China targets ‘degenerate’ former provincial leader in crackdown on graft
BEIJING (Reuters) – China will charge a former provincial leader with graft following accusations of illegally accumulating wealth and being morally degenerate, the government said on Monday, the latest move in its crackdown on corruption.
Malaysia faces backlash over push for tough new laws
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia’s bid to bring back detention without trial and toughen a range of other laws has triggered a backlash from civil society groups who call the move politically motivated and a major step back for human rights.
Austerity clobbers Portugal’s ruling party in local votes
LISBON (Reuters) – Portugal’s ruling Social Democrats took a heavy beating in Sunday’s local elections as voters passed their verdict on national austerity measures accompanying the country’s 2011 bailout by international lenders.
China says no plan for Japan meet at Asia-Pacific summit amid islands row
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping has no plans to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during an Asia-Pacific summit this week in Indonesia, Beijing said on Monday, as both sides spar over a group of islets near potentially large oil …
UK finance minister to court voters with ‘tough love’ welfare rules
MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – British finance minister George Osborne will propose tougher new welfare rules on Monday to try to win over working voters who are grappling with depleted spending power ahead of the 2015 election.
France against Romania, Bulgaria joining Schengen zone
PARIS (Reuters) – France is not in favour of allowing Romania and Bulgaria into Europe’s passport-free Schengen zone for now due to concerns about border security, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Monday.
Pentagon chief, at Korean DMZ, says U.S. will not cut force in Korea
PANMUNJOM, Korean Demilitarized Zone (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel toured the Korean DMZ on Monday, at times under the watchful eye of North Korean soldiers, and said the Pentagon had no plan to reduce its 28,500-member force in the So…
South African police to investigate Gold Fields South Deep deal
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s elite anti-corruption police unit said on Monday it was investigating possible graft in a $210 million black empowerment transaction at Gold Fields involving a senior member of the ruling African National Congres…
Typhoon leaves 74 missing in China as Thailand, Vietnam brace for floods
BEIJING/BANGKOK (Reuters) – Seventy-four Chinese fishermen were missing on Monday after a typhoon sunk three fishing boats in the South China Sea as Thailand and Vietnam braced for torrential rain and flooding.
Oman looks beyond Iran sanctions for gas lifeline
DUBAI (Reuters) – If Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s dream of reaching a deal with world powers on Tehran’s nuclear program in six months comes true, Oman, an important intermediary in the dispute, could be a big winner.
