Venezuela confirms shooting down small plane near Aruba
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela said on Friday it shot down a civilian plane after it ignored communications off its Caribbean coast near the island of Aruba, but denied any violation of international airspace.
Mexico tests DNA of babies who survived blast in search for parents
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Plunged into chaos just hours after entering this world, nine babies found alive after a gas blast in a Mexican maternity hospital underwent DNA tests on Friday in a bid to reunite them with their parents.
Islamic State attacks Kurdish outposts across Iraq
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State militants struck at Kurdish forces southwest of the Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Friday, while bombs in Kirkuk, Baghdad, Samarra and Ramadi killed at least 27 people.
Turmoil at congress of Germany party swiping votes from Merkel
BREMEN, Germany (Reuters) – The congress of a eurosceptic German party that is stealing votes from Angela Merkel’s conservatives got off to a turbulent start on Friday, with delegates in the Alternative for Germany (AfD) squabbling over the agenda and …
Greece says will not cooperate with “troika” or seek aid extension
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s new leftist government opened talks on its bailout with European partners on Friday by flatly refusing to extend the program or to cooperate with the international inspectors overseeing it.
Hezbollah: we don’t want war with Israel but do not fear it
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah said on Friday his group did not want war with Israel but was ready for one, and reserved the right to respond to Israeli attacks any time, anywhere.
U.S. to work closely with Greece to resolve differences: White House spokesman
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States will continue working closely with the new government in Greece and other European leaders to resolve differences that could improve Greece’s economy, a White House spokesman said Friday.
Next round of Syria talks in Moscow in a month: delegate
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The next meeting between some Syrian opposition figures and the Damascus government in Moscow will take place in about a month, Qadri Jamil, a participant in this week’s consultations, said on Friday.
Japan, Jordan seek news on fate of Islamic State captives
AMMAN/TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan and Jordan scrambled on Friday to find out what had happened to two of their nationals being held by Islamic State, after a deadline passed for the release of a would-be suicide bomber being held on death row in Amman.
Nigeria’s Buhari vows to end graft, insecurity, inequality
LAGOS (Reuters) – Nigeria’s presidential challenger Muhammadu Buhari pledged to cheering crowds in opposition stronghold Lagos that he would tackle the country’s three greatest ills — insecurity, inequality and corruption.
