Cuba agrees to open talks with EU on new political accord
HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba accepted a proposal by the European Union to open negotiations on a new political accord, saying on Thursday it was willing to discuss human rights as part of discussions that would end what it considers a one-sided relationship…
U.S. envoy still hopeful for missionary’s release from North Korea
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is still hopeful of securing the release of an American missionary being held in North Korea, the U.S. human rights envoy for the country said on Thursday, even though two trips he has had scheduled for the purp…
Bombs kill 26 people in Iraq
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – At least 26 people were killed in Iraq on Thursday as insurgents set off roadside bombs and detonated explosives-packed cars in Baghdad and elsewhere, police said.
Caymans-bound cruise ship plucks Cuban migrants from wooden boat
GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (Reuters) – Twenty-four Cubans were rescued from a rickety wooden boat by a passing cruise liner which took them to the Cayman Islands, ship owner Carnival Corp said, as growing numbers of migrants try to sail to Central Ame…
Afghan president’s brother withdraws from election, backs ex-minister
KABUL (Reuters) – The Afghan president’s older brother, Qayum Karzai, announced on Wednesday he was withdrawing from next month’s presidential election and would back former foreign minister Zalmai Rassoul, widely believed to be the president’s favored…
Nigeria’s APC pledges to fight graft at debut summit
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s main opposition party slammed President Goodluck Jonathan’s record on corruption on Thursday, calling on Africa’s most populous nation to end the governing party’s 15-year rule at an election next year.
Five Afghan soldiers killed in air strike by NATO-led force
KABUL (Reuters) – Five Afghan soldiers were killed on Thursday in an air strike by the NATO-led force in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Logar, Afghan officials and the coalition said.
“Mission accomplished” for U.S. air base in pro-Moscow Kyrgyzstan
MANAS TRANSIT CENTER (Reuters) – A U.S. Air Force base in Kyrgyzstan is packing up for closure after more than 12 years of flying troops and cargo in and out of Afghanistan, as Moscow boosts its military clout in the strategic region.
France’s Sarkozy to sue over secret audio recordings: lawyers
PARIS (Reuters) – Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni are to file a legal complaint over secret audio recordings made of them by an adviser during the 2012 election campaign, lawyers for the couple said on Thursday.
Egypt has no plans to send ambassador back to Qatar: cabinet
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egypt’s ambassador to Qatar, who was recalled to Cairo last month over political tension between the two Arab states, will not go back to Doha for now, the cabinet said on Thursday.
