Italy rescues more than 4,000 migrants, operations ongoing
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s navy has rescued more than 4,000 migrants from overcrowded boats in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily in the past four days and several other rescue operations are still going on, officials said on Friday.
EU, China end wine dispute ahead of Xi’s European tour
BEIJING/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – China and the European Union have reached a deal to end a dispute over European wine exports to China, the latest sign of improving ties and just days before China’s president visits Europe.
Libya’s Tripoli airport closed after rockets hit runway
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libyan authorities closed the airport in the capital Tripoli on Friday after rockets hit a runway on Friday, officials said.
Thailand in limbo after election annulled; economy suffering
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Friday annulled last month’s general election, leaving the country in political limbo without a full government and further undermining a prime minister faced with impeachment over a failed rice su…
Fire destroys main market in Malian capital Bamako
BAMAKO (Reuters) – An overnight blaze at the main market in Mali’s capital Bamako destroyed around 2,000 shops, causing millions of dollars in damage as fire crews struggled to access the site and hydrants malfunctioned, residents and fire officials sa…
U.S. to hold CEE military exercises in Poland: radio
WARSAW (Reuters) – The United States is preparing military exercises in Poland that could involve Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria and the Baltics, the U.S. ambassador to Poland was quoted as saying on Friday.
India’s Chidambaram election shy as party popularity slides
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s finance minister, P. Chidambaram, has declined to stand in upcoming national elections, adding to a sense of gloom in the ruling Congress party as a growing list of high-profile cabinet members shies away from facing voter…
Japan confirms meeting of PM Abe with South Korea president
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan and South Korea said on Friday that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will meet South Korean President Park Geun-hye for the first time in a trilateral meeting with the United States next week.
Anger in Italy as EU officials ‘laugh at Renzi’
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Italian media reacted angrily on Friday after senior European officials exchanged apparently ironic smiles at a news conference when asked if Rome may be granted extra flexibility on its budget targets.
Libya’s Tripoli airport closed after rockets hit runway
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libyan authorities closed the airport in the capital Tripoli on Friday after rockets hit a runway, airport sources and state media said.
