Iran frees prominent rights lawyer Sotoudeh
DUBAI (Reuters) – Human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, seen by campaign groups as Iran’s highest profile political prisoner, was freed on Wednesday, in another sign that hardline policies may be easing under a new president.
Israel accuses Iran of deception to buy time for atom work
VIENNA (Reuters) – Israel accused Iran on Wednesday of using “deception and concealment” to buy time for its nuclear program, signaling skepticism about the new Iranian president’s move away from the hardline stance of his predecessor.
Nigerian army says kills 150 insurgents, loses 16 troops
ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s military said on Wednesday it had killed 150 insurgents, including a commander named Abba Goroma, in an operation against Islamist group Boko Haram in which 16 of its own forces were also killed.
Qaeda affiliate overruns Syrian town near Turkish border: activists
AMMAN (Reuters) – A rebel group affiliated with al Qaeda overran a Syrian town near the border with Turkey on Wednesday after fighting broke out with units of the Arab- and Western-backed Free Syrian Army, opposition activists said.
Tanzania asks Iran to police use of its tanker call signs
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) – Tanzania has asked Iran to ensure its oil tankers do not identify themselves as Tanzanian nearly a year after the east African country says it de-registered all Iranian vessels flying its national flag.
Turkey revives Greeks’ hopes by re-opening primary school
ZEYTINLI, Turkey (Reuters) – Four children began classes this week at a Greek school on a remote Turkish island, becoming the first students to enroll here in almost 50 years and giving their tiny community hope of enduring in its ancient homeland.
Passenger train, bus collide in Canada’s capital, six dead
OTTAWA (Reuters) – A passenger train and a double-decker city bus collided on the outskirts of Ottawa on Wednesday, killing six people on the bus and injuring 30 others, emergency officials said.
Russia: U.N. inspectors did not pay due attention to evidence
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday that U.N. investigators who compiled a report on an August 21 poison gas attack in Syria did not pay enough attention to evidence provided by the Syrian government.
Qaeda affiliate overruns Syrian town near Turkish border: activists
AMMAN (Reuters) – A rebel group affiliated with al Qaeda overran a Syrian town near the border with Turkey on Wednesday after fighting broke out with units of the Arab- and Western-backed Free Syrian Army, opposition activists said.
German left keeps its own Merkel waiting in the wings
HAMM, Germany (Reuters) – Facing an election defeat on Sunday, Germany’s Social Democrats are holding on to their trump card, Hannelore Kraft, a popular former handball player who is seen as the left’s answer to Angela Merkel.




