Obama to host Germany's Merkel on February 9

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet President Barack Obama in Washington on February 9, the White House said Monday, with a fresh spasm of violence in Ukraine high on the agenda. The German leader will hold an Oval Office meeting with her US host, as the West prepares further sanctions against Russia for its role in stoking the unrest. "The two leaders will discuss a range of issues, including Ukraine, Russia, counterterrorism, ISIL, Afghanistan and Iran," the White House said in