Turkish president approves law widening secret service’s powers
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkey’s president approved a law on Friday boosting the powers of the secret service, in a move critics of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan see as a bid to tighten his control in the country in the face of a challenge to his authorit…
South Korea, U.S. pledge firm response to North Korea
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea represents a threat not just to Asia but to the United States, U.S. President Barack Obama said on Friday, as he and South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye warned they would respond firmly to any “provocations”.
Four killed in Pakistan by bomb aimed at Shi’ites, say police
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – At least four people were killed in the Pakistani city of Karachi on Friday when a roadside bomb aimed at a bus carrying Shi’ite Muslim worshippers exploded, police said.
Italy rescues 1,800 more migrants from boats in rough seas
ROME (Reuters) – Italian navy and coastguard vessels have rescued around 1,800 more people from boats in rough seas off Sicily, authorities said on Friday, as the chronic migrant crisis continued around the southern island.
Palestinian PM offers to quit, easing way for unity government
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah offered his resignation on Friday, the official news agency WAFA said, a move which may pave the way for a unity government agreed between President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas.
Yale-graduate to remain as Serbia’s finance minister
NOVI SAD, Serbia (Reuters) – Yale-graduate Lazar Krstic will remain as Serbia’s finance minister in the new government led by the centre right Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), while a former World Bank expert will be economy minister, a senior party of…
Cuba’s Fidel Castro in good health, vice-president says
HAVANA (Reuters) – Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro is in good health and working hard though he is “dismayed” over the recent death of his close friend, Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Cuba’s government said on Friday.
Over 100 dead, thousands left homeless by Afghan floods
KABUL (Reuters) – More than 100 people have been killed and thousands left homeless by flash floods in north and west Afghanistan, officials said on Friday, prompting desperate pleas for help from the impoverished provincial authorities.
New fighting breaks out in Central African Republic, four killed
BANGUI (Reuters) – Heavy weapons fire broke out overnight in Muslim suburbs of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, and health workers reported at least four dead in the new outbreak of violence.
Colombia president to challenge Bogota mayor’s return
BOGOTA (Reuters) – Colombia’s government will challenge a judicial decision restoring the mayor of Bogota to his post weeks after he was ousted, the president said on Friday in the latest twist to a saga that has left the city without stable leadership…
