Sri Lanka parliament passes motion to cut prime minister’s budget
Sri Lanka’s parliament on Thursday passed a motion to cut the personal budget of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has refused to step down after twice losing confidence votes.
Russia blocks Ukrainian Azov Sea ports: minister
Two Ukrainian Azov Sea ports, Berdyansk and Mariupol, are effectively under blockade by Russia as vessels are being barred from leaving and entering, Ukraine’s infrastructure minister, Volodymyr Omelyan, said on Thursday.
Russian gas pipeline and Ukraine crisis are separate issues: Germany
Germany’s economy minister dismissed on Thursday suggestions that his country’s commitment to a pipeline – that will allow Russia to bypass Ukraine in pumping gas to Europe – undermines efforts to a de-escalate a crisis between the two neighbors.
Polish ruling party tries to broaden appeal as support wanes
With a year left until a parliamentary election, Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party is trying to broaden its appeal to voters outside its core conservative-nationalist constituency, amid signs that its support is waning.
Kenya police help colleagues escape anti-graft officers with warning shots
Kenyan police helped two colleagues who has been arrested for suspected corruption escape custody by firing warning shots to scare off anti-graft officers holding them, the anti-graft agency said.
Putin, Trump due to meet at G20 on December 1: Kremlin document
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump are scheduled to meet for talks at 1430 GMT on Dec. 1 on the sidelines of the G20 in Argentina, a Kremlin document seen by Reuters on Thursday showed.
Ex-head of Polish market regulator faces graft charges, held for two months
The former head of Poland’s financial market regulator, KNF, has been charged with corruption and placed in custody for two months after a court granted a temporary detention order, his lawyer said on Thursday.
General behind deadly Haiti raid takes aim at Brazil’s gangs
Thirteen years ago, a Brazilian general named Augusto Heleno led hundreds of United Nations troops into a Haitian slum to bring a powerful gangster to heel.
Australian spies may get broader license to kill: government
Australia’s government proposed on Thursday allowing its foreign spies to use lethal force against anyone who could jeopardize an intelligence operation, giving the spy agency more autonomy on overseas missions.
Gunfire, threats and curfews slow Congo’s fight against Ebola
When medics tried to reach Ebola patients in a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo during a recent surge in violence, they were blocked by men wielding machetes and axes.
