Iraq jails French and German citizens for life for joining Islamic State
An Iraqi court sentenced a French man and a German woman to life in prison on Monday for belonging to Islamic State, forging ahead with the trial of hundreds of people – many foreigners – captured after the militant group’s defeat last year.
Russia summons Greek ambassador in Moscow over diplomatic row
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday it had summoned Greece’s ambassador in Moscow to inform him of Russia’s response to “unfriendly actions” taken by Athens in July amid a diplomatic row between the countries, the ministry said.
Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents’ Club stands firm against Chinese pressure
Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club resisted pressure from Chinese officials to cancel an event with an independence activist, provoking rebuke from the pro-Beijing establishment as it seeks to curb talks about independence in the city.
Fireball near Bologna airport after road crash explosion
A tanker truck ploughed into a lorry on a motorway near Bologna airport in northern Italy on Monday, exploding in flames and sending a huge ball of fire and black smoke into the sky.
Spanish court finds signs of bribery in awarding of PP leader’s degree
Spain’s High Court found on Monday that the new leader of the opposition Popular Party Pablo Casado gained an academic degree in dubious circumstances, raising pressure on him as support for the conservative PP falls in opinion polls.
Support for UK PM May’s handling of Brexit falls to record low: ORB poll
British voters approval of Prime Minister Theresa May’s handling of Brexit negotiations has fallen to 22 percent, according to the ORB International pollster on Monday, the lowest figure it has recorded.
Bangladesh protests spur cabinet to toughen punishment for traffic deaths
Bangladesh’s cabinet on Monday approved raising the maximum jail time for rash driving deaths to five years from three, the law minister said, as students protested for a ninth day over the deaths of two teenagers killed by a speeding bus in Dhaka.
Saudi Arabia suspends educational exchange programmes with Canada: Al Arabiya TV
Saudi Arabia is suspending educational exchange programmes with Canada and moving Saudi scholarship recipients there to other countries, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya reported on Monday.
Reuters reporters ‘revealing the truth’, former teacher tells Myanmar court
A Myanmar court heard defense witnesses on Monday vouch for the integrity of two Reuters journalists accused of obtaining secret state documents and will hear final arguments in two weeks, when the trial regarded as a test of press freedom resumes.
Canada ‘seeking clarity’ in diplomatic row with Saudi Arabia: Foreign Ministry
Canada is “seriously concerned” about Saudi Arabia’s freeze of new trade between the countries, but standing its ground on human rights comments which set off a diplomatic row, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.
