Swedish government loses no-confidence vote
Aftonbladet says Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has lost a vote of confidence over rent controls. The motion, moved by the left party which withdraw its support for the coalition, garnered 181 yes votes out of 349 MPs, with 51 abstentions. The Social Democrat leader has a week to resign or call a snap election.
Plans to pardon Catalan separatists
El Pais reports Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced today’s Cabinet meeting will discuss a proposal to grant pardons to Catalonian independence leaders condemned after the 2017 secession attempt. Speaking in a political event in Barcelona, Sánchez was immediately confronted with cries of protest and the remaining parts of his speech were interrupted several times. One of the shouts expressed: “Independence is the only solution!”
EU targets key Belarus sectors
According to Tagebatt, EU foreign ministers have agreed sanctions on key sectors of the Belarus economy as the bloc ratchets up pressure on President Lukashenko after the forced landing of an airliner. The ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, backed broad-ranging measures targeting major revenue sources for the Belarusian regime: potash fertiliser exports, the tobacco industry, petroleum and petrochemical products, and the financial sector. The measures will be formally adopted by the 27-nation bloc in the coming days.
Iranian President-elect warns over nuclear talks
Iran’s president-elect Ebrahim Raisi has welcomed the negotiations with world powers aimed at reviving a 2015 nuclear deal but said they must guarantee national interests. Press TV says at his first news conference since his victory in Friday’s election, Raisi promised he would not allow the talks in Vienna to dragged on. He also insisted that Iran’s ballistic missile programme was “not negotiable”.The nuclear deal has been close to collapse since the US abandoned it and reinstated sanctions three years ago.
Earthquake hits Greece
Kathemerini reports a 5.1 magnitude earthquake was recorded early this morning in Greece, off the Dodecanese islands. The earthquake had a hypocentre at a depth of 14 km and an epicenter not far from the islands of Nisiro and Kos. No deaths, injuries or major damage to property has since been reported, nor has any tsunami warnings been issued.
UEFA EURO 2020 Group D to be decided tonight
England take on the Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium today at 9pm in a straight shoot-out to resolve who tops Group D, while Scotland must win against Croatia in Glasgow to qualify for the knock-out stages of EURO 2020.
The Netherlands scored three goals against North Macedonia to win Group C with nine points and will now play the third-placed side in Group D, E or F in Budapest on 27 June. Christoph Baumgartner’s only goal against Ukraine earned Austria second place in Group C and set up a last-16 tie against Italy next Saturday at Wembley. Ukraine must wait to see if they are one of the best third-placed teams
Belgium ended their Group B on top with maximum points, beating Finland 2-0. They will now travel to Seville for their Round of 16 match on 27 June. In the same group, Denmark claimed second place with a devastating display of attacking football in Copenhagen, beating Russia 4-1. Denmark face Group A runners-up Wales in Amsterdam on 26 June
Copa America: Argentina beat Paraguay 1-0 while Uruguay and Chile drew 1-1.
