ANKARA -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that the deal of S-400 air defense system with Russia was concluded, and that a new deal on the purchase of S-500 system could be possible in the future.

"We signed a deal with the Russians, completed the S-400 issue and will start co-production. Later, we may look into S-500, the next generation system," Erdogan said in an interview with local 24 TV channel. (Turkey-Russia-Air Defense)

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CARACAS -- Venezuela on Wednesday declared German ambassador in Caracas persona non grata for meddling in its internal affairs and ordered he leave the country in 48 hours.

The expulsion of Daniel Martin Kriener "is due to his repeated acts of interference in the country's internal affairs," Venezuela's foreign ministry said in a statement. (Venezuela-Germany-Ambassador)

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KHARTOUM -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir appointed a new governor of the protest-struck country's central bank, the presidency's media office said Wednesday.

"Al-Bashir issued a presidential decree, appointing Hussein Yahya Gangol as governor of the Central Bank of Sudan," read a press release by the media office. (Sudan-Central Bank-New Appointment)

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TUNIS -- Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi announced the extension of the state of emergency for one more month running from March 7, 2019, the presidency said Wednesday.

The decision was made after consultations with Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed and President of People's Representatives Assembly Mohamed Ennaceur. (Tunisia-State of Emergency)

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WASHINGTON -- U.S. trade deficit soared to 621 billion U.S. dollars in 2018, the highest in a decade, data released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Commerce showed.

The 68.8-billion-dollar annual increase, or 12.5 percent, came along with a net loss in goods and services trade of 59.8 billion dollars in December, up 15.2 percent from 51.9 billion dollars in the same period a year earlier. (US-Trade Deficit) Enditem

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