LISBON, Portugal – A judge has ruled that former Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates must remain in prison after refusing an offer of house detention requiring him to wear an ankle bracelet monitoring device. Socrates is being investigated on suspicion of corruption, money-laundering and tax fraud. Socrates was Portugal’s center-left …
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MANILA, Philippines – Muslim guerrillas in the Philippines will begin turning over their weapons as part of a peace deal even as lawmakers are still debating a law creating a new autonomous Muslim region in the country’s south. Chief government negotiator Miriam Coronel Ferrer said Thursday that President Benigno Aquino …
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CHISINAU, Moldova – Near-final results in Moldova’s local elections show Chisinau’s incumbent mayor, pro-European Dorin Chirtoaca, slightly ahead but without enough votes to win outright. The ballot on Sunday was seen as a test of whether Moldova would remain committed to European integration or choose to move closer to Russia. …
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BUCHAREST, Romania – Romania’s president says he needs to closely examine legislation approved by Parliament granting supplementary pensions to lawmakers, following criticism of the proposal. Parliament voted 303-124 on Tuesday approving extra pensions based on time lawmakers serve in the legislature. President Klaus Iohannis said Wednesday he will review the …
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SKOPJE, Macedonia – Macedonia has changed its asylum law to let migrants entering the country illegally avoid jail if they leave within three days. Thursday’s move follows a series of fatal accidents involving migrants traveling through Macedonia on the way to more prosperous European countries, following dangerous routes to avoid …
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CAIRO – A Cairo appeals court has overturned the conviction of a TV broadcaster closely linked to the security services for insulting a liberal politician. Tuesday’s verdict drops one of a number of similar cases against Ahmed Moussa, who regularly launches blistering attacks on Islamists and the activists behind the …
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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia says Yemen’s Shiite rebels have launched two separate attacks along the kingdom’s border, killing three Saudi soldiers. The Wednesday night attacks reflect how despite three months of Saudi-led airstrikes targeting the rebels known as Houthis, the rebels are still capable of launching deadly attacks …
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COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Denmark’s Royal Palace says the leader of Denmark’s center-right Liberals will present a new small, minority government with his party alone but backed by a parliamentary majority. The palace says Lars Loekke Rasmussen on Sunday will present his new government, whose survival relies on the populist, anti-immigrant …
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THE HAGUE, Netherlands – A Dutch prosecutor says police actions most likely caused the oxygen deprivation that led to the death of a man in custody following his arrest at a weekend music festival. The Hague’s chief prosecutor, Kitty Nooy, said Wednesday a preliminary autopsy report says Mitch Henriquez’s death …
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MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – A government official and a self-defense fighter say Boko Haram extremists have gunned down nearly 100 Muslims praying in mosques in northeastern Nigeria. They say the attack Wednesday night on the town of Kukawa came as people were praying ahead of breaking their fast during the Muslim …
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