Factbox: Indonesia’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates
Indonesia, the world’s third-largest democracy and biggest Muslim majority country, goes to polls in April.
Yemen’s Houthis welcome U.N. call for investigation into air strikes
Yemen’s Houthi group welcomed on Friday a call by the United Nations for an independent investigation into Saudi-led coalition air strikes that killed dozens of people a day earlier, including children traveling on a bus.
Japan PM Abe on track for extended term despite rival’s bid
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looks well placed to win a September ruling party leadership race, putting the conservative leader on track to become the longest-serving premier despite a challenge by a former defense minister for the party post.
UK PM May’s Conservative party takes lead over Labour: Times
British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party has taken a four point lead over Labour according to a poll published in the Times newspaper on Friday, which suggests a row over anti-Semitism is damaging the opposition party’s appeal.
Kenyan parliament rejects committees’ call to probe ministers over sugar imports: papers
Kenyan lawmakers have rejected a report by two parliamentary committees that recommended the finance minister and a cabinet colleague be investigated over their handling of sugar imports, local newspapers reported on Friday.
U.S. curbs on Russian banks would be act of economic war: PM
Russia would consider any U.S. move to curb the operations of Russian banks or their foreign currency dealings a declaration of economic war, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday.
India arrests former Bhushan Steel MD over alleged fraud
Indian authorities arrested a former managing director of Bhushan Steel Ltd on Thursday over an alleged fraud, after a probe found billions of rupees had been siphoned off by the firm’s founders from funds borrowed from state-run banks.
Indonesian president trumpets nationalism amid queries about VP pick
Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo brandished his nationalist and religious credentials on Friday amid reports the Islamic cleric chosen to be his running mate in next year’s election was forced on him.
Three South Korean firms imported North Korean coal in breach of sanctions: customs service
Three South Korean firms imported coal from North Korea disguised as Russian products in violation of U.N. resolutions in a fresh sign of loosening sanctions, South Korea’s customs agency said on Friday.
Taliban fighters storm Afghanistan’s Ghazni, seize parts of city
Heavily armed Taliban fighters attacked Ghazni city in central Afghanistan early on Friday, burning police checkpoints, shelling houses and business areas and seizing control of parts of the city, officials said.
