Greek PM Tsipras says pension reform difficult but must go ahead
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras defended plans to reform the country’s pension system on Tuesday, saying it was a difficult but necessary plan to prevent the system from imploding.
Garrulous Maduro has addressed Venezuela for 500 hours: group
CARACAS (Reuters) – President Nicolas Maduro has spent more than 500 hours addressing Venezuela since winning power nearly three years ago, demonstrating a loquacity reminiscent of his late predecessor Hugo Chavez, according to a watchdog.
German coalition rifts deepen as Merkel ally threatens legal steps
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Bavarian allies, deepening a coalition rift over refugee policies, threatened on Tuesday to take her government to court if their demand to stem the flow of asylum seekers is not met.
Denmark passes tough migrant law as Nordic refugee welcome dims
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Denmark’s parliament passed measures on Tuesday aimed at deterring refugees from seeking asylum, including confiscating valuables to pay for their stay, despite protests from international human rights organizations.
Leading Iraqi Shi’ite says Islamic State shrugging off U.S. air strikes
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Flush with cash and weapons, Islamic State is attracting huge numbers of foreign fighters to Iraq and Syria and withstanding U.S.-led air strikes that are failing to hit the right targets, a powerful Iraqi Shi’ite paramilitary leader told Reuters in an interview.
Putin’s top security adviser says U.S. is after Russia’s minerals
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The head of Russia’s Security Council said in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday that the United States wanted a weakened Russia so as to gain access to its vast mineral resources.
EU considering sanctions on Libyans blocking peace: diplomats
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union is discussing imposing travel bans and asset freezes on at least two Libyans it sees as blocking efforts by the United Nations to form a government of national unity, diplomatic sources said on Tuesday.
Islamic State ‘enjoyed Turkish money for oil’: Israeli minister
ATHENS (Reuters) – Israel’s defense minister said on Tuesday that Islamic State militants had been funded with ‘Turkish money’, an assertion that could hinder attempts to mend fences between the two countries after years of estrangement.
Spain’s parties to discuss new government with king next week
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s four main party leaders will meet King Felipe for a second time next Monday and Tuesday to see whether any of them can muster enough support to form a government and break a six-week election deadlock, the palace said.
Iran excludes most candidates in elite assembly election
DUBAI (Reuters) – Four-fifths of candidates for the body that will choose Iran’s next Supreme Leader have withdrawn or been disqualified including a grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini close to reformist politicians, in a setback to President Hassan Rouhani…
