Exclusive: North Korea rules out negotiations on nuclear weapons
GENEVA (Reuters) – North Korea on Friday ruled out negotiations with Washington as long as joint U.S-South Korea military exercises continue, and said that Pyongyang’s atomic weapons program would remain as a deterrent against a U.S. nuclear threat.
Argentine submarine goes missing with 44 crew members on board: navy
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – An Argentine military submarine with 44 crew members on board was missing at sea on Friday, prompting a massive search to locate the vessel which may have suffered a communication error, a navy spokesman said.
Merkel’s conservatives offer Greens compromise to salvage talks
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s would-be coalition partners resumed talks on Friday after all-night negotiations failed to produce a breakthrough, with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives saying they would compromise further on climate change policie…
Zimbabwe’s Mugabe appears in public for first time since army took charge
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe appeared in public on Friday for the first time since the army took charge this week, as the ruling party made plans to force him to step down after more than three decades in power.
Kremlin says not yet known if Putin will seek re-election
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday it was not yet known if Russian President Vladimir Putin will run for re-election when his term ends next year.
After ditching Taiwan, China says Panama will get the help it needs
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will provide Panama with whatever help it needs after the Central American country ditched long-standing ties with self-ruled Taiwan in June, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Friday after talks between the two countries’ pres…
Hariri’s Paris meeting to boost Lebanon stability: top aide
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon’s Saad al-Hariri, who resigned as prime minister on Nov. 4, will see France’s president on Saturday in Paris and the meeting will help resolve the Lebanese crisis and boost stability, a senior Hariri aide said.
Entrenched positions keep German party deal out of reach
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s efforts to forge a three-way ruling coalition look likely to drag on over the weekend after all-night talks failed to yield a breakthrough on the divisive issues of migration and climate change.
Saudi Arabia swapping assets for freedom of some held in graft purge: sources
BEIRUT/RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi authorities are striking agreements with some of those detained in an anti-corruption crackdown, asking them to hand over assets and cash in return for their freedom, sources familiar with the matter said.
Iraqi forces recapture last Islamic State-held town
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi forces on Friday captured the border town of Rawa, the last remaining town under Islamic State control, signalling the collapse of the group’s self-proclaimed caliphate.
