Egyptian army guarding ‘vital installations’ ahead of protests: TV
CAIRO (Reuters) – The Egyptian military is deploying to guard “vital installations”, state media reported, ahead of protests called on Friday by supporters of deposed president Mohamed Mursi.
At least one bid qualified for $7.4 billion South Korea fighter jet deal
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea said on Friday that at least one bid came in under budget for its 8.3 trillion Korean won ($7.42 billion) purchase of 60 next generation fighter jets, the country’s biggest-ever defense import program to replace its ageing…
Indonesian president worried by growing religious intolerance
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he was concerned by growing religious intolerance in the country with world’s largest Muslim population, which many analysts say his administration has failed to contain.
Indian navy says three bodies found in submarine, no chance of survivors
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – – India’s navy said on Friday divers had found the bodies of three sailors who were on board a submarine badly damaged by a fire and explosions and that it was unlikely any of 15 other missing crew members would be found alive.
Strong quake shakes central New Zealand, causes minor damage
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck south of New Zealand’s capital on Friday, sending panicked Wellington workers and residents into the streets, but caused little major damage just weeks after a similar size quake shook the harbou…
China to tone down new year TV galas in anti-graft push
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will tone down and simplify the glitzy, kitsch and widely watched television galas beamed across the country over the traditional Lunar New Year festival, state media said on Friday, as part of government efforts to fight graf…
China rejects appeal by Nobel laureate’s brother-in-law
HUAIROU, China (Reuters) – A Chinese court on Friday rejected an appeal by the brother-in-law of jailed Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, upholding his 11-year sentence on fraud charges, a case seen as another example of official retribution on th…
Australia’s opposition pledges tougher asylum laws as election race heats up
CANBERRA (Reuters) – Australia’s opposition, tipped to win next month’s election, promised on Friday to revive tough laws barring thousands of asylum seekers already in Australia from settling permanently in a pitch to voters concerned by immigration.
Analysis: U.S. walks careful Egypt line; some see mixed messages
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – By canceling a military exercise with Egypt but not cutting off U.S. aid, President Barack Obama sought on Thursday to show his displeasure at the Egyptian army’s violent crackdown on protesters – without totally alienating the g…
Car bomb kills 20 in Hezbollah’s Beirut stronghold
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A powerful car bomb struck the southern Beirut stronghold of Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group on Thursday, killing 20 people, wounding 120 and trapping many others inside damaged buildings, witnesses and emergency officials said.
