Putin pledges to help Cuba explore for offshore oil
HAVANA (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to help revive Cuba’s struggling offshore oil exploration on Friday at the start of a six-day tour of Latin America as Russia aims to reassert its influence on the communist-ruled island.
Tsunami advisory lifted after east Japan earthquake: NHK
TOKYO (Reuters) – A tsunami advisory for northeast Japan has been lifted, public broadcaster NHK said, two hours after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake offshore Fukushima prefecture early on Saturday triggered minor tsunami in the region.
Sri Lankan Muslim leader warns of radicalization after clashes
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s Muslim minority could become radicalized and turn to foreign Islamic groups for support because of violent attacks on them by Buddhist hardliners, the island nation’s main Muslim leader and justice minister said on Frida…
Kurds seize Iraq oilfields, ministers pull out of government
BAGHDAD/KIRKUK (Reuters) – Kurdish forces seized two oilfields in northern Iraq and took over operations from a state-run oil company on Friday, while Kurdish politicians formally suspended their participation in Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s governm…
Kerry urges Afghanistan to focus on audit to resolve disputed vote
KABUL (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Afghanistan on Friday its transition to a self-reliant state hung in the balance after a contested presidential election, urging officials to focus on investigating all fraud allegations to prov…
U.N. asks Europe to take Syrian refugees as region saturated
GENEVA (Reuters) – Europe must open its doors to more Syrian refugees, having welcomed only a “miniscule” number while Syria’s neighbors have reached “saturation point”, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said on Friday.
Kerry to hold second day of talks with Afghan election candidates
KABUL (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will hold a second day of talks with Afghanistan’s two presidential candidates on Saturday with talks focused on “many ideas” about a review of votes and ways to build an inclusive, broad-based gover…
Underage fighters drawn into Iraq sectarian war
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – The video on his phone shows the boy firing a heavy machine gun mounted on a tripod through a hole in a crumbling building, his slender body shaking from the kickback.
Four killed and 57 hurt as Casablanca buildings collapse
RABAT (Reuters) – At least four people were killed and 57 injured on Friday when three buildings collapsed in Casablanca, Morocco’s biggest city, the state news agency MAP reported.
Berlusconi may face trial over prostitution witness
BARI Italy (Reuters) – An Italian prosecutor has asked a court to try Silvio Berlusconi for paying 750,000 euros ($1 million) to buy the silence of people aware that he used prostitutes, legal sources said on Friday.
