In an effort to encourage democratic reform, the United States on Thursday eased a ban on investment in Burma and named its first ambassador to the country in 22 years. Sanctions on members of the former junta and wider restrictions remain in place.
The Spanish government has announced yet another reform of its banking sector, the fourth in as many months. This latest effort is an attempt to finally shore up losses and protect the banking system from future risks. In the future, banks will be made to keep a total of 84 billion euros in reserve under measures that are costing Madrid another four billion euros - to add to the 15 billion they have already spent trying to do the same thing.
Marc Perelman meets Patrick Weil, Senior Fellow at France's CNRS research centre. He is the editor of a new book whose title we could translate as "80 proposals that do not cost 80 billion euros". It's a patchwork of new proposals on political reform, immigration etc… for the upcoming French presidential elections.
The papers pass judgment on Nicolas Sarkozy's big television interview, broadcast live or 8 or 9 channels last night - and views are pretty mixed, ranging from praise to derision.
Burma's democracy icon and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi hit the campaign trail on Sunday ahead of April 1 parliamentary by-elections that will put the nominally civilian regime's new commitment to reform to the test.
Hungary's undergoing a controversial legislative makeover by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government that many fear threatens the country's democratic institutions. Thousands have taken to the streets to voice their outrage over what they call a growing authoritarianism in Hungary. The European Union is also considering what action it should take towards its errant member state.
The moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party led by Abdelilah Benkirane (pictured) is poised to win Friday's parliamentary elections in Morocco, the government has confirmed. Final results from the interior ministry are expected on Sunday.
Almost 14 million Moroccans turned out to vote in elections Friday that could deliver the country's most representative government ever, after King Mohammed VI agreed to cede some powers. At 23.00 voter turnout stood at 45 percent.
Moroccans are heading to the polls on Friday in elections promised by the King in response to the Arab Spring protests. Boycotted by pro-democracy activists, the vote is deemed unlikely to bring about a regime change.
King Abdullah II of Jordan on Monday appointed International Court of Justice judge Awn Khasawhneh as Prime Minister to replace Maaruf Bakhit, who resigned after 60 lawmakers signed a letter to the king requesting his departure.
