Merkel allies win in Bavaria a week before German election
MUNICH (Reuters) – Angela Merkel’s allies swept to victory in a state election in Bavaria on Sunday, regaining the absolute assembly majority they lost in 2008 and providing a show of conservative strength for the chancellor a week before Germany goes …
France urges early U.N. vote on tough Syria resolution
PARIS (Reuters) – French President Francois Hollande called on Sunday for a U.N. resolution on Syria backed by the threat of punitive action to be voted by the end of this week.
Syria’s new opposition PM faces daunting al Qaeda challenge
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – The head of Syria’s new provisional government pledged on Sunday to curb the influence of al Qaeda militants he said exploited the opposition’s inability to fill a vacuum left by the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad’s authorit…
Britain says ready to broker meeting with Iranian president
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain said on Sunday it would be happy to set up a meeting between British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, but denied a suggestion from Tehran that such a meeting had already been arranged.
French far-right aims for success at local, EU elections
MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) – France’s far-right National Front, buoyed by improving poll numbers, is aiming for big gains in municipal elections next year and the top spot in the European parliament ballot, its leaders said at the party’s annual conve…
Protesters clash with police as tension rises over Cambodia poll
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Police used teargas, smoke grenades and water cannon to disperse demonstrators after a rally in Cambodia on Sunday to push for an investigation into a July election they say was fixed to favor the ruling party.
German anti-euro party could derail Merkel coalition hopes
BERLIN (Reuters) – A new anti-euro party could enter Germany’s national parliament after an election next week, pollsters said on Sunday, potentially upsetting Chancellor Angela Merkel’s hopes of returning to power with her current coalition partner.
Rise of British anti-EU party threatens PM’s re-election: poll
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister David Cameron’s hopes of being re-elected in 2015 suffered a setback on Sunday when a poll showed an anti-European Union party had split the center-right vote in dozens of decisive constituencies.
Kerry reassures Israel on bid to rid Syria of chemical arms
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry assured Israel on Sunday a U.S.-Russian deal to remove Syria’s chemical weapons would be effective, addressing concern that a lack of resolve would embolden Iran in its nuclear drive.
Egypt secures Gaza border, presses Sinai campaign
CAIRO (Reuters) – The Egyptian army is clearing buildings deemed a security threat at a distance of up to one km (0.6 miles) from the Gaza border, an army spokesman said on Sunday, accusing groups in the Hamas-run territory of mounting joint attacks wi…
