Germany’s SPD want Scholz as chancellor candidate: report
Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) will ask Finance Minister Olaf Scholz to be their chancellor candidate in an election next year when conservative Angela Merkel’s fourth and last term ends, Die Zeit newspaper reported on Wednesday citing sources in the…
Japan mulls resubmitting legislation to raise retirement age of civil servants
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government will consider resubmitting legislation to raise the retirement age for civil servants, its top spokesman said on Wednesday, after public backlash prompted the withdrawal of draft legislation.
God and money: Putin offers sweeteners to ease path to prolonging power
When Russians vote this month on whether to allow President Vladimir Putin to potentially stay in power until 2036, they will decide on a bundle of measures from economic sweeteners to political reforms for traditionalists.
Special Report: The pub and the pandemic – Regulars, suppliers, owner adrift in lockdown
When the Greenwich Pensioner was built in 1827, the girl who would become Queen Victoria was 8 years old and John Quincy Adams was serving as the sixth president of the United States.
India, China want peace but blame each other after deadly border clash
India and China said they wanted peace but blamed each other on Wednesday after soldiers of the two sides savagely fought each other with nail-studded clubs and stones on their Himalayan border, killing at least 20 Indian troops.
French court finds Bashar al-Assad’s uncle guilty over property fraud
The uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was found guilty of acquiring millions of euros worth of French property using funds diverted from the Syrian state and sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday.
Turkey still blocking defence plans for Poland, Baltics, say NATO allies
Turkey continues to block NATO defence plans for Poland and Baltic states despite a deal in London last year between Turkey’s president and allied leaders, three allied diplomats and a French defence official said on Wednesday.
More work to be done to tackle discrimination, says PM Johnson
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday there was more work to be done to tackle discrimination in Britain but that his government would look at new ways of legislating against vandalism of war memorials.
Factbox: Indian media call for strong response to border clash with China
Indian media commentators called on Wednesday for a strong response to a border clash with Chinese troops that led to the deaths of at least 20 Indian soldiers, with some questioning the Indian government’s silence on the issue.
China says it has agreed with India to de-escalate border situation
China and India have agreed to de-escalate the situation at their border as soon as possible following a clash between the their troops, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
