Australia probes reports Chinese-Australian writer is missing in China
Australia is investigating the whereabouts of a Chinese-Australian man, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said on Wednesday, after a newspaper report raised fears that the dissident former diplomat has been detained in China.
A time-limited Brexit backstop would be useless: EU’s Barnier
A temporary safeguard to avoid erecting a physical border between Ireland and Northern Ireland after Brexit would serve no purpose, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said on Wednesday.
UK says trade partners underestimate no-deal Brexit risk
Britain won’t have some free-trade deals with other countries in place by March if it leaves the European Union with no deal because current trade partners are underestimating the chance of a no-deal Brexit, Trade Secretary Liam Fox said on Wednesday.
Russian spy chief met Saudi counterpart and Crown Prince: Ifax
The head of Russia’s SVR foreign intelligence agency Sergei Naryshkin on Monday met Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as the head of the kingdom’s intelligence services, the Interfax news agency said on Wednesday.
Italy’s Salvini says hopes Macron support dwindles at EU elections
Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini on Wednesday said he hoped the French people would not choose President Emmanuel Macron’s party at the European parliament elections later this year, heightening a dispute between Rome and Paris.
Turkey to lift flight ban to northern Iraq’s Sulaimaniya: Haberturk
Turkey’s ban on flights to northern Iraq’s Sulaimaniya will be lifted as of Jan. 25, Turkish Transport Minister Cahit Turhan was quoted as saying by broadcaster Haberturk on Wednesday, adding that there would be seven flights per week.
UK’s Labour likely to back bid to stop no-deal Brexit: McDonnell
Britain’s opposition Labour Party is highly likely to back an amendment by lawmaker Yvette Cooper that could prevent a no-deal Brexit, the second most powerful man in the party said.
China detains students, labor activists in deepening crackdown
About a dozen Chinese labor activists and university students have either gone missing or been detained by police this week, sources told Reuters, amid a deepening crackdown on activists seeking improved rights for factory workers.
Vietnam jails man for 14 years for attempting to overthrow state
A court in Vietnam has jailed a man for 14 years for attempting to overthrow the state, in cahoots with a group based in the United States, the Ministry of Public Security said on Wednesday.
Zimbabwe activist pastor seeks bail as hundreds face trial after protests
Zimbabwean activist pastor Evan Mawarire will ask the High Court on Wednesday to free him on bail after his detention on subversion charges following violent protests over a fuel price hike that sparked a brutal security crackdown.
