French hostage in Nigeria escapes his jailers
PARIS/ABUJA (Reuters) – A French engineer who had been held hostage by Islamist militants in northern Nigeria for almost a year has escaped his jailers, President Francois Hollande said on Sunday.
France assures Israel it will stand firm on Iran deal
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – President Francois Hollande assured Israel on Sunday that France would continue to oppose an easing of economic sanctions against Iran until it was convinced Tehran had given up any pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Clashes stoke tension before Mozambique local election
MAPUTO (Reuters) – Clashes in Mozambique’s second city of Beira between rival party supporters and riot police injured more than 20 people and stoked tension ahead of local elections this week that will test opposition to the Frelimo government.
Sri Lanka escapes Commonwealth censure after fractious summit
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s human rights record was glaringly absent from a communiqué issued by Commonwealth leaders on Sunday at the end of a fractious summit dominated by allegations of war crimes during the bloody climax of the island’s 26-year civil war.
Greeks rally against austerity, mark 40 years since student revolt
ATHENS (Reuters) – Thousands of Greeks protesting against austerity marched through the streets of Athens on Sunday to mark the 40th anniversary of a bloody student uprising against the then-ruling military junta.
Voters allege coercion in Kosovo ballot central to EU accord
MITROVICA, Kosovo (Reuters) – Ethnic Serbs trickled to polling stations in northern Kosovo on Sunday in a re-run that is central to a plan brokered by the European Union to end the country’s ethnic partition but has been marred by what locals said was …
France assures Israel it will stand firm on Iran deal
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – President Francois Hollande assured Israel on Sunday that France would continue to oppose an easing of economic sanctions against Iran until it was convinced Tehran had ended a pursuit of nuclear weapons.
Merkel and SPD coalition talks enter final make-or-break phase
BERLIN (Reuters) – Angela Merkel’s conservatives and Germany’s Social Democrats have forged a political marriage before and know each other’s ways, but as a new “big day” approaches, they are having to work hard to convince skeptical party members and …
EU launches new drive to end deadlock over Ukraine’s Tymoshenko
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union envoys will make another attempt this week to break a deadlock over jailed Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko that has jeopardized plans by the EU and Ukraine to sign a landmark trade and cooperation deal.
New Maldives leader vows stability after crisis, protests
MALE (Reuters) – New Maldives President Abdulla Yameen pledged on Sunday to end two years of political turmoil that have brought violent protests to the holiday paradise, as he was sworn in after defeating the favorite Mohamed Nasheed in a run-off.
