TURKEY-KURDISH PEACE TALKS

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey — The peace process to end decades of violent strife between Turkey and Kurdish rebels has been one of Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's signature achievements. But with key parliamentary elections looming in June, the president has hit the brakes on peace talks — and exposed a rare rift within his own party.

TURKEY-JOURNALIST TRIAL

ANKARA, Turkey — A Dutch journalist has gone on trial in Turkey on charges of engaging in propaganda on behalf of the banned Kurdish rebel group on social media. Freelance journalist Frederike Geerdink Geerdink said on Twitter that the prosecutor recommended her acquittal at the opening hearing of her trial in the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir on Wednesday. 

FRANCE-AIR TRAFFIC STRIKE

PARIS — French air traffic controllers went on strike Wednesday, prompting the cancellation of 40 percent of flights across France. The powerful SNCTA union called the two-day strike in a quarrel over working and retirement conditions, saying in a statement that "disruption is expected over the whole country." 

RUSSIA-POISONED SPY

MOSCOW — Dmitry Kovtun, one of the main suspects in the poisoning of ex-Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko, says he will be willing to testify at an inquiry into the death if he is given "core participant" status. The inquiry in London is paused until July 27 when Kovtun could testify via videolink provided he meets certain conditions. 

SPAIN-TERROR ARRESTS

MADRID — Police in northeastern Spain say they have arrested 10 people for suspected links to jihadi terror activity and the Islamic State armed group. A Catalan regional police statement said the arrests took place Wednesday in five northeastern towns, including the regional capital of Catalonia, Barcelona. 

SHELL-BG GROUP

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to buy British gas producer BG Group for 47 billion pounds ($69.7 billion) in cash and stock, the companies announced Wednesday. The move gives oil giant Shell a greater stake in natural gas markets in the wake of tumbling oil prices. Consolidations through takeovers and mergers are among the ways energy companies are seeking to reduce costs and become more efficient as oil prices have slumped. 

GREECE-ANARCHISTS-CLASHES

ATHENS, Greece — Authorities say two policemen were injured and nine people were arrested during a night of clashes between rioting youths and police in central Athens after a demonstration by hundreds of anarchists calling for the closure of a maximum-security prison. Police said Wednesday the arrests were made on charges including attempted grievous bodily harm, arson and vandalism. A further 21 people were temporarily detained.