine air strikes from Sunday morning through Monday morning and conducted another nine strikes against the group in Iraq, the U.S. military said on Wednesday.
Merkel defends staff against growing criticism in spy scandal
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended her present and past chiefs of staff on Monday against criticism that they lied to the public about the prospects of a “no-spy agreement” with the United States.
Georgia hosts joint military exercises with U.S.
TBILISI (Reuters) – U.S. and Georgian forces began two weeks of military exercises in the South Caucasian republic on Monday, a move that is likely to irritate Georgia’s former Soviet master Russia.
Al Jazeera journalist sues employer for negligence: lawyer
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Al Jazeera television journalist on trial in Egypt has filed a lawsuit in a Canadian court accusing his employer of negligence and has demanded $100 million in compensation, his lawyer said on Monday.
Hundreds of refugees arrive in Malaysia and Indonesia after Thai crackdown
LHOKSUKON, Indonesia/KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia has detained more than a thousand Bangladeshi and Rohingya refugees, including dozens of children, police said, a day after authorities rescued hundreds stranded off Indonesia’s western tip.
Putin, Kerry to discuss Ukraine, Syria, Iran, U.S. says
WASHINGTON/MOSCOW (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia, on Tuesday to discuss Ukraine and other issues, the United States said on Monday in a statement that made no mention of their …
NATO: Russia has equipped Ukraine rebels to attack at short notice
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO’s chief said on Monday that Russia had built up forces on the border with Ukraine and sent more military hardware into eastern Ukraine, enabling pro-Russia separatists to launch attacks with little warning if they chose.
Greece says deal will be ‘difficult’ at Eurogroup meeting
ATHENS (Reuters) – Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis acknowledged that a deal to ease Greece’s cash crunch was not likely at a meeting of euro zone finance ministers later on Monday despite progress in talks with lenders on some issues.
Hollande becomes first French president to visit Cuba
HAVANA (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande began the first visit by a French head of state to Cuba by noting it was “special” in light of Washington’s opening to the Communist-ruled island.
From rundown outpost, Philippines watches China island take shape in disputed sea
THITU ISLAND, South China Sea (Reuters) – As the Philippine military C-130 transport plane made its approach to the country’s most precious outpost in the disputed South China Sea on Monday, it flew past a reef which China is quickly turning into an is…
