For the first time since 1930s, a Belgian king meets the far-right
Belgium’s King Philippe met the head of the anti-immigrant Vlaams Belang on Wednesday after Flemish separatist parties surged in an inconclusive national election, the first time a Belgian monarch has met a far-right leader since the 1930s.
Save coal, lose youth vote? Far-right German party faces climate policy revolt
A youth wing of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has called on the party to rethink its climate scepticism, which includes defending the coal industry, after a poor showing among young voters in last week’s European Parliament election…
Swiss court blocks Italy’s bid for possible da Vinci portrait
Switzerland’s highest court has rejected Italy’s request for the return of an oil painting attributed by some to Leonardo Da Vinci, ruling no Swiss laws were broken when the work was brought over the border.
Top U.S. security aide: Iranian mines likely caused UAE tanker blasts
U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday that naval mines “almost certainly from Iran” were used to attack oil tankers off the United Arab Emirates this month, and warned Tehran against conducting new operations.
Nigeria’s Buhari starts a second term packed with challenges
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in on Wednesday for a second term at the helm a country struggling with a sluggish economy and a decade-long Islamist insurgency.
Iraq hands over 188 Turkish children of suspected Islamic State members
Iraqi authorities handed over 188 Turkish children of suspected Islamic State members to Turkey on Wednesday at Baghdad airport, where they boarded a plane and prepared to fly home, officials from Iraq’s judiciary and UNICEF said.
Eyeing new independence vote, Scotland sets out referendum rules
Scotland’s pro-independence government has set out new rules on referendums in the hope of holding another secession vote in the second half of 2020 if Britain’s parliament gives the go-ahead.
UK PM candidate Johnson to face court over Brexit claims
Boris Johnson, the favorite to replace Theresa May as British prime minister, must appear in court over allegations he lied about Brexit by stating Britain would be 350 million pounds a week better off outside the EU, a judge ruled on Wednesday.
Indonesian rallies were coordinated to cause chaos, says president’s chief of staff
Indonesian authorities believe different groups coordinated plans to exploit political rallies last week to cause chaos, which included a bid to create “martyrs” by shooting protesters, President Joko Widodo’s chief of staff said.
EU executive says membership talks should start with North Macedonia
The European Commission formally recommended on Wednesday that North Macedonia should start membership negotiations to join the European Union.
