Athens, Greece / AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed in an article published on Thursday that the EU would not be a global player without his country’s help as he prepared to visit the bloc for the first time in almost a year. Putin, who starts a two-day visit to Greece on Friday, also called for an energy alliance ...

  Vilnius, lithuania / AFP Germany says the EU is facing difficult talks on extending sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine due to the increased resistance of some member states, according to an interview released on Thursday. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also told the Baltic News Service (BNS) that the West needed to engage in dialogue with ...

  Caracas, Venezuela / AFP Protesters seeking to oust Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro staged fresh street rallies but drew scant turnout, a setback the divided opposition blamed on repressive tactics and a spiraling economic crisis. Some 500 Maduro opponents gathered in eastern Caracas, waving the red, yellow and blue Venezuelan flag and banners denouncing the daily woes a crippling recession ...