French parliament readies new end-of-life legislation
PARIS (Reuters) – French parliament will debate from January a draft law that would move a step closer to euthanasia by allowing a right to “deep and ongoing sedation” until death for terminally ill patients who request it, President Francois Hollande …
HK media tycoon Jimmy Lai arrested over democracy protest, quits tabloid
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong publishing tycoon Jimmy Lai, an outspoken critic of Beijing, has stepped down as publisher of the popular Apple Daily after being arrested for refusing to leave a key pro-democracy protest site in the center of the city….
Indonesian editor faces blasphemy accusation over IS cartoon
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Police in Indonesia have name the editor-in-chief of its largest English-language newspaper a suspect in a blasphemy case, the newspaper said in a statement, over a cartoon depicting the Islamic State militant group.
In HK, China likely to use pressure, intimidation to ward off more protests
HONG KONG (Reuters) – As the dust settles on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy ‘Occupy’ protests, China is likely to embark on a sweeping but covert campaign across the territory’s judiciary, media and universities to ensure there is no recurrence, activists a…
Russia’s Lavrov says peace talks in Ukraine needed swiftly: TASS
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated on Friday Moscow’s calls to convene as soon as possible another round of peace talks on the conflict in east Ukraine’s Donbass region, TASS news agency reported.
China expresses regret at U.S. failure to pass IMF reforms
BEIJING (Reuters) – China expressed regret on Friday at the failure of U.S. Congress to pass reforms to give emerging markets greater say at the International Monetary Fund.
Ukraine’s Chocolate King president finds promise tough to keep
KIEV (Reuters) – The Chocolate King is finding it difficult to relinquish his throne.
Islamic State suicide bomber detonates tank in eastern Syria
BEIRUT (Reuters) – An Islamic State suicide bomber detonated a tank at a Syrian air base in the province of Deir al-Zor, one of the last remaining government strongholds in eastern Syria, jihadist social media and a monitoring group said on Friday.
Lack of ideas, leadership in Swedish politics may benefit far right
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden’s mainstream parties head into March’s snap election unloved by voters and short on seasoned leadership, raising the risk the far-right will increase its support and be able to force a shift in generous immigration policies…
Japan LGBT candidate hopes to raise awareness in election campaign
TOKYO (Reuters) – Taiga Ishikawa has an uphill battle in his bid to become Japan’s only openly gay member of parliament, but hopes his campaign for Sunday’s general election will raise awareness in a nation where gay rights hardly get a nod in the main…
