Ukraine battles persist ahead of cease-fire deadline
By BALINT SZLANKO Fierce fighting surged in east Ukraine as Russian-backed separatists mounted a major and sustained new push Friday to capture a strategic railway hub ahead of a weekend…
Diplomacy
Officials: US closing embassy in Yemen due to unrest
By LOLITA C. BALDOR and MATTHEW LEE The United States is closing its embassy in Yemen amid political deadlock and deteriorating security conditions after the takeover of the country by…
Merkel, Obama, try to bridge differences on arms to Ukraine
By STEVEN R. HURST President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are trying for a public display of unity despite a potential split over arming Ukrainian fighters to wage…
Ukraine president presses for quick cease-fire
Ukraine’s president pushed Saturday for a quick cease-fire in his country’s troubled east, insisting that the conflict must be resolved and not “frozen,” and pressed Kiev’s case to be supplied…
French, German leaders push new peace plan for east Ukraine
By MATTHEW LEE and SYLVIE CORBET Carrying a peace plan that reportedly incorporates proposals from Russia, the leaders of Germany and France met Thursday with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in…
Boko Haram, hit by 3-nation offensive, rampage in Cameroon
By EDWIN KINDZEKA MOKI and MICHELLE FAUL Nigerian Islamic extremists on the run from a massive, three-nation offensive took revenge Thursday on civilians in neighboring Cameroon, shooting and burning scores…
Obama condemns those who seek to ‘hijack religion’
President Barack Obama on Thursday condemned those who seek to use religion as a rationale for carrying out violence around the world, declaring that “no god condones terror.” “We are…
Greece: Turkey must respect Cyprus’ right to search for gas
By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS Instead of issuing threats, Turkey must respect Cyprus’ right to search for offshore gas so suspended talks to reunify the ethnically divided island can resume, Greece’s prime…