Russian FM defends Iran nuclear power plant
						 
					Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that the Bushehr nuclear power plant construction in Iran promotes the non-proliferation regime. 
 
						Japan’s Asian overtures aid US
						 
					Japan's outreach to its Asian neighbors reached a new apogee on the August 15 anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender. 
 
						German Chancellor Merkel drives energy debate with national tour
						 
					Weeks before unveiling a new energy concept in Germany, Chancellor Merkel has kicked off a tour of the nation's energy facilities to gain a better perspective on the state of renewable and traditional sources of energy. 
 
						Afghan, Tajik and Pakistani Leaders Meet in Russia
						 
					Twenty years after the last Russian soldier walked out of Afghanistan, Moscow is gingerly pushing its way back into the country with business deals and diplomacy, and promises of closer ties to come. 
 
						Turkish president receives Kyrgyz political party leader
						 
					Turkey's president met with the leader of a Kyrgyz political party in Istanbul on Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reported. 
 
						Generational gap divides opinion on Internet privacy
						 
					As the German cabinet debates new rules on data security ahead of the launch of mapping service Google Street View, users of social networking sites are split on how important privacy is on the Internet. 
 
						Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan names Abu Usman as new leader
						 
					The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan has announced its new leader, just one day after confirming the death of Tahir Yuldashev, the al Qaeda-linked terror group's co-founder and longtime emir. 
 
						Russia, Tajikistan to discuss energy, military cooperation
						 
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon will discuss prospects of bilateral trade and cooperation in energy and military-technical areas during Rahmon's visit to Russia on August 18-20. 
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