Chinese academic suspected of espionage banned from Belgium
Belgium said on Wednesday it denied a residence permit to the director of the Confucius Institute in Brussels, Xinning Song, who told Reuters he had been banned from entering the country because he was accused of espionage.
UK police investigate report of noxious substance in London
British police were called to reports of a possible spillage of a noxious substance at a commercial venue on Brompton Road, a central shopping street in London, they said on Wednesday.
Irish PM says will not call election as no-deal Brexit risk remains
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Wednesday said he would not call an election this year due to the continued risk of a chaotic British exit from the European Union.
U.N. looking for new venue for climate change conference after Chile withdraws
The United Nations is looking for a new venue for a climate change conference planned for December, U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq said on Wednesday, after Chile withdrew as host amid riots, arson and protests over inequality in the country.
UK’s winter election: What’s in it for markets?
British financial markets reacted calmly on Wednesday to the prospect of a snap election before Christmas after a fractious UK parliament finally agreed to a nationwide poll on Dec 12 that may help break the political deadlock over Brexit.
Speaker John Bercow, UK parliament’s Brexit umpire-cum-player, steps down
House of Commons Speaker John Bercow will step down on Thursday, ending a 10-year term in which he has become a central player in Britain’s protracted Brexit debate – feted by the “Remain” side but reviled by many Brexiteers.
U.S., Gulf countries impose joint Iran-related sanctions on 25 targets
The United States and six Gulf countries agreed to jointly impose sanctions on 25 corporations, banks and individuals linked to Iran’s support for militant networks including Hezbollah, the U.S. Treasury Department said on Wednesday.
Record breaking Nepal climber seeks to inspire future mountaineers
A Nepali climber who scaled the 14 highest peaks in six months and six days to become the world’s fastest mountaineer said on Wednesday he wanted to inspire future generations of climbers in the Himalayan nation.
EU’s Barnier says risk of no-deal Brexit still exists, trade talks will be ‘difficult’
The European Union’s Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said on Wednesday the risk of Britain’s chaotic departure from the bloc without a divorce agreement still existed, and that future trade talks would be “difficult and demanding”.
Mexico shows footage of capture of El Chapo son, defends his release
Mexico’s government on Wednesday showed dramatic video footage of the moment when its forces briefly captured a son of kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman this month before they were ordered to release the suspected trafficker to avoid a bloodbath.
