India’s PM says to step down, backs Gandhi as successor
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ruled out on Friday serving another term after an election due by May and threw his support behind Nehru-Gandhi dynasty scion Rahul Gandhi to lead the country if their party wins the vote.
Analysis: Economy becomes liability for Turkey’s scandal-hit government
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – When a senior Turkish businessman publicly criticized the central bank this week for failing to stabilize the tumbling lira currency, he was taking aim at a pillar of support for the government: its reputation for strong economic m…
Tunisia starts voting on new constitution
TUNIS (Reuters) – Three years after the revolution that sparked uprisings across the Arab world, Tunisia’s parliament began voting on Friday on a new constitution that will help put its turbulent progress to democracy back on track.
Turkish court orders jailed Kurdish lawmakers be freed
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) – A Turkish court ordered the release from jail on Friday of two Kurdish lawmakers being tried for links to militants in a potential boost to a fragile peace process.
Israel tests Arrow missile shield, sees Hezbollah threat
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel successfully tested its upgraded Arrow missile interceptor for the second time on Friday, pushing forward work on a U.S.-backed defense against ballistic threats it sees from Lebanon’s Hezbollah guerrillas as well as from I…
Ex-finance minister wins disputed Madagascar election
ANTANANARIVO (Reuters) – Former finance minister Hery Rajaonarimampianina won Madagascar’s first presidential election since a coup in 2009 but his closest rival said the vote was rigged, raising concerns the island could remain mired in political turm…
Cambodian forces open fire as factory strikes turn violent
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Cambodian military police opened fire with assault rifles on Friday to quell a protest by stone-throwing garment factory workers demanding higher pay in a crackdown a human rights group said killed four people.
Chinese icebreaker stuck after helping in Antarctic rescue
SYDNEY (Reuters) – A Chinese icebreaker that helped rescue 52 passengers from a Russian ship stranded in Antarctic ice found itself stuck in heavy ice on Friday, further complicating the 9-day “roller-coaster” rescue operation.
Bangladesh ruling party poised to cruise as opposition boycotts poll
DHAKA (Reuters) – With a brass band, horse-drawn carriages and political posters flapping overhead, the rally in an old section of the Bangladesh capital had all the trappings of a spirited election.
London confirms death of Briton in Libya
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Britain on Friday confirmed the death of one of its nationals and said it was also aware of the death of a New Zealander in western Libya, but gave no details of the circumstances in which they died.
