EU executive will get tough with countries breaking rule of law: Juncker
The European Commission will get tough with European Union countries that do not respect the rule of law, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Wednesday amid concerns that Poland and Hungary do not observe EU democratic principles.
EU’s Juncker confirms aims for close ties with Britain after Brexit
European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday renewed a pledge of close trade and security ties with Britain after Brexit but said the European Union would not compromise on key withdrawal terms.
Russia’s Putin says his Japan peace treaty proposal was no joke
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he was not joking when he proposed that he and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sign a peace treaty by the end of the year.
Japan says it wants dispute over islands resolved before Russia treaty
Japan wants the return of islands captured by Russia in World War Two before it signs a peace treaty, a Japanese government spokesman said on Wednesday, after Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Japan agree to an unconditional peace treaty.
Kremlin says Japan’s Abe has not yet replied to peace treaty proposal: TASS
The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had not yet received a response from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to his proposal to sign a peace treaty by the end of the year, Tass news agency reported.
In quake-prone Japan, attention shifts to flood risks as heavy rains increase
Japanese have long been conditioned to prepare for earthquakes, but recent powerful typhoons and sudden, heavy rains have brought to the forefront another kind of disaster: flooding.
Merkel calls for European solidarity to tackle illegal migration
German Chancellor Angela Merkel appealed to European Union members to show solidarity to ensure the Frontex border agency has sufficient powers to be effective and help stop illegal migration, in line with European Commission plans.
Juncker calls on EU to flex global muscle as U.S. retreats
The European Union should flex its potential strength as a world power as the United States under President Donald Trump pulls back from international engagement, EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker said on Wednesday.
Germany can’t look away when chemical attacks take place: Merkel
Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday Germany could not simply look away if chemical attacks took place, two days after the German government said it was in talks with its allies about a possible military deployment in Syria.
Merkel: No excuse for hunting people down, Nazi slogans
German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned on Wednesday xenophobic attacks, hunting people down and the use of Nazi slogans after the violent far-right demonstrations in Chemnitz two weeks ago have exposed deep divisions in German society.
