Spain’s Podemos files motion of no confidence against PM Rajoy
MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish anti-austerity party Podemos filed a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Friday, citing a slew of corruption scandals that have shaken the ruling People’s Party (PP) over the last few years.
Philippines calls for ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ between ASEAN, China on sea code
MANILA (Reuters) – Southeast Asian nations and China should start with a “gentleman’s agreement” on the busy South China Sea waterway because no mechanism exists to legally enforce any deal, the Philippine foreign minister said on Friday.
As Trump visits, Gulf states seen quietly curbing opposition
DUBAI (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump, departing from his predecessor’s practice, is expected to sidestep human rights questions when he meets Gulf Arab leaders at the weekend and focus, to the dismay of beleaguered government critics, on busi…
Turkey targets opposition newspaper over suspected coup links
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for the owner and three employees of an opposition newspaper, a police source and the paper said on Friday, part of a continuing media crackdown that has alarmed rights groups and Tur…
Afghan women break ground with TV station launch
KABUL (Reuters) – A new TV channel dedicated to women is set to begin broadcasting in Afghanistan, the first of its kind in a country whose media industry, like many areas of society, remains dominated by men.
Trump under pressure to assure NATO allies he has their back
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Standing in front of a memorial made of remnants of the World Trade Center, U.S. President Donald Trump will have a powerful symbolic opportunity in Brussels next Thursday to make clear how he really feels about NATO.
Merkel says Britain to be treated fairly, but will pay Brexit price
BERLIN (Reuters) – Britain would be treated fairly by the European Union after it quit the bloc, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday, but Brexit would nonetheless have its price.
Philippine ties with EU set for ‘rollercoaster ride’: minister
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines’ relations with the European Union, a top source of investment, could be a “rocky, rollercoaster ride” after the country’s president declined a big aid package over conditions tied to human rights, the foreign ministe…
UK police say WikiLeaks’ Assange will be arrested if he leaves Ecuador’s embassy
LONDON (Reuters) – British police said WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange would still be arrested if he leaves the Ecuadorean embassy in London after Swedish prosecutors said on Friday they would drop a preliminary investigation into an allegation of rap…
Czech president to accept nomination of new finance minister: spokesman
PRAGUE (Reuters) – Czech President Milos Zeman does not have objections to former Microsoft executive Ivan Pilny becoming the new finance minister and the appointment can be expected next week, the president’s spokesman said on Twitter on Friday.
