Pope’s Latin American brains trust was behind Cuba deal
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Argentine Pope Francis and a trio of top Vatican officials who helped broker the historic deal between the United States and Cuba represent an unprecedented brain trust in Latin American affairs at the Holy See.
U.N. urges Pakistan to refrain from resuming executions
GENEVA (Reuters) – The U.N. human rights office appealed to Pakistan on Friday to refrain from resuming executions after the massacre of 141 people in a Peshawar school, saying this would not stop terrorism and might even feed a “cycle of revenge”.
Despite billions in aid, U.S. unable to get Pakistan to confront militants
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – (Story corrects to change wording in second sentence, paragraph 10 from “live up to” to “own up to”)
Fifteen U.S.-led air strikes target Islamic State militants: task force
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S.-led coalition conducted 15 air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria on Friday, the Combined Joint Task Force said in a statement.
Swiss campaign seeks to make amends for ‘contract child’ labor
BERNE (Reuters) – A campaign seeking financial restitution for thousands of Swiss children once forced into foster families and used as cheap farming labor has garnered the necessary support to force a national referendum on the issue.
Rebels say new Ukraine peace talks will not take place on Sunday: IFX
KIEV (Reuters) – A Ukrainian separatist leader said a new round of peace talks aimed at easing the conflict between the Kiev government and rebels will not take place on Sunday as had been hoped, news agency Interfax reported on Friday.
Iran honors nuclear deal with powers, IAEA report shows
VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran has continued to meet commitments under an interim nuclear agreement with six world powers, a confidential U.N. agency report showed, though Tehran temporarily halted conversion work that makes higher-grade uranium less suitable…
Russian prosecutors want ten years in jail for Kremlin foe Navalny
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian prosecutors said on Friday Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny should be imprisoned for 10 years for stealing 30 million rubles ($500,000) in a case dismissed by critics of President Vladimir Putin as part of his campaign to stifle di…
France’s Hollande and pro-reform allies get poll boost
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande saw his popularity ratings jump five points in a month to a still lackluster 25 percent in a poll released on Friday, with pro-reform ministers in his Socialist government also gaining.
Libya’s two biggest oil ports were not damaged during clashes: workers
ES SIDER, Libya (Reuters) – Libya’s two biggest oil export ports, Ras Lanuf and Es Sider, have not been damaged during recent clashes between forces allied to the country’s competing governments, port engineers said on Friday.
