Kerry to visit Egypt, tensions high before Mursi trial
CAIRO (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will visit Egypt a day before deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi goes on trial, the next likely flashpoint in the struggle between his Muslim Brotherhood and the army-backed interim government….
Japan, Russia agree on next step toward peace treaty
TOKYO (Reuters) – Foreign ministers from Japan and Russia on Friday agreed to hold a vice ministerial-level meeting early next year to work toward the resolution of an island dispute and signing of a peace treaty formally ending their World War Two hos…
Drone strike kills four in Pakistan’s North Waziristan
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (Reuters) – A drone strike killed four people in Pakistan’s lawless North Waziristan region on Friday, possibly including a senior Pakistani Taliban commander, intelligence sources said.
Kenyan press, opposition criticize proposed harsh media law
NAIROBI (Reuters) – Kenyan media and opposition politicians have criticized media rules proposed by the government, saying they would muzzle the press and stunt democracy in the country.
Shi’ite rebels attack north Yemen town, death toll rises
SANAA (Reuters) – Shi’ite Muslim Houthi rebels backed by tanks launched a fresh attack on Friday on a town in north Yemen held by their Sunni Muslim Salafi rivals, a Salafi spokesman said, bringing the total death toll in three days of sectarian clashe…
Snowden writes to Germans to seek support in spy row
BERLIN (Reuters) – Fugitive U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden has told Germany he is counting on international support to stop Washington’s ‘persecution’ of him for revealing the scale of its worldwide phone and Internet surveillance.
Russian PM plays down ‘gas war’ talk, warns Ukraine on EU
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said he saw no reason for Moscow to cut gas supplies to Ukraine over an unpaid bill for now, playing down talk of an imminent “gas war” that might disrupt flows to Europe.
Uganda calls for Congo ceasefire as peace talks progress
KAMPALA/RUMANGABO, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nov 1 (Reuters) – Uganda called on the Congolese army and M23 rebels to cease fire on Friday as peace talks progressed in Kampala to end a 20-month conflict.
Bulgaria’s ruling group challenges land purchases ban
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgaria’s ruling alliance asked the country’s top court on Friday to quash a widely criticized ban on arable land acquisitions by foreigners to avert infringement action by the European Union.
China’s economy to sustain ‘mid- to high-speed’ growth: premier
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s economy will keep growing at mid- to high speed in coming years, Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday, promising to lead the world’s second-largest economy on a road of “comprehensive reform”.
