Bloomberg Vladimir Putin outlined a raft of proposed constitutional changes aimed at strengthening the powers of the parliament and other government bodies, fuelling speculation that he’s laying the groundwork for keeping power beyond the end of his current term in 2024. The plans, announced unexpectedly at the end of his annual state-of-the-nation speech on Wednesday, come as Putin is widely ...

Bloomberg China’s relationship with a country that was supposed to be a key proponent of its interests in Europe is growing increasingly caustic. The Czech Republic, an ex-communist member of the European Union, once hoped to become a gateway for investment to the continent. But spats over Chinese territorial claims, Huawei Technologies Co and espionage have strained ties to the ...

Bloomberg A tangle of cracks has opened up around an erupting volcano in the Philippines that’s triggered hundreds of earthquakes and urgent pleas for residents to evacuate areas at risk of dangerous fissures and ashfall. Police locked down three towns near Taal Volcano, 65 kilometres (40 miles) south of Manila, to prevent residents from returning home. More than 82,000 people ...