Rome digs in over budget plan as pressure rises
Italy’s ruling coalition said on Wednesday it would not “backtrack” on plans to increase deficit spending, digging in against financial market and EU pressure and brushing off criticism from parliament’s budgetary office.
Turkish narcotics seizures surge, $460 million worth captured this year
Turkey seized more than $460 million worth of narcotics in the first nine months of 2018, authorities said on Wednesday, a surge from a year earlier as Turkey ramps up its fight against illegal drug trafficking.
Oxfam rejects Singapore defense of low taxes
Oxfam on Wednesday rejected Singapore’s defense of its low taxes after the NGO ranked the wealthy city state among the 10 worst-offending countries in fuelling inequality with its low-tax regime.
EU’s Barnier urges ‘decisive progress’ on Brexit for summit next week
The European Union’s Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told the bloc’s executive on Wednesday that “decisive progress” was needed in negotiations over Britain’s exit from the bloc in time for a summit of all the 28 national leaders next week.
Swiss supreme court knocks down bid to extend bank secrecy
Switzerland’s highest court ruled on Wednesday against prosecutors seeking to extend the country’s bank secrecy law to cover whistleblowers wherever they are in the world.
Heavy rains, floods kill at least six on Spain’s Mallorca
At least six people including two Britons were killed as heavy rain and flash floods hit the Spanish island of Mallorca late on Tuesday, authorities said.
Bulgarian arrested in Germany, charged with journalist’s murder
A Bulgarian man has been detained in Germany over the rape and murder of television journalist Viktoria Marinova, officials said on Wednesday, as Prime Minister Boyko Borissov defended his government’s record on press freedoms.
Belfast bakery did not discriminate in gay cake case, UK court rules
Britain’s highest court on Wednesday said a Northern Irish bakery’s refusal to make a cake bearing a pro-gay slogan was not discriminatory in a ruling condemned by the customer, a gay rights activist, but hailed by the province’s main conservative part…
Germany to give its states 6.85 billion euros for migrant costs in 2019: source
Germany’s federal government agreed on Wednesday to distribute 6.85 billion euros ($7.87 billion) to its regions next year to help them cover the costs of housing and integrating migrants, a government source told Reuters.
China, Russia and North Korea eye adjustment of U.N. sanctions in talks
China, Russia and North Korea believe it is necessary to consider adjusting U.N. sanctions against North Korea at an appropriate time, China’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
