IAEA set to close nuclear weapons probe of Iran
Reuters, Vienna
The U.N. nuclear watchdog is expected on Tuesday to close its 12-year investigation into whether Iran had a secret nuclear weapons program, a key step toward normalizing Tehran’s international status after a landmark deal with major powers.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) produced a report earlier this month that strongly suggested Iran did have a nuclear weapons program for years up until 2003, but the international response has been muted, even from the United States, which had long accused Tehran of lying.
Britain, Italy agree on need for deep reform of EU
Reuters, London
Britain and Italy said on Tuesday that they agree on the need to reform the European Union to protect the rights of the bloc’s non euro zone members, promote business and tackle the migration crisis.
Britain is renegotiating some of the terms of its EU membership ahead of a referendum due by the end of 2017 but Prime Minister David Cameron has so far failed to reach agreement on plans to restrict EU migrants’ access to in-work benefits.
Tunisia jails six students for ‘homosexuality’
AFP, Tunis
A court in Tunisia has sentenced six students to three years in jail each on charges of homosexuality in a judgment condemned by rights activists, their lawyer said on Monday. The court in Kairouan last week handed down the maximum term under a controversial article of the criminal code that criminalises sex between males, Boutheina Karkni said.
Erdogan signals possible warming of ties with Israel
AP, Ankara
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signaled a possible warming of relations with Israel, saying in comments published Monday that the entire region would benefit from the normalization of ties.
Relations between former allies Turkey and Israel broke down in 2010 after an Israeli naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla that killed eight Turkish citizens and one Turkish-American.
In the aftermath of the raid, Turkey became one of the strongest critics of Israeli actions in Gaza.
