Romanian parliament asks president to quit as brother probed over bribe
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Romania’s parliament asked President Traian Basescu to step down on Wednesday after his businessman brother was detained for allegedly taking a bribe to help shorten an underworld boss’s jail sentence.
Spain’s Princess Cristina faces trial on corruption charges
MADRID (Reuters) – A Spanish court on Wednesday upheld corruption charges against Cristina de Borbon, sister of newly-crowned King Felipe VI, and her husband in one of the last steps before a trial that could cloud the monarchy’s bid to rebuild its rep…
China official on key Taiwan trip says comes with sincerity
TAOYUAN Taiwan (Reuters) – China’s top official in charge of Taiwan ties arrived on the island on Wednesday to begin landmark talks aimed at wooing Taiwanese who remain suspicious about a pending trade pact and autocratic China’s designs on Taiwan.
Flemish separatist ends bid to form Belgian government
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The leader of the Flemish separatist N-VA party ended his bid to form a government in Belgium on Wednesday a month after the election, raising fears of another lengthy spell of political stalemate after the record 18-month impasse …
Japan, North Korea to hold talks next week on probe into abductions
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan will hold talks with North Korea next week to work out the details of Pyongyang’s plan to reinvestigate the fate of Japanese citizens kidnapped by the reclusive state decades ago, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday…
China says Philippines stirring tensions after Aquino supports Japan
BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Wednesday accused the Philippines of creating tension in the region and urged Manila to show “sincerity” in upholding stability after President Benigno Aquino welcomed Japan’s more assertive military policy.
Turkey to present bill soon to advance Kurdish peace process
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s government plans to present to parliament within days a reform bill to advance its peace process with Kurdish militants, in a move that may boost support for Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan ahead of a presidential election in …
Mali arrest suspected Islamist fugitive linked to jail break
BAMAKO (Reuters) – Mali security forces have arrested Mahamed Aly Ag Wadoussene, a fugitive at the heart of a jail break in Mali’s capital on June 16 in which at least two people were killed and 22 prisoners escaped, officials said on Wednesday.
South African police make record $190 million heroin bust
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African police have seized heroin worth more than two billion rand ($190 million) and arrested two Chinese nationals in the biggest drugs bust in the country’s history, a spokesman said on Wednesday.
NATO chief says Russia not meeting international commitments over Ukraine
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The head of NATO said on Wednesday he saw no sign that Russia was respecting its international commitments over Ukraine as Britain warned Moscow it could face tougher European Union sanctions unless it acted to stop fighting in eas…
