Briefly

EUROPE

Canada, France open Greenland consulates

Canada and France, which both oppose US President Donald Trump's bid to control Greenland, will open consulates in the Danish autonomous territory's capital on Friday, in a strong show of support for the local government. Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has repeatedly insisted that Washington needs to control the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island for security reasons. The US president last month backed off his threats to seize Greenland after saying he had struck a "framework" deal with NATO chief Mark Rutte to ensure greater US influence. A US-Denmark-Greenland working group has been established to discuss ways to meet Washington's security concerns in the Arctic. Denmark and Greenland have said they insisted that sovereignty and territorial integrity are a "red line" in the discussions.

CUBA

Havana willing to talk 'without pressure'

Cuba is prepared to hold dialogue with the United States but not under pressure, President Miguel Diaz-Canel insisted on Thursday after months of threats from the US. US President Donald Trump has vowed to cut off Cuba's access to oil and stated the communist island was "ready to fall" as he warned it to "make a deal" with Washington "before it's too late". The president did not say what kind of deal he was after, but he has repeatedly stated that the two countries were in negotiations, a claim Havana has denied. "Cuba is willing to engage in dialogue with the United States, a dialogue on any topic … but without pressure or preconditions," Diaz-Canel said on state TV and radio. He said any talks must take place "from a position of equals, with respect for our sovereignty, our independence and our self-determination" and without "interference in our internal affairs".

PAKISTAN

Suicide bomber kills 31 in mosque

A suicide bomber killed at least 31 people and wounded almost 170 others during Friday prayers in a Shi'ite Muslim mosque in Islamabad, officials said, in the deadliest attack of its kind in the capital in over a decade. Images from the site showed bloodied bodies lying on the carpeted mosque floor surrounded by shards of glass, debris and panicked worshippers. Dozens more wounded were lying in the gardens of the Khadija Tul Kubra Imambargah, in a semi-urban area on the outskirts of Islamabad, as people called for help. Two police officials said the attacker was stopped at the gate of the mosque before detonating the bomb. They asked not to be identified as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Agencies - Xinhua