French fragrance masters of Grasse get Unesco heritage boost
Perfume-making techniques used in Grasse, a southerly French commune where iris, jasmine and other fragrant plants have long flourished, won U.N. recognition on Wednesday, boosting a bid by local industry champions to lure back more specialist growers….
France, Germany taking charge of EU-Iran trade move but oil sales in doubt
France and Germany are to take joint responsibility for an EU-Iran trade mechanism to minimize the risk of U.S. punishment but few now believe it will cover oil sales, heightening fears for the fate of the landmark international nuclear deal with Iran….
Extreme Brexit could be worse than financial crisis for UK: BoE
Britain risks suffering an even bigger hit to its economy than during the global financial crisis 10 years ago if it leaves the European Union in a worst-case Brexit scenario in four months’ time, the Bank of England said on Wednesday.
Fire and health service workers try to storm Catalan parliament
Hundreds of health service workers and firefighters tried to storm the Catalan parliament in Barcelona on Wednesday to demand better working conditions.
Exit polls show ruling party candidate winning Georgia presidential runoff
Exit polls from Georgia’s presidential runoff on Wednesday showed the ruling party-backed candidate, who favours balancing the ex-Soviet republic’s relations with Moscow and the West, beating a rival who advocates a stronger pro-Western line.
Sri Lanka’s top military man in court over role in war-time abductions
After evading arrest for two months, Sri Lanka’s most senior military official appeared in court on Wednesday, charged with helping another suspect in the abduction and disappearance of 11 youths in the final phase of the country’s 26-year civil war.
Car bomb targets UK contractor’s compound in Afghan capital
A car bomb targeted a British security contractor’s compound in the Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday, opening the way for gunmen who battled security forces only hours after President Ashraf Ghani outlined plans for peace in Afghanistan.
Brazil nixes plans to host U.N. climate conference
Brazil’s government has backed out of its offer to host the United Nations climate conference next year due to budget constraints and a presidential transition, Brazil’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
Conservative, Catholic Chile approves landmark transgender law
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Wednesday signed into law a bill allowing people over the age of 14 to change their name and gender in official records, marking a historic shift in a traditionally conservative, predominantly Roman Catholic countr…
Mexico says migrants have right to seek U.S. asylum, rejects closing border
Central American migrants have a right to request asylum in the United States and Mexico has repeatedly refused U.S. requests to force them to seek refuge there instead, Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said on Wednesday.
