Italy, France and Germany are to join the UK in becoming members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Last week, the US issued a rare rebuke to the UK over its decision to become a member of the AIIB. The US considers the AIIB a rival to the Western-dominated World Bank. The US has questioned the governance standards at the new institution, which is seen as spreading Chinese "soft power".
The Chinese government is proceeding in its review of revisions to the controversial draft counter-terrorism law despite recent reports that China had suspended such talks. Hong stated that the law will be "made in light of China's need to combat terrorism by incorporating new problems emerging from the international fight against terrorism with China's anti-terrorism realities." The proposed law has generated controversy because it could potentially require "technology firms to install 'backdoors' in products or hand over sensitive information such as encryption keys to the government," as well as, requiring "companies to also keep servers and user data within China, supply law enforcement authorities with communications records and censor terrorism-related Internet content." Many feel that such laws constitute unfair regulatory practices. "'This is something that I've raised directly with President Xi,' Obama said. 'We have made it very clear to them that this is something they are going to have to change if they are to do business with the United States.'" At the completion of the third round of reviews, the draft law will be presented for deliberation to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
EU steps up war on people-traffickers in Mediterranean
The EU police agency Europol has set up a new team to break people-smuggling gangs who send migrants on perilous voyages across the Mediterranean. The maritime intelligence unit, called "JOT (Joint Operational Team) Mare", is based at Europol HQ in The Hague. The UK and 12 other EU countries are involved. JOT Mare will help the EU border agency Frontex and national police to track and stop the gangs.
Brazilian party treasurer charged
The public prosecutor in Brazil formally charges the treasurer of the governing Worker's Party, Joao Vaccari, with corruption in the Petrobras scandal. Another 26 people were charged in relation to the massive corruption scandal at the state-owned oil company Petrobras. The move comes a day after hundreds of thousands of people protested in cities across Brazil against corruption. Many demanded the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff.
Rebel 'status' row erupts in Ukraine
Ukraine's MPs have approved changes to the "special status" law for parts of rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine. The law will now come into force only after local elections monitored by international observers are held in the areas according to Ukrainian law. The amendments also envisage the pullout of "all illegal armed groups" from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Pro-Russian rebels and Moscow accuse Ukraine of introducing new terms that threaten last month's ceasefire deal. Following the agreement in Minsk, Belarus, the ceasefire took effect on 15 February and has largely held despite sporadic shelling. Both Ukraine and the rebels claim to have withdrawn heavy weapons from the line of contact.
Kraft recalls six million macaroni and cheese boxes
US food giant Kraft has recalled 6.5 million boxes of macaroni and cheese after consumers reported finding metal fragments in some containers. The recall applies to boxes sold in the US, Puerto Rico and some Caribbean and South American countries.
EU seeks to shed light on sweetheart tax deals for big companies
The European Union is stepping up its fight against tax avoidance and fiscal fraud with a plan to force the bloc's 28 nations to share information on sweetheart deals for international companies. A lack of transparency helps companies engage in "aggressive" tax planning and needs a harmonized EU approach, the European Commission said in the draft of a new law, obtained by Bloomberg News. The proposals, scheduled to be published Wednesday, would make the exchange of data on so-called tax rulings mandatory for all EU nations.
Migrant given law license 125 years on
The California Supreme Court posthumously awards a law license to a Chinese immigrant who was barred from becoming a lawyer 125 years ago. Hong Yen Chang was barred from practising law in 1890 by the same court because "persons of the Mongolian race" were not granted citizenship. In a nine-page ruling, the court said its earlier decision was "discredited". Campaigners have worked since 2011 to have the licence granted to Chang, the country's first Chinese lawyer.
Greek PM brings forward Russia Putin trip
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin on 8 April, a month earlier than planned, as the indebted eurozone member state seeks to avoid bankruptcy. He came to power vowing to end austerity, but talks with creditors on Greek financial reforms are in trouble. Relations with one of Greece's biggest creditors, Germany, are at a low ebb. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has accused the new government of wrecking confidence. Greece needs the final installment of its €240bn ($255bn) bailout to stay afloat and in order to secure a four-month extension, the government has to give full details of its planned reforms by the end of April.
Venezuela decree powers divide opinion
Venezuelan opposition politicians slam a new law which grants President Nicolas Maduro the power to govern by decree until 31 December. The new "Anti-imperialist Law for Peace" allows President Maduro to bypass the National Assembly and take action to "protect against the meddling by other nations in internal affairs as well as any warmongering or external or internal activity which breaches the peace." Critics of the president called it a power grab.
Cement mega-merger in doubt as Holcim changes tack
A deal to create the world's largest cement maker is in jeopardy after Swiss firm Holcim said its merger with French rival Lafarge could not go ahead "in its present form". The two firms agreed to merge in April, with Lafarge shareholders receiving one Holcim share for each Lafarge share. But since then, Holcim's shares have outperformed those of Lafarge. Holcim said it now wanted to negotiate "in good faith" both the agreed share exchange ratio and governance issues.
