Syrian border town still under siege by Islamic State despite allied air strikes
MURSITPINAR/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Islamic State forces shelled the Syrian border town of Kobani on Saturday and its Kurdish defenders said they were expecting a new assault to try to capture it.
Latvians seen re-electing center right, Russia overshadows poll
RIGA (Reuters) – Latvia’s center-right government held a clear lead in a general election on Saturday after taking a hard line over the actions of neighbor and former ruler Russia in Ukraine.
Hong Kong government may resume on Monday, but protests go on
HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong pro-democracy protest leaders said they would unblock access to government buildings to allow civil servants to go back to work next week, but defied calls from the Chinese-controlled city’s leaders to end their demonstr…
German defence minister wants to revive Euro Hawk-media report
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen wants to revive the high-altitude reconnaissance drone Euro Hawk after the government backed away from plans to buy some last year, a German newspaper said on Saturday.
UKIP leader says Cameron’s EU plan a ‘gross deception’
WINTERTHUR Switzerland (Reuters) – The leader of Britain’s anti-EU party UKIP on Saturday predicted that divisions between rich and poor would spell doom for the single currency and the dream of a United States of Europe.
Spanish PM calls for dialogue as Catalonia renews independence campaign
MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called on Saturday for dialogue with Catalan separatists “within the limits of the constitution” as the government of the wealthy region resumed its campaign for a vote on independence.
At least five killed in attack on Hazaras in Pakistani city of Quetta
QUETTA Pakistan (Reuters) – At least five people were killed and dozens wounded in a suspected suicide attack on a predominantly Shi’ite Hazara neighborhood of the volatile Pakistani city of Quetta on Saturday, police said.
British Muslims condemn beheading of aid worker Alan Henning
LONDON (Reuters) – Muslim groups across Britain united on Saturday to join Prime Minister David Cameron in condemning the beheading of aid worker Alan Henning by Islamic State insurgents.
Inter-Korean dialogue to resume after top Northern envoys’ surprise visit
INCHEON South Korea (Reuters) – North and South Korea agreed on Saturday to resume reconciliation talks after the North sent its most senior delegation ever to its estranged neighbor at just 24 hours’ notice.
Fed-up Bulgarian voters may fail to end political deadlock
SOFIA (Reuters) – Bulgarian voters fed up with political deadlock may end up with another shaky coalition after a snap election on Sunday, leaving the European Union’s poorest member struggling to resolve a banking crisis and revive growth.
