UK finance ministry warns on Scottish independence costs
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s finance ministry stepped up its attack on the Scottish government’s independence plans on Monday, saying it had not fully budgeted for setting up a new administration that could cost Scottish taxpayers over 1.5 billion poun…
Yemen says security forces kill senior al Qaeda leader
SANAA (Reuters) – Yemen’s security forces on Sunday killed a senior al Qaeda leader wanted for attacks on local and foreign targets in Sanaa, the Yemeni government said, after a raid near the capital in which at least four other militants died.
Pope wraps up Middle East visit with Jerusalem whirl
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Pope Francis completes a tour of the Holy Land on Monday, paying homage to Jews killed in the Nazi Holocaust and looking to affirm Christian rights at a disputed place of worship in Jerusalem.
As Taiwan beefs up prized South China Sea outpost, barely a peep from China
TAIPEI/HONG KONG (Reuters) – Taiwan is building a $100 million port next to an airstrip on the lone island it occupies in the disputed South China Sea, a move that is drawing hardly any flak from the most assertive player in the bitterly contested wate…
Former army chief Sisi poised for victory in Egypt election
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptians vote in a presidential election on Monday expected to sweep former army chief Abdel Fatah al-Sisi into office, reviving strongman rule three years after a popular uprising raised hopes of democracy free from military influen…
Flemish separatists are big winners in Belgian election
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – A party that wants to dissolve Belgium was the chief winner of a parliamentary election on Sunday, setting the scene for months of deadlock before a new government can be formed.
Irish PM’s party slumps to second place in local polls
DUBLIN (Reuters) – Irish prime minister Enda Kenny’s ruling party looked set to slump to second place in local elections on Sunday, a surprise result that will complicate an austerity program to be completed this year to cut a still-high budget deficit…
Libyan premier wins congress backing after renegade general’s threats
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya’s new Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq won a vote of confidence from parliament on Sunday in defiance of a renegade former army general who has challenged the assembly’s legitimacy.
Poland’s last communist ruler Jaruzelski dies at 90
WARSAW (Reuters) – General Wojciech Jaruzelski, Poland’s last communist leader who imposed martial law to crush the Solidarity movement only to hand over power less than a decade later, died aged 90 on Sunday after a long illness, a military hospital i…
South Africa’s Zuma turns to Gordhan’s deputy as new finance Minister
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African President Jacob Zuma promoted deputy finance minister Nhlanhla Nene to finance minister on Sunday, replacing the widely respected Pravin Gordhan in a new cabinet line-up to start a second five-year term in office….
