Iran says possible response to new U.S. sanctions could not be ‘pleasant’
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s possible response to new U.S. sanctions could “not be pleasant”, its foreign minister said on Sunday, raising the prospect of tit-for-tat retribution against the Islamic Republic’s old adversary weeks ahead of fresh nuclear tal…
Poll shows Britain’s UKIP to win parliamentary seat after lawmaker defection
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) will win its first directly elected parliamentary seat after the defection of a lawmaker from Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative party last week, an opinion poll on Sunday showe…
EU wields Russia sanctions threat but timing vague
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union threatened Russia with new trade sanctions if Moscow fails to start reversing its action in Ukraine, but sharp divisions among leaders at a summit in Brussels left the timing of any measures uncertain.
U.S. planes strike militants near Iraq’s Amreli, airdrop aid
BAGHDAD/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States carried out air strikes on Saturday against Islamic State fighters near the besieged Shi’ite town of Amerli in northern Iraq and airdropped humanitarian aid to civilians trapped there, the Pentagon said….
China slams door shut on full Hong Kong democracy in 2017 vote
BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) – China’s parliament said on Sunday it will tightly control the nomination of candidates for a landmark election in Hong Kong in 2017, a move likely to trigger mass protests in the city’s Central business district by disappo…
Polls say Scotland will spurn independence, but are they right?
LONDON (Reuters) – Opinion polls, financial markets and bookmakers are unanimous – Scotland will reject independence in a historic referendum next month and the United Kingdom will endure.
Turkish deputy PM Babacan to maintain oversight of economy: officials
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan will retain overall responsibility for the economy in the new government, senior officials told Reuters late on Saturday, a move likely to ease concerns of a turf war within the cabinet.
Bahrain detains Shi’ite rights activist on arrival at airport
MANAMA (Reuters) – Bahraini authorities detained prominent human rights activist Maryam al-Khawaja on Saturday on her arrival at the Gulf state’s airport, her mother told Reuters.
Macau ‘re-elects’ new leader as authorities stifle democratic rumblings
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Macau, the world’s largest gambling hub, re-elected its leader and sole candidate Fernando Chui on Sunday, a widely expected result after the pro-China government stifled an unofficial referendum on democracy.
Fukushima fallout: Resentment grows in nearby Japanese city
IWAKI Japan (Reuters) – Like many of her neighbors, Satomi Inokoshi worries that her gritty hometown is being spoiled by the newcomers and the money that have rolled into Iwaki since the Fukushima nuclear disaster almost three and a half years ago.
