Germany wants to extradite Catalonia's independence leader Carles Puigdemont

Ex-Catalan leader, Carles Puigdemont, one of the leaders of the region's secession movement wanted in Spain on rebellion charges, will most likely be extradited from Germany on lesser charges.

US puts Hamas chief Haniya on terror blacklist

The US Treasury Department put on Wednesday Hamas chief Ismail Haniya on the terror blacklist.

Twitter won't block world leaders from posting

Twitter said it doesn't plan to block world leaders from posting tweets because they "play a critical role" in the "global public conversation."

Belgian judge delays decision on warrant for ex-Catalan leader

A Belgian judge made no ruling on Friday on a European arrest warrant issued by Spain for ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, his lawyer said after a court hearing in Brussels, despite Belgian prosecutors demanding the warrant be exercised.

Southern EU leaders say US strike on Syria 'understandable'

The leaders of southern EU nations said Monday that a US missile strike on a Syrian air base in retaliation for a suspected chemical attack was "understandable," as diplomatic tensions mount over the incident.

Trump election: Juncker warns president may upset US ties with Europe

Donald Trump's election as US president risks upsetting US ties with Europe, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has warned.

G20 world leaders pledge global economic cooperation

The G20 summit wrapped up Monday with the world leaders pledging to boost a sluggish economy with global cooperation.

World leaders gather in China for G20 summit

Leaders from various countries throughout the world have gathered in China to discuss global issues at the G20 summit.

Obama: Trump 'woefully unprepared' to serve as president

Republican presidential nominee is "woefully unprepared" to become the leader of the United States, President Barack Obama said Tuesday.

Merkel warned against haste in the case of a British exit from the EU

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking to reporters on 25 June, urged not to hurry with the beginning formal procedure of a British exit from the European Union.

Turkey's Erdogan files $32k lawsuit against opposition leader who called him a 'dictator'

 Attorneys for Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan have filed a lawsuit against a major opposition leader for stating that Erdogan is a dictator, presidential sources and the opposition party told Reuters. The president is reportedly seeking $32,000 in damages.

EU Leaders Scramble to Resolve Greek Debt Crisis

The European Union has two crucial issues on the agenda at its two-day summit underway in Brussels (Thursday-Friday), with migration and the Greek financial crisis still unresolved. Greece is perhaps the most pressing issue for the Europeans, as a June 30 deadline looms for Athens to pay its creditors or face a possible exit from the eurozone.

China, Taiwan leaders hold highest level talks in 6 yrs

 China's President Xi Jinping and Taiwan's ruling party chairman Eric Chu met Monday, with the intention of boosting economic ties.

EU to work closer with Turkey,Egypt and Gulf countries to combat terrorism

EU leaders have agreed on sharing intelligence with not only member states, but also with other countries, including Turkey,Egypt and Gulf countries to combat terrorism, it was announced Monday.

EU leaders assess security following Paris attack

In the wake of the massacre Wednesday in Paris, European security officials are re-visiting their plans for countering what they see as a growing jihadist threat and what to do with young disaffected Muslim men either returning from combat in the Middle East or radicalized  via the Internet by militant groups fighting there.

Fidel Castro awarded China's Confucius Peace Prize

Cuban leader Fidel Castro has been awarded with the Confucius Peace prize, China’s own version of the Nobel Peace Prize which organizers of the alternative distinction consider biased against the Asian giant.

The ceremony was held at the Beijing University with Cuban students representing Castro, receiving a statuette, a diploma and money on behalf of the historic leader of Cuba’s revolution.

Pope Francis urges G20 leaders not to forget the poor

Pope Francis has called on G20 leaders not to forget the poor, saying to do so would be "regrettable" as the heads of the world's most powerful economies prepare to meet in Australia.

The Group of 20 leaders are expected to sign off in Brisbane this weekend on a pledge to boost the level of their combined economic output by at least two percent above the currently projected level in the next five years, creating millions of jobs.
In a letter to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who holds the G20's rotating presidency, the pope said world powers "must not forget that many lives are at stake behind these political and technical discussions".

Iraq's new PM backed by US, Iran

Iraq's new prime minister-designate won swift endorsements from uneasy mutual allies the United States and Iran today as he called on political leaders to end crippling feuds that have let jihadists seize a third of the country.
Haider al-Abadi still faces opposition closer to home, where his Shi'ite party colleague Nuri al-Maliki has refused to step aside after eight years as premier that have alienated Iraq's once dominant Sunni minority and irked Washington and Tehran.

G7 powers warn Russia of more sanctions over Ukraine

Washington. The leaders of the world's major developed economies condemned Russia for destabilizing Ukraine on Wednesday and warned it faces still tougher sanctions if it does not change course, AFP reported.
"Russia still has the opportunity to choose the path of de-escalation, which would lead to the removal of these sanctions," the G7 powers said, in a joint statement released by the White House.
"If it does not do so, however, we remain ready to further intensify the costs of its adverse actions."
The G7 - Britain, France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States - issued the statement one day after Washington and the European Union announced increased sanctions on Moscow.

Obama makes defiant defense of US restraint. Terrorism remains biggest threat to US

US President Barack Obama mounted a defiant defense of his global leadership Wednesday, rebuking critics who see him as weak but warning that not every global threat justifies a US military response.

In a major speech at the West Point military academy, Obama denied US power had ebbed under his watch, after he withdrew troops from Iraq and is doing the same in Afghanistan.

He also pledged to ramp up support for Syrian rebels, vowed to stand up to Russia over Ukraine and promised to make drone strikes against terror suspects more transparent.