Challenger aims to outshine modest Merkel in TV clash
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) are citing Mitt Romney’s dominating performance in his first debate against Barack Obama last year as a model for Sunday’s TV clash with Angela Merkel to spice up the last few weeks of a lackluster ca…
Pope, Jordanian king agree dialogue ‘only option’ in Syria
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis and King Abdullah of Jordan agreed on Thursday that dialogue was the “only option” to end the conflict in Syria, the Vatican said, as the United States and its allies weighed plans for a military strike.
Russia sends warships to Mediterranean as Syria tension rises
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is sending two warships to the east Mediterranean, Interfax news agency said on Thursday, but Moscow denied this meant it was beefing up its naval force there as Western powers prepare for military action against Syria.
Merkel and Hollande agree need for reaction to Syrian gas attack
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande agreed in a phone call there must be a reaction to the poison gas attack in Syria that violated human rights, Merkel’s spokesman said in a statement on Thursday.
Iran commander: U.S. strike on Syria would bring Israel’s destruction
DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran’s Revolutionary Guards chief said a U.S. military attack on Syria would lead to the “imminent destruction” of Israel and would prove a “second Vietnam” for America, according to an Iranian news agency.
Assad says Syria will defend itself against aggression
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday that Syria would defend itself against any aggression following reports that the United States and its allies were preparing military action in response to an alleged chemical weapons…
Serbian party threatens snap election if painful reforms blocked
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbia’s biggest party threatened its smaller coalition partner on Thursday with a snap election if it keeps up its resistance to painful reforms that the country’s new finance minister has vowed to pursue.
Analysis: Syria, aided by Iran, could strike back at U.S. in cyberspace
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – If the United States attacks Syria, it will be the first time it strikes a country that is capable of waging retaliatory cyberspace attacks on American targets.
France: political solution the ultimate goal for Syria
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande said on Thursday that Syria needed a political solution, but that could only happen if the international community could halt killings like last week’s chemical attack and better support the oppositi…
China asks Philippines’ Aquino to call off visit in apparent snub
MANILA/BEIJING (Reuters) – China has asked Philippine President Benigno Aquino to call off a visit next week for the opening of a trade fair, Manila said on Thursday, in an apparent snub, but Beijing insisted it had never invited him in the first place…
