Exclusive: Khamenei’s business empire gains from Iran sanctions relief
(Reuters) – One of the chief beneficiaries of this week’s easing of Iranian sanctions is the country’s ruler – Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Afghanistan cracks down on commercials that favour U.S. troops
KABUL (Reuters) – The Afghan government, increasingly at odds with Washington, is cracking down on advertisements that promote keeping U.S. troops in Afghanistan after 2014 and has already shut down a spot aired by the country’s most widely watched bro…
Israel says cracks Palestinian al Qaeda cell in Jerusalem
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel said on Wednesday it had arrested two Palestinians from East Jerusalem who were planning to carry out attacks for al Qaeda with the help of foreign suicide bombers posing as Russian tourists.
Pirates suspected to have attacked tanker off Angola
ATHENS/ABUJA (Reuters) – A fuel tanker is suspected to have been hijacked by pirates off the coast of Angola, the ship’s owners said on Wednesday, in what would be the most southerly attack to date by pirates off West Africa.
Serbia’s largest party eyes early election
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbia’s powerful deputy prime minister said on Wednesday his party was ready in the event of an early parliamentary election, fuelling speculation he plans to bring down the government within days.
Special Report: Amid Syria’s violence, Kurds carve out autonomy
QAMISHLI, Syria (Reuters) – In the northeast corner of Syria, a pocket of stability is emerging amid the country’s civil war. Here the talk is of building, not bombing.
Burnt bodies dumped in Central African Republic’s capital: Red Cross
BANGUI (Reuters) – The Red Cross in the Central African Republic said on Wednesday it had found 11 corpses, most burnt beyond recognition, dumped in the capital Bangui, underlining the challenge the new interim president faces in restoring peace.
Iran’s nuclear stockpile may rise for now despite deal with powers
VIENNA (Reuters) – An apparent delay in Iran’s building of a nuclear conversion plant suggests its stockpile of low-enriched uranium (LEU) gas will grow for a while longer, despite Tehran’s deal with world powers to curb its disputed atomic activity.
Pope Francis may make South Korea his first Asia visit in August
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis is considering a trip to South Korea in August to meet with young Catholics, a Vatican spokesman said on Wednesday, in what would be his first visit to Asia where membership of the Church is increasing.
Exclusive: Iran’s oil sales rise as sanctions pressure eases – sources
LONDON (Reuters) – Iran’s oil exports have picked up modestly in January for the third consecutive month, according to sources who track tanker movements, adding to signs that the easing of sanctions pressure on Tehran is helping its oil exports to rec…
