Defense chief says Russia to maintain military superiority: Interfax
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday he would not let anyone gain military superiority over Russia and that he would fulfill a plan to modernize the armed forces by 2020.
Bulgaria’s first democratically-elected president Zhelev dies
SOFIA (Reuters) – Zhelyu Zhelev, a dissident who served as the first non-Communist president of Bulgaria from 1990 to 1997, has died at the age of 79, the parliament speaker said on Friday.
South African private school firm denies race segregation charges
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – A popular South African private school firm on Friday denied charges of racially segregating classrooms, saying it sometimes separates children based on culture, a policy that has provoked public anger 20 years after the end of…
EU’s Katainen urges Greece to stick to reforms, signals some flexibility
BERLIN (Reuters) – European Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen urged Greece’s new government on Friday to stick to the reforms agreed with international lenders, but signaled Athens could be offered more time to reach certain goals.
Three U.S. contractors killed in ‘insider attack’ in Afghanistan
KABUL (Reuters) – An Afghan soldier killed three U.S. contractors and wounded a fourth on Thursday at Kabul’s military airport, an Afghan air force official said.
Greece should follow EU line on Russia: EU’s Schulz
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece should not undermine EU policy on Russia at a time when it is seeking support from its partners over its economic problems, European parliament President Martin Schulz told Greek newspapers on Friday.
Man wielding pistol arrested at Dutch national broadcaster
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – A 19-year-old Dutchman with a pistol forced his way into the studios of the national broadcaster NOS on Thursday demanding to be allowed to go on air, but was quickly arrested, officials said.
Moscow, Washington discuss possible Kerry visit to Russia: sources
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Moscow and Washington are discussing a possible visit to Russia by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to discuss the Ukraine crisis, diplomatic sources say.
Exclusive: U.S. armed drone program in Yemen facing intelligence gaps
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is facing increasing difficulty acquiring intelligence needed to run its stealth drone program in Yemen, undermining a campaign against the most lethal branch of al Qaeda after Houthi rebels seized control of parts of the country’s security apparatus, U.S. officials say.
Babies found alive in rubble after truck blast rips through Mexico hospital
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – A gas truck explosion ripped through a maternity hospital on the western edge of Mexico City on Thursday, killing one woman and two children and injuring dozens, authorities said, with several babies found alive in the rubble.
