U.S. defends Japan against China’s plutonium criticism
VIENNA (Reuters) – The United States and China disagreed over Japan’s plutonium stocks at a U.N. nuclear agency meeting on Wednesday, with Washington saying it did not share Beijing’s concern about the sensitive issue, diplomats said.
Clashes erupt at army base in tense South Sudan
JUBA/ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – At least five soldiers were killed in fighting between soldiers over delayed salaries at a barracks in South Sudan’s capital on Wednesday, an army spokesman said, three months after clashes in the same military base trigger…
Three Gulf Arab states recall envoys in rift with Qatar
RIYADH/DOHA (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain withdrew their ambassadors from Qatar on Wednesday in an unprecedented public split between Gulf Arab allies who have fallen out over the role of Islamists in a region in turmoi…
Ai Weiwei supporters pressure Berlin for passport’s return
BERLIN (Reuters) – German supporters of Ai Weiwei, one of China’s most famous political dissidents, urged Berlin on Wednesday to demand the return of the artist’s passport before an exhibition of politically-charged works in Germany’s capital.
Egypt panel mostly blames Mursi supporters for deaths in protest break-up
CAIRO (Reuters) – A government-appointed panel said on Wednesday that the deaths of hundreds of Muslim Brotherhood supporters at a protest camp in Cairo last August was mostly the fault of demonstrators who had provoked the security forces into opening…
Wales says Scottish independence battle will benefit UK
CARDIFF (Reuters) – Scotland’s fight for independence is unlikely to succeed but the battle will benefit the entire United Kingdom by leading to a rebalancing of powers, the leader of Wales, Carwyn Jones, said on Wednesday.
Romania president ratifies latest review of IMF aid deal
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romania’s President Traian Basescu ratified the latest review of a 4 billion euro aid deal with the IMF on Wednesday, ending a weeks-long standoff over a deal seen as key to the country’s economic credibility.
Somali Puntland worried Islamists may move its way: leader
NAIROBI (Reuters) – An expected drive to purge Islamist rebels from southern Somalia risks pushing them north into an area at the tip of the Horn of Africa better known for its coastal pirates than al Shabaab insurgents.
Bissau’s PAIGC names ex-minister as candidate for April vote
BISSAU (Reuters) – Thousands of drum-beating supporters accompanied former finance minister Jose Mario Vaz, candidate of Guinea-Bissau’s main PAIGC party, to register for next month’s presidential elections at the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
U.N. extends partial easing of Somalia arms embargo to October
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday extended a partial suspension of the decades-old arms embargo on Somalia for eight months while highlighting concerns about the possible diversion of weapons to al Qaeda-linked militants…
