Estonia sees life in “brain-dead” NATO
Estonia’s president defended NATO on Tuesday after French President Emmanuel Macron branded it “brain dead”, saying her country felt safe in a military alliance that has been fortifying its eastern flank as a shield against Russia.
German police arrest Syrian suspected of planning attack
German police on Tuesday arrested a Syrian suspected of planning an Islamist attack, officials said, with public broadcaster ARD reporting that the man was at the top of the federal police’s list of dangerous Islamist extremists.
Venice’s historic Saint Mark’s Basilica faces costly flood clean-up
Venice’s historic Saint Mark’s Basilica will need millions of euros of restoration work after it was flooded this week for just the sixth time in 1,200 years, leaving its delicate marble mosaics exposed to destructive salt water, its curator said.
Oslo fells London’s annual Christmas tree in decades-old tradition
From an Oslo forest comes the Christmas gift Norway gives Britain every year – a towering tree for London’s Trafalgar Square, a token of gratitude for British support during World War Two.
Ukraine ready to accept ‘reasonable compromise’ at summit on Donbass conflict: minister
Ukraine is ready to accept a “reasonable compromise” at a four-way summit with Russia, Germany and France on settling the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko told reporters on Tuesday.
Company logos vanish from Prince Andrew’s website as sex scandal grows
A scheme for entrepreneurs founded by Prince Andrew has taken down the logos of its corporate sponsors from its website, as firms and charities distance themselves from the British royal over a sex scandal.
Hundreds of protesters leave Hong Kong university, many remain
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that about 100 protesters remained inside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus that has been sealed off by police.
Bosnia’s presidency nominates PM-designate after 13 months
Bosnia’s inter-ethnic presidency said on Tuesday it has nominated economist Zoran Tegeltija, a Serb, as prime minister-designate, after its Serb, Croat and Bosniak members agreed on how to proceed towards NATO integration 13 months after a vote.
Hey, big spender! UK debt to pile up under election promises
Whether Brexit purists or radical socialists win Britain’s election next month, a deluge of fresh debt is set to bloat the country’s 1.6 trillion pound ($2.1 trillion) government bond pile.
Poland sees big state role in economy, more court reforms
Poland’s prime minister set out plans on Tuesday to strengthen the state’s role in the economy and deepen an overhaul of the justice system that has put Warsaw on a collision course with its European Union partners.
