Spanish Socialist Sanchez succeeds Rajoy as prime minister
MADRID (Reuters) – Socialist Pedro Sanchez took over as Spain’s prime minister on Friday, after outgoing leader Mariano Rajoy lost a parliamentary confidence vote triggered by a long-running corruption trial involving members of his center-right party….
Civil society steps in as Ukraine struggles to tame corruption
KIEV (Reuters) – During the day, Andrew Sherepenko builds IT systems for hotels in the United States. In his spare time, he’s trying to put Ukraine’s corruption fight on track.
On Berlin’s ‘Arab Street,’ two worlds collide
BERLIN (Reuters) – During the Cold War, Sonnenallee was an unremarkable street with a checkpoint that drew attention only at Easter when West Berliners visited their relatives in the East. Nicknamed “Little Beirut,” it was known for its Lebanese stores…
Exclusive: Free trade talks between China and Sri Lanka hit big hurdles
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Talks between China and Sri Lanka for a free trade agreement have hit major hurdles, mainly because Beijing will not agree to Colombo’s demand for a review of the deal after 10 years, Sri Lanka’s top negotiator said.
UK considering giving Northern Ireland joint UK, EU status: UK source
LONDON (Reuters) – The United Kingdom is considering attempting to break the deadlock in Brexit negotiations with a proposal to give Northern Ireland joint UK and European Union status so it can trade freely with both, a government official said.
Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy to be voted out of office
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s center-right Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy was set to be voted out of office on Friday and replaced by a Socialist, in a no-confidence motion triggered by a long-running corruption trial involving members of his party.
Pakistan’s ‘disqualified’ ex-foreign minister allowed to contest election
KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) – Former Pakistani foreign minister Khawaja Asif will be allowed to contest a July 25 general election after the Supreme Court on Friday overturned his disqualification from politics, in a boost to the ruling Pakistan Muslim…
India stresses free navigation, ‘rules-based order’ for Asian seas
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on Friday the importance of ensuring the freedom of navigation in Asian waters for free trade, days after pledging to help develop a strategic port in Indonesia.
UK plans to give Northern Ireland joint UK, EU status: The Sun
LONDON (Reuters) – The United Kingdom will attempt to break the deadlock in the Brexit negotiations with a proposal to give Northern Ireland joint UK and European Union status so that it can trade freely with both, The Sun newspaper reported.
Teenager, housewife among 15 suspected militants held in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia has detained 15 suspected Islamist militants including a teenager and a housewife accused of plotting separate “lone wolf” attacks on places of worship around the capital, Kuala Lumpur, police said on Friday.
