1. US-Cuba Deal Expected in Early July to Reopen Embassies
The Obama administration is expected to announce an agreement with Cuba in early July to reopen embassies and restore diplomatic relations severed more than five decades ago, say US sources familiar with the matter.
2. Obama’s Quest for Fast-Track Trade Bill on Ice
A raging battle over President Barack Obama’s request for “fast-track” authority central to improving US ties with Asia resumes in the House of Representatives next week when lawmakers are expected to try to reverse Friday’s defeat of linchpin trade legislation.
3. EU Holds Talks on Greek Default
EU officials hold their first formal talks on possibility of Greek default, officials say, but darkening outlook fails to fluster Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who holes up with his negotiators after proclaiming optimism at open-air concert.
4. Interpol Ditches FIFA Deal as Corruption Scandal Deepens
Interpol suspends 20-million-euro ($22 million) sports “integrity” agreement with FIFA, at end of testing week for soccer’s scandal-hit ruling body that sees its chief spokesman quit, bidding for 2026 World Cup shelved and records seized from its Zurich headquarters.
5. S Korea Reports 12 new MERS Cases and Another Death
South Korea’s health ministry reports 12 new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, bringing the total to 138, and says a 14th person has died in the outbreak.
6. Obama Adviser Rice Stresses Need to Narrow Disagreements With China
President Obama’s top national security adviser meets top Chinese general and stresses need to narrow disagreements on maritime and cyber security issues and to strengthen risk-reduction measures, White House says.
7. Pentagon Sent Live Anthrax to Japan in 2005
Pentagon adds Japan to list of countries that received live anthrax samples from US military, while news report says lab that sent out bacteria faced sanctions in 2007 for failing to kill specimens but was never fined.
8. Aircraft Manufacturers Unable to Catch-up
After years of big-ticket plane orders, next week’s Paris Airshow will see rather fewer multi-billion-dollar deals and rather more nervous expressions as plane-makers face daunting task of producing $1.8 trillion of jets already sold.
9. US State Secy Leaves Hospital to Join Iran Talks
US Secretary of State John Kerry says he is fully engaged in the Iran nuclear negotiations and would join them at the end of June as he left the hospital after treatment for a broken leg.
10. Employee of NY Prison Arrested in Convict Escape
A female employee of an upstate New York prison is arrested on charges that she helped two inmates stage a daring escape from the maximum security facility, authorities said.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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