Obama sees possible breakthrough in Syria weapons proposal

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday he saw a possible breakthrough in the crisis with Syria after Russia proposed that its ally Damascus hand over its chemical weapons for destruction, which could avert planned U.S. military strikes.

source reuters.com

Conservative leader Solberg sweeps into power in Norwegian election

Norway's opposition Conservatives, promising tax cuts and better healthcare, won elections in a landslide on Monday but faced tough coalition talks with a populist party that wants to spend more of the accumulated oil riches and curb immigration.

Led by Erna Solberg, a former girl scout leader who has overcome dyslexia, the Conservatives promise to diversify the economy away from oil, privatize state firms, and reduce some of the world's highest taxes rates to give the private sector more breathing room.

Solberg, 52, will become Norway's second female prime minister, as well as its first Conservative prime minister since 1990. At least the top two cabinet posts - and possibly the top three - are likely to be filled by women," today voters have given a historically strong victory for the center-right," said a tearful Solberg, nicknamed "Iron Erna" for her tough stances when she served in cabinet between 2001 and 2005. "We will give this country a new government." 

source reuters.com

Kerry tells Russia his Syria comments were not meant as a proposal

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov his comments about Syria averting a U.S. military strike by turning over its chemical weapons within a week were rhetorical and not meant to be a proposal, a senior U.S. 

source reuters.com

Pro-EU minister: UK's Cameron won't win back powers from Europe

Prime Minister David Cameron has little hope of persuading other European Union states to return significant powers to Britain before a promised referendum on whether to stay in the bloc, a senior member of his pro-EU coalition partners said on Monday.

Business Secretary Vince Cable, one of the leading figures in the Europhile Liberal Democrats, said Cameron's attempts to negotiate a new role for Britain would probably be blocked by other members of the 28-nation alliance, speaking at a debate on Britain's future in Europe, Cable said Cameron would be better off working with other EU states to reform the bloc as a whole rather than seeking special treatment for London.

Cameron said in January he would agree a "new settlement" with the EU and hold an in/out referendum before the end of 2017, providing he wins the 2015 election, that pledge helped appease anti-EU rebels in his Conservative Party who were challenging his authority and delivered a shot across the bows of the rising UK Independence Party, which wants to leave the bloc after 40 years. 

source reuters.com 

Gunmen shoot at car of Egypt's anti-Mursi protests leader: statement

Gunmen on Monday opened fire on the car of the co-founder of a movement that helped bring down Islamist President Mohamed Mursi.
The Tamarud movement's website said Mahmoud Badr was unharmed in the attack. It was not clear whether it was criminal or a political act.

source reuters.com

Norway PM Jens Stoltenberg to resign after conceding general election to centre-right opposition

The Conservatives and their allies have won a majority of the seats in parliament, according to official projections with most votes counted.

Erna Solberg, who heads the Conservative Party, is widely expected to form a government with the anti-immigration Progress Party.

Mr Stoltenberg said he would step down after presenting the budget next month, it was Norway's first general election since attacks by a far-right extremist killed 77 people at a Labour Party youth camp in 2011, the perpetrator of those attacks, Anders Behring Breivik, had previously been a member of the Progress Party.

source bbc

Support grows for Russia view of terrorism increase after Syrian strike - Lavrov

As part of their meeting, Lavrov re-iterated Moscow's full support for calls by the UN Security Council to bring chemical experts back to Syria to complete their mission, he also emphasised that Damascus has reacted positively to Moscow’s urging for  the opposition and the government to unite their efforts in expelling terrorists from Syria. "Although the situation is very serious," both countries are certain that a political settlement is still possible, said the foreign minister.

The Syrian FM questioned America's proposed idea. “We ask about the motivation of US to launch a strike against us", he said, emphasizing that "diplomatic efforts have not been exhausted,”he also argued that the impending intervention will first and foremost affect the peaceful Syrian population. “As history shows, the first victims in any military conflict are women and children”, the FM said.

The Syrian FM went on to express his admiration with a large portion of the American public for voicing their outright disagreement with the proposed strike.  He also praised the Russian administration for its continuing efforts to "prevent an act of aggression", adding that the Syrian side "holds in high regard the unflinching position of Russia's President Vladimir Putin."  

source rt.com