Europe

Swiss prosecutor cleared of wrongdoing in FIFA probe

Editorial Bureau November 16, 2018

ZURICH (Reuters) – A top federal Swiss prosecutor has been cleared of wrongdoing after being suspended amid questions about his conduct during investigations into suspected corruption at world soccer body FIFA, a special prosecutor in Zurich said on Friday. Ulrich Weder, a Zurich

Europe

France preparing transport and customs measures in case of no-Brexit deal

Editorial Bureau November 16, 2018

PARIS (Reuters) – France is preparing various measures, notably those dealing with customs controls and checks at ports, in case there is no Brexit deal, said French transport minister Elisabeth Borne. “We are making preparations for the hypothetical scenario of no agreement. For that scenario, we will be preparing customs controls, veterinary measures to put

Europe

Oxford Islamic scholar Ramadan offered bail in France rape case

Editorial Bureau November 16, 2018

PARIS (Reuters) – Swiss academic Tariq Ramadan, a professor of Islamic studies accused of rape in France and who had been in detention since February, has been offered bail while an investigation into the case continues, lawyers said on Thursday. Ramadan, an Oxford University professor, last month admitted to having had sexual relations with two […]

Europe

Italy’s budget openly challenging EU budget rules – Dombrovskis

Editorial Bureau November 16, 2018

MILAN (Reuters) – Italy’s draft budget for 2019 “significantly” deviates from commitments, the vice president of the EU Commission Valdis Dombrovskis said in an interview with daily Il Sole 24 Ore on Friday, threatening a procedure for excessive debt against Rome. Earlier this week Italy re-submitted its draft 2019 budget to the EU Commission with

Europe

Ex-Macedonia PM Gruevski sought asylum at Hungarian embassy outside Macedonia

Editorial Bureau November 15, 2018

BUDAPEST (Reuters) – Former Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski has sought asylum at a Hungarian representation outside Macedonia, Budapest said on Thursday, after he fled to Hungary earlier this week. Gruevski, who resigned in 2016 after 10 years in power, left for Budapest six months after he was sentenced to two years in prison on […]

Europe

EU plan unravelling for non-dollar Iran trade, oil sales – diplomats

Editorial Bureau November 15, 2018

PARIS/VIENNA/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – A special European Union initiative to protect trade with Iran against newly reimposed U.S. sanctions faces possible collapse with no EU country willing to host the operation for fear of provoking U.S. punishment, EU diplomats said. The main European powers – Germany, France and Britain – will raise pressure on Luxembourg

Europe

Estonian e-Residency for internet entrepreneurs

Editorial Bureau November 14, 2018

Estonia: e-Residency of Estonia (also called virtual residency or E-residency) is a program launched by Estonia. The program allows non-Estonians access to Estonian services such as company formation, banking, payment processing, and taxation. The program gives the e-resident a smart card which they can use to sign documents. The program is aimed at location-independent

Europe

Le Drian says not aware France has Khashoggi tapes, contradicts Erdogan

Editorial Bureau November 12, 2018

ARIS (Reuters) – French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Monday said that France was not in possession of recordings related to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi as far as he was aware, contradicting remarks by Turkey’s president. Khashoggi, a critic of de facto Saudi ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed in […]

Europe

French minister Le Maire insists EU is close to digital tax deal

Editorial Bureau November 12, 2018

PARIS (Reuters) – French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Monday that a European Union plan to tax big internet firms such as Google and Facebook was close to being struck, despite several EU governments having pushed back against the idea. “We are close to having a deal in our hands,” Le Maire told […]

Europe

Italy to confirm ‘main pillars’ of budget; EU says too optimistic

Editorial Bureau November 9, 2018

ROME (Reuters) – Italy will stand by the main pillars of its budget despite the EU Commission’s request to revise it, Economy Minister Giovanni Tria said on Friday. The Commission rejected Italy’s fiscal plan for 2019 last month, saying it flouted a previous commitment to lower the deficit and that it did not guarantee a […]