Beatings, evictions reveal ugly side of China’s local debt pile
WUXI, China (Reuters) – When Xu Haifeng’s home was razed three years ago, she went to China’s capital Beijing to complain about the city and county governments that ordered the demolition.
Japan to spend 40 billion yen to treat radioactive water at Fukushima: Nikkei
(Reuters) – The Japan government plans to spend at least 40 billion yen ($402.60 million) to contain the leaking of radioactive water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the Nikkei newspaper said, citing government sources.
Untested Yale man becomes Serbian finance minister, eyes IMF deal
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbian lawmakers endorsed 29-year-old former McKinsey consultant Lazar Krstic as finance minister on Monday, handing him the task of reining in the country’s ballooning deficit and public debt.
Romanians protest for second day against gold mine
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Protesters gathered in Romania’s capital Bucharest late on Monday for a second day of protests against the government’s support for a plan to open Europe’s biggest open-cast gold mine.
France says pension reform enough for several years
PARIS (Reuters) – The minister in charge of France’s pension reform says her proposals are robust enough to tide the system over for several years at least, even if economic growth falls short of expectations.
Assad warns of retaliation as France builds case for Syria attack
PARIS (Reuters) – President Bashar al-Assad warned Syria would retaliate if France takes part in foreign strikes on his forces, while Paris said it had intelligence proving Assad had ordered chemical attacks and was determined to punish him.
Senegalese human rights campaigner appointed as justice minister
DAKAR (Reuters) – Senegal’s new Prime Minister Aminata Toure named a cabinet on Monday, putting a veteran human rights campaigner in the key post of justice minister, suggesting high-profile graft and rights cases were likely to remain a priority.
India’s parliament passes cheap food law for 800 million people
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – India’s upper house of parliament on Monday approved a $20 billion scheme to distribute subsidized wheat and rice to 800 million people, backing an anti-malnutrition drive that investors fear will mean missing the fiscal deficit t…
U.N. envoy says military success an opportunity for Congo talks
GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – The U.N. special envoy for Africa’s Great Lakes region said on Monday recent military successes by Congo’s army against eastern rebels should be used to relaunch peace talks.
UK’s ‘reckless’ Cameron pays political price for Syria vote loss
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron’s failure to win parliamentary backing for military action against Syria has hurt him politically, polls showed on Monday, with most Britons thinking him “reckless” and support for his party falli…
