Czech PM drops plan to resign, aims to fire finance minister
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka abruptly changed tack in his battle to remove Finance Minister Andrej Babis on Friday, taking back a pledge to resign and instead seeking only the dismissal of his main political rival.
Hardline foes of Iran’s Rouhani rap lack of payoff from nuclear deal
ANKARA (Reuters) – Hardline rivals challenged President Hassan Rouhani in a pre-election debate on Friday over the lack of economic revival since his nuclear deal with big powers, but he said oil exports had resurged and the economy only needed more ti…
Turkish court rejects Wikipedia’s appeal over website’s blocking: Anadolu
ANKARA (Reuters) – A Turkish court on Friday rejected an appeal by the online encyclopedia Wikipedia against a government decision to block access to its website, the state-run Anadolu news agency said, a case that has heightened concerns about censors…
Pakistani, Afghan troops exchange fire on border, several killed
QUETTA, Pakistan (Reuters) – Pakistani and Afghan troops exchanged fire for several hours on Friday along their disputed border, officials on both sides said, as tension between the neighbors flared into deadly violence.
Algeria’s ruling FLN, allies win majority in parliament: ministry
ALGIERS (Reuters) – Algeria’s ruling National Liberation Front or FLN party and its main allies won a majority in a parliamentary election overshadowed by the financial crunch from lower oil prices and questions over President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s he…
Influence of English is fading, says EU chief Juncker
FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) – European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker took a swipe at Britain on Friday, saying he would not give a speech in English because the language was becoming less significant following Brexit.
North Korea accuses CIA of ‘bio-chemical’ plot against leadership
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea on Friday accused the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and South Korea’s intelligence service of a plot to attack its “supreme leadership” with a bio-chemical weapon and said such a “pipe-dream” could never succeed.
Iraqi forces gain foothold in northwest Mosul after surprise new push
HULAYLA, Iraq (Reuters) – Iraqi forces pushed further into Mosul from the north on the second day of a new push to speed up the nearly seven-month attempt to dislodge Islamic State, commanders said on Friday.
Afghan former warlord Hekmatyar rallies supporters in Kabul
KABUL (Reuters) – Thousands of supporters of Afghan former warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar rallied in Kabul’s main football stadium on Friday, making a stark demonstration of force in the city his fighters helped destroy during civil war two decades ago.
Renegade general Cirillo says ready to enter South Sudan’s civil war
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – A renegade general said he was weighing launching his new rebel force into South Sudan’s civil war, and called for President Salva Kiir to go, accusing him of spearheading ethnic violence that rights groups fear is slipping towa…
