African mediators try to avert civil war in South Sudan
JUBA (Reuters) – African mediators said they held “productive” talks on Friday with South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, trying to prevent an almost week-long conflict plunging the world’s newest nation into a civil war along ethnic faultlines.
Czech center-left pushes for deal on cabinet posts
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka made what he called a final offer on Friday to the smallest party in a potential center-left coalition in a push to form a new government by the end of the year.
Iran, six powers extend expert-level talks to Saturday
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Iran and six world powers have extended expert-level talks in Geneva on the implementation of a landmark deal obliging Tehran to curb its nuclear program for at least one additional day, diplomats said on Friday.
Venezuela inflation data delay sparks controversy
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela has delayed publishing its closely watched monthly inflation data, sparking opposition accusations that the figures might be manipulated to suit President Nicolas Maduro’s “economic offensive” to bring prices down.
China probes top official in powerful security ministry
BEIJING (Reuters) – China has begun an investigation into a senior official at the powerful public security ministry, the government announced on Friday, as speculation swirls about the fate of the country’s former domestic security tsar.
Nasrallah warns Israel Hezbollah will avenge commander’s killing
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday vowed to avenge Israel for the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut earlier this month.
Britain’s Cameron wants labor curbs for any new EU members
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Britain will push for tougher accession terms for any new members of the European Union to limit their citizens’ access to the bloc’s labor markets, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Friday.
Bosnia court jails Islamist for 45 years over bomb attack
SARAJEVO (Reuters) – Bosnia’s state court sentenced an Islamist radical to 45 years in prison on Friday for a 2010 bomb attack on a police station in which one officer was killed and several injured.
Two Egyptian soldiers and three militants killed in Sinai battle: army
ISMAILIA, Egypt (Reuters) – The Egyptian army said two soldiers were killed in the Sinai Peninsula on Friday while they carried out a raid that also left three al Qaeda-linked militants dead.
Italy’s “St. Valentine’s Beast” captured in France
ROME (Reuters) – A serial killer known as the “St. Valentine’s Beast” who went on the run after being allowed out of prison to visit his mother three days ago was captured in France on Friday, Italy’s interior minister said.
