Deadline nears for Catalan leader to clarify independence stance
MADRID (Reuters) – Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont has until 10:00 a.m. local (0800 GMT) on Monday to clarify whether he is calling for the region’s independence from Spain, with Madrid threatening a return to direct rule if his stance remains ambiguo…
Iraqi forces start advancing toward Kurdish-held Kirkuk: Iraqi and Kurdish officials
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi forces began moving at midnight on Sunday toward oil fields and an important air base held by Kurdish forces near the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, Iraqi and Kurdish officials said.
Macron urges the French to value success, rejects ‘president of rich’ tag
PARIS (Reuters) – President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said he was a president of all French, dismissing opponents’ criticisms that his policies favor the rich and said his countrymen should adopt a more positive attitude toward success.
New Zealand may have to wait until end of week for new government: Prime Minister
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand acting Prime Minister Bill English on Monday said it could take until the end of the week to confirm the country’s next government.
Downcast Venezuela opposition seeks blow to Maduro via ballot box
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s political crisis shifted from barricades to ballots on Sunday with gubernatorial elections that could hand the demoralized opposition a major victory against President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
Macron says labor reforms need two years to bear fruit
PARIS (Reuters) – Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said he was a president of all French, dismissing opponents’ criticisms that his policies favor the rich, and said it would be two years before the full impact of his labor reforms would show in the job marke…
Austria shifts to right as conservative star seals election win
VIENNA (Reuters) – Young conservative star Sebastian Kurz is on track to become Austria’s next leader after an election on Sunday, but his party is far short of a majority and likely to seek a coalition with the resurgent far right.
Macron sees French labour reforms bearing fruit within two years
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday he expected his labour market reforms to start having a noticeable impact on unemployment within two years.
Drone hits commercial airliner in Canada, no injuries
(Reuters) – A drone hit an airplane landing at a Quebec City airport this week, the first time an unmanned flying object has collided with commercial aircraft in Canada, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said on Sunday.
Germany’s Merkel suffers state vote setback as coalition talks loom
BERLIN/HANOVER (Reuters) – Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) defeated Angela Merkel’s conservatives in a vote in the northern state of Lower Saxony on Sunday, a setback for the chancellor as she prepares for tricky coalition talks at the national level …
