Basques form 123-km human chain calling for independence vote
BILBAO Spain (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Basques held hands on Sunday to form a 123-km chain stretching across the northern Spanish region calling for the right to hold a vote on independence.
Two Kurdish protesters killed in Turkey’s southeast
DIYARBAKIR (Reuters) – Two people were killed on Saturday night in Turkey’s southeast Diyarbakir province during clashes between the security forces and Kurdish protesters, security sources said.
Ukraine’s new leader stands up to Moscow over Crimea and Europe
KIEV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s new president Petro Poroshenko said his country would never give up Crimea and would not compromise on its path towards closer ties with Europe, spelling out a defiant message to Russia in his inaugural speech on Saturday.
Cameroon security forces kill 2 Boko Haram militants after raid
YAOUNDE (Reuters) – Suspected Boko Haram militants from Nigeria attacked a town in Cameroon’s far north on Saturday but local security forces fought them off, killing at least two gunmen, Cameroon’s government said.
South African President Jacob Zuma expected out of hospital on Sunday: ANC
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s ruling African National Congress expects President Jacob Zuma to be out of hospital on Sunday following a routine health check in a Pretoria hospital.
Thai junta security forces stay in barracks as protests dwindle
BANGKOK (Reuters) – Thailand’s junta kept many of the thousands of troops and police it readied to deal with protests in Bangkok on Sunday off the streets as the number of people making a public show of dissent to the May 22 coup dwindled.
Far-right Austrian leader Strache to run for Vienna mayor: paper
VIENNA (Reuters) – Austrian far-right leader Heinz-Christian Strache wants to become mayor of Vienna in elections next year, he told a Sunday newspaper in an interview laden with anti-Turkish venom.
Philippine, Vietnamese troops drink beer, play volleyball on disputed isle
MANILA/HANOI (Reuters) – Vietnamese and Philippine troops got together on a disputed island in the South China Sea on Sunday to play soccer and volleyball – as well as drink beer – in a display of unity that will not go unnoticed in Beijing.
Lebanon’s air traffic controllers to stop work on June 10
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Air traffic controllers at Beirut airport are to hold a two-hour strike on Tuesday in protest at the Lebanese parliament’s failure to approve long-delayed public sector pay increases.
Afghanistan tightens election security after Abdullah attack
KABUL (Reuters) – Security is being ramped up so the two candidates in Afghanistan’s presidential election run-off next week can continue campaigning after an attack on one of them killed 12 people, an Interior Ministry spokesman said Sunday.
