Category: International

It’s the first time the three parties are meeting to discuss a possible coalition. While the Social Democrats are hopeful, there are still major hurdles to overcome before Angela Merkel’s successor can be crowned. Germany could be moving closer towards a new government, with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), environmentalist Green Party, and the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP) holding their first three-way talks to explore a possible coalition on Thursday. Until now, the parties have held two-way talks to feel out the likelihood of an alliance, with the SPD’s Olaf…

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Starting from next Monday, October 11, Sweden will permit entry for travellers from the United Kingdom reaching its territory for non-essential purposes, given that the same have been vaccinated against COVID-19. The decision was announced on Thursday, October 11, and will also remove the requirement to test for COVID-19 for vaccinated UK travellers. “The Government today adopted amendments to the temporary ban on entry into Sweden. The changes mean that travellers who can present a vaccine certificate issued in the UK will be exempt from the ban on entry to…

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JERUSALEM — Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel stood on Sunday in Jerusalem with her head bowed over the buried ashes of Jews killed in Nazi death camps, and pledged Germany would preserve a post-Holocaust commitment to Israel’s security. Merkel, on her eighth and final visit to Israel as she concludes her 16-year term, earlier held talks with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, whose opposition to Palestinian statehood is at odds with Western powers including Germany. Commenting on what Israel sees as an issue crucial to its security, Merkel said the coming…

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he has tried to arrange a conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron but has been unsuccessful so far, a week after his cancellation of a major submarine deal sparked a diplomatic row with Paris. Morrison, speaking in Washington on Wednesday, said he would be patient in rebuilding ties with France. Paris has recalled its ambassadors from Canberra and Washington, saying it was blindsided by Australia’s decision to build nuclear-powered submarines with the United States and Britain rather than stick with its contract for French…

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The Netherlands is to ease some of its Covid-19 restrictions and introduce a corona pass for entry to large events as it looks to further reopen the country. Prime minister Mark Rutte said yesterday that social distancing requirements will be dropped next week, on September 25. This includes the removal of the 1.5 metre social distancing rule which will allow all events to take place, while restaurants and bars will be able to open to maximum capacity. Also, the rules on self-quarantining for people travelling to the Netherlands will change…

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Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Brussels to demand bolder action in fighting climate change at the United Nations climate summit starting later this month. Dressed as endangered fish or tigers or wearing toy polar bears on their heads, demonstrators filled the streets of Belgium’s capital on Sunday, chanting slogans demanding climate justice and waving banners in multiple languages. “Politicians die of old age, Rosa died of climate change,” said one banner referring to a 15-year-old who was swept away by Belgium’s Ourthe River in July, when…

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Exiled former Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has been arrested in Italy, his lawyer and an aide said, four years after fleeing Spain after an independence referendum that Madrid ruled unconstitutional. The European Parliament member (MEP) was expected to appear in court on Friday at a hearing that could see him extradited to Spain to face sedition charges. “At his arrival at Alghero airport, he was arrested by Italian police. Tomorrow [Friday], he’ll appear before the judges of the court of appeal of Sassari, who will decide whether to let him…

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France plans to extend the state of emergency until next year’s summer to deal with the continuing coronavirus epidemic, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday. “What we will propose to the parliament is to maintain for several more months, until the summer, the possibility of using it”, Attal told reporters after a cabinet when asked about the state of emergency and use of a health pass to gain access to venues such as restaurants, bars and cinemas. This would mean that the government would keep the power to extend…

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Germany’s Social Democrats narrowly won Sunday’s national election, projected results showed, and claimed a “clear mandate” to lead a government for the first time since 2005 and to end 16 years of conservative-led rule under Angela Merkel. The centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) were on track for 26.0% of the vote, ahead of 24.5% for Merkel’s CDU/CSU conservative bloc, projections for broadcaster ZDF showed, but both groups believed they could lead the next government. With neither major bloc commanding a majority, and both reluctant to repeat their awkward “grand coalition” of…

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Trudeau announced the election would be held on September 20 after visiting the governor-general, who holds a mostly ceremonial position representing Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. Trudeau is seeking to win a majority of seats in Parliament. His Liberal Party fell just short of that two years ago and must rely on the opposition to pass legislation. The election comes as Canada is experiencing a new wave of Covid-19 cases, apparently driven by the delta variant of the coronavirus. Trudeau isn’t as popular as he once was,…

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