Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi issued decrees giving himself broad powers and effectively neutering the judiciary. Morsi, an Islamist hailing from the Muslim Brotherhood, defends the step as necessary to clear obstacles holding up Egypt’s transition, particularly from judges who could have disbanded a controversial assembly writing the constitution or overturned his decisions. Critics say Morsi, who already holds both executive and legislative powers, is setting himself up as a new dictator.
Steinbrueck says SPD-Greens ahead of Merkel bloc before vote
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany's center-left opposition is closer to winning a majority in next September's election than Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right alliance, Social Democrat (S PD) chancellor candidate Peer Steinbrueck said on Friday. In a fiery speech to SPD leaders, Steinbrueck acknowledged having initial problems in his campaign to oust Merkel's government but pointed out that the SPD and their allies, the Greens, had moved ahead of Merkel's coalition in the polls. … Norway mass killer criticizes prison conditions
Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik accused prison officers of trying to drive him to suicide in conditions he describes as “a mini Abu Ghraib.”
Analysis: With eye on Iran, Gaza conflict reassures Netanyahu
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Both on the diplomatic and military front, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah u will draw some comfort from his offensive against Gaza as he switches his gaze once more to his main strategic challenge — Iran. Israel views Iran's nuclear program as an existential threat in a totally different league to the problems posed by the Islamist group Hamas, which runs the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu fears a nuclear-armed Iran could one day eradicate Israel and has promised that Tehran will not get the bomb should he win a third term in office in elections on January 22. … President of Edmonton meat plant speaks about food safety closure
EDMONTON – The president of an Edmonton meat-processing plant says its operating licence was suspended over record-keeping problems, not because of product hygiene.
Sarkozy judge mistook hostage for billionaire -lawyer
PARIS (Reuters) – A judge investigating Nicolas Sarkozy's campaign funding mistook a Colombian hostage for a billionaire backer of France's right-wing party when he queried a meeting in the ex-president's diary, a lawyer for Sarkozy said. Sarko zy, who lost power in May, was questioned for 12 hours on Thursday by a judge who is trying to establish whether his election win in 2007 was aided by illegal funding from France's richest woman, 90-year-old Liliane Bettencourt. … Debate rages over Sudan's Bashir after "plot" arrests
KHARTOUM (Reuters) – Sudan's information minister had one clear message after security agents moved in to arrest their former spy chief – that a plot had been uncovered, the culprits cau ght and the situation in the country was now "totally stable". Khartoum did appear quiet a day later on Friday – but on the desert city's dusty streets the detention amplified a debate about the future of the country's leader, and posed new questions about who might one day unseat him. … Italy Monti declines comment on running for election
ROME (Reuters) & #8211; Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti declined to comment on Friday when asked for his reaction to remarks from President Giorgio Napolitano who said that Monti could not stand as a candidate in next year's parliamentary election. "I have no comment to make," he said at a news conference after a European Council meeting in Brussels. Napolitano said on Thursday that Monti's status as Senator for Life meant he could not run for parliament, dampening growing speculation that the former European Commissioner could join a centrist force to contest the election, expected in March. … Gaza truce holding even after Palestinian death
Israeli troops fired Friday to push back Gaza crowds surging toward Israel’s border fence with the Hamas-ruled territory, killing one Palestinian and wounding 19 in the first violence since a truce between Israel and Hamas took hold a day earlier.
Black Friday: Think it's crazy in the US? You should see China's version.
If you think America goes shopping mad on the day after Thanksgiving, you should look at China.
Science fund cuts could hurt EU recovery, scientists warn
LONDON (Reuters) – Cutting science funding in the European Union would threaten economic recovery in the bloc, the heads of scientific organisations said on Friday after such cuts were proposed. "We believe it would be deeply damaging to future economic growth if we were to cut funding now," Andrew Harrison, director general of Grenoble-based neutron research centre the Institut Laue-Langevin, told Reuters. … Zimbabwe: Civic groups refuse diamond money offer
Civic activists say they will not accept the Zimbabwe mining minister’s offer of funds because it would hamper their efforts to make government accountable for its diamond revenues.
Rugby-All Blacks flyhalf Carter out of Wales clash
LONDON, Nov 23 (Reuters) – New Zealand flyhalf Dan Carter will miss Saturday’s test against Wales at the Millenniun Stadium after failing to recover from a leg injury. “Gutted not to be playing with these boys in this stadium tomorrow,” Carter said on his official Twitter account. (Reporting by Justin Palmer; Editing by John Mehaffey)
BP appoints Lamar McKay as head of upstream
BP says it has appointed Lamar McKay, the head of its U.S. division, as chief executive of the company’s upstream business, leading the company’s oil and gas exploration, development and production.
Two powers, Qatar and Iran, try to sway Hamas
The courtship of Hamas between rivals Iran and Qatar has been one of the Middle East’s intriguing subplots of the Arab Spring. The bloodshed in Gaza has now sharpened their competition for influence with the Palestinian militant group and the direction it takes in the future.
Former Russian Defence Ministry official charged with fraud
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A former bureaucrat was charged with fraud on Friday in a $100 million embezzlement case that has cost the defense minister his job and shone a spotlight on corruption in President Vladimir Putin’s administration. Yevgeniya Vasilyeva, who had valuable paintings, rare antiques and more than 100 expensive rings seized in an early morning raid on her central Moscow apartment last month, was charged with large-scale fraud. …
Russian beauty queen puts spotlight on Russia's official corruption
A Russian beauty queen garnered global headlines this week by standing by her impassioned denunciation of the endemic corruption that demoralizes society and saps the economic life of her homeland, made in an essay she’d written that was supposed to be about why she’s proud to be a Russian.
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