U.S. says North Korea must take meaningful steps for talks to resume
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States responded on Friday to an offer by North Korea to resume talks on its nuclear program by reiterating that Pyongyang must first take meaningful steps toward denuclearization and refrain from provocative acts.
Obama envoy sees long road ahead in war with Islamic State
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The U.S. envoy charged by President Barack Obama with building a coalition to fight the militant group Islamic State warned on Friday that the war against the jihadists was in its early stages.
Exclusive: Gifts for Cubans end in 15-year sentence for Canadian CEO
HAVANA (Reuters) – Dinners at fancy restaurants, week-long family vacations and a flat-screen TV: the bribes that Cuba accused Canadian businessman Cy Tokmakjian of giving Cuban officials were modest by corruption standards in many developing nations.
Violence in eastern Ukraine strains ceasefire: U.S. official
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Violence in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists has put a strain on a ceasefire clinched nearly a month ago between the sides, the State Department said on Friday.
Nine U.N. troops killed in worst attack yet on Mali force
BAMAKO/DAKAR (Reuters) – Nine United Nations peacekeepers in Mali were killed when heavily armed gunmen on motorbikes ambushed their convoy on Friday, the deadliest attack yet on U.N. troops in the west African nation, the mission said.
Hong Kong protesters face backlash, threaten to abandon talks
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Pro-democracy protesters faced off against supporters of Chinese rule in Hong Kong’s teeming Mong Kok district early on Saturday, in a tense confrontation that has undermined hopes for talks aimed at ending a week of turmoil.
A year after tragedy, PM says Italy will not stop sea rescues
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s Mediterranean Sea mission, which has rescued more than 90,000 migrants in the past year, will go on, the prime minister said on Friday, vowing to continue navy patrols a year after a shipwreck that killed hundreds sparked inter…
Brazil’s Silva slips, Neves may make runoff, Sensus poll shows
BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff continues to broaden her advantage ahead of Sunday’s election, but it is not clear which of her rivals she will face in an expected second-round runoff, a new poll showed on Friday.
Iraqi PM calls on political forces to unite: state TV
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called on Iraq’s bickering political factions on Friday to unite.
Stampede at Hindu festival kills 32 in eastern India
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – At least 32 people were killed in a stampede during a Hindu festival in the eastern Indian state of Bihar on Friday, most of them women and a few children, the state police chief said.
