News Headlines - 30 June 2019
▽Weber won′t be next European Commission president: report | DW
EU leaders meeting at the G20 summit in Japan agreed Friday that Manfred Weber would not lead the European Commission, according to Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper... Weber had seemed the most likely choice, given that he is the leading candidate of the biggest group in the Parliament - the center-right European People's Party (EPP). But the conservative from Germany has failed to attract enough support from other parties.
Citing sources close to EU officials, Welt reported that Weber had been eliminated from the race following consultations between EU leaders and the different European party groups.The sources also said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a Weber supporter, had already accepted the decision.
▽Vietnam, EU sign landmark free trade deal - Reuters
The European Union signed a landmark free trade deal with Vietnam on Sunday, the first of its kind with a developing country in Asia, paving the way for tariff reductions on 99% of goods between the trading bloc and Southeast Asian country.
It still needs the approval of the European Parliament, which is not a given as some lawmakers are concerned about Vietnam’s human rights record.
▽Britain's May Tells Putin to Hand Over Salisbury Poisoning Suspects - The Moscow Times
U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May and Vladimir Putin clashed over the poisoning of a former spy with nerve agent in western England, ahead of a rare face-to-face meeting today with the Russian president.
May said she will tell Putin at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan, that he must stop destroying international conventions if he wants a mutually beneficial relationship with Britain, and hand over the suspects behind the Salisbury attack.
Remarks made by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a Group of 20 dinner that the installation of elevators at Osaka Castle was a “big mistake” have been criticized as lacking consideration for people with disabilities and called inappropriate - especially ahead of the Tokyo Paralympics next year.
▽Nadal says Wimbledon seeding system disrespects world rankings
Rafael Nadal has complained about Wimbledon's seeding system after the Spaniard was placed at number three, behind Roger Federer, for next week's grand slam in London.
The other three major tournaments all match their seeding to the official world rankings but Wimbledon uses its own formula to dictate the order, combining ranking points with form in grass-court competitions.
It means Nadal will be seeded three and Federer two at the All England Club this year, despite their positions being the reverse in the rankings list.
