Romania’s PM Ponta to secure presidency: opinion poll
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romania’s leftist Prime Minister Victor Ponta will likely win a Nov. 16 presidential election run-off vote by a wide margin, an opinion poll showed, a victory that would consolidate his Social Democrats’ hold on power.
France’s unpopular Hollande vows no new taxes from next year
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande said on Thursday he would impose no new taxes on anyone in France starting next year as he sought to shake off record-low approval ratings and bolster confidence halfway through a deeply unpopular pr…
Russia’s Lavrov to hold talks with Kerry in China: agencies
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will hold talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Beijing on Saturday before an Asia-Pacific summit starts, Russian news agencies said on Friday.
Hungarian Internet tax protesters aim to be new opposition force
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – With Hungary’s conservative prime minister enjoying solid support and his opposition in disarray, Hungarians who united against his plan to tax the Internet believe they have created a new platform to voice dissent.
Japan defense review with U.S. may face political delays: report
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan may miss a year-end deadline to review its military alliance with the United States as domestic political wrangling delays discussions, a leading newspaper said on Friday, although Japan’s defense chief said it was working to co…
Stasi victims still in trauma as Germany cheers 25 years since wall fell
COTTBUS Germany (Reuters) – Sunday marks 25 years since the collapse of the regime that imprisoned and persecuted them, but many victims of former communist East Germany are still so traumatized that celebrating the unification of their country may for…
Four injured in Air Canada Express accident at Edmonton Airport
(Reuters) – An Air Canada Express flight was involved in an accident while landing at the Edmonton Airport in Alberta on Thursday night, an airport spokeswoman said.
Amnesty calls for release of pro-HK activists before APEC summit
BEIJING (Reuters) – China should release at least 76 people, detained on the mainland for supporting Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests, before the start of next week’s Asia-Pacific leaders summit in Beijing, rights group Amnesty International said on …
Malaysian court scraps cross-dressing ban in landmark decision
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – A Malaysian court on Friday gave transgender Muslims the right to cross-dress in a landmark decision overturning an Islamic sharia law ban that could trigger similar challenges.
Major 6.9 magnitude quake strikes off PNG’s New Britain island
SYDNEY (Reuters) – A major earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 struck off Papua New Guinea’s New Britain island on Friday but there were no immediate reports of damage, said residents in nearby towns.