U.N. Security Council to vote Monday on Syria aid access resolution
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council will vote Monday on a resolution to allow aid access at four border crossings into rebel-held areas of Syria without government consent, said Western diplomats, who were hopeful Russia and China will…
Ukraine says rebels will pay as missiles kill 23 soldiers
KIEV/DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko vowed to “find and destroy” pro-Russian rebels who killed 23 servicemen and wounded nearly 100 in a missile attack on Friday.
Gaza toll passes 100; Israel to counter rockets ‘with all power’
GAZA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – An airstrike outside a family home early Saturday pushed the Palestinian death toll past 100 in four days of cross-border fighting as Israel showed no sign of pausing despite international pressure to negotiate a ceasefire wi…
Germany says expulsion of U.S. spy chief was inevitable
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s decision to ask the CIA station chief in Berlin to leave the country was an inevitable response to fresh allegations of U.S. spying on Berlin, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Friday.
Magnitude 6.8 quake, small tsunami hit east Japan, no damage
TOKYO (Reuters) – A magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit off eastern Japan on Saturday morning, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, with minor tsunami of up to 20 cm but no reports of damage along the northeast coast that was ravaged by the catastrophic Marc…
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…
