Israel allows more building material into Gaza
GAZA (Reuters) – Israel began allowing construction material for private projects into the Gaza Strip on Sunday for the first time in six years, in response to a request from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, an Israeli defense official said.
Russia says opposes any resolution threatening force against Syria
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia on Sunday criticized what it said were Western attempts to use a Syrian chemical arms disarmament deal to seek a U.N. resolution threatening force against President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
Austrian chancellor seeks another centrist coalition
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann wants to preserve the centrist, pro-European coalition his Social Democrats (SPO) lead with the conservative People’s Party (OVP) should his party win parliamentary elections next week, he told a Su…
Mortar shell hits Russian embassy compound in Damascus: monitoring group
BEIRUT (Reuters) – A mortar shell landed in the compound of the Russian embassy in central Damascus on Sunday but there was no immediate report of casualties, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Foreign minister to lead Iran’s new nuclear talks team: agency
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, will lead nuclear talks with world powers, Fars news agency reported on Sunday, a move that would see the experienced pragmatist succeed a conservative who had overseen a hardening of Teh…
China’s disgraced Bo Xilai given life term for corruption
JINAN, China (Reuters) – A Chinese court sentenced ousted senior politician Bo Xilai to life in jail on Sunday after finding him guilty of corruption and abuse of power, a tough term that gives him little chance of staging a political comeback.
France’s Hollande hits new low in poll ratings
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande saw his approval ratings fall to their lowest level so far in a monthly poll that showed less than a quarter of voters were satisfied with his actions.
Somali Islamist attack on Kenyan mall kills 59: minister
NAIROBI (Reuters) – The death toll in an attack on a upmarket mall in Kenya has risen to 59 people and security forces are trying to ensure hostages come out safely, the interior minister said on Sunday, a day after the assault by Somali Islamist gunme…
Despite thaw, resolving Iranian nuclear dispute a huge challenge
LONDON (Reuters) – The diplomatic thaw between the West and Iran could quickly chill again if the two sides are unable to master the many moving parts of Tehran’s disputed nuclear program under the weight of more than three decades of distrust.
Sri Lanka’s Tamil party sweeps polls, seeks trust from government
JAFFNA, Sri Lanka (Reuters) – Sri Lanka’s main ethnic minority Tamil party secured a landslide victory in a provincial poll that threatens to rekindle animosity between the government and Tamils, four years after the military crushed separatist rebels …
