Amid ‘gas war’ talk, Russia reassures Europe on supply
KIEV/MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to ease European fears of gas supply cuts on Friday after Brussels said it would stand with the new authorities in Kiev if the Kremlin carries out a threat to turn off the tap to Ukraine.
Scottish leader urges voters to put aside politics for independence
ABERDEEN, Scotland (Reuters) – Scotland’s leader Alex Salmond will on Saturday urge Scots to put aside party politics in the vote on independence, as he tries to win support from Labour rivals for his bid to leave the United Kingdom.
Magnitude 6.6 quake hits southwest Nicaragua: USGS
MANAGUA (Reuters) – A 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit southwest Nicaragua on Friday near the coast, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, shaking buildings in the capital Managua and as far away as San Jose in Costa Rica.
Iranian official will not get visa for U.N. ambassadorship: White House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States said on Friday it would not grant a visa to Iran’s proposed U.N. ambassador, citing the envoy’s links to the 1979-1981 hostage crisis, in a rare step that raises questions about how much influence the White Hous…
Iran’s oil exports surge above West’s sanctions cap: IEA
LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Iran’s crude oil exports have surged to their highest in 20 months, far exceeding a 1 million barrel-per-day limit set by the West under an interim deal on curbing Tehran’s nuclear program.
Madagascar names new prime minister, eyes World Bank aid
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – Madagascar named Kolo Christophe Laurent Roger, a radiologist who lived abroad for decades, as its new prime minister on Friday, as part of a process aimed at ending prolonged political turmoil on the Indian Ocean island.
India election chief bans rallies by Modi aide over religious hatred
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Narendra Modi, widely tipped to become India’s next prime minister, suffered a setback on Friday when his closest aide was banned from election rallies and meetings after a series of speeches deemed to have stoked tensions with Mu…
Policeman hurt in Bahrain bomb blast:ministry
MANAMA (Reuters) – A policeman was wounded when a homemade bomb exploded in a village in Bahrain on Friday, the Interior Ministry said, in the latest of a series of attacks by suspected Shi’ite Muslim militants on security forces.
Pope asks forgiveness for ‘evil’ of child abuse by priests
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis made his first public plea for forgiveness on Friday for the “evil” committed by priests who molested children, using some of his strongest words yet on the Roman Catholic Church’s sexual abuse crisis.
U.S. expects Iran will meet oil export target in nuclear deal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Obama administration believes that oil exports from Iran from January to July will meet an average 1 million barrel per day goal outlined in an interim agreement with Tehran over curbing its disputed nuclear program, a State …
