French far-right to win more towns in elections: exit polls
PARIS (Reuters) – Candidates backed by France’s far-right National Front (FN) party were on track to secure victories in the southern towns of Beziers and Frejus in local elections on Sunday, exit polls and partial tallies showed.
Ten dead as Chadian troops open fire on Bangui civilians – officials
BANGUI (Reuters) – At least 10 people were killed and dozens wounded when Chadian troops opened fire on civilians in Central African Republic’s capital Bangui, officials said on Sunday.
Egypt to hold May 26-27 presidential election
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptians will vote on May 26-27 in a presidential election that Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to win easily, meaning the former army chief who deposed Islamist President Mohamed Mursi could be sworn in as head of state by early Ju…
Saudi dynasty moves to forestall succession crisis
RIYADH (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia’s appointment of Prince Muqrin as deputy crown prince is a first step towards addressing its biggest dynastic challenge for 50 years and forestalling a possible succession crisis in the world’s top oil exporter.
Over 100,000 protest in Taiwan over China trade deal
TAIPEI (Reuters) – More than 100,000 protesters took to the streets of Taiwan’s capital on Sunday as a two-week-long campaign against a trade pact with China gathered steam, piling further pressure on the island’s leader.
Germany mulls military support for NATO’s eastern European states
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany is considering offering military support to some eastern European members of the NATO defense alliance in response to Russia’s seizure of Crimea, news magazine Der Spiegel reported at the weekend.
Merchant ship shot at in Strait of Hormuz Sunday- NATO
DUBAI (Reuters) – Unknown assailants in a speedboat shot at a merchant vessel as it sailed through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman on Sunday, the NATO Shipping Centre (NSC) said.
Ukraine’s ‘Chocolate King’ could edge new-look Yulia for president
KIEV (Reuters) – Gone is the trademark peasant-style hair braid, though the familiar voice and the assured, rapid-fire delivery tell you Yulia Tymoshenko is back as a political force in Ukraine.
Lavrov plays down impact of Western sanctions on Russia
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Western sanctions on Russia have led to some disruption but have not been too painful, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Sunday ahead of talks later in the day with his U.S. counterpart John Kerry.
Egyptian soldier killed, 3 police wounded in attack on bus -army
CAIRO (Reuters) – An Egyptian soldier was killed on Sunday when militants attacked the bus he was driving in the town of Al-Arish in the Sinai Peninsula, the military said in a statement posted on Facebook.