Economic slowdown and Putin’s promises take toll on Russian budget
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Russian budget’s dependence on fickle oil and gas prices is set to remain high, as the country will be forced to borrow more in response to an unexpectedly severe economic slowdown.
Hailing ‘flexibility’, Iran leader commends new nuclear gambit
DUBAI (Reuters) – Talk by Iran’s Supreme Leader of “flexibility” days before his government’s debut at the United Nations General Assembly in New York suggests a new willingness at the highest level to explore a compromise solution to Tehran’s nuclear …
Greek police search Golden Dawn offices after man stabbed to death
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek police searched the Athens offices of the Golden Dawn party on Wednesday after a 35-year-old anti-racism rapper was stabbed to death by a man who sympathizes with the far-right group.
Ukraine government presses Europe ambitions, ignores Russia
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine formally gave the go-ahead on Wednesday for landmark trade deals to be signed with the European Union, disregarding pressure from Moscow for Kiev to halt its westward course.
Greek state workers strike against firings before troika visit
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek workers shut schools and forced hospitals to operate with only emergency staff on Wednesday at the start of a 48-hour strike against the latest plans to fire thousands of public sector employees.
Russia says U.N. report on Syria attack preconceived, political
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia denounced U.N. investigators’ findings on a poison gas attack in Syria as preconceived and tainted by politics on Wednesday, stepping up its criticism of a report Western nations said proved President Bashar al-Assad’s forces …
Uganda hauls back two dozen Somalia peacekeepers over scam
KAMPALA (Reuters) – Uganda has recalled the commander of its peacekeeping force in Somalia and almost two dozen other officers suspected of involvement in a scam to steal food and fuel and sell it on the black market.
Battles rage in Syria ahead of talks at the United Nations
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian warplanes struck rebel-held areas and clashes between militants and government forces continued unabated on Wednesday, residents and opposition groups said, while key powers met to forge a deal that would eliminate Syrian chem…
French pension reform goes to cabinet amid criticism
PARIS (Reuters) – President Francois Hollande sent to cabinet on Wednesday a reform of France’s pension system which has prompted little street protest at home but which international critics say does not go far enough.
Americans, Europeans oppose Syria intervention: poll
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – A majority of Europeans and Americans strongly oppose their countries intervening militarily in Syria’s 30-month-old civil war, according to a transatlantic poll published on Wednesday.
