Afghan woman bids for power to halt slide in rights
KABUL/KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) – The deeply conservative, all-male crowd at Afghanistan’s Kandahar stadium stared in disbelief as the small woman in a modest black headscarf stood up and reached for the microphone.
Greece secures votes to pass reform bill demanded by EU/IMF lenders
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece’s government secured enough votes in parliament early on Monday to pass a key reform bill demanded by its international lenders, in exchange for further bailout loans to avoid default.
Thailand’s ‘red shirts’ gear up for a fight
KHON KAEN/BANGKOK (Reuters) – The clock is ticking for Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who faces impeachment within weeks, but her supporters are hatching plans to thwart any move to dismiss her, with some leaders assembling what amount to mil…
Nationalism takes centre stage in Indonesia’s election campaign
JAKARTA (Reuters) – Dressed in the style of Indonesia’s first leader, even using replica 1950s microphones, presidential hopeful Prabowo Subianto roared to thousands of supporters at a recent rally in the capital: “Indonesia cannot be bought”.
U.S. increases security funding to Moldova as tensions rise
PARIS (Reuters) – The United States on Sunday pledged $10 million to bolster border security in Moldova at a time when concerns are rising about divisions within the country over a trade deal with Europe and Russia’s intervention in neighboring Ukraine…
Libyan parliament passes law to organize new elections
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libyan lawmakers approved a new election law on Sunday, paving the way to call general elections later this year.
Philippine ship dodges China blockade to reach South China Sea outpost
SECOND THOMAS SHOAL, South China Sea (Reuters) -The Philippine government vessel made a dash for shallow waters around the disputed reef in the South China Sea, evading two Chinese coastguard ships trying to block its path to deliver food, water and fr…
French far-right to win more towns in elections: exit polls
PARIS (Reuters) – Candidates backed by France’s far-right National Front (FN) party were on track to secure victories in the southern towns of Beziers and Frejus in local elections on Sunday, exit polls and partial tallies showed.
Ten dead as Chadian troops open fire on Bangui civilians – officials
BANGUI (Reuters) – At least 10 people were killed and dozens wounded when Chadian troops opened fire on civilians in Central African Republic’s capital Bangui, officials said on Sunday.
Egypt to hold May 26-27 presidential election
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptians will vote on May 26-27 in a presidential election that Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to win easily, meaning the former army chief who deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi could be sworn in as head of state by early Ju…
