‘Cerebral’ Spindelegger takes on Austrian finances
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austrian conservative leader Michael Spindelegger, set to replace the combative Maria Fekter as the euro zone country’s finance minister, is as plain vanilla as Fekter is brash.
Asian nations urge peace in sea disputes, unlikely to blame China
TOKYO (Reuters) – Asian nations must ensure that territorial disputes do not erupt into conflict, leaders said on Friday, with Japan and the Philippines reaffirming their commitment to freedom of flight as concerns grow over China’s new air defense zon…
Irish government faces post-bailout battle to woo back voters
DUBLIN (Reuters) – After a three-year struggle to convince financial markets that Ireland’s economy is back on track, Prime Minister Enda Kenny’s government now has to make the case to an equally tough audience: the Irish people.
Ghost of Indonesia’s Suharto gives life to his old political party
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s autocratic former President Suharto left office in disgrace, his political empire and the economy in ruin, but 15 years later, his old ruling party hopes nostalgia for his legacy will sweep it back into power.
Four killed in Bangladesh clashes after Islamist leader executed
DHAKA (Reuters) – At least four people were killed in Bangladesh on Friday when supporters of Islamist leader Abdul Quader Mollah vented their fury at his execution for war crimes committed during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.
Sicily police arrest family of top Mafia boss
PALERMO, Sicily (Reuters) – Close family members of the Sicilian Mafia’s fugitive “boss of bosses” were arrested on Friday in one of most significant anti-crime operations in Sicily in years, police said.
Iran frees Slovak paragliders held in spy row
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Two Slovak paragliders detained in Iran over accusations of spying have returned home, a day after their prime minister held talks in Tehran, Slovakia’s government said on Friday.
North Korea executes leader’s powerful uncle in rare public purge
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korea has executed the powerful uncle of young leader Kim Jong Un, state media said on Friday, the biggest upheaval in years as the ruling dynasty sought to distance itself from responsibility for the isolated states’s dire livi…
China must befriend Tibet monks to build ‘impenetrable defense’: official
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese officials in Tibet must build an “impenetrable defense” against separatism and befriend monks and nuns in the restive and remote region, a senior official said in remarks published on Friday.
Mexican Congress passes radical shake-up of oil industry
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s Congress on Thursday overwhelmingly voted to open up the country’s oil and gas sector to private investment in the biggest overhaul of the industry since it was nationalized in 1938.
