French envoy returns to Italy as neighbors seek to rekindle friendship
France’s ambassador to Italy returned to Rome on Friday, more than a week after he was recalled by President Emmanuel Macron, as the European neighbors sought to defuse the worst diplomatic crisis between them since World War Two.
Trump says may extend March 1 deadline for China trade deal
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he may extend a March 1 deadline for reaching a trade deal with China while keeping current tariffs in place, adding that the negotiations are “very complicated.”
India, Pakistan to argue at World Court amid tensions
The World Court will hear arguments on Monday in a dispute between India and Pakistan about a former Indian navy commander sentenced to death by Islamabad for allegedly being an intelligence agency spy.
Nigeria bolsters security on eve of presidential election
Nigeria bolstered security in much of the country on Friday on the eve of a presidential election in Africa’s largest democracy where past ballots have been marred by violence, voter intimidation and vote rigging.
Acting Pentagon chief says committed to defeating IS, but allies skeptical
Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Friday the United States was committed to defeating Islamic State in the Middle East and beyond, but officials said European allies were skeptical of Washington’s pledges.
U.S. derides Venezuela’s accusation of lacing aid with poison
The United States scoffed on Friday at Venezuela’s accusation that it was poisoning humanitarian aid, and urged allies to stop the “decrepit, dictatorial regime” of President Nicolas Maduro from chairing U.N. arms talks.
German halt in Saudi arms sales causing serious problems: Airbus
Germany’s halt in exports to Saudi Arabia is preventing Britain from completing the sale of 48 Eurofighter Typhoon warplanes to Riyadh, and has delayed potential sales of other weapons such as the A400M military transport, a top Airbus official said Fr…
Russia’s Sberbank CEO defends U.S. Baring Vostok founder
German Gref, the chief executive of Russia’s biggest state lender Sberbank, said on Friday he hoped the criminal case against Baring Vostok’s founder Michael Calvey would turn out to be a misunderstanding.
U.S. founder of Baring Vostok denies wrongdoing in Russian court
Michael Calvey, the U.S. founder of the Baring Vostok private equity group, denied allegations of fraud on Friday and told a Moscow court that accusations against him were the result of a commercial dispute between his fund and Vostochny Bank.
EU to blacklist eight Russians over Azov Sea stand-off: sources
The European Union will blacklist eight more Russians over a stand-off with Ukraine in the Azov Sea, diplomatic sources said on Friday.
