U.S. tries again to calm India over accused diplomat
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A senior U.S. official called India’s foreign secretary on Thursday in another attempt by Washington to tamp down the furor in India over the arrest and treatment of one of its diplomats in New York.
Russia blocks U.N. statement condemning Syrian attacks: diplomats
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russia blocked a U.N. Security Council statement on Thursday that would have condemned the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for recent missile and “barrel bomb” attacks on civilians, including children, U.N. dip…
Iran, six world powers resume expert talks on nuclear deal
GENEVA/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Iran and six world powers resumed expert-level talks in Geneva on Thursday to work out how to put into practice a landmark deal obliging Tehran to curb its nuclear program in return for some relief from economic sanctions.
Amid austerity, EU agrees to boost defense cooperation
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to work more closely on defense and make falling military budgets stretch further, but British Prime Minister David Cameron said London would resist any attempt to form a European army.
Putin to pardon jailed tycoon Khodorkovsky
MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin is to pardon one of his best known opponents, oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, after a decade in jail in what may be a gesture to critics of his human rights record before Russia hosts the Winter Olympics.
Serbia, Kosovo to pursue talks to mend ties
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Serbia’s launch of membership talks with the European Union will not spell the end of EU-mediated talks with its former province Kosovo on mending their relations, the EU’s top diplomat said on Thursday.
Egypt court rulings pave way for Shafik return
CAIRO (Reuters) – Hosni Mubarak’s last prime minister, Ahmed Shafik, will soon be free to return from self-imposed exile and perhaps make a political comeback after Egyptian courts on Thursday acquitted him in one corruption case and shelved another.
Ethiopia says arrests five suspects in soccer match bomb plot
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Ethiopian police have arrested five more people suspected of plotting suicide bombings during Ethiopia’s World Cup qualifying match against Nigeria in October, security officials said on Thursday.
Central African Republic advances election as U.S. envoy calls for justice
BANGUI (Reuters) – Authorities in Central African Republic vowed on Thursday to bring forward elections meant to turn the page on a March coup, as a visiting U.S. envoy said those responsible for months of violence must be brought to justice.
Yanukovich offers Ukraine protesters nothing as Russian aid starts
KIEV (Reuters) – A $15 billion Russian aid package for Ukraine began to take shape on Thursday as Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich went public in defense of the deal, but offered no concessions to persuade thousands of protesters to leave the stre…
