Suicide bomber kills four in Kurdish-held Iraqi city Kirkuk: police
KIRKUK Iraq (Reuters) – A suicide bomber killed four people and wounded 16 in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk, police sources said on Wednesday, the first suicide attack since Kurdish forces occupied the city on June 12.
Syrian Qaeda wing pledges loyalty to ISIL in border town
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Syria’s al Qaeda wing has pledged loyalty to the rival Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group in a Syrian border town, a monitoring group said, boosting ISIL’s control on both sides of the frontier.
Turkey’s Erdogan set to run for presidency: deputy PM Arinc
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan will almost certainly be announced next week as the ruling party’s candidate for August’s presidential election, deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc said on Wednesday.
Venezuela ruling party suspends leader for echoing criticism: media
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s ruling Socialist Party has suspended one of its directors for echoing a former official’s recent criticism over corruption, local media reported on Wednesday, a sign President Nicolas Maduro is facing growing dissent fro…
Polish PM Tusk seeks confidence vote over tapes scandal
WARSAW (Reuters) – Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday he would seek a confidence vote from parliament over a scandal involving secret recordings of senior officials that has caused Poland’s worst political crisis in years.
Iran hopes for end of sanctions boom but investors still wary
DUBAI (Reuters) – With the prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough next month bringing an end to Iran’s international isolation, officials in Tehran are preparing to roll out the red carpet to foreign firms. But a tough legal environment and tricky domes…
Afghan president signs key money law needed to avoid blacklist
KABUL (Reuters) – The Afghan president has signed a key package of legislation aimed at combating financial crime, a statement said on Wednesday, making it less likely the country will be added to an international blacklist this week.
Tunisia to hold elections in October, November
TUNIS (Reuters) – Tunisia’s parliament on Wednesday agreed to hold parliamentary elections on Oct. 26 and a presidential poll a month later, in another step to full democracy after the country toppled its autocrat ruler in 2011.
Egypt’s Sisi make Algeria his first foreign trip, security tops agenda
ALGIERS (Reuters) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday made his first trip abroad since taking office, seeking Algeria’s support to counter Islamist militancy in north Africa.
Germany and Italy align on EU policy, Britain set for showdown
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Britain’s slender hopes of securing Italy’s support in its bid to stop Jean-Claude Juncker becoming European Commission president crumbled on Wednesday when Germany offered Rome a gentler interpretation of EU budget rules.
