Macedonian president pardons 56 in wiretap scandal, U.S. raps move
SKOPJE (Reuters) – Macedonia’s president pardoned 56 government and opposition figures on Wednesday in a wiretapping scandal despite protests against the move at home and abroad, with the United States warning it could protect “corrupt politicians”.
Sisi stirs uproar on free speech after Egypt transfers islands
CAIRO (Reuters) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s speech on Wednesday was meant to staunch uproar over the transfer of two islands to Saudi Arabia, but his reprimand to an audience member ignited a furor over free speech.
Britain’s ‘Vote Leave’ named lead ‘Out’ campaign for EU referendum
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s electoral watchdog has picked the “Vote Leave” group, backed by London Mayor Boris Johnson, to be the official “Out” campaign ahead of a referendum on June 23 on whether Britain should remain in the European Union.
South Korea ruling conservatives fail to win majority in parliament poll
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korea’s ruling conservative party failed to regain a majority in parliament in an election on Wednesday, dealing a stinging blow to President Park Geun-hye and denting prospects for the party’s success in a 2017 presidential vot…
Brussels flights again disrupted by air traffic controllers’ strike
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Brussels Airport canceled half its flights on Wednesday as anger mounted over a second day of industrial action by some air traffic controllers hampering a return to normality after last month’s suicide bombings.
Poland court ‘paralysis’ threatens democracy: European Parliament
STRASBOURG (Reuters) – The European Parliament said on Wednesday that an “effective paralysis” of Poland’s top constitutional court posed a threat to democracy in the biggest eastern EU state, joining critics of the eurosceptic government in Warsaw.
Syrians vote for parliament denounced by Assad’s enemies
DAMASCUS (Reuters) – Syrians voted in a parliamentary election in government-held areas of the country on Wednesday in what they called a show of support for President Bashar al-Assad, while his opponents and Western powers denounced the poll as illegi…
Kurdistan government needs support to plug $100 million monthly deficit
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq needs budget support to plug a monthly deficit of $100 million and would accept any conditions that might be placed on the aid, KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani said on Wedn…
Sweden arrests Turkish man suspected of being PKK regional leader
STOCKHOLM/BERLIN (Reuters) – Swedish police on Wednesday arrested a Turkish man who is wanted by Germany on suspicion of being a senior member of the PKK Kurdish militant group, officials said.
Islamic State hails Brussels suicide bombers
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Islamic State published obituaries on Wednesday of the suicide bombers who killed 32 people in Brussels, confirming investigators’ suspicions that one of them had also made explosives for November’s Paris attacks.
