Not known if in response to a flotilla of Russian warships sailing past Norway en route to Syria, Norway announced that U.S. could station over 300 soldiers within its borders. Though it is on a trial basis, this decision is one that significantly goes against Norway’s diplomacy of not allowing foreign allies to post soldiers on its soils. Norway’s announcement stressed… Read more »
Sometimes leaders of the European Union must feel that they cannot win. For years, they have been accused by their sternest critics of subverting democracy – by allowing bureaucratic procedures to ride roughshod over democratic institutions. That was partly why the European Commission – under pressure from the member states – decided to allow all 38 national and regional parliaments… Read more »
Norway has announced it is to allow more than 300 US troops to be stationed on its soil for a trial period in 2017. It represents a shift from the peacetime policy of the Nato member, which shares a border with Russia, of prohibiting the posting of foreign troops in Norway.
The claim: Regional governments in Belgium have held up the EU’s trade deal with Canada and would be likely to do the same to the UK. Reality check verdict: Not all EU trade deals need to be approved by individual member states, but bigger ones do. If the UK were to agree a wide-ranging deal, including provisions on things like… Read more »
This year is set to be the deadliest for migrants and refugees crossing the Mediterranean to Europe, the UN refugee agency says. Some 3,740 people died until 23 October, a number that is set to rise as the two worst months are yet to come. Last year’s death toll was 3,771. This comes despite a sharp decline on the number… Read more »
Deutsche Bank has announced that 1,000 jobs will be cut in Germany. The move adds to the 3,000 job losses announced in June. Almost half of the latest job cuts will hit the company’s chief operating office, with the rest spread over several departments. Deutsche Bank has been under intense pressure since mid-September, when US authorities said they wanted the… Read more »
What I find most interesting about this article and situation is how out of all the 15-member Security Council, not one person, voting for or against the 10 candidates, said ‘discourage’ to Antonio Guterres. If I had to say, I would think that not having a single ‘discourage’ written on a ballot for any candidate is common. I like to… Read more »
Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin has said proposals put before parliament for a near-total ban on abortion will not be implemented. A citizens’ bill backed by the Catholic Church aims to ban all abortions except if the mother’s life is at risk. State-run radio quoted Mr Gowin as saying that a nationwide protest on Monday against the proposals had… Read more »
Nigel Farage is back as UKIP’s leader after Diane James unexpectedly quit the job after 18 days at the helm. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Farage said he would be the UK Independence Party’s interim leader until a fresh election was held to find Ms James’ successor. “I keep trying to escape… and before I’m finally free they drag me… Read more »
Portugal’s former Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is poised to become the next UN secretary general, UN diplomats say. Mr Guterres, 66, was the “clear favourite”, Russia’s UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin announced on Wednesday. A formal vote will take place in the UN Security Council on Thursday to confirm the choice of nominee. Mr Guterres, who led the UN refugee agency… Read more »