Politics

Bloomberg Russia praised its embattled ally Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s proposals for constitutional changes, describing them as the best way to resolve unprecedented mass protests against his 26-year rule. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged Belarusian civil society groups to participate in drafting the country’s new basic law on Tuesday. “They should take part if they want to get out of ...

Bloomberg Chancellor Angela Merkel’s top diplomat warned his Chinese counterpart against “threats” towards European allies, as the top official from Beijing reinforced his accusation that a Czech lawmaker’s visit to Taiwan had crossed a line. The sharp exchange in Berlin undermined what had been billed as a charm offensive from China, after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Czech ...

Bloomberg French President Emmanuel Macron returned to Lebanon for the second time since a blast devastated the capital Beirut, calling for sweeping changes to help the former French colony overcome a financial and political crisis decades in the making. “The objective of this visit is clearly to mark an end to a political chapter,” Macron said in televised comments after ...

Bloomberg Almost three decades after Italy started privatising many of its biggest industrial assets, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte is strong-arming companies across the country. The premier is seeking to restart an economy mangled by the coronavirus pandemic and in the process is pushing to toughen vetoes on foreign investments and even in some cases nationalise business with a war chest ...

Bloomberg Rwandan authorities detained exiled Paul Rusesabagina, a former hotel manager who sheltered hundreds of people during the 1994 genocide and whose story was later adopted by Hollywood, on terrorism allegations. Rusesabagina, portrayed as a hero in the Oscar-nominated 2004 movie ‘Hotel Rwanda’, was shown to the media in handcuffs at the headquarters of the Rwanda Investigations Bureau. It wasn’t ...

Bloomberg India said its troops clashed with Chinese solders along their contested Himalayan border, the latest skirmish in a conflict that has simmered since May. The Chinese troops carried out “provocative military movements”, India’s Defense Ministry said in a statement on Monday. It accused the People’s Liberation Army of violating diplomatic and military agreements on the undemarcated area. Beijing was ...

Bloomberg China’s foreign minister warned that a top Czech lawmaker would “pay a heavy price” for visiting Taiwan, exposing continued tensions with Europe even as Beijing sought to push back against US overtures on the continent. Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters in Germany that Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil’s trip was a “betrayal” that made him “an enemy of ...

Bloomberg Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said violence in Portland, Oregon, that left a supporter of Donald Trump dead is “unacceptable” and urged the president to stop “fanning the flames of hate and division in our society.” “I condemn violence of every kind by anyone, whether on the left or the right. And I challenge Donald Trump to do the ...

Bloomberg South African President Cyril Ramaphosa gained the upper hand in a power struggle in the nation’s deeply divided ruling party after surviving a bid to force him out of office, clearing the way for him to overhaul his cabinet. The ouster attempt was made during a three-day meeting of the African National Congress’s (ANC) top leadership, according to two ...

Bloomberg Montenegro’s ruling party won the most votes in the elections but results suggested it may have to cede power to opposition parties vowing to unite against Europe’s most enduring leader, President Milo Djukanovic. The tight contest made it unclear who will lead the next government in a country that’s embroiled in the battle for influence in the Balkans between ...