Pakistan official’s criticism of China’s ‘Silk Road’ projects raises worries
A Pakistani official’s critical comments about projects funded by China to the tune of billions of dollars rattled investors and sparked worries on Monday of a souring in ties, a day after Beijing’s top government diplomat concluded a visit.
Fury over pension changes hurts Putin allies in Russian regional elections
Russia’s ruling United Russia Party suffered a rare setback in regional elections despite winning most of the seats, a reversal its leaders and election chiefs blamed on unpopular plans to raise the pension age.
Colombia’s ELN rebels say Duque conditions for peace talks ‘unacceptable’
Colombia’s ELN rebels said on Monday that President Ivan Duque’s conditions for the continuation of peace talks, including that the guerrillas release all hostages, were “unacceptable”, but that they intended to free captives anyway.
Vietnam bars second rights campaigner from World Economic Forum
Vietnam has refused to let a campaigner from Amnesty International attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) set to be held in the southeast Asian nation this week, the rights group said on Monday, the second such refusal in as many days.
Police chase shuts down runway at French airport
France’s Lyon airport halted flights on Monday when a driver being chased by police smashed his car through a terminal building and onto a runway.
Nicaragua’s Ortega ready to meet Trump despite U.S. threat
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said on Monday he is open to meeting U.S. leader Donald Trump at the United Nations later this month despite expressing concerns that the United States could launch a military intervention on his country.
Germany says in talks about possible military role in Syria
The German government said on Monday it was in talks with its allies about a possible military deployment in Syria, prompting a sharp rebuke from the Social Democrats (SPD) and setting up a fresh conflict in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s loveless coalitio…
Sweden faces political impasse after far-right election gains
Sweden faces a political impasse after its mainstream center-left and center-right blocs virtually tied in an election on Sunday, while the far-right – which neither wants to deal with – made gains on a hardline anti-immigration platform.
U.N. rights chief Bachelet takes on China, other powers in first speech
U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet called on China on Monday to allow in monitors after “deeply disturbing” allegations of large re-education camps in which Uighurs are detained in Xinjiang province.
Police chase shuts down France’s Lyon airport runway
France’s Lyon airport temporarily closed its runway on Monday while police chased an intruder who had rammed a car through a terminal building and sped across the tarmac before being detained, police and judicial sources said.
