France

Hopi masks to be auctioned

A French court on Friday rejected a request for an injunction against the auction in Paris of Hopi ceremonial masks from the United States, despite opponents saying the sale amounted to "sacrilege". A lawyer for the tribe, Pierre Servan-Schreiber, said the court refused to halt Neret-Minet's sale of around 70 brightly colored "Kachina" visages and headdresses.

Senate backs gay marriage

France's upper house Senate voted on Friday to adopt a law granting same-sex couples the right to marry, which has sparked opposition and protests from conservatives and religious groups. The bill came under attack in a country that is predominantly Catholic, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of people in pro- and anti-same-sex marriage protests.

Russia

Moscow warns US on rights law

The forthcoming publication of a list of Russians barred from the United States over alleged human rights abuses will severely strain relations, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said on Friday, but he also sought to limit the damage. "The appearance of any lists will doubtless have a very negative effect on bilateral Russian-American relations," Dmitry Peskov said.

Iraq

Bomb near mosque kills 8

A bomb exploded near a Sunni mosque north of Baghdad on Friday, killing eight people, a police colonel and a doctor said, the latest in an upturn in violence in the run-up to elections next week. The bomber struck after prayers at the Omar bin Abdul Aziz mosque, south of Baquba, and also wounded another 25 people, the sources said.

Japan

Pirate given 11 years in jail

A Japanese court on Friday sentenced an African man, one of four who attempted to hijack a Japanese tanker off the coast of Oman, to 11 years in jail, a report said. The 21-year-old man was a juvenile under Japanese law at the time of the incident. He is believed to be from Somalia, Jiji Press said.

Italy

More migrants rescued

Italy's coast guard on Friday said it had rescued 213 migrants packed onto two large dinghies, bringing to the total number of people to have landed on the southern island of Lampedusa in recent days to 650. "The improved weather conditions expected in the coming days could encourage more departures of migrants from North African shores," the coast guard said in a statement.

AFP-AP-Reuters

(China Daily 04/13/2013 page8)