After 1,000-year split, pope and Russian patriarch embrace in Cuba
HAVANA (Reuters) – Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill embraced and kissed on Friday in a historic meeting, uniting to issue a global appeal for the protection of Christians under assault in the Middle East.
Afghan appeal after ex-governor kidnapped in Pakistani capital
ISLAMABAD/KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s government on Saturday appealed to Pakistan to take action to find and free a former provincial governor who has been kidnapped in Islamabad.
Hungarians rally against Orban’s education reforms
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Thousands of Hungarians protested on Saturday against education reforms implemented by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, which critics see as another attempt by the right-wing leader to boost his control over state institutions.
Israeli troops kill Palestinian who tried to stab soldier: army
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli security forces shot dead on Saturday a Palestinian woman who tried to stab a soldier in the occupied West Bank, Israel’s military said.
Red Cross says delivers medical aid to Taiz in Yemen ‘breakthrough’
GENEVA (Reuters) – The Red Cross said on Saturday it had entered the war-torn Yemeni city of Taiz for the first time since August, delivering three tonnes of life-saving medical supplies to four hospitals treating the wounded.
U.S. Defence Secretary says UK needs nuclear weapons for ‘outsized’ world role
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain must renew its submarine-borne Trident nuclear weapons system if it is to maintain its “outsized” role in world affairs, U.S. Defence Secretary Ash Carter said in comments published on Saturday.
Iraq’s Sadr calls for technocratic government, swift reform
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Powerful Iraqi Shi’ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said on Saturday the country needed a technocratic government, threatening to quit politics if Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi failed to carry out promised reforms.
South Korea, U.S. to discuss missile defense; South cuts power to Kaesong park
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea and the United States are expected to begin talks next week on possible deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system following North Korea’s recent rocket launch, officials said on Friday, as Seoul cut power to a …
Former Indian PM Singh says Modi government failing to boost economic investment
MUMBAI (Reuters) – India’s former prime minister Manmohan Singh criticized his successor Narendra Modi’s government in a rare interview, saying it has failed to capitalize on lower commodity prices to propel growth and is inconsistent in its policy tow…
Mali Islamist group Ansar Dine claims attack on U.N. base
DAKAR (Reuters) – Malian Islamist militant group Ansar Dine said it carried out a suicide and rocket attack on a U.N. base in Kidal, north Mali on Friday that killed six peacekeepers, the SITE Intelligence Group said.
