Scottish Labour rules out platform with Conservatives to fight independence
EDINBURGH (Reuters) – Scottish Labour would not join forces with the Conservatives in a joint campaign to defend the United Kingdom if Scotland held a second independence referendum, leader Kezia Dugdale has said.
Thai junta replaces director of Buddhism department with policeman
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s military junta removed the chief of the department responsible for overseeing Buddhist affairs and replaced him with a police officer on Saturday, amid a stand-off between officials and monks at the country’s largest temp…
Iran plans to buy Kazakh uranium ore, seek Russia help to make nuclear fuel
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran plans to buy 950 tonnes of uranium ore from Kazakhstan over three years and expects to get Russian help in producing nuclear fuel, its top nuclear official said in remarks published on Saturday.
Malaysia to sweep airport for chemicals after Kim Jong Nam murder
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia plans to sweep one of the terminals at Kuala Lumpur international airport for toxic chemicals after Kim Jong Nam was murdered there with a nerve agent last week.
France’s Hollande fires back at Trump over Paris comments
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande fired back at Donald Trump on Saturday after the U.S. president remarked in a speech that a friend thought “Paris is no longer Paris” after attacks by Islamist militants.
Saudi foreign minister makes rare visit to Baghdad
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir made a rare visit to Baghdad on Saturday, meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, the premier’s media office said.
Merkel says, on NATO spending target, commitments have to be met
STRALSUND, Germany (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday that Germany needed to fulfill its commitment to boost defense spending to meet NATO’s target of 2 percent of gross domestic product.
Iraqi forces push deeper into western Mosul as civilians flee
MOSUL, Iraq (Reuters) – U.S.-backed Iraqi forces pushed deeper into western Mosul on Saturday, advancing in several populated southern districts after punching through the defenses of Islamic State’s last major urban stronghold in Iraq a day earlier.
Turkish PM seeks votes for ‘strong, stable’ Turkey in April referendum
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s prime minister called on the public on Saturday to back constitutional change that would greatly strengthen President Tayyip Erdogan’s powers, portraying the reform as a vote for stability at the start of campaigning ahead o…
Ten killed in hotel blaze in southeastern China
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – A fierce blaze at a hotel in southeastern China killed 10 people, the official Xinhua news agency said in a post on its official microblog on Saturday.
