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 »
The French authorities have already made detailed plans for moving migrants out of the Jungle camp near Calais. They want this to be a swift and efficient operation. The police, NGOs and asylum services have had many weeks to prepare, and on paper, all is in place. A fleet of 150 buses has been hired. Over the next few days,… Read more »
EU leaders backed down Friday from an explicit threat of sanctions against Russia over the bombing of Aleppo but warned that they would consider “all available options” if atrocities in Syria continue. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi demanded that any mention of possible punitive measures against Moscow over the Syrian carnage should be removed from a statement issued after a… Read more »
Heavy clashes erupted between regime and rebel forces in Syria’s divided city of Aleppo late Saturday after a unilateral ceasefire announced by government ally Russia expired. Moscow had extended the unilateral “humanitarian pause” into a third day until 1600 GMT Saturday, but announced no further renewal of the truce despite a UN request for longer to evacuate wounded civilians. The… Read more »
A flotilla of Russian warships is passing through the English Channel en route to Syria. Two British naval ships are shadowing the vessels. The Ministry of Defence said they would be “man-marked every step of the way” while near UK waters. A Russian tug, believed to be in convoy with the taskforce, entered the channel first off the coast near… Read more »
A trade deal between the EU and Canada is on the brink of collapse after talks between Canada and a Belgian region broke down on Friday. Canada’s Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland left the talks in Brussels, saying the EU was “not capable” of signing a trade deal even with Canada. Talks on the deal began in 2009. Belgium, the only country… 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 »
I am shocked that these migrants are brave enough to travel in precarious boats just at the chance of a new start. They have no life jackets and are traveling in darkness in a vessel made of plastic and rubber. It really highlights how bad their current situation is; they would rather die trying to escape then stay and live.
Finland’s Defence Ministry says it has scrambled jets twice in the past 24 hours to monitor suspected airspace violations by Russian fighters. A Russian Su-27 fighter was detected in the Gulf of Finland south of Porvoo late on Thursday, the ministry said. Another Russian Su-27 was detected on a suspicious flight there earlier. “Russian military aviation over the Baltic Sea… 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 »