Tightened global nuclear security measure takes effect in May: officials
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Starting in May more than 150 countries will be legally bound to strengthen their protection of nuclear facilities and to cooperate in finding and recovering stolen or smuggled nuclear material, security officials said on Friday….
Italy recalls ambassador from Egypt in row over student’s murder
ROME (Reuters) – Italy recalled its ambassador to Egypt for consultations on Friday after Egyptian investigators in Rome failed to provide evidence needed to solve the mystery of the murder of an Italian student in Cairo.
New Myanmar government frees scores of jailed activists
YANGON (Reuters) – Myanmar’s new government released scores of jailed activists on Friday, just over a week after assuming power, and said it was preparing to pardon 100 more people serving sentences for political offences.
Serbia accuses Croatia of obstructing its EU membership talks
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbia accused Croatia on Friday of obstructing its negotiations on European Union membership and said it would not submit to blackmail by its neighbor.
Swiss finance minister offers defense for rich caught up in Panama Papers
ZURICH (Reuters) – Switzerland’s finance minister has defended the use of offshore companies by the world’s wealthy to cut their tax bills, now under scrutiny after publication of the “Panama Papers”.
EU and U.S. condemn post-election violence in Republic of Congo
BRAZZAVILLE (Reuters) – The European Union on Thursday condemned what it said were human rights abuses in Republic of Congo during violence after a March 20 election, echoing concerns voiced by the U.S. State Department.
Islamist militants free abducted Italian man in Philippine south
MANILA (Reuters) – Islamist militants have freed a former Catholic missionary priest on a remote Philippine southern island, six months after the Italian man was abducted from his pizza parlor, a military spokesman said on Friday.
Islamic State begins releasing kidnapped workers: Syrian Observatory
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State fighters began releasing late on Friday some of the scores of cement plant workers they kidnapped northeast of Damascus this week, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.
Zuma’s son says he’ll quit Gupta mining firm in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African President Jacob Zuma’s son said on Friday he would sell his investments in a mining firm owned by friends of his father amid speculation that the wealthy family is wielding undue political influence.
Pope calls for compassionate Church open to ‘imperfect’ Catholics
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis on Friday called for a Church that was less strict and more compassionate towards “imperfect” Catholics, such as those who divorced and remarried, saying “no one can be condemned forever”.
