European Parliament approves trade deal with U.S.
The European Union’s parliament approved a significant trade deal with the United States Wednesday.
EU
Greece debt crisis: Eurozone sets ‘final deadline’ for new plan
The eurozone has given Greece until Thursday to present new proposals to secure a deal with creditors, and has called a full EU summit for Sunday.
Greece Enters Uncharted Territory With Overwhelming Referendum ‘No’
Greece lurched into uncharted territory and an uncertain future in Europe’s common currency Sunday after voters overwhelmingly rejected demands by international creditors for more austerity measures in exchange for a bailout of its bankrupt economy.
Quartet of crises threatens Europe’s core
Four great crises around Europe’s fringes threaten to engulf the European Union, potentially setting the ambitious post-war unification project back by decades.
Greece Defaults on IMF Debt
Greece’s last-minute overtures to international creditors for financial aid on Tuesday were not enough to save the country from becoming the first developed economy to default on a loan with the International Monetary Fund.
EU to push for same sex marriages to be accepted across continent
Same sex marriage should be legal across Europe, a senior EU official has said, as he gave his backing to campaigners who argue that unions should be recognized under freedom of movement rules.
Greek Banks And Stock Exchange In Shutdown
Banks in Greece and the country’s stock exchange will be shut all week in a sign of the deepening financial crisis.
Greece Exit From Eurozone ‘Almost Inevitable’
Greece may yet crash out of the the 19-member bloc, say European ministers, as time is running out on negotiations.
Pentagon Accuses Russia with Nuclear ‘Saber-Rattling’
Russia is “playing with fire” with its nuclear saber-rattling and the United States is determined to prevent it from gaining a significant military advantage through violations of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty, the deputy U.S. defense chief said on Thursday.
Eritrean Christians Caught Between Persecutors
Eritrean Christians are being forced to choose between living under a dictatorship that imprisons believers for their faith, or risking their lives by escaping Eritrea by way of Sudan.
Former Israeli President Shimon Peres Proposes ‘UN for Religions’ to Vatican
Former Israeli President Shimon Peres emerged from a Vatican City audience with Pope Francis Thursday after proposing a kind of United Nations for religions.
Holder Arrives As Protests Continue in Ferguson
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder arrived in Ferguson to lead the investigation into the shooting. It was revealed that Darren Wilson, the police officer whose fatal shooting of Michael Brown touched off more than a week of demonstrations, suffered severe facial injuries, including an orbital (eye socket) fracture, and was nearly beaten unconscious by Brown moments before firing his gun. Meanwhile, Community elders and the clergy were credited with helping to bring “a different dynamic” to protests in this St. Louis suburb, police said as fewer arrests took place.
Deadline Looms at Midnight as Hamas Threatens ‘War of Attrition’, Israel Will Respond in Full Force to any Hamas strikes
Israeli and Palestinian delegations restarted indirect talks in Cairo over the weekend, however Israeli officials were skeptical a truce could be reached by Monday’s midnight deadline. Over the weekend, Hamas threatened a “war of attrition” if its demands were not met. Meanwhile, Israel threatened “harsh strikes” if Hamas broke the ceasefire with any type of fire against the Jewish state and Israeli officials said “quiet and security’ will be restored ‘one way or another.’
Egypt court bans Muslim Brotherhood’s political wing
An Egyptian court on Saturday dissolved the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political wing of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, dealing a crippling blow in the campaign to crush Egypt’s oldest Islamist movement.
Russia Responds to Sanctions: Bans All U.S. Food, EU Fruit and Vegs
Russia will ban all imports of food from the United States and all fruit and vegetables from Europe, Reuters reported.
NATO Says Russia Massing Troops Along Ukrainian Border
NATO is concerned that Russia has massed 20,000 combat-ready troops along Ukraine’s eastern border and could use the pretext of a humanitarian or peace-keeping mission to invade.
Pro-and-Anti-Israel Rallies Take Place Throughout the World
As the conflict in Gaza entered its third week, pro-and-anti Israel rallies took place throughout the world. Since the beginning of the war, a surge in anti-Jewish hate crimes has taken place especially in Europe, leading to fears among Jewish communities that Europe is no longer a safe haven for its population.
Operation Protective Edge Enters its 24th Day; Israel Calls Up 16,000 More Reservists
Tensions intensified internationally as a U.N. run school was caught in the midst of a battle that left 19 Palestinians dead, and scores more injured. Nevertheless, Israel called up another 16,000 reservists as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) pressed forward with its campaign against Hamas vowing to destroy every terrorist tunnel. Meanwhile, the U.S. allowed Israel to resupply its grenades and mortar rounds from a U.S. munitions store located in Israel.
Superbugs Threatens to Return Medicine to Dark Ages
Britain called for global action in development of a new generation of antibiotics to fight against the rising threat of drug-resistant superbugs which threaten to push medicine back into the “dark ages,” Reuters reported.
Former Soviet Bloc Nations Sign EU Agreements
Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova signed sweeping trade and political agreements with the European Union, risking a widening rift with Russia who strongly opposed any deal.