As prospect of IMF deal fades, Romania risks backsliding on deficit, reforms
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – The prospects of Romania lining up a new aid deal led by the International Monetary Fund are dimming, and the country risks backsliding on commitments to run tight budget deficits and implement structural reforms.
Clashes in Myanmar’s ethnic areas spark calls for restraint
YANGON (Reuters) – Fighting has flared in areas of Myanmar controlled by ethnic rebels who refused to sign a ceasefire, raising fears the army is pressuring groups that did not join in what was supposed to be a crowning achievement of President Thein S…
French far-right Le Pen family set for regional power wins: poll
PARIS (Reuters) – Far-right leader Marine Le Pen is set to win control of France’s northernmost area in regional elections in December, an opinion poll showed on Friday, with her niece possibly coming first too in the southeastern Provence-Alpes-Cote d…
Portugal Socialists vow to topple government with no-confidence vote
LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal’s opposition Socialists pledged on Friday to topple the center-right minority government with a no confidence motion, saying the president had created “an unnecessary political crisis” by naming Pedro Passos Coelho as premie…
Sri Lanka detains soldiers in case of missing cartoonist
COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lankan police have detained 11 people, most of them soldiers or former soldiers, in a widening probe into the disappearance of a cartoonist that has become a test case of the new government’s resolve to address human rights abus…
Myanmar’s reformist law used to stifle dissent
YANGON (Reuters) – Last week’s arrest of an NGO worker in Myanmar for a Facebook post is raising fears that legislation drawn up as part of the country’s economic and democratic liberalization are being used to stifle dissent in ways reminiscent of law…
Angry South African students try to pull down fence at Zuma offices
PRETORIA (Reuters) – Thousands of angry South African students protesting plans to raise fees next year tried to pull down a fence surrounding government buildings housing President Zuma’s offices on Friday.
Sweden to introduce temporary residence for some asylum seekers: Swedish TV
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – The Swedish government and center-right opposition have reached a deal on migration that the Swedish state broadcaster said included a deal on temporary residence permits.
Beijing says won’t give up position that Taiwan’s part of China
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese people have a “sacred mission” to ensure Taiwan is always considered part of China, a top Chinese leader said on Friday ahead of the 70th anniversary of Japan giving up control of Taiwan at the end of World War Two.
Paris police start moving migrants out of school
PARIS (Reuters) – Police started moving hundreds of refugees and migrants out of a decommissioned secondary school in Paris early on Friday, ending a four-month stand-off over their use of the building.
