German prosecutor refutes account of assault on AfD lawmaker
Prosecutors on Wednesday refuted an account of an assault against a lawmaker for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party that sparked public outrage, saying video images showed he was not attacked with wooden bars as initially claimed.
Japan’s Abe, Dutch PM Rutte working to avoid no-deal Brexit
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday he and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte agreed to do what they can to avoid a no-deal Brexit.
Erdogan threats against Kurds will not stop Syria withdrawal, Pompeo says
The U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria will not be scuppered despite Turkish threats against Washington’s Kurdish allies there, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday, promising to ensure that the Kurds would still be protected.
Iran says U.S. citizen White arrested, confirming earlier reports
Iran confirmed on Wednesday it had arrested an American, confirming U.S. media reports about a case that risks further worsening relations with Washington.
In post-Franco first for Spain, far-right party becomes kingmaker in Andalusia
A far-right party on Wednesday took a role in the formation of a regional government in Spain for the first time since the Franco dictatorship ended in 1975.
New Brazil government riven by divisions, policy confusion
Brazil’s new far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has stumbled out of the gate with infighting, policy flip-flops and confusion in his one-week-old government, raising concern among investors about his ability to carry out pressing fiscal reforms.
India sets jobs quota for less well-off, critics see pre-vote ploy
India’s parliament passed a landmark bill on Wednesday reserving 10 percent of government jobs for people outside high income brackets, a move criticized by some as a pre-election gimmick amid high unemployment.
Factbox: Britain’s Brexit vote – What are ‘amendments’ and why do they matter?
Britain’s parliament will, over the course of a series of votes next Tuesday evening, decide whether to approve or reject Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal – a pivotal decision for the world’s fifth largest economy.
Germany seeks to bolster cyber defenses ahead of European Parliament election
German officials are racing to bolster cyber security after a far-reaching data breach by a 20-year-old student laid bare the vulnerability of Europe’s largest economy ahead of a critical European Parliament election in May.
Canada cracks down on drones with new rules
Canada’s federal government is clamping down on drones with new rules it announced on Wednesday that will ban their use near airports and aircraft and will require all drones to be registered.
