Obama speaks to Saudi king, White House plans Camp David statement
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama spoke to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Monday about preparations for the summit with Gulf leaders at Camp David this week, and the White House said the summit would result in a statement outlining commitmen…
Polish president is runner-up in first round vote: official results
WARSAW (Reuters) – Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski was pushed into a second place spot by a conservative challenger in Sunday’s presidential election, and must now face him in a run-off on May 24, official results showed on Tuesday.
Colombia army raids illegal mines funding FARC rebels
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s armed forces raided 63 illegal mines operated by leftist FARC guerrillas on Monday, blowing up machinery and arresting dozens, in an operation the defense minister said will deprive FARC of $9 million a month.
Kerry, China leaders to meet in Beijing, May 16-17
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Secretary of State John Kerry will meet senior Chinese leaders in Beijing this weekend at a time of heightened concerns in Asia and Washington over China’s pursuit of maritime claims and shared worries about North Korea.
Moroccan F-16 jet from Saudi-led coalition in Yemen crashes
CAIRO/ADEN (Reuters) – A Moroccan F-16 warplane has crashed while on a mission with Saudi Arabia-led forces in Yemen, a Saudi military spokesman said on Monday, and Yemen’s dominant Houthi militia said tribesmen shot down the aircraft.
Fleeing Burundians flock to western Tanzania, camps overwhelmed
KIGOMA, Tanzania (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – When heavily pregnant Hadija Mchume saw everyone in her Burundian village packing up to flee political violence, she knew she had to join them.
France’s Jean-Marie Le Pen to create new political group
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s far-right National Front founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, whose party membership has been suspended by his own daughter, said on Monday he plans to set up his own political group.
West questions Macedonian government’s commitment to democracy
SKOPJE (Reuters) – Western powers on Monday questioned the Macedonian government’s commitment to democracy and European values over its failure to address allegations of abuse of power, piling pressure on leader Nikola Gruevski following a weekend of b…
Chile’s finance minister out in sweeping Cabinet reshuffle
SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Economist Rodrigo Valdes was named as Chile’s finance minister on Monday by President Michelle Bachelet, in a sweeping cabinet reshuffle in which four of her closest ministers were sacked or shifted into other roles.
Italian PM Renzi’s party wins northern local ballots
ROME (Reuters) – Center-left parties won local ballots in the small Italian regions of Val d’Aosta and Trentino-Alto Adige, results showed on Monday, offering encouragement to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi ahead of bigger regional elections at the end of…
