French left urges Hollande to drop reforms
PARIS (Reuters) – The left wing of President Francois Hollande’s Socialist party urged him to take heed of a stinging defeat in local elections by abandoning pro-business reforms and public deficit targets imposed by the European Union.
Italy PM Renzi says will quit if Senate reform blocked
ROME (Reuters) – Italy’s new prime minister threatened on Monday to resign if a plan to reduce the powers of the upper house of parliament, a central part of his ambitious constitutional reform agenda, is blocked.
China says Manila provoking trouble in seas ahead of legal case
BEIJING (Reuters) – China accused the Philippines on Monday of deliberately provoking trouble in the South China Sea by delivering supplies to a contested military outpost at the same time as seeking international arbitration in the dispute.
Israeli court convicts ex-PM Olmert in bribery case
TEL AVIV (Reuters) – An Israeli court convicted former prime minister Ehud Olmert on Monday of accepting a six-figure sum in bribes linked to a real-estate deal, probably ending any prospects of a political comeback.
Beleaguered Thai PM defends herself against rice charges
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Monday showed up to defend herself against charges linked to a ruinous government rice pledging scheme that could lead to her removal from office, the latest development in a political cris…
China rebel village votes, but hopes fade for fair poll
WUKAN, China (Reuters) – Villagers in southern Guangdong who launched an open revolt against local authorities in 2011 held an election on Monday amid intensifying pressure against protest leaders, who have either been detained or sought asylum abroad….
Former China mining boss, linked to ex-security chief’s son, on trial for murder
BEIJING (Reuters) – A former Chinese mining magnate with links to the eldest son of retired security tsar Zhou Yongkang went on trial on Monday over charges including murder after being accused of leading a 36-member gang on a crime spree spanning two …
China, Japan spar over Xi’s comments on Nanjing Massacre
BEIJING (Reuters) – China said on Monday it was extremely unhappy with Japan for lodging a protest over comments in Germany by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who recalled Japan’s wartime invasion of the city of Nanjing and resulting massacre.
Ten ways the Ukraine crisis may change the world
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – As Moscow and the West dig in for a prolonged stand-off over Russia’s annexation of Crimea, risking spillover to other former Soviet republics and beyond, here are 10 ways in which the Ukraine crisis could change attitudes and poli…
South Africa’s Zuma denies wrongdoing over $23 million home upgrade
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African President Jacob Zuma has denied any wrongdoing over a $23 million state-funded security upgrade to his private home, in his first public response to allegations he had benefited unduly from the “excessive” spendin…
