Finland joins NATO in historic shift, Russia threatens ‘counter-measures’
Helsinki, Finland/Brussels, Belgium Reuters Finland formally joined NATO on Tuesday, its flag unfurling outside the military bloc’s Brussels headquarters, in a historic policy shift brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, drawing a threat from Moscow of “counter-measures”. Finland’s accession, ending seven decades of military non-alignment, roughly doubles the length of the border that the […]
Finland set to join NATO in historic shift while Sweden waits
Helsinki, Norway/Brussels, Belgium Reuters Finland will become a member of NATO on Tuesday, completing a historic security policy shift triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while neighbour Sweden is kept in the waiting room. The military alliance will welcome Finland as its 31st member in a flag-raising ceremony at NATO headquarters on the outskirts of […]
Thousands protest in Brussels demanding release of Belgian aid worker in Iran
Brussels, Belgium Reuters Thousands of people took to the streets of Brussels on Sunday to protest against the detention in Iran of Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele, who was sentenced to 40 years in prison on charges including spying. People protest against the detention of Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele in Iran, who was sentenced […]
StrangeSights: Zelenskiy now an action figure; Ukraine in miniature; and, ‘Granny Jordan’ makes a mark in Mexico…
DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
Third night of rioting erupts over Dutch COVID-19 rules; clashes in Belgium
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsReuters Riots broke out in cities across the Netherlands on Sunday, the third night in a row that police clashed with mobs of angry youths who set fires and threw rocks to protest COVID-19 restrictions. Unrest was reported in locations including Leeuwarden and Groningen in the north, the eastern town of Enschede and […]
Belgian Government announces breakthrough in migrant hunger strike
Brussels, BelgiumAP The Belgian Government announced a breakthrough Wednesday that it hoped would end a hunger strike by several hundred migrants seeking to collectively obtain legal residency. The chairman of Prime Minister Alexander De Croo’s Liberal party, Egbert Lachaert, said that under the outline of a deal those concerned would have their cases looked at […]
Tears and cheers as EU lawmakers give final nod to Brexit
Brussels, BelgiumReuters The European Parliament gave final approval to Britain’s divorce from the European Union on Wednesday, paving the way for the country to quit the bloc on Friday after nearly half a century and delivering a major setback for European integration. After an emotional debate during which several speakers shed tears, EU lawmakers voted […]
UK’s Johnson agrees Brexit deal, but must now win over parliament
Brussels, BelgiumReuters European Union leaders unanimously backed a new Brexit deal with Britain on Thursday, leaving Prime Minister Boris Johnson facing a battle to secure the UK parliament’s backing for the agreement if he is to take Britain out of Europe on 31st October. Speaking after the EU’s 27 other leaders had endorsed the deal […]