CHANGCHUN, China — China kept silent on Friday about a reported visit by North Korea’s secretive leader, Kim Jong-il, that analysts say appears intended to line up Beijing behind his dynastic succession plans. THATTA, Pakistan — Thousands of people fled on Friday from this southern Pakistani town after the swollen Indus river burst its banks and authorities ordered an evacuation.

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s largest union threatened on Friday to bring gold and platinum mining and other industries to a halt next week in a strike to support a labour stoppage by 1,3 million state workers.

NEW DELHI — India summoned China’s ambassador on Friday to protest against the refusal of a visa to an Indian general from the disputed Kashmir region, the latest spat between two Asian giants jostling for global influence and resources.

TEHRAN — Iran has withdrawn assets from European banks in an attempt to evade international sanctions over the Islamic state’s disputed nuclear programme, a senior Iranian official said on Friday.

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas every two weeks to improve the prospects of Middle East peace talks, a diplomatic source said on Friday.

ANKARA — Turkey’s new military chief, a quiet, hardline secularist, took command on Friday of a force that sees itself cornered by EU-driven reforms and an emboldened government with roots in political Islam.

PARIS — As France braces for a strike over pension reform, President Nicolas Sarkozy has abandoned plans to cut education subsidies in a move that may deprive trade unions of important student support for the September 7 protest.

BERLIN — Thousands took to the streets of Stuttgart on Friday to demonstrate against building a new train station, a one-issue protest that has become a wider outcry against German politicians in general.

SANTIAGO — Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Friday proposed boosting royalties paid by mining companies to fund reconstruction after a devastating earthquake, and his government called for tighter safety standards after a cave-in trapped 33 miners. — Reuters

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