World Briefs: Doubts about 5-Star's nominee for Italy PM

Doubts about 5-Star's nominee for Italy PM

ROME • Italy's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement yesterday rejected suggestions that the party's pick for prime minister might have inflated the academic credentials in his curriculum.

The 5-Star and far-right League asked President Sergio Mattarella on Monday to appoint a little-known law professor, Mr Giuseppe Conte, to head their planned coalition government.

Mr Mattarella has not yet said whether he will accept their recommendation, and sought further consultations.

Meanwhile, questions have been raised about a curriculum put forward by Mr Conte, where he says he studied at numerous foreign colleges, including New York University.

REUTERS


Court rejects bid to jail ousted Catalan leader

BERLIN • A German court yesterday rejected a second request from prosecutors to put deposed Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont behind bars pending a decision on his extradition to Spain.

Prosecutors had re-applied for his detention on May 9 after receiving "new information" from Madrid suggesting that there was a greater risk that he may try to flee Germany.

But the court in Schleswig-Holstein said it "did not see an increased risk of flight for Carles Puigdemont", ruling therefore that he should remain free on bail while his extradition request is pending.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE


12% of Estonians' DNA to go on database

TALLINN (Estonia) • Cyber-savvy Estonia is rolling out a high-tech DNA database holding the genetic details of over 150,000 residents to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of chronic disease.

Researchers at the national Genome Centre want to map the genes of some 11.7 per cent of the people of Estonia, a Baltic euro zone and Nato state of 1.3 million people.

Launched this year to mark the country's centenary, the €5 million (S$8 million) project also aims to issue genetic cards with personalised genotype analysis to 100,000 Estonian volunteers.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 23, 2018, with the headline World Briefs: Doubts about 5-Star's nominee for Italy PM. Subscribe