LONDON -- "She has been in contact with European counterparts over the break, and you can expect more of that to continue over the week," said British Prime Minister Theresa May's spokeswoman on Monday.

May has been in contact with European Union (EU) leaders over Christmas holidays in her painstaking efforts to seek the reassurances she hopes will help her Brexit deal pass parliament in mid-January, said Downing Street.

"I haven't got a list for you, but she has been in touch with European leaders, and that will continue in the lead-up to the vote," the spokeswoman added. (UK-Brexit-May)

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ADDIS ABABA -- Ethiopia plans to commission six industrial parks, which are constructed by Chinese firms, before the end of July next year, an Ethiopian official said on Monday.

Speaking to Xinhua, Lelise Neme, CEO of Ethiopia Industrial Park Development Corporation (IPDC), said Kilinto, Dire Dawa, Bole Lemi 2, Bahir Dar, Arerti and Debre Birhan industrial parks are expected to be commissioned before the end of the current 2018/19 fiscal year.

Debre Birhan and Arerti industrial parks are being constructed by China Communications Construction Company, while Dire Dawa and Bahir Dar industrial parks are being constructed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation. (Ethiopia-China-Industrial Parks)

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BRUSSELS -- On the eve of the euro's 20th anniversary, European Union leaders lavished praise on the common currency on Monday, calling it "one of the biggest European success stories."

Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, said "the euro has become a symbol of unity, sovereignty and stability."

Antonio Tajani, president of the European Parliament, said "the euro is more popular today than ever: three out of four citizens believe it is good for our economy."

Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, said the euro "has since matured into a powerful expression of the European Union as a political and economic force in the world. Despite crises, the euro has shown itself resilient." (EU-Euro-Anniversary)

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TEHRAN -- "The United States is only fueling insecurity in the Gulf through its presence in the strategic region," said Chairman of the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri on Sunday.

"The Americans have always sowed insecurity wherever they had a presence," Baqeri told reporters in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, according to Press TV.

He emphasized that the Gulf countries are capable of ensuring security on their own and the U.S. presence in the region has only created insecurity. (Iran-US-Security) Enditem

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