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…
Kerry, Putin to meet in Sochi to discuss Iran, Syria, Ukraine
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia, on Tuesday to discuss Iran, Syria and Ukraine and other issues, the U.S. State Department said on Monday.
A perfect storm brews in Macedonia
KUMANOVO, Macedonia (Reuters) – Pero Ilievski Street looked on Monday like it had been struck by a tsunami, cobblestones torn up and walls crushed by armored vehicles of a special anti-terrorist unit of the Macedonian police.
‘Father of the euro’ Lamfalussy dies at 86
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Economist Alexandre Lamfalussy, one of the founding fathers of the European single currency, died on Saturday at the age of 86, Belgian media reported on Monday.
Belgium halts some Burundi aid over clashes, others may follow
BUJUMBURA/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgium said on Monday it had suspended some aid to Burundi, ratcheting up international pressure on the donor-reliant African nation over protests against the president’s quest for a third term.
Bangladesh police arrest people smugglers, shoot four, amid crisis
DHAKA (Reuters) – Bangladeshi police arrested three human traffickers on Monday after killing four in recent days and arresting more than 100 in recent months as the poverty-stricken country cracks down on people smuggling amid an Asia-wide crisis, an …
Nineteen kidnapped Afghans released, 12 more could be freed soon: officials
GHAZNI, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Nineteen Afghan men from among 31 kidnapped by gunmen from a bus in February were freed on Monday by their captors, and the rest could be released soon, officials said.
North Korea seen years from sub-launched missile to threaten the U.S.
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea made a key step in its nuclear weapons program by test-launching a ballistic missile from a submarine, but remains years away from developing a missile system or submarine which could threaten its sworn enemy the United St…




