Agree on referendum or face unilateral split: Catalonia to Spain
BARCELONA (Reuters) – The head of Catalonia’s regional government says a unilateral split from Spain is unstoppable unless the central government agrees to call a binding referendum on independence.
China’s president to meet tech titans, visit Boeing in start to U.S. visit
SEATTLE (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet U.S. tech titans and tour Boeing Co’s biggest factory and Microsoft Corp’s sprawling campus near Seattle this week as he kicks off a U.S. visit that also includes a black-tie state dinner at th…
Exclusive: ‘Putin’s banker’ Pugachev files $12 billion claim against Russia
PARIS (Reuters) – Sergei Pugachev, a tycoon once dubbed “Putin’s banker” because of his influence in the Kremlin, has filed a $12 billion claim against Russia after his business empire was carved up when he fell out of favour with President Vladimir Pu…
Lawmakers throw eggs at Kosovo prime minister
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Lawmakers pelted Kosovo’s prime minister with eggs on Tuesday as he addressed parliament, protesting over a deal with former master Serbia giving greater local powers to minority Serbs in the young Balkan country.
U.N. picks four Europeans to lead groups in Syria talks
GENEVA (Reuters) – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed the heads of four working groups on Syria, the United Nations said on Tuesday, signaling a step toward talks where warring parties are expected to discuss how to implement a roadmap fo…
Triumphant Tsipras returns to fight for Greek economy, debt relief
ATHENS (Reuters) – Alexis Tsipras took the oath of office for a second term as Greek prime minister on Monday, promising to revive the crippled economy while demanding debt relief from creditors as his “first big battle” following an unexpectedly clear…
Malaysia’s opposition forms new alliance against scandal-hit Najib
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Three Malaysian opposition parties announced an alliance on Tuesday, forming a united front against the scandal-hit government of Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Afghan Taliban seize Humvees for sneak attacks and propaganda
KABUL (Reuters) – When two U.S.-made Humvees approached a checkpoint in Afghanistan’s Helmand province last month, the police assumed them to be friendly local or coalition forces.
Spanish tourist arrivals rise after record summer
MADRID (Reuters) – Tourist arrivals in Spain hit a new record in the first eight months of 2015, according to an industry ministry body, with security fears in the Middle East and North Africa pushing holidaymakers, especially British and French, to se…
Hungary beefs up border with army, warns migrants to stay away
BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Hungary’s parliament authorized the government on Monday to deploy the army to help handle a wave of migrants, granting the military the right to use non-lethal force.
