Under Gabriel, Germany’s SPD sets the pace in Merkel coalition
BERLIN (Reuters) – Germany’s new vice chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has turned his Social Democrats (SPD) into a driving force in Berlin and so far stolen the headlines from his boss Angela Merkel, still hobbling on crutches after a skiing accident.
South Sudan frees seven detainees accused of coup plot
NAIROBI (Reuters) – South Sudan freed seven political figures on Wednesday who had been arrested on suspicion of plotting a coup, partially meeting a rebel demand at peace talks focused on ending weeks of fighting.
South Africa platinum talks resume, miners gather for rally
PRETORIA (Reuters) – Miners in South Africa gathered for a rally near Lonmin’s Marikana mine on Wednesday as government-brokered talks between the world’s top three platinum producers and the striking AMCU union continued.
Berlin and Washington still ‘far apart’ on NSA, Merkel says
BERLIN (Reuters) – Berlin and Washington are still “far apart” in their views on the U.S. National Security Agency’s (NSA) mass surveillance of Germany but they remain close allies, Chancellor Angela Merkel told parliament on Wednesday.
Libyan deputy prime minister survives assassination attempt in Tripoli
TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya’s Deputy Prime Minister Sadiq Abdulkarim survived an assassination attempt in the capital Tripoli on Wednesday, the prime minister’s office said.
Norway says time for Uganda to reduce troops in South Sudan
ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Uganda should start withdrawing troops from South Sudan, where they have been backing government forces against rebels, to avoid worsening a crisis in the world’s newest state, major donor Norway said on Wednesday.
Fugitive Iraq VP warns Anbar conflict may spread over crackdown on Sunnis
DOHA (Reuters) – Iraq’s fugitive vice president warned that an armed stand-off in Anbar province could spread to other parts of the country as Sunni Muslim opposition to Shi’ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki grows.
Israeli soldiers kill alleged Palestinian gunman in West Bank
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian on Wednesday who the military said had opened fire on their position near a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank.
Female politician suggests Indian women invited rape
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – An Indian female politician and activist has said rape victims may have invited attacks by their clothes and behavior, fuelling a national debate over a series of incidents of sexual violence against women.
Snowden gets Nobel Peace Prize nomination from Norwegian MP
OSLO (Reuters) – A Norwegian member of parliament nominated former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize on Wednesday, arguing that his release of classified documents made the world a safer place.
