US encourages Venezuela to move ahead with recall referendum. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State John Kerry waded into Venezuelan politics by urging the country's government to allow a referendum on the removal of President Nicolas Maduro, who has been accused of deliberately delaying such a vote. If the referendum takes place before January 10, 2017, Maduro's removal would trigger new elections, but his removal via a later referendum would result in Maduro's vice president serving the remainder of his term, which expires in January 2019.

Romanian constitutional court allows corruption cases to continue. On Wednesday, Romania's Constitutional Court declined to dismiss thousands of abuse of power charges, though the court did narrow the definition of the crime. Charges will continue against public officials indicted for acting beyond the confines of their job, but the government can no longer prosecute individuals for incompetence.