Kurdistan referendum to run today, Merkel gets fourth term

Among the international stories we’re flagging for you this morning:

The controversial referendum for Kurdistan’s independence is taking place today, despite pressure from the international community to delay. This one could make things rather messy in the neighborhood, so watch this space.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is on for a fourth term “despite a sharp fall in support for her conservative Christian Democrat-led alliance,” says the FT (paywall). Merkel said she hoped for more support but put on a “brave face” after the results were announced. The far-right AfD made an “historic breakthrough” the Guardian reported, “winning 13.5% of the vote and … becoming the first overtly nationalist party to sit in the Bundestag in 60 years.”