What happened to Putin? Satirists run riot online
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A wave of savage mockery broke over President Vladimir Putin across the Internet on Friday, sparked by days of absence from public view, despite official insistence it was business as usual in the Kremlin.
U.N. postpones Libyan talks to give parties time to prepare
SKHIRAT, Morocco (Reuters) – The United Nations has postponed until next week a new round of talks with Libyan politicians to try to end a crisis that has left the country with two rival governments and armed factions battling for power and oil wealth….
Romanian prosecutors launch criminal investigation into finance minister
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romanian prosecutors said on Friday they had launched a probe into Finance Minister Darius Valcov, accusing him of favouring a company for a public works contract in exchange for about 2 million euros while in his former post as a…
Russia rejects U.S. concerns over Vietnam base role in bomber flights
MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Russia on Friday rejected U.S. concerns about its use of a former American base in Vietnam for the refueling of Russian bomber flights around U.S. territory in the Pacific, dismissing recent U.S. statements as “puzzling” a…
Iran framework deal would only be step in talks: diplomat
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Even if Iran and six powers can reach a framework nuclear deal by the end of this month, further serious negotiations would be needed to achieve a full agreement by June 30, a senior European diplomat said on Friday.
Sudan rebels say they have begun armed campaign to derail elections
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – A Sudanese rebel group said on Friday it had launched a military campaign focused on derailing elections slated for next month, as rebels and the government reported fresh clashes.
Last polls give center-left opposition solid lead before Israel’s election
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s center-left opposition is poised for an upset victory in next week’s parliamentary election, with the last opinion polls before Tuesday’s vote giving it a solid lead over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s party.
Canada PM’s anti-Islam talk is a Putin-like tactic: opposition
OTTAWA (Reuters) – A Canadian opposition leader on Friday compared Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s handling of Islam to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s crackdown on gays, ratcheting up political rhetoric over the religion as Harper’s ruling Conserva…
Floods in Angola kill at least 64, toll expected to rise
LONDON (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – At least 64 people have died in flooding following heavy rain in western Angola, the state-run news agency reported on Friday.
Pakistan successfully test-fires own drone aircraft to target militants
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s military test-fired a Pakistani-built unmanned aircraft armed with a laser-guided missile on Friday, an army statement said, giving it a new weapon to target Taliban and other jihadist militants in its lawless border areas.
