Gaza union halts protests for now in damaging wage dispute
GAZA (Reuters) – Gaza’s public sector union suspended protests on Wednesday that had paralyzed the local economy and threatened the deal on a Palestinian unity government but said it would resume its action if its members were not promptly paid.
OSCE head urges release of monitors missing in Ukraine
MOSCOW (Reuters) – The head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe on Wednesday called for the immediate release of eight OSCE monitors who went missing amid the turmoil in eastern Ukraine around two weeks ago.
Turkish court overturns life sentence for sociologist over 1998 blast
ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A top Turkish court on Wednesday overturned a life sentence imposed on a sociologist for an alleged role in a 1998 explosion, the latest twist in a case highlighting concerns about judicial independence.
Spanish lawmakers vote through royal succession rules
MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish lawmakers on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a new law paving the way for Prince Felipe to be crowned king on June 19, despite calls by some political parties for a vote on the future of the monarchy.
Thousands raid South Korea church in futile search for ferry family boss
ANSEONG South Korea (Reuters) – Thousands of South Korean police and prosecutors raided a sprawling religious compound for a second time on Wednesday in their search for an elderly businessman linked to a ferry disaster that reduced the nation to tears…
Australia and Japan agree to pursue closer military technology ties
TOKYO (Reuters) – Australia and Japan will create a framework pact to cooperate on military technology, the two countries said on Wednesday, a move that could pave the way for Japan to supply stealth submarine designs and components to Australia.
Afghanistan economy under the gun as bank blacklist looms
KABUL (Reuters) – The most pressing challenge awaiting Afghanistan’s new leader may not be the worsening violence, fractured U.S. relationship or declining aid, but an international blacklist hanging over the country’s banks.
Thai army delegation visits China amid Western reproach of coup
BANGKOK (Reuters) – A delegation of Thai military commanders travelled to China on Wednesday for talks on regional security and joint training amid Western reproach of the army’s seizure of power in a coup last month.
Iraq says to work with Kurdish forces to retake Mosul
ATHENS (Reuters) – Baghdad will cooperate with Kurdish forces to try to drive militant out of Mosul, Iraq’s foreign minister said on Wednesday, a day after an al Qaeda splinter group seized the country’s second biggest city.
Japan protests China fighter jets’ close brush over East China Sea
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan protested after Chinese fighter jets flew “abnormally close” to Japanese military aircraft over the East China Sea on Wednesday, Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said.
