Seoul, Washington fail to agree on cost of U.S. troops; U.S. ‘not focused on’ $5 billion demand
South Korea and the United States failed on Wednesday to agree on Seoul’s contribution toward hosting some 28,500 U.S. troops, but the U.S. side hinted after the two days of talks ended that it will no longer stick to its $5 billion demand.
Norway picks wind power skeptic as oil minister amid Arctic drilling debate
Norway made an outspoken right-wing lawmaker who once called wind farms “white monsters” its oil and energy minister on Wednesday as the government debates updating rules for petroleum industry activity in its Arctic waters.
French strikers angry about pension reform cut power to homes, companies
France’s trade unions on Wednesday defended their decision to cut power to thousands of homes, companies and even the Bank of France to force the government to drop a wide-ranging pension reform.
Israeli electric company cuts power to West Bank over Palestinian debt
Israel’s state-owned electric company on Wednesday said it was continuing power cuts to several cities in the occupied West Bank to press for payment of what it said was $519 million owed by a Palestinian electricity company.
Daughter accepts EU Parliament prize on behalf of Uighur activist
The daughter of jailed Uighur rights activist Ilham Tohti accepted a European Parliament prize on his behalf on Wednesday, urging lawmakers in an address not to be “complicit in the Chinese persecution of the Uighur people”.
Germany moves to ban gay ‘conversion therapies’
Germany moved a step closer to banning so-called gay “conversion therapies” on Wednesday, as the cabinet backed a law that would punish bogus practitioners with up to a year in prison.
Lesser UK courts will be able to overturn ECJ rulings after Brexit: PM’s spokesman
Legislation to enact British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s deal to leave the European Union will include the provision for courts lower than the Supreme Court to overturn rulings made by the European Court of Justice, a spokesman said on Wednesday.
Explainer: What is a Queen’s Speech and why does it matter for Britain?
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth will make a speech in parliament on Thursday, announcing Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s legislative agenda after his election win last week.
UK Supreme Court’s ‘swashbuckling’ chief Hale aims parting shots at sexists, politics
Trailblazing feminist judge Brenda Hale used her valedictory speech as president of the UK Supreme Court on Wednesday to call for the judiciary to remain free from U.S.-style political influence and to poke fun at enduring sexism in the legal world.
Thai middle school student shot dead by classmate
A Thai middle school student shot and killed his classmate on campus in Nonthaburi province on Wednesday, police said.
