Days before elections, EU approves new cyber sanctions regime
The European Union will directly penalize computer hackers after governments agreed on Friday a new mechanism to target individuals anywhere in the world, freezing their assets in the bloc and banning them from entry.
Collapse of Brexit talks a very negative development: Irish PM
The collapse of talks between Britain’s two main parties aimed at finding a way to leave the European Union with the support of a majority of lawmakers is a very negative development, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Friday.
Former French president Sarkozy set for trial over 2012 campaign
France’s Constitutional Council cleared the way on Friday for former president Nicolas Sarkozy to be tried over alleged illegal financing of his failed re-election campaign in 2012.
UK white supremacist jailed for plot to kill female lawmaker
A British far-right extremist who planned to murder a female Member of Parliament with a sword was sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday.
Ministers agree way for Russia to rejoin Europe’s human rights body
Foreign ministers from the Council of Europe, the continent’s chief human rights watchdog, reached an agreement on Friday that opens the way for Russia to return to the organization, resolving a dispute that began after Moscow’s seizure of Crimea.
Two Indian climbers dead, Irishman missing in Nepal’s Himalayas
Two Indian climbers died and an Irish mountaineer is missing on the Himalayan peaks of Nepal, officials said on Friday, taking the number of climbers dead or missing this week to six and raising questions about safety and training standards.
Dutch PM Rutte says idea of Brexit is “wrong”
Brexit as an idea is fundamentally misguided and causing chaos and misery in Britain, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Friday.
Ukraine ruling coalition breaks up in setback for incoming president
Ukraine’s ruling coalition broke up on Friday and one of its two constituent parties said it would try to form a new one, annoying President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy who is weighing calling a snap parliamentary election to bolster his power.
Iranian missiles can hit U.S. ships in Gulf: Guards
A deputy head of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards said short-range Iranian missiles could reach U.S. warships in the Gulf, and the United States could not afford a new war, the semi-official news agency Fars reported on Friday.
Confused by EU elections? Brexit makes it worse, candidate says
The delay to Britain’s departure from the European Union has only confused voters who already have little enthusiasm for European Parliament elections, according to Socialist lead candidate Frans Timmermans.
