Spain’s govt. passes decree to exhume remains of dictator Franco
Spain’s government passed a decree on Friday to smooth the way for the relocation of the remains of former dictator Francisco Franco with the aim of turning his mausoleum into a memorial for the victims of the Spanish civil war.
Lentil soup or cauliflower shakes? Finnish army’s veggie meals upset minister
They say an army marches on its stomach, and a decision to serve Finnish soldiers two compulsory vegetarian meals a week has upset the nationalist defense minister.
Moaning about mosque loudspeaker not blasphemy, says Indonesian Muslim group
Indonesia’s biggest Islamic organization called for greater tolerance on Friday as it criticized a court that jailed a mother of four for blasphemy after complaining that a mosque in her neighborhood was too loud.
South Korea sends sanctioned material to North Korea, politician says
South Korea has sent 1 billion won ($893,239.96) worth of sanctioned material to North Korea, customs data showed on Friday, raising concern ties with the United States could be damaged as the South pursues cooperation with the North.
Doctor in eastern Congo contracts Ebola in ‘dreaded’ scenario: WHO
A doctor has become the first probable Ebola case in one of the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s most violence-ridden and inaccessible zones, a scenario “we have all been dreading”, the World Health Organization said on Friday.
Thomas Cook evacuates 300 from Egyptian hotel after couple’s death
Britain’s Thomas Cook said it was evacuating all 301 of its customers from a hotel in Egypt’s popular Red Sea resort of Hurghada as a precautionary measure after two of its holidaymakers died in circumstances it said were still unclear.
Court gives Malaysia nod to sell superyacht seized in 1MDB probe
A Malaysian court on Friday granted an application by the government to sell a $250 million luxury yacht allegedly bought with money stolen from scandal-tainted state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
New Australian PM pledges ‘generational change’ to heal ruling party
(This version of Aug. 24 story corrects spelling of party member’s name to Entsch, paragraph 10)
Deep magnitude 7.1 quake strikes Peru
A magnitude 7.1 quake struck nearly 250 km (155 miles) northwest of Puerto Maldonado, Peru, in the early hours of Friday at a depth of 610 km, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Russia says working on Putin visit to Saudi Arabia: agencies
Russia is preparing for President Vladimir Putin to visit Saudi Arabia after he received an invitation from Saudi King Salman, agencies cited Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov as saying on Friday.
