Turkey’s Erdogan visits Iran to improve ties after split over Syria
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan visited Iran on Wednesday to bolster trade and energy ties, state TV said, in what also looked like a bid to defuse tensions over Syria by capitalizing on Tehran’s diplomatic opening to regional …
IAEA visits Iranian mine as part of nuclear transparency pact
DUBAI/VIENNA (Reuters) – U.N. nuclear inspectors visited an Iranian uranium mine for the first time in nearly a decade on Wednesday, Iranian media reported, as Tehran gradually opens up its disputed nuclear program to greater international scrutiny.
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.
