Catalonia pushes ahead with referendum plans despite court move
MADRID (Reuters) – The leader of Catalonia has set up a panel to supervise a contested independence referendum next month, defying Spain’s central government which has gone to the courts to block the vote.
Moscovici set new quiz as EU executive hits political turbulence
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Pierre Moscovici, the French Socialist nominated to run the EU’s economic affairs, must answer a new round of written questions from skeptical conservative lawmakers after the vetting of a new EU executive became entangled in polit…
In rare alliance, Shi’ites join Sunnis to defend Iraqi towns
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – When Islamic State fighters tried to storm the Tigris River town of Dhuluiya north of Baghdad this week, they were repelled by a rare coalition of Sunni tribal fighters inside the town and Shi’ites in its sister city Balad on the op…
Rights groups condemn Myanmar’s Rohingya plan
YANGON (Reuters) – Human rights groups condemned on Friday a Myanmar government plan that could force thousands of minority Rohingya Muslims into detention camps indefinitely if they do not qualify for citizenship.
Syrian army fights for last major rebel route into Aleppo
BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Syrian army clashed with insurgents on the northern edge of Aleppo city on Friday, residents and activists said, threatening to take the last main rebel supply route into the city and trap opposition forces and civilians inside.
In historic homeland, Pakistan’s Sikhs live under constant threat
PESHAWAR Pakistan (Reuters) – Every time someone walks into his pharmacy in the volatile Pakistani city of Peshawar, Amarjeet Singh prepares for the worst.
Philippines halts work in disputed South China Sea
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines has stopped all development work in the disputed South China Sea because of the impact such activity might have on an arbitration complaint it has filed against China, a defense official said on Friday.
India’s Modi makes radio medium for change
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered on Friday the first of many radio addresses he plans to make to mobilize support among ordinary people for his agenda of change.
Australia authorizes special forces troops to go to Iraq
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian special forces troops will be deployed in Iraq to assist in the fight against Islamic State militants, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Friday, and its aircraft will also join U.S.-led coalition strikes.
Nominee Moscovici must also answer more EU committee questions
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Pierre Moscovici must answer further written questions from the European Parliament’s economic affairs committee by late on Sunday before it considers again his nomination as EU economics commissioner, lawmakers said on Friday.
