Afghan leader thanks U.S. troops as Obama expected to slow pullout
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Afghan President Ashraf Ghani praised U.S. troops who have fought and died during more than 13 years of war in his country as he kicked off a visit to Washington on Monday to drive home the case for slowing the withdrawal of Amer…
Sarkozy passes French poll test but has long way to go
PARIS (Reuters) – Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has put a faltering comeback back on track by steering his conservatives to victory over the far-right National Front in local elections, but major obstacles remain to his presidential ambitions…
Kremlin urges France, Germany to push Ukraine more on peace deal
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia accused Kiev on Monday of violating parts of the Minsk peace deal for east Ukraine and urged Germany and France, which helped negotiate it, to do more to ensure Kiev sticks to the agreements that were reached.
Israelis fret about risk of isolation but concern may be overdone
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election last week has prompted alarmed chatter in the cafes of Tel Aviv and on talk shows about the risk of Israel losing the support of its closest allies and being left isolated in the wor…
Putin sacks two senior Kremlin officials amid speculation of turf wars
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin dismissed two senior officials on Monday in a surprise move that followed recent rumors of feuding at the heart of the Kremlin.
Obama to host Japan’s Abe to discuss security, trade
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama will host Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the White House next month for talks expected to focus on their joint response to China’s rising power and efforts to finalize a major Asia-Pacific trade…
Iran expands regional ’empire’ ahead of nuclear deal
BEIRUT (Reuters) – With Iran moving closer to a deal with world powers to constrain its nuclear program in return for an end to sanctions, Arab analysts and leaders are focused more on how Tehran is working unconstrained to tighten its grip on Arab sta…
Libya could agree on unity government leaders this week: U.N. envoy
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Libya’s warring groups could agree this week on the leaders of a national unity government to try to overcome the conflict in the North African country, but it will not be easy, a U.N. envoy said on Monday.
Mother of captured Ukraine pilot lobbies Germany to help free daughter
BERLIN (Reuters) – The mother of captured Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko sought German support on Monday in her campaign to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into ordering the release of her daughter who has become a national hero in Ukraine.
Britain to investigate Sharia courts, crack down on extremist preachers
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain will introduce measures to counter Islamist extremism, including an investigation into Sharia courts and a crackdown on incendiary preachers, if Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives win May’s election, Home Secretary …
