Spain’s parliament set to reject Catalan referendum
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s parliament looks certain to reject a petition from Catalonia to hold a referendum on independence, despite heavy support for the separatist movement in the wealthy northeastern region.
Libya cabinet asks for more power, denies it has resigned
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya’s cabinet has a sent letter to parliament asking for more power and a longer mandate, but denies reports it has resigned, a government spokesman said on Tuesday.
Australian ship seeks signals from missing jet
SYDNEY/PERTH, Australia (Reuters) – An Australian ship which picked up possible “pings” from the black box recorders of a missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner has been unable to detect any further signals and time is running out to narrow the massive sea…
Britain hosts first state visit of Irish President
LONDON (Reuters) – President Michael Higgins became the first Irish head of state on Tuesday to make a state visit to Britain, crowning a big improvement in historically fraught relations between Dublin and its former colonial master.
Hungary’s Orban broke EU law by firing data chief, EU court rules
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban broke EU law when he fired the head of the country’s data protection agency, the European Court of Justice said on Tuesday, in a ruling likely to reignite tensions with Brussels over Hungary’s …
Ukraine accuses Russia of orchestrating separatist moves
KIEV/DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) – Police detained 70 people occupying a regional administration building in eastern Ukraine overnight, but pro-Moscow protesters held out in a standoff in two other cities in what Kiev called a Russian-led plan to dismem…
Syrians face drought, wheat production seen at record low: WFP
GENEVA (Reuters) – Syrians battered by years of war are facing a major drought that could cut wheat production in the country’s northwest breadbasket to a record low of 1.7 million to 2 million metric tonnes, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tues…
Pakistani baby taken into hiding after attempted murder charge
LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) – Relatives of a nine-month old baby charged with attempted murder in Pakistan have taken him into hiding, one said on Tuesday, in a case that has thrown a spotlight on Pakistan’s dysfunctional criminal justice system.
U.S. contractor jailed in Cuba goes on hunger strike
HAVANA (Reuters) – The U.S. contractor sentenced to a 15-year prison term in Cuba for attempting to establish an illegal Internet service has gone on a hunger strike to protest his treatment by the Cuban and U.S. governments, his lawyer said on Tuesday…
Afghan presidential election provokes more than 3,000 complaints
KABUL (Reuters) – Afghan authorities have received more than 3,000 reports of violations from last weekend’s presidential election, exceeding the tally following a 2009 vote that was marred by widespread fraud.
