Abe says ‘neutral’ on whether to raise Japan sales tax to 10 percent
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Sunday he remained “neutral” on whether to proceed with a hike in Japan’s sales tax to 10 percent, adding that decision would hinge on the strength of economic indicators for the current quar…
Islamic State video purports to show beheading of UK hostage David Haines
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Islamic State militants fighting in Iraq and Syria released a video on Saturday which purported to show the beheading of British aid worker David Haines.
Iraq PM says he will protect civilians after U.S.-Iraq air strikes against IS
BAGHDAD/CAIRO (Reuters) – Iraq’s Shi’ite Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Saturday that he had ordered his air force to halt strikes on civilian areas, following attacks by both Iraqi and U.S. jets in large areas of the country held by Islamic St…
Ukraine PM slams Putin, ceasefire again under strain in east Ukraine
KIEV/DONETSK Ukraine (Reuters) – Fighting flared near an airport in eastern Ukraine on Saturday in breach of a fragile eight-day ceasefire as the prime minister accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of planning to destroy his country.
Sweden votes with center-left opposition targeting narrow lead
STOCKHOLM, Sept 14 (Reuters) – Sweden’s s center-left opposition appeared headed for a narrow election victory on Sunday, according to polls, on a platform of increased spending on job schemes, healthcare and schools after 8 years of tax cuts.
Fate of United Kingdom hangs in balance after new Scotland polls
EDINBURGH (Reuters) – The fate of the United Kingdom remained unclear five days before a historic referendum on Scottish independence as three new polls on Saturday showed a slight lead for supporters of the union, but one saying the separatist campaig…
Greece will not need third bailout, PM Samaras tells paper
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greece is beating its fiscal targets and will not need a third bailout from its international creditors, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras told Sunday’s Realnews newspaper, confident that the country’s debt will soon be deemed viable.
Tense stand-off in Pakistani capital as political crisis deepens
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Pakistan’s opposition leaders ordered thousands of their supporters on Saturday to resist any government attempt to quash their protests against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, deepening a political crisis in the coup-prone nation.
Venezuela arrests 64 for anti-Maduro protests: rights group
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan security forces have arrested 64 people during renewed demonstrations against President Nicolas Maduro’s government in the capital as well as the city of Barquisimeto, a rights group said on Saturday.
U.S. Embassy in Uganda tells citizens to seek shelter amid anti-terror operation
KAMPALA (Reuters) – The U.S. Embassy in Uganda told its citizens to seek safety on Saturday, warning that local authorities had uncovered a “terrorist cell” run by Somali militant group al Shabaab, which they believed was planning an imminent attack.