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…
Latvia’s first female PM pledges to stick to fiscal discipline
RIGA (Reuters) – The Latvian parliament approved on Wednesday the country’s first woman prime minister, Laimdota Straujuma, who pledged to stick to the fiscal discipline of the previous cabinet and to push ahead with liberalizing the country’s gas mark…
Iran’s Rouhani to address Western oil CEOs in Davos
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – Iranian President Hasan Rouhani will address a panel of top global oil executives on Thursday as the Islamic Republic steps up efforts to win back investments from oil companies as part of its rapprochement with the West….
EU, U.S. warn Romania over pressure on judges
BRUSSELS/BUCHAREST (Reuters) – The European Union and the United States told Romania on Wednesday to end political pressure on judges amid increased concerns about the rule of law in one of the EU’s most corrupt member states.
Japan’s former PM challenges Abe’s energy policy in Tokyo race
TOKYO (Reuters) – Former Japanese premier Morihiro Hosokawa pledged on Wednesday to push the nation to abandon nuclear power if elected governor of Tokyo next month in a race that could affect Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s energy policy and political clo…
Time to end al Qaeda presence in Falluja: Iraq’s Maliki
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Wednesday it was time to clear al Qaeda-linked militants out of the rebel-held city of Falluja, but set no deadline for any military assault.
