Swiss voters reject foreign-worker limit
GENEVA -- Voters in Switzerland on Sunday strongly defeated a nationalist party's proposal to limit the number of European Union citizens allowed to live and work in their country.
Swiss public broadcaster SRF reported that the measure was rejected by 61.7% of voters. Proposed by the Swiss People's Party, it would have given preferential access to jobs, social protection and benefits to people from Switzerland over those from the 27-nation bloc that surrounds it.
The government had warned that the measure could further strain the country's deep and lucrative ties to the EU. It could also have triggered reciprocal disadvantages for millions of Swiss citizens if they want to live or work in the EU.
"Especially at this time, during the difficult economic situation caused by the corona crisis, good relations with our neighbors and with the EU are important," Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said, welcoming the outcome of the vote.
She said Switzerland would continue to pursue a "bilateral path" with the EU, eschewing membership in the bloc while seeking close economic ties.
Keller-Sutter said "freedom of movement doesn't just have benefits.
Pompeo to visit Greece amid tensions
ATHENS, Greece -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was due to arrive in Greece on an official visit early today, has had a conversation on tensions in the eastern Mediterranean with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
"Pleased to speak today with NATO Secretary General jensstoltenberg to discuss de-escalation of the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and reiterate the importance of NATO Alliance unity," Pompeo tweeted while en route.
Relations between NATO members Greece and Turkey, always tense, have further deteriorated this year over long-standing disputes, including maritime boundaries and energy rights.
Pompeo was due to arrive in Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, shortly after midnight Sunday on the first leg of a five-day trip to Europe, which includes visits to Italy, the Vatican and Croatia. This is is the first visit by a U.S. secretary of state to Thessaloniki.
According to State Department background briefings, Pompeo will meet with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias to renew the countries' commitment to advancing security, peace and prosperity in the eastern Mediterranean and celebrate the strongest U.S.-Greek relationship in decades.
Pompeo will also sign a bilateral science and technology agreement, and meet with business leaders to discuss energy diversification and infrastructure projects.
N. Korea accuses South of intrusion
SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea accused South Korea of sending ships across the disputed sea boundary to find the body of a South Korean official recently killed by North Korean troops, warning Sunday the intrusion could escalate tensions. South Korea denied the accusation.
"We urge the South side to immediately halt the intrusion across the military demarcation line in the West Sea that may lead to escalation of tensions," the official Korean Central News Agency said. "It arouses our due vigilance as it may lead to another awful incident."
Along with its denial, South Korea proposed a joint investigation to resolve discrepancies in each country's account of the South Korean official's death last week. Officials in Seoul have said the 47-year-old was probably attempting to defect before North Korean troops aboard a boat fatally shot him and burned his body.
According to Seoul, North Korea on Friday sent a message including a rare apology by leader Kim Jong Un for the shooting death of the official, who was found floating on an object in its waters.
France assures Jews after knife attack
PARIS -- France's interior minister promised Sunday to protect France's Jewish community from extremists after a double stabbing in Paris blamed on Islamic terrorism.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin visited a synagogue Sunday ahead of the evening start of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, and said more than 7,000 police and soldiers were protecting Jewish services over the weekend. France has Europe's largest Jewish community.
"I came to assure ... members of France's Jewish community of the protection of the state," Darmanin told reporters. "Because we know that Jews are particularly targeted by Islamist attacks and we should obviously protect them."
Darmanin defended authorities' handling of a double stabbing Friday outside the former offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, saying intelligence services have prevented 32 terrorist attacks over the past three years.
The suspected assailant in Friday's attack told investigators he was targeting Charlie Hebdo after it recently republished caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, according to a judicial official. Two people were wounded.
-- Compiled by Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports