Japan, France sign defense pact to spur cooperation, joint development
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan and France signed a deal on military equipment and technology transfers on Friday, in a move to drive cooperation and joint development of defense gear, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe strengthens security ties with major powers.
Iran yet to receive $7.8 billion for oil sales: Press TV
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran has yet to receive $7.8 billion for crude oil sales made in recent months, government spokesman Mohammad Baqer Nobakht was quoted as saying, as Western sanctions keep Tehran shut out of the global banking system.
Bulgaria, United States to start military drills amid Ukraine crisis
SOFIA (Reuters) – NATO allies Bulgaria and the United States will stage a series of joint military drills over the next three and a half months, the Bulgarian defense ministry said on Friday, amid increased tensions with Russia over the Ukraine crisis….
Kurdish oil deal with Baghdad unravels as tensions rise
ARBIL/LONDON (Reuters) – A four-month-old oil deal between Iraq and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region is close to unraveling after payments from Baghdad dried up, prompting Arbil to threaten to sue buyers and ramp up independent oil exports.
Led by the Queen, Britain commemorates end of Afghan war
LONDON (Reuters) – Queen Elizabeth joined army top brass and relatives of British soldiers who died in Afghanistan at a commemoration service at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on Friday, marking the end of 13 years of British military operations in the …
German court overturns ban on headscarves for Muslim women teachers
BERLIN (Reuters) – Muslim women teachers can wear headscarves as long as it does not cause disruption in school, Germany’s top court said in a ruling that overturns an earlier ban and may fuel debate about what some nationalist groups see as creeping “…
Suu Kyi’s party to compete in Myanmar vote despite block
BANGKOK (Reuters) – The party of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will contest the general election this year even if there is no change in the constitution to allow the Nobel laureate to become president, one of the party’s top leaders said …
EU unlikely to agree next week to prolong Russia sanctions
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European Union leaders are unlikely to reach agreement at their summit next week to prolong economic sanctions on Russia that expire in July, a senior EU official said on Friday.
Turkey says spy suspected of helping British school girls is Syrian
ANKARA (Reuters) – An alleged spy detained in Turkey for helping three British girls cross into Syria is a Syrian national working for a country in the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State, the Turkish foreign minister said on Friday.
India seeks edge over China as Modi visits Sri Lanka
COLOMBO (Reuters) – When Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena received India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an ocean-front colonial building on Friday, the two looked out over a $1.4 billion Chinese real estate project halted days ago after cr…
