Bloomberg Syrian rebels backed by Turkey are engaged in a “serious operation” in the country’s Idlib province, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, part of a joint mission with Russia and Iran to monitor a ceasefire agreement and pacify a rebel stronghold in northwest Syria. Turkey also beefed up troops on the border since the three countries agreed to establish a …

Bloomberg German Chancellor Angela Merkel outlined her post-election agenda, saying she’ll seek a coalition with the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Greens while keeping her options open on further integration of the euro area. Thirteen days after an election that sent support for her Christian Democratic Union-led (CDU) bloc to the lowest level since 1949, Merkel faced criticism of her …

Bloomberg Police detained activists in several Russian cities as supporters of opposition leader Alexey Navalny heeded his call to turn out on Saturday for nationwide protests to mark President Vladimir Putin’s birthday. Navalny, who’s serving a 20-day sentence for organising an illegal demonstration, recently has drawn thousands of people to a series of campaign events across Russia in support of …