Czech PM, to avoid conflict of interest, steps down from government body
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Monday he would step down from a government council dealing with European Union subsidies to avert any suspicion of conflict of interest over funds for his former business group.
Catalan hunger strikers send message to European leaders
Four jailed Catalan separatist leaders currently on hunger strike sent letters to more than 40 European heads on Monday to protest what they see as mistreatment by the Spanish courts.
EU court orders Poland to suspend judicial overhaul law
The European Union’s top court ruled on Monday that Poland must immediately suspend a law that forced some Supreme Court judges to retire, drawing a line under a dispute between Warsaw and Brussels.
Chilean prosecutors allege possible Iranian oil link to intoxications
Chilean law enforcement officials are investigating the delivery of Iranian crude oil to the state energy company ENAP as a possible source of the noxious fumes that caused hundreds of people to seek hospital treatment in August, the prosecutor’s offic…
Facing opposition, Britain’s May will bring Brexit deal back to parliament
Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday she would bring her Brexit deal back to parliament for a vote in mid-January, pledging to get assurances from the European Union to break the deadlock over Britain’s departure from the bloc.
Russia to move troops into new barracks on disputed islands near Japan
Russia said on Monday it had built new barracks for troops on a disputed chain of islands near Japan and would build more facilities for armored vehicles, a move likely to anger Tokyo after it urged Moscow to reduce its military activity there.
Britain’s Labour claims credit for forcing new date for Brexit vote
Britain’s main opposition Labour Party said on Monday Prime Minister Theresa May had only offered a date for a new vote on her Brexit deal because it had threatened to call for a motion of no confidence in her.
UK’s May says rescheduling Brexit vote in parliament for mid-Jan
British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday that she intended to re-schedule a delayed vote in parliament on her Brexit plan in the week starting on Jan. 14.
Confessional secret no defense for Belgian priest in suicide case
A Belgian court ruled that a Roman Catholic priest cannot use the secrecy of confession as a defense when it convicted a clergyman in Bruges on Monday of failing to seek help for a man who went on to commit suicide.
Hospital fire kills six in Mumbai, scores rescued
At least six people died and more than 145 were rescued after a fire ripped through a government hospital in India’s financial capital Mumbai on Monday, officials said.
