A Brussels drive to create an EU-wide minimum wage system has run into opposition from trade unionists in some member states. Portugal’s largest trade union federation, the CGTP, is the latest to speak out – arguing that the proposals are a “trap” and could hurt workers. Trade unionists from Nordic countries such as Sweden and […] More
The Taliban will implement a 10-day ceasefire with US troops, a reduction in violence with Afghan forces and discussions with Afghan government officials if it reaches a deal with US negotiators in talks in Doha, two sources have said. If an agreement is sealed, it could revive hopes for a long-term solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. […] More
Austria is still refusing to sign up to a key United Nations treaty recognising the rights of migrants, despite a change in government that saw the far-right replaced by the country’s green party. The new government took office on 7 January this year with conservative ÖVP leader Sebastian Kurz in for his second stint as […] More
Slovakia is set to become the latest European country to come under the influence of the far right, with polls predicting major gains for neo-Nazis in next month’s election. Kotlebovci-ĽSNS has been polling a solid second place since the start of December, up from fifth place in 2016 – with a general election scheduled for […] More
EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Friday to look for ways to avert war between the US and Iran and save the deal to stop Iran getting nuclear weapons. The 28 member states’ foreign ministers ministers gathered for an emergency foreign affairs council meeting to decide the bloc’s approach. Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, told […] More
In the latest phase of the US-Iran confrontation, who came out on top is not clear-cut; both countries made gains and losses from the crisis and some of its the results are still to come. By ordering the assassination on 3 January of general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Quds Force, the external arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, President Trump claims to […] More
The president of the European Council has urged Iran not to retaliate to the assassination of its top general with “irreversible acts”, in the latest plea for de-escalation. Charles Michel, who replaced Donald Tusk in the top role at the end of last year, said the Iran nuclear deal, the so-called JCPOA, could still survive. […] More
Iranians had promised “severe revenge” for the assassination of their top general Qassem Soleimani, and on Tuesday night they delivered. Missiles were launched from Iranian soil into a large airbase in Iraq where hundreds of American forces are stationed alongside others. But the high profile attack seemed to have been planned in a way to […] More
