BRUSSELS, Belgium — EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini warned Bulgaria and Romania that safeguards could be introduced if progress in judicial reforms is not reported.

Turkey sent more tanks and troops to its border with Iraq on Wednesday (May 30th), fuelling speculation about an imminent military offensive against Kurdish rebels based in the neighbouring country’s north.

A new project for repair and stabilisation of bridges in Macedonia is underway, with financial support from NATO. The contractor is a Turkish firm, CESAS.

Expanding and modernising its road infrastructure has become a top priority for Romania. Economic growth demands faster and easier cross-country transit. Moreover, as a new EU member, Romania needs better connections with state-of-the-art European highways.

DAMASCUS — Syria is digging its heels in for a long confrontation with the United Nations after the Security Council voted to set up a special court to try suspects in the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A Saudi Arabian detainee died Wednesday at Guantanamo Bay prison and the US military said he apparently committed suicide.

MADRID (Reuters) —  The United States told Iran on Thursday it must change its nuclear course or be isolated, but Tehran remained defiant despite the spectre of harsher sanctions as it held talks on its atomic work with the European Union.

BEIJING (Reuters) — China urged the international community on Thursday to show patience with Sudan over the strife in its Darfur region, as an advocacy group called on Beijing to take more action to pressure Khartoum.

KISMAYU (Reuters) — Several hundred Somali soldiers briefly seized the southern port of Kismayu in a protest over unpaid salaries in the latest sign of the turmoil plaguing the Horn of Africa nation, residents said on Thursday.

KISMAYU (Reuters) — Several hundred Somali soldiers briefly seized the southern port of Kismayu in a protest over unpaid salaries in the latest sign of the turmoil plaguing the Horn of Africa nation, residents said on Thursday.