Russia criticizes U.N. resolution condemning Crimea’s secession
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia said on Friday a U.N. resolution declaring invalid Crimea’s Moscow-backed referendum on seceding from Ukraine was counterproductive and accused Western states of using blackmail and threats to drum up “yes” votes.
Turkish security breach exposes Erdogan in power struggle
ISTANBUL/ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s spymaster discusses possible military intervention in Syria with army and civilian chiefs, and days later their words are broadcast on the internet for all the world to hear.
Israel says shoots two suspected infiltrators from Syria
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli troops shot two suspected armed infiltrators at the Syrian frontier in the occupied Golan Heights on Friday, the Israeli military said.
Eleven killed in Central African Republic grenade attack
BANGUI (Reuters) – Eleven people died in the capital of the Central African Republic after a grenade exploded among mourners gathered for a funeral, the Red Cross said on Friday, in what residents said was an attack on Christians.
Foreigners escape Taliban siege in Kabul; Afghan child killed
KABUL (Reuters) – Taliban gunmen stormed a Kabul guesthouse used by a U.S.-based aid group and held four foreigners hostage for several hours on Friday, just eight days before Afghanistan holds a presidential election which the militant group has vowed…
Escalating attacks jangle nerves ahead of crucial Afghan vote
KABUL (Reuters) – With a week to go before Afghanistan’s presidential election, escalating violence across the country risks undermining the credibility of a vote meant to mark the first democratic transfer of power in Afghan history.
Ukraine-Russia row over Crimea spreads to U.N. nuclear agency
VIENNA (Reuters) – The U.N. atomic agency has got caught up in the diplomatic crossfire over Crimea as Russia insists its agreements with the Vienna-based watchdog now also cover the annexed Black Sea peninsula, a confidential exchange showed on Friday…
NATO names Norway’s Stoltenberg as next leader
BRUSSELS/OSLO (Reuters) – NATO chose former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg as its next leader on Friday at a time when the Western military alliance must deal with a resurgent Russia following its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea.
Kenyan president says tourism sector ‘on its knees’ after attacks
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s vital tourism sector is “on its knees” after attacks by al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants carried out in retaliation for its intervention in neighboring Somalia, President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Friday.
French minister in the soup over ‘disgusting’ food remark
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s trade minister had to eat humble pie on Friday after she was caught on film saying that food served at a state dinner for China’s President Xi Jinping was “disgusting”.
