Italy’s ruling coalition says market watchdog chief should resign
Italy’s ruling coalition said on Wednesday that the chief of Consob, the country’s market watchdog, should resign because they say his continued ties to the European Commission conflict with his institutional role.
EU’s Juncker says ties with UK will always be close but Brexit demands remain
European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday renewed a pledge of close trade and security ties with Britain after Brexit, but said the European Union would not compromise on key withdrawal terms.
Merkel condemns far-right xenophobia, Nazi slogans
German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned xenophobic attacks and the use of Nazi slogans in a robust speech to parliament on Wednesday after the most violent far-right demonstrations in decades exposed deep divisions in the country.
Macron ex-bodyguard at center of scandal to testify in public next week
The former bodyguard whose violent conduct plunged French President Emmanuel Macron into his biggest political crisis this summer agreed reluctantly to face questioning by senators as their hearings resumed on Wednesday.
Brexit rebels in UK PM May’s party discuss ousting her
About 50 Brexit-supporting lawmakers in British Prime Minister Theresa May’s party have met to discuss how and when they could force her out of her job, the BBC reported on Wednesday.
German SPD leader rejects Syria intervention without U.N. mandate
The leader of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) said on Wednesday her party would not agree to military intervention in Syria if the United Nations did not authorize the international community to take such action.
Japan PM Abe says visit to China being arranged for next month
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, speaking in Vladivostok after meeting Chinese leader Xi Jinping, said on Wednesday they had agreed to work toward an October visit by him to China, the latest sign of warming ties between the Asian rivals.
China urges U.S. to ‘abandon prejudice’ over Xinjiang
China urged the United States on Wednesday to abandon its “prejudice” over Xinjiang, as the Trump administration considers sanctions against Chinese officials and companies linked to allegations of human rights abuses in the Chinese region.
Polls suggest far-right to gain ground in 2019 EU vote
Sweden’s far-right, anti-immigration party will double its seats in the European Union parliament next May if it matches the 17.6 percent it scored in a national vote on Sunday that came as a jolt to Europe from historically liberal Scandinavia.
U.N. decries ‘shameful’ reprisals on rights activists in 38 countries
The United Nations listed 38 “shameful” countries including China and Russia which it said had carried out reprisals or intimidation against people cooperating with it on human rights through killings, torture and arbitrary arrests.
