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First Migrants Enter Croatia after Hungary Seals Border

Several dozen migrants entered Croatia from Serbia early Wednesday, the first to enter the EU country after Hungary sealed its borders to thousand of people entering every day, an AFP correspondent saw.

The group of mostly Syrian or Afghan men, women and children crossed the border -- which was marked by nothing more than a stone -- early Wednesday morning and were picked up by police as they walked across a field.

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Hungary Seals Border to Migrants as Germany Slams 'Disgraceful' EU

Hungary sealed its border with Serbia on Tuesday to stem the massive influx of refugees as Germany slammed the "disgraceful" refusal of other EU countries to accept more migrants after 22 died in yet another shipwreck.

Budapest's move came after Austria and Slovakian authorities followed Germany's lead in reimposing border controls, a further body blow to Europe's cherished passport-free Schengen zone as the EU's border agency said more than half a million migrants had been counted at the bloc's borders so far this year.

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Romanian PM Charged in Corruption Probe

Romanian prosecutors on Monday charged Prime Minister Victor Ponta as part of a corruption probe, piling more pressure on the embattled politician to resign.

Ponta became the highest-ranking official to be swept up in a major drive by the DNA anti-corruption agency, which has seen dozens of former politicians and judges convicted over the past several years in one of Europe's poorest and graft-plagued countries.

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Romanian PM Temporarily Vacates Post for Health Reasons

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who is under investigation for money laundering and tax evasion, announced Sunday he was temporarily stepping aside for health reasons.

Ponta, who is receiving treatment in Turkey for an injury sustained during a basketball game, will send a letter to President Klaus Iohannis asking him to name deputy prime minister Gabriel Oprea as his replacement "for up to 45 days", as allowed for by the constitution, the government said in a statement.

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Romania to Expel Two Tunisians for 'IS Propaganda'

Two Tunisians are being expelled from Romania after being accused of propagandizing for the Islamic State group, the country's security services said Friday. 

The SRI intelligence agency said the pair were involved in "ideological recruitment and training" in support of the jihadists, who control a vast swathe of Syria and Iraq.

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Romanian PM Backed in Graft Probe

A Romanian parliamentary committee on Monday ruled against a request from anti-graft prosecutors to proceed with a corruption case against Prime Minister Victor Ponta.

Parliament still has to make the final decision on whether to strip Ponta of his immunity at a vote Tuesday, said judicial committee president Ciprian Nica. 

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Romania PM Fights Resignation Push after Corruption Probe

Romania's Prime Minister Victor Ponta refused to step down after being hit on Friday by corruption allegations, the highest sitting leader targeted in a long-running anti-graft campaign in one of the EU's poorest nations.

President Klaus Iohannis, Ponta's conservative rival, called for his resignation after the powerful DNA anti-corruption agency launched a probe into the social democrat premier. 

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Burkina Faso to Hunt Abducted Romanian in Mali, Niger

Burkina Faso authorities plan to cross into Mali and Niger to hunt the kidnappers of a Romanian mineworker seized in the far north of the west African nation, a minister said on Sunday.

The security officer was taken on Saturday when five armed men attacked the manganese mine in Tambao, 350 kilometers (220 miles) northeast of the capital, Ouagadougou.

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Romania to Expel Seven for Recruiting for Al-Qaida, IS

Romania will expel seven foreign nationals accused of recruiting members for the Islamic State group and Al-Qaida and propagating their ideas in the eastern European country, officials said Saturday.

The Bucharest court of appeal this week ruled in separate cases that the seven should be prohibited from returning to the country for between three to seven years, Romania's interior intelligence agency SRI said in a statement.

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3 Lebanese Fined in Germany for Trying to Force Gay Boy into Marriage

A Berlin court has fined three Lebanese men on allegations they seized a 15-year-old relative against his will in what he says was an attempt to force him into marriage because he's gay.

State Court spokesman Tobias Kaehne said Thursday the boy's father and two uncles were each fined 1,350 euros ($1,430), or 90 days in jail, if they don't pay.

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