German insurer Allianz to delist from NYSE, other exchanges, to reduce complexity

FRANKFURT — German insurer Allianz SE said Tuesday it will abandon its listing on the New York Stock Exchange, and others, to reduce complexity.

French police clear out then bulldoze major camp for migrants seeking to slip into Britain

CALAIS, France — French police cleared out then bulldozed a squalid, sprawling forest camp near the northern city of Calais on Tuesday, detaining hundreds of illegal migrants who had hoped to slip across the English Channel into Britain.

Arrest warrant served on German teen who attacked school

BERLIN — Prosecutors say a German teenager who injured nine students in an ax and arson attack on his school has been accused in a warrant of attempted murder.

4 more years? Germany’s Merkel, Steinmeier may be headed for another forced marriage

BERLIN — It’s the most-avoided issue in Germany’s election campaign, but chances are good that Chancellor Angela Merkel could be leading another “grand coalition” of the country’s biggest parties after Sunday’s vote.

Northern Ireland raises alert against IRA dissidents as new police chief begins 1st day on job

DUBLIN — Police in the British territory of Northern Ireland mounted increased checkpoints and patrols Tuesday as their new commander began his first day’s work under the shadow of Irish Republican Army dissidents.

EU nations fail to ban bluefin tuna fishing despite depleted stocks

BRUSSELS — European Union nations have failed to agree on a ban on fishing bluefin tuna despite an appeal to do so from the EU head office.

French police clear out major camp for migrants seeking to reach Britain

CALAIS, France — French police on Tuesday cleared out a squalid, sprawling forest camp known as the “jungle” harboring hundreds of illegal migrants dreaming of slipping across the English Channel into Britain.

UN climate summit of 100 world leaders puts spotlight on China and India

Britain’s Brown says rebalancing of world economy to be discussed at G-20 meeting

LONDON — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said leaders of 20 rich and developing countries must start to sketch out the outlines of a new global economic order when they meet in Pittsburgh later this week, as well as making sure that the fledgling recovery sustains itself.

Study: Heart patients who get the flu are more likely to have a heart attack

LONDON — Heart patients who catch the flu may have more to worry about than just a fever or the sniffles: the virus could also spark a heart attack, new research shows.

AP Interview: UN climate chief says China poised to take lead on global warming

UNITED NATIONS — China’s ambition to grow quickly but cleanly soon may vault it to “front-runner” status — far ahead of the United States — in taking on global warming, the U.N. climate chief said Monday.

Top Italy cardinal denounces attack on Catholic editor as sign of deterioration of civility

ROME — A top Italian cardinal complained Monday that civility was on the decline in Italy after a prominent Catholic editor was forced to resign after a newspaper loyal to Premier Silvio Berlusconi exposed a scandal in his past.

Al-Qaida threat pushes Afghanistan to forefront of German campaign days before election

BERLIN — New threats by al-Qaida and fierce criticism of a German-ordered airstrike that killed dozens have pushed Germany’s mission in Afghanistan to the forefront of this country’s national election campaign.

Paris catacombs closed to public due to vandalism

PARIS — Paris’ underground bone collection, the catacombs, has been closed to the public indefinitely after being vandalized.

Bulgarian and controversial Egyptian are neck-and-neck in UNESCO race

PARIS — An Egyptian culture minister who once threatened to burn Israeli books will face off against a career diplomat from Bulgaria in the race to lead the U.N.’s agency for learning and culture.

Russia says better ties with NATO largely up to alliance, wants security proposal considered

MOSCOW — Russia on Monday welcomed the new NATO chief’s call for better ties, but said it’s largely up to the alliance to make it happen.

Drugmaker Merck seeks EU approval for $41B acquisition of Schering-Plough, expects ruling soon

TRENTON, N.J. — Drugmaker Merck & Co. filed papers with regulators in the European Union seeking approval of its planned acquisition of Schering-Plough Corp.

International travelers get introduced to Paris life a la francaise thanks to a new network

PARIS — A cure for Parisians’ brusque, haughty reputation may be at hand. Take a Web site, add a hint of anise-based pastis liqueur, a game of petanque and international travelers ready to mingle.

Workers at French heater factory pose nude in calendar in bid to save their jobs

PARIS — Workers at a struggling heater factory in northwest France are taking it all off in a bid to save their jobs: They posed nude for a calendar to call attention to their plight.

Lawyer: inquiry into Iraqi’s death must decide if UK authorized harsh interrogations

LONDON — British officials may have condoned the harsh and abusive interrogation techniques that led to the death of a prisoner in the army’s custody, lawyers representing the man’s family alleged Monday.

Russian intelligence service: Yelizaveta Mukasei, half of Soviet spy couple, dies at 97

MOSCOW — Lt. Col. Yelizaveta Mukasei, a Soviet spy who worked undercover in the West with her husband, has died at the age of 97.

Britain’s Brown says world leaders must attend Copenhagen summit to strike climate pact

LONDON — World leaders need to attend a key climate change summit in Copenhagen to avert the “grave danger” that nations will fail to agree a new global pact tackling climate change, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown declared Monday.

Reports: Italian businessman involved in Berlusconi’s sex scandal granted house arrest

ROME — Italian news reports say a businessman involved in Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s sex scandal has been placed under house arrest as part of a drug probe.

Afghanistan leaps to fore of German election after airstrike deaths and al-Qaida threats

BERLIN — Police with machine pistols patrolled airports and train stations Monday after al-Qaida threatened Germans to vote to leave Afghanistan or face attack.

Experts: US, Russia still face tough arms control talks after Obama’s missile defense move

MOSCOW — A new round of Russian-U.S. arms control talks began Monday, and Russian military experts predicted they will not be easy, despite President Barack Obama’s decision to scrap plans for an Eastern Europe-based missile shield that Moscow opposed.

AP Interview: UN climate chief says China poised to take lead

UNITED NATIONS — As the United States lags on climate legislation, China is poised to join the European Union in claiming “front-runner” status among nations battling climate change, the U.N. climate chief said Monday.

Sarkozy, Villepin among key players in French slander trial

The key players in a major French trial opening Monday involving allegations of a high-level political smear campaign called the Clearstream affair:

Danish court rejects military’s attempt to ban book by ex-special forces soldier

COPENHAGEN — A Danish court on Monday rejected the military’s request to stop a book by a former special forces soldier from being published.

UN agency: poor crop prospects in Eastern Africa may push more into hunger

Merkel ally seeks quick tax cuts after German election; rivals say that won’t work

BERLIN — A conservative ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel called Monday for quick tax relief if Germany’s election produces a new center-right government, while her main rivals said tax cuts would be irresponsible.