Longtime Berlusconi ally declared fugitive ahead of mafia verdict
PALERMO, Italy (Reuters) – A longtime political ally, business associate and friend of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has left the country ahead of a final ruling on mafia collusion charges, a Palermo prosecutor said on Friday.
Pakistani Taliban plot with seminaries to assault capital: police
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – The Pakistani Taliban will coordinate with Islamist activists at major seminaries in or near the capital, Islamabad, to launch attacks if peace talks with the government fail, police said in a report obtained by Reuters.
Sri Lanka military says it killed Tamil separatists, first clash since 2009
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s military said on Friday it had killed three ethnic Tamil separatist militants, the first combat since government troops crushed the rebels in a 2009 offensive.
Turkish government says will abide by court ruling on judicial reforms
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s government will abide by a constitutional court ruling rejecting party of a law tightening government control of the judiciary, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Friday.
Italy needs EU help to handle tide of refugees, U.N. says
GENEVA (Reuters) – An estimated 6,000 people, many of them Syrians and Eritreans, have been rescued by Italy’s navy in four days and thousands more asylum seekers keen to reach Europe have gathered in Libya, the U.N. refugee agency on Friday.
Kuwait orders blackout in court case over ‘plot’ tape
DUBAI (Reuters) – Kuwait has imposed a news blackout on an investigation into reports of a recording that implicates unnamed people in an alleged plot to overthrow the Gulf state’s ruling system, state news agency KUNA said.
Philippine, United States reach agreement on new security deal
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines and the United States reached agreement on Friday on a new security accord allowing American military forces to share local bases for maritime and humanitarian operations, a senior Philippine defence officials said.
Iraq insurgents use water as weapon after seizing dam
FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) – Insurgents in Iraq have added water to their arsenal of weapons after seizing control of a dam in the west of the country that enables them to flood certain areas and prevent security forces from advancing against them.
Zimbabwe opposition expels anti-Tsvangirai dissidents
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s opposition MDC has expelled its treasurer and two senior party members for calling for leader Morgan Tsvangirai to quit, underscoring the rifts in the party in the wake of last year’s landslide election defeat to President…
NATO chief calls on Russian troops to withdraw from Ukraine border
SOFIA (Reuters) – Russia must withdraw its troops from the Ukrainian border and enter into sincere dialogue with the West, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on a visit to NATO-member Bulgaria on Friday.
