Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest after funds cut in Israel conscription row
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel blocked highways and clashed with police on Thursday in protest at a government decision to cut funds to seminary students who avoid military service.
Georgia denies plan to meet Putin during Sochi Olympics
BOCHAROV RUCHEI, Russia/ TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgia denied on Thursday that President Georgy Margvelashvili would travel to Sochi for the Olympic Games after the Kremlin said he could meet Russia’s Vladimir Putin there in what would be the neighbors’ …
Merkel backs Juncker to lead conservatives in EU elections
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel threw her weight behind Luxembourg’s Jean-Claude Juncker on Thursday as the leading conservative candidate in May’s European Parliament elections, a potential springboard to head the European Commissio…
Ukraine’s Yanukovich backs ‘compromise’ as sole way out of crisis
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich told a senior U.S. official on Thursday that “dialogue and compromise” were the only way out of the political crisis gripping Ukraine, his website said.
Exclusive: EU ready to lift duties on most U.S. goods for trade pact
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union will offer to lift tariffs on nearly all goods imported from the United States as part of negotiations towards the world’s largest free-trade deal, people familiar with the proposal have told Reuters.
U.N. told Syria must accelerate chemical arms shipments: envoy
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The head of the international chemical weapons mission in Syria told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that the deadline looming for the elimination of the government’s toxic arsenal with accelerated cooperation is vital,…
France likely to extend mission in Central African Republic: minister
PARIS/BANGUI (Reuters) – French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday the United Nations would probably have to renew a mandate for French troops to restore order in Central African Republic when it expires in May because of continued vi…
Pakistan, Taliban start peace talks in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – A long-awaited first round of peace talks between Pakistani Taliban insurgents and the government began in Islamabad on Thursday after persistent delays and growing doubt over the chance of their success.
Egyptian court orders retrial in soccer stadium disaster
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian court on Thursday ordered the retrial of 21 people sentenced to death in a politically charged case for involvement in deadly soccer stadium violence in 2012, judicial sources said.
Ukraine parliament to work on constitution bill
KIEV (Reuters) – The parties in Ukraine’s deadlocked parliament agreed on Thursday to try to draft a joint bill on constitutional amendments that could be put to a vote as early as next week, the speaker said.
