Merkel eyes IMF’s Lagarde for EU Commission chief: sources
PARIS (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel has asked France whether it would be willing to put forward International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde as president of the European Commission, two French sources briefed on the exchanges said….
EU open to working with Palestinian unity government
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union will work with the new Palestinian unity government, on condition it sticks to the principle of peace with Israel based on a two-state solution, it said on Tuesday.
Russia, Ukraine hope for gas deal this week
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian and Ukrainian energy companies tried again on Tuesday to settle a dispute over unpaid gas bills that is threatening supplies to Europe and stoking a political conflict setting Moscow against Kiev and the West.
South Sudan ceasefire must hold to avert famine: U.N.
JUBA (Reuters) – South Sudan can only avoid famine if a shaky ceasefire holds and people displaced by more than five months of fighting are able to return home in the next few weeks to plant crops before the rains, a senior U.N. official said.
Egypt invites Iranian president to Sisi’s inauguration
CAIRO/DUBAI (Reuters) – Egypt has invited Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to the inauguration ceremony of newly elected President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a trip that would make him only the second Iranian leader to visit Egypt since the countries severe…
Yemeni airstrike ends ceasefire in flare-up of Houthi rebellion
SANAA (Reuters) – Yemeni warplanes bombed Shi’ite Houthi rebels on Tuesday, residents and local officials said, ending a brief ceasefire after at least 120 were killed in a flare-up of the northern rebellion.
Venezuela protests spawn ‘tear gas art’ competition
CARACAS (Reuters) – Tear gas canisters fired by the thousands on the streets of Caracas are being transformed into sculptures in a competition seeking to give an artistic twist to this year’s anti-government unrest in Venezuela.
Pakistan’s Karachi in lockdown after politician arrested in London
LONDON/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – One of the most divisive and feared figures in Pakistan was arrested in London on Tuesday, sparking fears of a violent backlash in Pakistan and sending the country’s biggest city of Karachi into lockdown.
Survey finds broad discontent in World Cup host Brazil
SAO PAULO (Reuters) – A survey released on Tuesday paints a grim picture of Brazil as it gears up to host the World Cup, showing widespread frustration with the economy and with President Dilma Rousseff.
Academics question Serbian minister’s thesis, then website downed
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbia’s prime minister leapt to the defense of his interior minister, a close ally, on Tuesday after three UK-based academics alleged the latter had plagiarized his doctoral dissertation.
