Czech president sees early election in late October
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech President Milos Zeman will call an early election for October 25-26 if parliament votes to dissolve itself next week to try to end a political standoff that has paralyzed decision making in a country recovering from recession.
France fears extremists will benefit from Egypt violence
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s foreign minister said on Friday the escalating tension in Egypt risked playing into the hands of radical groups and urged all sides to do their utmost to defuse the tension.
Iran appoints pragmatist Salehi to head nuclear program
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appointed outgoing Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi to head the Atomic Energy Organization on Friday, state media said, replacing a hardliner with a pragmatist to take charge of Tehran’s nuclear progr…
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…
