Bavaria boss backs SPD tie-up as consensus grows for German grand coalition
BERLIN (Reuters) – The leader of Bavaria’s conservatives threw his weight behind an alliance with Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) on Sunday, adding to momentum for a new “grand coalition” to break the political deadlock in Europe’s biggest economy.
Separatists and unionists tied for support ahead of Catalan elections: poll
BARCELONA (Reuters) – Pro-independence parties may fail to retain an absolute majority of seats in the Catalan parliament in regional elections next month, a poll published on Sunday showed, with pro-unity parties poised to increase their vote share.
Islamic State raises stakes with Egypt mosque attack
ISMAILIA, Egypt (Reuters) – The mosque was packed with hundreds of worshippers for Friday prayers in Egypt’s North Sinai when gunmen in military-style uniforms and masks appeared in a doorway and at windows.
Irish PM ‘doing everything he can’ to avoid election: spokesman
DUBLIN (Reuters) – Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar “is doing everything he can” to avoid a snap general election, his spokesman said, but the crisis that has brought his minority government to the brink showed no obvious sign of resolution on Sunday….
Ireland will block Brexit talks unless border issue agreed
LONDON (Reuters) – Ireland’s EU commissioner said Dublin would “continue to play tough” over its threat to veto talks about trade after Brexit unless Britain provided guarantees over the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Huge blast in China’s Ningbo city kills at least two, cause unknown
BEIJING (Reuters) – A powerful explosion in a Chinese city south of Shanghai brought down buildings in a neighborhood marked for demolition, killing at least two people, state television reported on Sunday.
Syrian government push for Damascus rebel enclave kills at least 19
BEIRUT (Reuters) – An intensifying push by the Syrian government and allied forces to take the last major rebel stronghold near the capital Damascus killed at least 19 people on Sunday and injured many, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Pakistan’s army silent as Islamists, police clash again
FAIZABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) – Islamist party activists on Sunday clashed with Pakistani security forces for a second day outside the capital, Islamabad, burning vehicles before withdrawing into an uneasy stand-off at a protest camp they have occupied …
South Korea to review whether or not to abolish anti-abortion law
SEOUL (Reuters) – The South Korean president’s office said on Sunday that it will begin a review on the country’s 64-year-old law to ban abortion.
Zimbabwe’s Mugabe cried when he agreed to step down: report
HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s former president Robert Mugabe cried and lamented “betrayal by his lieutenants” when he agreed to step down last week under pressure from the military and his party after 37 years in power, the Standard newspaper said in i…
