Japan’s Abe to postpone tax hike, call December election: media
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will postpone a planned tax increase and call a general election for December, a newspaper said on Wednesday, in an effort to lock in his grip on power before his voter ratings suffer a slide.
U.S., China to announce deals to reduce military tensions: report
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States and China are planning to announce military agreements aimed at reducing the possibility of confrontation between the two powers, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, quoting unnamed U.S. officials.
Senator sees American prisoner in Cuba ‘closer’ to release
HAVANA (Reuters) – An American government contractor jailed in Cuba for crimes against the state may be closer to returning home, in part because he has threatened to end his life if he is not released, a U.S. senator said on Tuesday.
Japan man dies after setting himself ablaze in defense protest: NHK
TOKYO (Reuters) – A Japanese man died after setting himself on fire in a downtown Tokyo park in an apparent protest against the country’s shift away from postwar pacifism under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, NHK national television said on Wednesday.
Nigeria says U.S. support lacking in Boko Haram battle
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – ‘Nigeria’s envoy to Washington criticized U.S. support in the battle against Boko Haram militants as insufficient, including failure to share enough intelligence and sell needed weaponry to fight the Islamist group.
Netanyahu, speaking to U.S. Jewish group, warns of Iran’s nuclear threat
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking to a conference of Jewish leaders in Washington, on Tuesday sternly warned against a possible international deal with Iran that would end sanctions but fail to stop it from gett…
Japan’s Abe to postpone tax hike, call December election: media
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will postpone a planned tax increase and call a general election for December, a newspaper said on Wednesday, in what would be the biggest shift in Abe’s economic policies since he came to power two …
Kurds gain ground but not control in struggle for Syrian border town
BEIRUT/MURSITPINAR Turkey (Reuters) – Syrian Kurds backed by fighters from northern Iraq have gained ground towards breaking the siege of the Syrian border town of Kobani but are drawing heavy fire from Islamic State insurgents and have yet to win back…
Mexico investigates police in shooting of pregnant American teen
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican authorities are investigating police in the northern city of Reynosa on the Texas border after a pregnant 14-year-old American girl was shot and injured during a high-speed car chase, the local government said on Tuesday…
Romania will narrow budget deficit in 2015 without hiking taxes: PM Ponta
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romania will narrow its budget deficit next year without hiking taxes, leftist Prime Minister Victor Ponta said late on Tuesday – despite having promised pension and minimum wage increases that analysts say are unsustainable.
