Today's Must-Reads from Reuters - Nov 13

Politics may derail fighter jet purchase

ZURICH - Neutral Switzerland is hotly debating plans to replace its aging fleet of 54 Tiger fighter jets, a potentially lucrative deal for European arms firms but one that could be shot down by the electorate in a referendum (SWITZERLAND-FIGHTERS/ (BUSINESS FEATURE), moved at 0004, pix, by Andrew Thompson, 1,000 words)

Kurd-Arab tensions may threaten Iraq calm

MOSUL - In battle-scarred Mosul, Kurds and Arabs trade accusations rooted in ethnic rivalry and a battle for oil and power that many fear threaten security in Iraq (IRAQ/KURDS-ARABS, moved at 0004, pix, by Missy Ryan, 1,120 words)

WITNESS-Zero G: it's like being born

BORDEAUX, France - Nothing quite prepares you for becoming weightless, except perhaps being born. (WITNESS-WEIGHTLESS, moved at 0933, pix, TV, graphic, by Tim Hepher, 1,000 words)

Crunch predicters proffer radical cures

LONDON - In 2003, a group of London-based thinkers warned of a huge credit crunch and a surge in personal and corporate bankruptcies. Five years on, the crisis is here and the question is whether prophetic minds like those in Britain's New Economic Foundation (NEF) can persuade a hitherto deaf political mainstream to adopt their proposed solutions. (FINANCIAL/PROPHETS (BUSINESS FEATURE), moved at 1204, pix, by Barbara Lewis, 900 words)

+ See also:

- FINANCIAL-PROPHETS (FACTBOX)

Family homelessness rising in United States

WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama has vowed to help middle-class U.S. homeowners facing foreclosure, but he has said little about how he will help low-income families made homeless by a worsening economy. (USA-HOMELESS (ANALYSIS), moved at 0601, by Ross Colvin, 800 words)

Is L'Oreal still worth it? Ask French hair salons

PARIS - For years the undisputed leader at high-end hair salons, L'Oreal is losing its shine as hair stylists weather an economic downturn with cheaper products from Germany's Wella and Schwarzkopf. (LOREAL-FRANCE/ (BUSINESS FEATURE), moved at 1203, pix, by Astrid Wendlandt, 900 words)

+ See also:

- LOREAL-FRANCE/STYLISTS, 400 words

Russia's aging navy still packs a deadly punch

ABOARD THE MOSKVA MISSILE CRUISER - This Russian warship left the shipyard 25 years ago and its shortcomings reflect the Russian navy's many problems. But looks can deceive and it packs a formidable punch (RUSSIA-FLEET/ (GENERAL FEATURE), moved at 1204, pix, by Dmitry Solovyov, 950 words)

Blame banks, not Bretton Woods, delegate says

WASHINGTON - As world leaders meet this weekend to shore up the global financial system, 94-year-old Jacques Polak, one of the delegates to the 1944 Bretton Woods conferences, says the 64-year-old system is not the problem. (FINANCIAL/BRETTONWOODS (BUSINESS FEATURE), moved at 1204, pix, tv, by Lesley Wroughton, 900 words)

COMING FRIDAY

MANILA - Fliers at church entrances in the Philippines usually request donations for the poor, list upcoming special events or simply ask for prayers. But in Manila's business district, one chapel has put up a petition opposing a family planning bill before Congress and asking the faithful in this predominantly Roman Catholic nation to sign (PHILIPPINES-POPULATION/