Grieving Dutch minister made Europe re-think Russia sanctions
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – When Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans spoke to his European Union peers of his grief and anger over the downing of a Malaysia Airlines airliner over eastern Ukraine, it was a turning point in Europe’s approach to Russia.
Israel agrees to 12-hour Gaza ceasefire
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel has agreed to a 12-hour humanitarian ceasefire in fighting with militants in the Gaza Strip to start at 8 a.m. (1 a.m. EDT) on Saturday, a military spokeswoman said.
Israel rejects ceasefire plan, source says, as death toll nears 850
GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel has rejected international proposals for a ceasefire in its fight against Islamist militants in Gaza, a government source said on Friday, but U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said no formal proposals had yet been put…
Israel rejects ceasefire plan, source says, as death toll nears 850
GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel has rejected international proposals for a ceasefire in its fight against Islamist militants in Gaza, a government source said on Friday, but U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said no formal proposals had yet been put…
EU edges to economic sanctions on Russia but narrows scope
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union reached outline agreement on Friday to impose the first economic sanctions on Russia over its behaviour in Ukraine but scaled back their scope to exclude technology for the crucial gas sector.
U.S. tells Pakistan: Do not let Haqqani fighters resettle
ASPEN Colorado (Reuters) – The U.S. government urged Pakistan on Friday to prevent displaced Haqqani militants from returning to their traditional sanctuary after a Pakistani military offensive near the Afghanistan border.
Bad weather seen as probable cause of Air Algerie crash
PARIS/BAMAKO (Reuters) – Poor weather was the most likely cause of the crash of an Air Algerie flight in the West African country of Mali that killed all 118 people on board, French officials said on Friday.
Libya seeks ceasefire as south Tripoli a militia ‘war zone’
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Black plumes of smoke marked shell blasts and bulldozed earthen barricades mapped out the frontlines around Tripoli’s largest airport, now at the heart of a standoff between the country’s powerful militias.
Islamic State kills Syrian soldiers, captures parts of base: group
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Fighters from al Qaeda offshoot Islamic State killed at least 50 Syrian army soldiers and took over parts of their base on Friday outside the northern city of Raqqa, as the radicals escalated their attacks on government forces, a mon…
Iraq’s top cleric sends subtle message to Maliki: step aside
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s most influential Shi’ite cleric urged political leaders on Friday to refrain from clinging to their posts – an apparent reference to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who has defied demands that he step aside. Speaking through a…
