U.S. curbs on Russian banks would be act of economic war: PM
Russia would consider any U.S. move to curb the operations of Russian banks or their foreign currency dealings a declaration of economic war, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday.
India arrests former Bhushan Steel MD over alleged fraud
Indian authorities arrested a former managing director of Bhushan Steel Ltd on Thursday over an alleged fraud, after a probe found billions of rupees had been siphoned off by the firm’s founders from funds borrowed from state-run banks.
Indonesian president trumpets nationalism amid queries about VP pick
Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo brandished his nationalist and religious credentials on Friday amid reports the Islamic cleric chosen to be his running mate in next year’s election was forced on him.
Three South Korean firms imported North Korean coal in breach of sanctions: customs service
Three South Korean firms imported coal from North Korea disguised as Russian products in violation of U.N. resolutions in a fresh sign of loosening sanctions, South Korea’s customs agency said on Friday.
Taliban fighters storm Afghanistan’s Ghazni, seize parts of city
Heavily armed Taliban fighters attacked Ghazni city in central Afghanistan early on Friday, burning police checkpoints, shelling houses and business areas and seizing control of parts of the city, officials said.
Chinese Muslims protest against plan to demolish mosque
Hundreds of ethnic Hui Muslims are staging a sit-in protest in China’s western region of Ningxia against government plans to demolish a huge new mosque, amid tightening curbs on Islam to pull its practice in line with the Chinese mainstream.
Mexico’s next president chooses unarmed lawyers, doctors, engineers to guard him
Mexican president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Thursday he will abandon the secret service-style protection used by his predecessor in favor of a security detail of 20 unarmed men and women, including lawyers, doctors and engineers.
Recount shows Iraq’s Sadr retains election victory, no major changes
Populist Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr retained his lead in Iraq’s May parliamentary election, results of a nationwide recount of votes showed on Friday, positioning him to play a central role in forming the country’s next government.
China promoting own technical standards to aid nuclear push overseas
China’s State Council said it would promote the use of China’s nuclear industry’s independent technological standards worldwide, aiming to play “a leading role” in the global standardization process by 2027.
Iraq’s Sadr retains election victory after vote recount
Populist Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has retained his lead in Iraq’s May parliamentary election, results of a nationwide manual recount of votes announced by the electoral commission showed early on Friday.
