Author: Reuters
RoK ruling conservatives suffer upset defeat in parliamentary vote
The Republic of Korea (RoK)'s ruling conservative party suffered an upset defeat in a parliamentary election on April 13, local media said early on April 14 based on election commission data, in a stinging blow to President Park Geun-hye.
UN begins round of Syria peace talks in Geneva
UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura began a new round of Syria talks on April 13 by meeting members of the main opposition High Negotiations Committee in Geneva.
German coalition leaders agree new counter-terror plans
The leaders of Germany's ruling coalition parties agreed at a meeting stretching into April 13 morning on a package of counter-terror measures, coalition sources said.
Assad holds parliamentary election as Syrian peace talks resume
Syrians voted in a parliamentary election in government-held areas of the country on April 13 in what they called a show of support for President Bashar al-Assad, while his opponents and Western powers denounced the poll as illegitimate.
Palestinians say push for U.N. rebuke of Israel settlements aimed at peace
A renewed Palestinian drive to persuade the U.N. Security Council to condemn Israeli settlements is aimed at removing the biggest obstacle to peace and boosting French efforts to broker an agreement, the Palestinian UN envoy said on April 12.
Iran, France concerned at Syria violence with talks set to resume
France and Iran voiced concern over escalating violence in Syria on April 12, echoing warnings from the United States and Russia as fighting near the city of Aleppo put more pressure on a fragile truce agreement.
Syrian army sends reinforcements to Aleppo
The Syrian army was on April 11 reported to be sending reinforcements to Aleppo, where renewed fighting is threatening a fragile truce in the run-up to the next round of peace talks.
UN says food situation in Iraq's Falluja extremely worrying
The food situation for 60,000 civilians trapped in the besieged Iraqi city of Falluja is extremely worrying and likely to deteriorate unless aid gets into the city, the UN World Food Programme said on April 11.
Yemen truce strained by reports of air strikes and fighting
A truce aimed at ending more than a year of war in Yemen appeared to be largely holding on April 11, although residents said fighting was still going on in parts of the country.
Brussels bombers had planned to attack France again: prosecutors
The militant cell behind bombings in Brussels had been plotting to hit France again after carrying out the Paris attacks in November, but was forced to strike closer to home as police closed in, Belgian prosecutors said on April 10.
