Merkel ally attacks left’s plan to poll members over tie-up
BERLIN (Reuters) – The head of Angela Merkel’s allies in Bavaria has attacked a plan by the opposition Social Democrats (SPD) to put any decision on forming a “grand coalition” with her to a vote of its members, warning against tactics that risk stabil…
Planned tax breaks for UK married couples rapped as 1950s throwback
LONDON (Reuters) – Plans by Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron to give tax breaks to some married couples drew criticism on Saturday that he was promoting a fantasy 1950s model of family life not corresponding to the realities of modern Britain….
U.N. Security Council demands elimination of Syria chemical arms
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution on Friday that demands the eradication of Syria’s chemical weapons but does not threaten automatic punitive action against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government if it doe…
French hostage of Nigerian Islamists pleads for help in video: SITE
PARIS/ABUJA (Reuters) – A French hostage kidnapped by Islamist militants in Nigeria has asked for French and Nigerian government help in securing his release in a video released by his captors, according to the SITE web monitoring service.
Three killed in gunfight in Lebanon’s Baalbek
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Three people were killed in clashes in the Lebanese town of Baalbek on Saturday after gunmen opened fire on a checkpoint manned by militant group Hezbollah, security sources said.
Chemical weapons watchdog to begin Syria inspections next week
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Experts from the world’s chemical weapons watchdog will begin inspecting Syria’s stockpile of toxic munitions by Tuesday, according to an agreement passed in The Hague on Friday.
Refugee boat sinks on way to Australia, 21 dead: Indonesian police
JAKARTA (Reuters) – A boat carrying migrants to Australia sank off the Indonesian coast on Friday, killing at least 21 people, Indonesian police said, a sign that Australia’s tough new immigration rules may not be enough to deter would-be asylum seeker…
China police rescue 92 kidnapped children: state media
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese police have rescued 92 children and two women kidnapped by a gang for sale and arrested 301 suspects, state media said on Saturday, in one of the biggest busts of its kind in years.
Italian PM to call confidence vote as government nears collapse
ROME (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta will call a confidence vote in parliament after a showdown with center-right partners in his fragile coalition scuppered a vital package of budget measures on Friday and took his government to the br…
Obama, Iran’s Rouhani hold historic phone call
WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) – President Barack Obama and new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke by telephone on Friday, the highest-level contact between the two countries in three decades and a sign that they are serious about reaching a pact on…
