Romania allows local party-swapping, critics see threat to democracy
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romania’s government approved a temporary emergency ordinance on Thursday to let local administrations change political affiliations in a pre-election move it says will unblock policymaking but which critics say threatens democrac…
U.N. says ‘not possible’ to finish Afghan vote audit by September 2
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghanistan’s U.N. representative told President Hamid Karzai on Thursday that the audit of a disputed election would not be finished by Sept. 2, when Karzai had hoped to see a new leader inaugurated.
U.N. says 43 Golan Heights peacekeepers seized by militants
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – A group of 43 U.N. peacekeepers in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights have been detained by militants fighting the Syrian army and the world body is working to secure their release, the United Nations said on Thursday.
Iraq and Syria pose Saudi dilemma – failed states or Iran proxies
RIYADH/DUBAI (Reuters) – With militant Islamists gaining the upper hand in Syria’s rebel movement and grabbing big tracts of Western Iraq, Saudi Arabia’s ruling family faces an increasingly uncomfortable dilemma.
At least 60 killed in central Nigeria communal battle: police
ONITSHA Nigeria (Reuters) – Fighting between Fulani herdsmen and farmers from the Eggon ethnic group has left at least 60 people dead in central Nigeria, mostly from machete cuts, police said on Thursday.
Saudi mufti tells young Saudis not to heed call to jihad
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti urged young people on Thursday to ignore calls to jihad from people representing “deviant principles”, the latest salvo in an anti-militant campaign by the kingdom’s religious establishment.
France says Europe must be more than ‘bank window’ in Israel, Palestinian conflict
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande said on Thursday Europe had to play a bigger role to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and could no longer just play the role of a “bank window” for reconstruction after each war.
HK anti-graft agency raids home of media tycoon critical of Beijing
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Anti-corruption officers in Hong Kong on Thursday raided the home of Jimmy Lai, a media magnate and outspoken critic of Beijing who has supported pro-democracy activists through his publications and with donations.
China tells U.S. to reduce or halt ‘close surveillance’ patrols
BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Thursday urged the United States to cut back on, or even stop, its close surveillance of the Asian giant using patrol aircraft, if it seriously seeks to repair damaged bilateral ties.
Italy’s Renzi aims to lay down marker with justice, school reform
ROME (Reuters) – Prime Minister Matteo Renzi returned from holiday this week with his customary vim, tweeting that he was back at work on a new plan to speed up Italy’s sluggish justice system, reform its schools and spur investment.
