Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said he would propose to ban purchasers from outside the European Union from buying properties, as the government seeks to curb rising housing prices, which have become an increasing source of friction.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will propose a ban on people from outside the European Union buying homes in the country, part of a broader attempt to confront a housing shortage.

The British government on Monday rejected an attempt to trigger the "Stormont Brake, angering Northern Ireland unionists who sought to use the post-Brexit emergency mechanism to stop the application of a piece of EU law in the British-run region.

The British government refused a bid by unionist parties in Northern Ireland to exempt the region from some European Union rules, a move that risks angering groups who favor stronger ties with the rest of the UK.

Malaysia and the European Union have announced the resumption of negotiations for a free trade deal, 12 years after talks were put on hold over a disagreement related to the Southeast Asian country's palm oil industry.

The European Union and Malaysia are planning to resume negotiations for a free trade agreement, the bloc announced on Monday amid a push to diversify trading partners. "This excellent news comes at a critical time.