Petrobras scandal prosecutors seek tougher anti-corruption laws
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Prosecutors who uncovered Brazil’s biggest corruption case called on Friday for tougher prison sentences and more legal powers to crack down on rampant graft that costs taxpayers more than the annual budget for education and health…
Puerto Rico ends its defense of gay marriage ban
SAN JUAN (Reuters) – The Puerto Rican government will no longer defend a law that bans same-sex couples from marrying and does not recognize the validity of such marriages performed in other jurisdictions, the U.S. commonwealth’s attorney general annou…
Earthquake shakes central Mexico, no initial reports of damage
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – An earthquake struck Mexico on Friday, shaking buildings in the capital and sending people running out of offices onto the streets, but there were no immediate reports of damage.
North Korea says can fire nuclear missile at ‘any time’
LONDON (Reuters) – North Korea has the ability to fire a nuclear weapon and would use a nuclear missile in retaliation if it is attacked, the country’s ambassador to Britain told Sky News on Friday.
Netanyahu row casts doubt on Obama pledge to ‘have Israel’s back’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama, who once famously said he would “always have Israel’s back,” may be rethinking that promise as aides begin weighing options in response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pre-election disavowal of a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict.
Russia wants to stop U.N. staff benefits for same-sex couples
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russia has asked a United Nations General Assembly committee to vote on Tuesday on its proposal to stop the world body extending staff benefits to all same-sex couples, diplomats said.
U.S. fears Islamic State is making serious inroads in Libya
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is increasingly concerned about the growing presence and influence of the Syria-based Islamic State movement in Libya, according to U.S. officials and a State Department report.
Russia says sanctions ‘destructive’, will act in own interests
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia described “sanctions rhetoric” as destructive on Friday and said it would do what is in its national interests after European Union leaders kept economic sanctions in place over the Ukraine crisis.
U.N. Libya envoy says renewed fighting threatens talks
SKHIRAT, Morocco/TRIPOLI (Reuters) – A renewed military offensive in Libya threatens international efforts to reach agreement in the next few days on a unity government and lasting ceasefire in the warring oil producing state, a U.N. envoy said on Frid…
Canadian jury finds two men guilty in plot to derail train
TORONTO (Reuters) – A Canadian jury on Friday found two men guilty of planning to derail a passenger train traveling between Canada and the United States in a plot intended to instill fear and force the two countries to withdraw troops from Muslim land…