California judges must cut ties with the Boy Scouts
The state's earlier ban on judges belonging to groups that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation now applies to youth organizations, but had an exemption for youth groups. Judges have one year to sever their ties with the Boy Scouts. Judges are already banned from joining lots of groups that other people can belong to. For example, they can't be members of country clubs that don't admit Jews or women. But banning them from the Boy Scouts, a group long associated with old-fashioned wholesomeness despite prohibiting gay troop leaders, seems to many people a step too far.
Pakistan authorities execute 12 after six-year moratorium lifted
Pakistani authorities hanged 12 men on Tuesday, the largest number of people executed in a single day following the preliminary removal of the country's moratorium on executions in December. A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry stated the men were terrorists, murderers or guilty of heinous crimes.
Transgender inmate petitions Supreme Court for sex reassignment surgery
A transgender inmate in Massachusetts on Monday asked the US Supreme Court to overturn a ruling denying her request for sex reassignment surgery. The question at issue is whether "the Eighth Amendment prohibits prison officials from denying necessary medical treatment to a prisoner for non-medical reasons, such as security concerns." According to the petition, the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) "violated the Eighth Amendment by refusing to provide petitioner ... with necessary medical treatment that had been recommended by the DOC's own doctors." Although the trial court, as well as the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled for the inmate, Michelle Kosilek, the First Circuit granted a petition for rehearing where the decision was reversed, thus holding that there had been no Eighth Amendment violation.
EU to stand by policy of not recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea
An EU official said Monday that the EU remains committed to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and will stand by its policy of not recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea. The EU continues to consider Russia's "referendum" and their annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol as illegal and a threat to international security in terms of its protection of sovereignty between all states.
US may revoke settlement agreements in currency-rigging probes
US prosecutors investigating currency manipulation are considering revoking years-old settlements and prosecuting banks for rigging interest rates, according to people familiar with the matter. The Justice Department is weighing whether evidence of wrongdoing in currency trading means banks violated old deals resolving probes into the rigging of benchmark interest rates, said two people, who asked not to be identified because final decisions haven't been made.
Fla. lawmakers work to abolish 'living-in-sin' law
Believe it or not, in spite of all the shacking up going on, an living together as an unmarried couple is still against the law in Florida. But don't break the lease quite yet. Two legislative committees approved the repeal of a nearly 150-year-old state law that says unmarried men and women cannot live together under the same roof. The 1868 law, which seems to not have been enforced, still could slap those living in sin with a second-degree misdemeanor.
US envoy: Almost every CAR mosque destroyed in war
Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar
LIVE BLOG: Final results: Netanyahu's Likud scores decisive victory in Israeli election
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel
Osborne to unveil pre-election Budget
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
Netanyahu claims victory as main rival concedes
CNN International, London, England
Amy Childs cuts a svelte figure at launch of new non-surgical liposuction service
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
George Osborne's GBP 1bn plan to harness the power of the sea using tidal lagoon
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
Arab-Israeli 'Joint List' emerges as third power in Knesset
EuroNews, International news, Ecully Cedex, France
Netanyahu claims surprise victory in Israeli election
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Ankara's first ever private archaeology arts museum and opens
Hurriyet Daily News, (Liberal, English-language), Istanbul, Turkey
President Obama claims rise of Isis is 'unintended consequence' of George W. Bush's invasion in Iraq
Independent The, London, England
The West now has no choice but to work with Assad
Telegraph The, Conservative daily, London, England
Steve Jobs movie: first look at Michael Fassbender as Jobs
Telegraph The, Celebrity news, London, England
Relief groups rush aid to Vanuatu's cyclone-stricken islands
China Post, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
Stielike Announces Lineup for Int'l Friendlies
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea
Chinese annual grant to Nepal increases fivefold to 128 million
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, India
HC restricts entry in Syedna succession row trial
India Times, Conservative daily, New Delhi, India
Operators to scrap three old reactors in Fukui
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan
In Portuguese factory, echoes of Europe's fight for jobs
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand
Ukraine President cancels trip over protests in eastern Ukraine
Straits Times, Pro-government, Singapore
Labor promises new high school for Ryde
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia
US 1st lady visits Japan to showcase girls' education aid
Taiwan News, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
US 1st lady Michelle Obama visits Japan to showcase girls' education aid
The Economic Times, Business, Mumbai, India
Netanyahu secures resounding victory in Israeli election
Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Japanese police investigate calls threatening to kill U.S. Ambassador Kennedy
Globe and Mail The, Centrist daily, Toronto, Canada
Liberty Reserve Brought Down By 'Joe Bogus': How The Feds Arrested Arthur Budovsky
International Business Times, Business news organization, New York, U.S
Caribbean Community Climate-Smarting Fisheries, But Slowly
IPS Latin America, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy
Japan blue chips plan bigger pay hikes but smaller firms expected to lag
Reuters, Business News, New York, U.S
Sierra Leone president sacks deputy for seeking asylum in U.S. embassy
Reuters, World News, New York, U.S
Benjamin Netanyahu in good shape to keep power
Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario
Switzerland to return Abacha 'loot'
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
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