Eyeing 2015 election, UK’s Labour pledges rise in minimum wage
MANCHESTER England (Reuters) – Britain’s opposition Labour party promised on Sunday to raise the national minimum wage by more than 25 percent within five years if it wins next year’s national election, a pledge designed to win over voters hit by risin…
Turkish president says no ransom paid for release of hostages held by ISIS
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday no ransom was paid for the release of Turkish hostages held by Islamic State in Iraq and that it was the result of diplomatic and political negotiation.
Sierra Leone burial team attacked despite lockdown
FREETOWN (Reuters) – A team burying Ebola victims was attacked in Sierra Leone’s capital on Saturday, a member of parliament said, as a small group defied a three-day lockdown aimed at halting the worst outbreak of the disease on record.
French and German visions for Europe to clash in Berlin
BERLIN/PARIS (Reuters) – Germany and France will try to reconcile divergent visions of how to fix Europe’s economy on Monday when Manuel Valls makes his first visit to Berlin as French prime minister and holds talks with Angela Merkel.
Wife of Alan Henning, Briton held by Islamic State, pleads for his release
MANCHESTER (Reuters) – Alan Henning, a volunteer British aid worker being held by Islamic State (IS) militants, should be released unharmed, his wife said in a statement issued a week after his captors threatened to murder him.
Families of German MH17 victims to sue Ukraine: lawyer
BERLIN (Reuters) – Survivors of German victims of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 downed over Ukraine plan to sue the country and its president for manslaughter by negligence in 298 cases, the lawyer representing them said on Sunday.
New Zealand PM storms to third term but faces slowing growth ahead
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – Prime Minister John Key secured New Zealand’s first majority government in almost 20 years on a promise to maintain a strong economy, but slowing growth in China may challenge his outlook and also threaten fiscal discipline.
Exclusive: Iran seeks give and take on militants, nuclear program
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Iran is ready to work with the United States and its allies to stop Islamic State militants, but would like to see more flexibility on Iran’s uranium enrichment program, senior Iranian officials told Reuters.
Fiji coup leader Bainimarama claims election victory
PERTH Australia (Reuters) – Voreqe Bainimarama, the former naval officer who has twice seized power in Fiji via military coups, on Sunday claimed victory in the Pacific island nation’s first election following eight years of military rule.
U.S. to deliver 10 Apache helicopters to Egypt – Pentagon
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke with Egyptian Defense Minister Colonel General Sedki Sobhy on Saturday to confirm the United States plans to deliver 10 Apache helicopters to Egypt to support Cairo’s counter-terrorism eff…