Austria passes smoking ban, snuffing out fallen government’s flagship policy
Parliament on Tuesday passed a ban on smoking in Austria’s bars and restaurants, extinguishing a flagship policy of the recently collapsed right-wing government which had scrapped the measure after it was already on the statute books.
Brazil senate committee recommends indicting Vale executives
A Brazilian Senate committee that has been investigating iron ore miner Vale SA’s deadly dam collapse in late January recommended on Tuesday the indictment of Vale itself as a company, as well as dam stability auditor TÜV SÜD.
Lagarde seen in pole position to replace ECB’s Draghi
A shrewd negotiator who has run the IMF but has little monetary policy experience, Christine Lagarde would face the challenge as the European Central Bank’s new chief of having to revive the euro zone economy with a nearly depleted policy arsenal.
Germany’s von der Leyen mooted as EU Commission chief
German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen emerged as a leading contender to head up the European Commission on Tuesday as part of a proposal to break a summit stalemate over who should run the EU’s top institutions.
Germany to take in some Sea-Watch migrants after EU deal struck: source
Germany has agreed to take in about a dozen of the 41 migrants who arrived in Italy last month on board German charity rescue ship Sea-Watch, an Italian government source said on Tuesday.
Diplomats: Europeans keen to avoid sending Iran nuclear case back to U.N. for now
France urged Iran on Tuesday to reverse its first major breach of a nuclear pact with world powers as European states signaled they would not seek to reimpose U.N. sanctions – for now.
Israel says it is bracing militarily for possible U.S.-Iran escalation
Israel is preparing for its possible military involvement in any escalation in the Gulf confrontation between Iran and the United States, the Israeli foreign minister said on Tuesday.
Brexit Party MEPs turn their backs on EU anthem
Members of Britain’s Brexit Party turned their backs on the EU anthem on Tuesday as it was played live at the opening of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, in a move that other lawmakers branded disgraceful and pathetic.
Vatican to open tombs after tip in 36-year-old case of missing girl
The Vatican said on Tuesday it will open two tombs in a tiny cemetery on its grounds and test the DNA of bones to help solve the 36-year-old disappearance of a teenage daughter of a clerk in the Holy See.
Fourteen Russian submariners killed in fire: ministry
Fourteen sailors on board a Russian defense ministry research submersible were killed in a fire while carrying out a survey of the sea floor, the ministry was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
