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.
Syrian army besieges town in strategic Qalamoun mountains
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian forces are besieging a key town in the Qalamoun mountains, activists said on Sunday, a region used by rebels to cross from Lebanon and which links the capital to government strongholds along the coast.
Georgian leader vows integration with EU, better ties with Russia
TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgian President Georgy Margvelashvili said he was ready to mend ties with Russia strained under his predecessor by a brief war and by trade disputes, but stood by the ex-Soviet state’s pro-Western course at his inauguration on Su…
Three killed in shelling in troubled north Yemen town, Salafis say
SANAA (Reuters) – Three people were killed on Sunday when Shi’ite Houthi rebels shelled a school in a northern Yemeni town where sectarian fighting has killed more than 100 people, a spokesman for a hardline Sunni Muslim group said.
France’s Hollande assures Israel on Iran nuclear deal
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – French 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.
Iran points to possible way round nuclear sticking point
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran has the right to enrich uranium, but does not insist others recognize that right, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator said on Sunday, in what could be a way around one of the main sticking points between Tehran and world powers in ta…
Insight: Boko Haram, taking to hills, seize slave ‘brides’
ABUJA (Reuters) – In the gloom of a hilltop cave in Nigeria where she was held captive, Hajja had a knife pressed to her throat by a man who gave her a choice – convert to Islam or die.
Analysis: New climate of pragmatism prevails in U.S.-Cuba relations
MIAMI/HAVANA (Reuters) – U.S. relations with Cuba have undergone a surprise warming in recent months, raising expectations of possible agreements to bring the two countries closer after more than 50 years of hostility.
