Thailand plays down coup talk ahead of city ‘shutdown’ by protesters
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand on Friday played down talk of a military coup ahead of a planned “shutdown” of the capital next week by protesters trying to overthrow Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and said life would go on much as normal.
Czech president to appoint Sobotka prime minister on Jan 17
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech President Milos Zeman said on Friday he would appoint Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka as prime minister on January 17, paving the way for a center-left coalition to take power after months of political stalemate.
India asks U.S. embassy in New Delhi to withdraw a diplomat
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – – India asked the United States on Friday to withdraw a diplomat from its embassy in New Delhi in the latest retaliatory action over the arrest of an Indian consular official in New York on charges of visa fraud.
China fires back at U.S. for criticism on fishing curbs
BEIJING (Reuters) – China defended on Friday its new fishing restrictions in disputed waters in the South China Sea against criticism from the United States, saying the rules were in accordance with international law.
Coup-prone Thailand looks to army chief to break deadlock
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Standing inside one of Bangkok’s many military bases is a giant poster of Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha in full dress uniform, along with a list of attributes. “Intelligent,” reads the poster. “Knowledgeable. Modern. Visionary.”…
Kenya says killed Shabaab commanders in air strikes
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenya’s military has killed more than 30 al Shabaab militants, including commanders, a spokesman said, in its first major barrage of air strikes in Somalia since the retaliation for the Islamists’ attack on a Nairobi shopping mall.
Israel announces plans for building 1,400 settlement homes
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel on Friday published tenders for 1,400 new homes in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, days after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited the region to push peace efforts with the Palestinians.
Assad’s forces kill dozens of rebels in Homs city
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad killed dozens of rebel fighters who tried to break an army siege of the central city of Homs, state media and a monitoring group said.
China hails ‘new progress’ in crackdown on corruption
BEIJING (Reuters) – China hailed its crackdown on corruption on Friday, saying “new progress and achievements” had led to a 13.3 percent increase in the number of people punished last year.
Hollande considers legal action over actress liaison report
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande has complained of breach of privacy and is considering legal action after French magazine Closer alleged he was having an affair with an actress, a source in his office said on Friday.
