Croatia to elect new leader amid EU presidency
AP, Zagreb
Croatia’s bitterly contested presidential race is headed for a runoff this weekend to decide whether a conservative or a liberal will become the new head of state while the country holds the European Union presidency for the first time.
Incumbent President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic from the governing conservative party is facing leftist former Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic in what analysts say could be a highly unpredictable and tight vote on Sunday.
UN Council to meet on Syria’s Idlib
AFP, United Nations
The UN Security Council will meet behind closed doors on Friday to discuss an uptick in violence in the embattled Syrian opposition stronghold of Idlib, diplomats told AFP.
The meeting – which will begin at 10:00 am (1500 GMT) – comes at the request of Britain and France, with the backing of the United States, the diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Thursday.
Netanyahu asks parliament for immunity
AFP, Jerusalem
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday asked parliament for immunity, weeks after the embattled premier was indicted on a range of corruption charges.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving premier, is fighting for his political survival on two fronts-the corruption allegations and stiff opposition from a new centrist party. The immunity request is expected to delay the start of court proceedings for months, as lawmakers are not due to vote on the matter until after March 2 elections.
Black box of crashed Taiwan military
chopper located
AFP, Taipei
The black box from a Taiwanese helicopter that crashed killing its military chief has been recovered, the defence ministry said on Friday.
The island is in mourning after the Black Hawk carrying the chief of general staff Shen Yi-ming and seven senior officers smashed into the mountains near Taipei on Thursday, just days ahead of national elections..
