Strong earthquake rocks northern Japan

TOKYO -- A strong earthquake rocked northern Japan late Friday night, the country's meteorological agency said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, and no tsunami warning was issued. The quake with preliminary magnitude 6.4 struck at 7:17 a.m. CST and was centered 25 miles below the sea off the coast of Miyagi prefecture, about 190 miles north of Tokyo, according to the ministry. Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries because it sits atop four tectonic plates.

Russia to sell $1 billion worth of arms to Iran

MOSCOW -- Russia has agreed to sell more than $1 billion worth of missiles and other defense systems to Iran, Russian news media reported Friday, a move expected to draw a heated reaction from the United States. The Interfax and ITAR-Tass news agencies cited unidentified sources in the Russian military-industrial complex as saying that Russian and Iranian officials had signed contracts in November that would send up to 30 Tor-M1 missile systems to Iran over the next two years. The news agency quoted its source as saying the two countries had reached a deal on modernizing Iran's air force inventory, as well.

Dutch politicians unite to regulate marijuana farms

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- A broad coalition of political parties on Friday announced a test program for the southern city of Maastricht that would regulate farming of the drug, putting it on the same legal footing as tobacco. Currently, marijuana and hashish are illegal. But police don't prosecute for possession of less than one ounce. Authorities also look the other way regarding the open sale of cannabis in designated coffee shops. On the other hand, commercial growing is outlawed. That leaves a contradictory system in which shop owners have no legal way to purchase their best-selling product. About two-thirds of parliament members support launching a pilot program in which growers would no longer be the target of raids or prosecution.

Haitian kidnappers release children, missionary

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Gunmen have released 14 Haitian children and an American missionary who were abducted separately in the strife-torn nation, police said Friday. The missionary, Phillip Snyder, was released Friday after a ransom was paid, said police Commissioner Francois Henri Doussous, head of Haiti's anti-kidnapping unit. He would not specify how much was paid but said it was "much less" than the $300,000 the kidnappers initially sought. The kidnappings happened five weeks before national elections to restore democracy to Haiti, which has seen a sharp increase in abductions amid the chaos following the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in February 2004. Doussous said police did not believe the kidnappings were politically motivated. "This is purely criminal activity, the gangs need money," he said.

-- From wire reports