IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Spain

PM announces early election in April

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday announced an early general election for April 28. Socialist Party leader Sanchez made the announcement in a statement to the media from his official residence in the Palacio de la Moncloa in Madrid, less than 48 hours after his government's proposals for the 2019 budget were defeated in parliament. "Between two optionsnot doing anything and continuing without a budget, or... giving Spaniards their say - I choose the second," Sanchez said. "After talking with my ministers in a cabinet meeting, I propose dissolving parliament" in early March, read the statement, adding that King Felipe VI had been informed of the decision.

France

Recalled ambassador set to return to Rome

France's ambassador to Italy is set to return to Rome on Friday after being recalled for a week as a protest, but analysts warn that relations between the two neighbors are likely to remain rocky. France announced on Feb 7 that it was recalling its ambassador to protest "unfounded attacks and outlandish claims" by Italy's coalition government, as well as an unannounced visit to France by Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio. European Affairs Minister Nathalie Loiseau said on Friday that "he will return today to Rome". Relations between the two countries are at their lowest level since the end of World War II.

United States

Amazon dumps New York City as new site

Amazon abruptly abandoned plans for a big new headquarters in New York that would have brought 25,000 jobs to the city, reversing course after politicians and others objected to the nearly $3 billion in tax incentives promised to the company. "We are disappointed to have reached this conclusion - we love New York," the online giant said in a blog post, adding that it already has 5,000 employees in the city and plans to increase that number. The stunning reversal was a serious blow to Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio, who had lobbied intensely to land the project. The Seattle company had planned spend $2.5 billion building its new offices.

Slovenia

MP resigns for stealing sandwich

A lawmaker resigned on Thursday for stealing a sandwich from a supermarket because he was annoyed about being ignored by staff. Darij Krajcic, a member of parliament for the Marjan Sarec List party said he walked off without paying because three supermarket employees had "treated (him) like air" and continued chatting. "I must have stood some three minutes by the counter," he told private POP TV. Krajcic insisted that he returned shortly afterward to pay for the sandwich. But he apologized and resigned from parliament. The head of LMS' parliamentary faction, Brane Golubovic, condemned Krajcic's actions as "unacceptable" and said the MP "has to bear the responsibility, in line with LMS' high ethical standards".

Xinhua - Afp - Ap

(China Daily 02/16/2019 page8)