Kosovo releases Russian U.N. worker detained by police
Kosovo released a Russian national working for the United Nations on Tuesday, the United Nations mission in Kosovo said, after Moscow demanded that Pristina release him.
U.S. boycotts U.N. arms forum as Venezuela takes chair
The United States walked out of the Conference on Disarmament on Tuesday to protest against Venezuela assuming the rotating presidency of the U.N.-sponsored forum – as it did a year ago when Syria took the chair.
Sudan’s opposition observes first day of strike
Sudan’s alliance of opposition and protest groups held the first day of a strike on Tuesday as tensions mounted with the country’s military rulers over the transition to democracy.
Merkel heir faces widespread criticism after proposal to regulate online opinion
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s heir apparent faced criticism from across Germany’s political spectrum on Tuesday after she called for rules about expressing online opinions before elections in response to a YouTube video that criticized her party.
Freed Sri Lanka Buddhist monk vows to expose Islamist militancy
A hardline Buddhist monk accused of inciting violence against minority Muslims in Sri Lanka said on Tuesday he planned to denounce Islamist militants after he was freed from prison last week by presidential pardon.
Austria’s Kurz leaves office, eyes return within months
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz left office on Tuesday after parliament voted out his conservative provisional government, blaming him in part for a political crisis triggered by a video sting scandal that felled his far-right deputy.
Finland’s coalition parties agree spending boost: media
The five Finnish parties in talks to form a new government plan to increase public spending by 1.2 billion euros over four years, Finland’s largest daily Helsingin Sanomat reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed government sources.
Italy’s Salvini calls for new ECB role to guarantee state debts
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called on Tuesday for a new role for the European Central Bank, which should “guarantee” government debt in order to keep bond yields low.
Britain’s Hunt says pursuing no-deal Brexit would be ‘political suicide’
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said it would be “political suicide” for Britain to pursue a no-deal Brexit, becoming the most senior figure vying to succeed Prime Minister Theresa May to rule out doing so and drawing a battle line with rivals.
UK’s Fox says would be surprised if EU refuses to renegotiate Brexit terms
British trade minister Liam Fox said on Tuesday he would be surprised if the European Union did not agree to attempts to renegotiate the country’s exit deal, and that it was up to both sides to avoid a no-deal exit.
