Turkish president, at odds with Erdogan, dismisses foreign plot
ANKARA (Reuters) – President Abdullah Gul has dismissed suggestions that outside forces are conspiring against Turkey, openly contradicting Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s assertions that a corruption scandal is part of a foreign-backed plot to undermi…
China to crack down on illegal imprisonment of petitioners
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese officials must not illegally imprison people seeking justice through petitions, a top central government body said on Wednesday, casting a spotlight on the country’s widespread network of black jails.
Afghan police payroll under scrutiny from U.S. watchdog
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A government watchdog is raising fresh concerns that U.S. funds meant to help pay Afghan police salaries may instead be going to “ghost workers,” according to a letter he sent to military commanders in Afghanistan.
Israel bombs Syrian posts over Golan attack on its troops
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel launched air strikes on Wednesday against Syrian military sites in response to a roadside bombing that wounded four of its soldiers, but both sides signaled they were not seeking further escalation.
South Korea, Japan leaders set to meet amid possibly thawing ties: media
TOKYO (Reuters) – South Korea will agree to a summit with Japan and the United States in The Hague next week, when leaders from around the world gather to discuss nuclear security, the Nikkei business daily said on Wednesday, raising hopes of thawing t…
Russian forces storm Ukraine naval HQ in Crimea
SEVASTOPOL/SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (Reuters) – Russian troops and unarmed men stormed Ukraine’s naval headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol on Wednesday and raised the Russian flag in a tense but peaceful takeover that signals Moscow’s intent to n…
French FM to visit Cuba in sign of warming EU ties
PARIS (Reuters) – France’s foreign minister said on Wednesday he would soon travel to Cuba, the first such visit in 30 years and a sign of the quickening pace of improving ties between the European Union and Havana.
Israel approves 184 new settlement homes
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s Jerusalem municipality approved building plans on Wednesday for 184 new homes in two Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, land that the Palestinians want for a future state.
Mystery hemorrhagic fever kills 23 in Guinea
CONAKRY (Reuters) – An outbreak of hemorrhagic fever has killed at least 23 people in Guinea’s southeastern forest region since February when the first case was reported, health authorities in the West African nation said on Wednesday.
South Africa’s Zuma slammed for $23 million home makeover
PRETORIA (Reuters) – South African President Jacob Zuma “benefitted unduly” from a $23 million state-funded security upgrade to his private home that included a swimming pool, cattle enclosure and amphitheatre, the public protector said on Wednesday.
