Thailand’s king calls his sister’s candidacy for PM ‘inappropriate’
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn said on Friday his elder sister’s announcement she is running for prime minister in March elections is “inappropriate” and unconstitutional, likely sinking her candidacy for a populist opposition party.
EU urges May to seize Labour opening as way out of Brexit impasse
It’s a proposal that is not even on the table, and reverses Theresa May’s determined position – but EU officials are still urging her to grasp an offer from the Labour opposition to break an impasse over the terms of Britain’s EU exit.
Catalan pro-independence parties reject talks proposed by Madrid
Catalan pro-independence parties have rejected the framework for talks proposed by the Spanish central government aimed at resolving the separatist crisis between Madrid and the wealthy northeastern region, Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo said on Fr…
Franco-Italian ‘melee’ adds spice to EU election build-up
France’s decision to withdraw its ambassador to Italy may be the biggest diplomatic fracas between the neighbors since Benito Mussolini declared war on France in 1940, but the trans-Alpine stand-off has its roots in more recent events.
Vatican to rule next week on defrocking of disgraced U.S. cardinal: sources
Vatican officials will meet next week to decide the fate of disgraced former U.S. cardinal Theodore McCarrick over allegations of sexual abuse, Vatican sources said on Friday.
Row with France could lift divided Italian coalition
Italy’s ruling coalition has hit fierce turbulence for the first time since taking office last June, with diplomatic crises, ideological divisions and daily dust-ups taking their toll as the economy tips into recession.
Ten killed as fire sweeps through Flamengo training center in Rio
Fire swept through an unlicensed lodging at the training center of Rio de Janeiro soccer club Flamengo on Friday, killing 10 people, including several members of the club’s youth team, firefighters and news reports said.
Travel ban on Venezuela’s Guaido breaches legal standards: U.N. expert
A travel ban and asset freeze imposed on Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido by the country’s Supreme Court do not respect legal standards, a U.N. adviser on judicial independence said in on Friday.
Russia says it is ready for talks with Netherlands on MH17: Ifax
Russia is ready to engage in talks with the Netherlands about the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17, Russian deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko was quoted as saying on Friday.
EU’s Barnier to reaffirm on Monday openness to rework Brexit political declaration
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said he would reiterate on Monday at a planned meeting with Britain’s Brexit minister that the EU would not re-open the Brexit deal, but was ready to rework the political declaration that accompanies it.
