Slovenian PM to call confidence vote, scraps VAT hike
LJUBLJANA (Reuters) – The Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek said she will call a confidence vote in parliament after being forced to scrap a planned increase in value-added tax.
Pope rules Vatican bank to stay operative, approves reforms
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis has decided that the troubled Vatican bank, which he had in the past not excluded closing, will remain operative and he has approved recommendations for its future, the Vatican said on Monday.
Voter anger, parties’ disarray could bring change in Bissau
DAKAR/BISSAU (Reuters) – Disarray in Guinea-Bissau’s political parties and frustration among voters could open the way for a Harvard-educated political outsider to win a presidential election next week aimed at turning the page on years of coups and cr…
China warns U.S. not to meddle in Hong Kong over democratic reform
HONG KONG (Reuters) – China has cautioned the United States not to interfere in Hong Kong affairs after Vice President Joseph Biden met two prominent pro-democracy advocates who have warned of Beijing’s tightening control of the territory, state news a…
Australia says signals detected consistent with missing Malaysian plane
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian officials said on Monday signals picked up by a black box detector attached to an Australian ship searching for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in the Indian Ocean were consistent with aircraft flight recorders.
Taiwan anti-China protest exposes island’s nationalist divide
TAIPEI (Reuters) – A chaotic sit-in to protest against a trade deal with China has shut down Taiwan’s parliament and exposed deep divisions over the island’s identity after seven decades of living apart from its vast, undemocratic rival across the stra…
Japan PM Abe wants to confirm further cooperation with Australia
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday he wants to confirm further cooperation on defense and the economy with Australian premier Tony Abbott, who is visiting Tokyo.
Costa Rica leftist easily wins presidential run-off
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Reuters) – A center-left academic who has never held elected office easily won Costa Rica’s presidential election on Sunday, ousting the graft-stained ruling party from power after its candidate quit campaigning a month ago.
Race for top EU jobs turns murkier before elections
PARIS (Reuters) – The race for the European Union’s top leadership jobs has turned murkier with news that Finland’s prime minister is stepping down to seek a European role while France is touting its former finance minister as its nominee for a Europea…
Costa Rica leftist takes huge lead in presidential run-off
SAN JOSE (Reuters) – Center-left academic Luis Guillermo Solis took an overwhelming lead in Costa Rica’s presidential election run-off on Sunday, official results showed, storming ahead as widely expected after his opponent slid in polls and stopped ca…
