Europe

French minister Le Maire insists EU is close to digital tax deal

Editorial Bureau November 12, 2018

PARIS (Reuters) – French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Monday that a European Union plan to tax big internet firms such as Google and Facebook was close to being struck, despite several EU governments having pushed back against the idea. “We are close to having a deal in

Asia

South Korea-U.S. military drills violate agreements – North Korea media

Editorial Bureau November 12, 2018

SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s resumption of small-scale military drills with the United States violated a recent agreement aimed at lowering tensions on the Korean peninsula, North Korean state media said on Monday. About 500 United States and South Korean marines began military drills last week that were among joint exercises indefinitely suspended in June

USA

Democrats to probe Trump actions on AT&T, Amazon: aide

Editorial Bureau November 12, 2018

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – When Democrats take control of the U.S. House they plan to investigate the Trump administration’s attempt to block AT&T Inc from acquiring Time Warner, and whether officials sought to punish Amazon.com Inc by prodding the U.S. Post Office to hike shipping prices for the world’s largest e-commerce company, a senior Democrat and

Asia

Myanmar prepares for first Rohingya returnees, but U.N. warns against rushing

Editorial Bureau November 12, 2018

Bangladesh (Reuters) – Myanmar officials said on Sunday the country was ready to receive more than 2,000 Rohingya Muslims sheltering in Bangladesh on Nov. 15, the first group from 5,000 people to be moved under a deal between the neighbours struck last month. But more than 20 individuals on a list of potential returnees submitted […]

Asia

China says will further open up its economy, slams rising protectionism

Editorial Bureau November 12, 2018

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday Beijing will further open up its economy in the face of rising protectionism, as he headed for meetings with Asia-Pacific leaders in Singapore that are expected to focus on trade tensions. Li’s remarks in an article in Singapore’s Straits Times newspaper, ahead of his arrival […]

Middle East

Oil prices rise by more than 1 percent after Saudis announce December supply cut

Editorial Bureau November 12, 2018

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Oil prices rose by more than one percent on Monday after top exporter Saudi Arabia announced a December supply cut, a measure likely aimed at halting a market slump that has seen crude decline by 20 percent since early October. Front-month Brent crude futures, a benchmark for global oil prices, were at […]

Asia

Sri Lankan Tamil parties reject president’s call to support controversial new PM

Editorial Bureau November 9, 2018

COLOMBO (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s main Tamil parties have turned down a call from President Maithripala Sirisena to support his newly appointed prime minister in a likely floor test in parliament this month, the parties said on Friday. Sirisena triggered off a political crisis on the island by sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister and […]

USA

FBI hopes to learn what drove ex-Marine to kill 12 in California bar

Editorial Bureau November 9, 2018

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (Reuters) – The FBI is hoping to build a clear profile of a former U.S. Marine combat veteran who killed 12 people in a crowded Los Angeles area bar to discover a motive for the latest shooting massacre in the United States. The gunman, 28-year-old Ian David Long, entered the Borderline Bar […]

Europe

Italy to confirm ‘main pillars’ of budget; EU says too optimistic

Editorial Bureau November 9, 2018

ROME (Reuters) – Italy will stand by the main pillars of its budget despite the EU Commission’s request to revise it, Economy Minister Giovanni Tria said on Friday. The Commission rejected Italy’s fiscal plan for 2019 last month, saying it flouted a previous commitment to lower the deficit and that it did not guarantee a […]

Asia

CBI Impasse: An Opportunity in Distress

Editorial Bureau October 31, 2018

By Prof Ujjwal K Chowdhury New Delhi – For close to a month now, the premier investigative agency of India, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which was established as a small unit during the reign of PM Lal Bahadur Shastri, has been creating headlines, and for all wrong reasons. However, before we get into the […]