BERLIN (Reuters) - The German government plans to seek parliamentary approval for around 80 defense projects by the end of the year, including the purchase of Eurofighter jets and the modernization of the Taurus cruise missile, according to a document seen by Reuters. The document outlines 81 defense projects that surpass the threshold of 25 million euros ($29 million), beyond which purchases need approval by parliament’s budget committee. Among the data-x-items is the so-called Tranche 5 of Eurofighter jets, former Chancellor Olaf Scholz previously said would include 20 aircraft built by Airbus.

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BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand’s Anutin Charnvirakul was elected prime minister on Friday after breezing through a parliamentary vote, trouncing the candidate of the Shinawatra family’s once-dominant ruling party to end a week of chaos and political deadlock. With decisive opposition backing, Anutin easily passed the threshold of more than half of the lower house votes required to become premier, capping off days of drama and a scramble for power during which he outmanoeuvred the most successful political party in Thailand’s history.

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NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India could build its third aircraft carrier, to be nuclear-powered, as part of a 15-year defense modernization plan announced on Friday that also includes the use of Indian-made fighter jets by the navy for the first time. New Delhi is increasingly leaning on domestic defense companies to bolster capabilities and cut dependence on foreign suppliers such as Russia, France and the United States. India currently operates two aircraft carriers, one of Russian origin and the other home-built. The proposed carrier is expected to be nuclear-powered, a first for India, for longer reach and stealthier operations.

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NEW DELHI/LAHORE (Reuters) - Heavy rain in the Himalayas continued to lash northern India and neighboring Pakistan on Friday with flooding of homes and highways worsening as major rivers overflowed. Pakistan has warned that rain is expected to continue until September 9. A fierce monsoon season has brought immense destruction in the region this year, killing 880 in Pakistan over the season while in India, nearly 150 people have lost their lives in August alone. Torrential rain has swollen many rivers, spurring authorities in India to release water from dams and further flooding areas on both sides of the border. The countries share rivers, which flow from India into Pakistan. New Delhi has issued seven warnings to Islamabad about opening dam gates, three in the last 24 hours, officials in Pakistan said.

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MAEBASHI, Japan (AP) — 
Kokichi Akuzawa almost gave up during his trek to became the oldest person to summit Mount Fuji at age 102, an achievement recognized by Guinness World Records after he reached the top in early August. “I was really tempted to give up halfway through,” Akuzawa told The Associated Press in a recent interview. “Reaching the summit was tough, but my friends encouraged me, and it turned out well. I managed to get through it because so many people supported me.” Akuzawa climbed with his 70-year-old daughter Motoe, his granddaughter, her husband and four friends from a local mountain climbing club.