German minister proposes EU extra levy to finance refugee costs
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has proposed the introduction of a special tax on gasoline in European Union member states to finance refugee-related costs such as strengthening the continent’s joint external borders.
North Korea says peace treaty, halt to exercises, would end nuclear tests
SEOUL/TOKYO (Reuters) – North Korea on Saturday demanded the conclusion of a peace treaty with the United States and a halt to U.S. military exercises with South Korea to end its nuclear tests.
Offensive against Islamic State in Mosul unlikely in 2016: Iraqi Kurdish deputy PM
ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) – A much anticipated campaign to recapture Iraq’s northern city of Mosul from Islamic State is unlikely to happen this year, the Kurdistan region’s deputy prime minister said, dampening hopes the militants could be driven from the…
Five people killed by suspected gas blast in Italian town
ROME (Reuters) – An explosion probably caused by a gas leak killed five people in a town in northwestern Italy early on Saturday, flattening a two-storey building and damaging several others, firefighters said.
Turkish soldier dies after clashes with Kurdish militants
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (Reuters) – A Turkish soldier died early on Saturday from wounds sustained during clashes with militants from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and seven others were injured in the fighting, the chief of the General Staff said.
Malaysia says suspected ISIS-linked militant was planning suicide attack
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia’s police chief said on Saturday that a suspected militant arrested in a train station in Kuala Lumpur had confessed to planning a suicide attack in the country.
Macedonia opposition threatens to boycott election called to end crisis
SKOPJE (Reuters) – A European Union-brokered deal to end a political crisis in Macedonia hung in the balance on Saturday after opponents of conservative Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski threatened to boycott an early parliamentary election in April.
Report paving way for Iran sanctions relief likely Saturday
VIENNA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An IAEA report verifying that Iran has kept its promises under last year’s nuclear deal with world powers and triggering sanctions relief for Tehran is likely to be issued on Saturday, a diplomatic source said on Friday.
One dead in explosion at Nexen Canadian oil sands facility
TORONTO (Reuters) – One person was killed and a second was injured in an explosion at Nexen Energy’s Long Lake oil sands facility south of Fort McMurray, Alberta, on Friday, the company said.
Australia should apologize, say accused Nauru aid workers
PERTH (Reuters) – The Australian government should apologize for ejecting nine welfare workers from an immigration camp on Nauru for alleged misconduct after a report cleared them of any wrongdoing, one of the aid workers told media on Saturday.
