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EU plus

Stories in this section cover the EU-27 countries plus the UK, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Andorra and the Balkan Countries (Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia).

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Monday Commentary
NATO Summit in The Hague II: everyone survived, now all eyes on Türkiye

NATO Summit in The Hague II: everyone survived, now all eyes on Türkiye

The Nato Summit held in The Hague on 24-25 June was a failure, wrapped in success. It was a success because it avoided public display of divisions, mainly by avoiding issues: it was the shortest summit anyone can remember; it also had a very short final statement that basically had two points, the first a re-commitment to article 5 of the North Atlantic Charter and the principle that an attack on one will be considered an attack on all. The fact that Nato leaders in the Hague had felt the need to re-emphasise this should be a cause of worry not celebration, but in the end, it is good that it was said. The second outcome, the one that received most attention, was the commitment of European countries to spend more on their defence: 5 per cent of GDP, of which 3.5 per cent on hard defence, and 1.5 per cent on related ancillary areas such as infrastructure. You may, if you want, believe that this was a response to US President Donald Trump's insistence. Or, if you are more prudent, understand that countries that matter – Germany, France, Poland and the Scandinavian countries had decided on this course of action quite separately, and as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which was a wake-up call. Finland and Sweden’s decision to abandon their neutrality, and join NATO was taken long before Trump returned to the White House. The EU’s decision to spend massively on defence was always to ensure that other European countries are part of this process, willy-nilly.

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Editor's choice
Live blog
Live Blog - 19 April 2020

Live Blog - 19 April 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has created controversy in many Christian Orthodox communities as to how to keep tradition whilst observing the strict health rules imposed by governments. We have updates how communities around the world celebrated Orthodox Easter
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Live blog
Live Blog - 18 April 2020

Live Blog - 18 April 2020

The Orthodox World has over the last weeks been caught in controversy over its approach to coronavirus, and its response to the measures introduced by governments in most countries to protect their populations. This polemic will reach its climax this weekend as Orthodox communities across the world celebrate Easter.
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Live blog
Live Blog - 17 April 2020

Live Blog - 17 April 2020

Whilst the worldwide battle against covid-19 continues, countries are starting to think how a way out of lockdown can be found. In some parts of the world, including the Middle East, the response has differed from country to country, and for some there is fear that the worst is yet to come.
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Live blog
Live Blog - 16 April 2020

Live Blog - 16 April 2020

Around the world thousands of scientists are working in more than seventy scientific and research hubs to develop such a vaccine;
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Live blog
Live Blog - 15 April 2020

Live Blog - 15 April 2020

Many people across the world have this week entered a second month of lockdown. The lives of billions of people have been disrupted, as have the economic activity of most countries. But the human spirit has not been defeated and is fighting back.
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News
Does your dog bite?

Does your dog bite?

How are our four-legged friends affected during the pandemic? William Murray has some useful advice.
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Live blog
Live Blog - 13 April 2020

Live Blog - 13 April 2020

News of deaths across the world leave us all sad and sorrowful. Russia in the last twenty four hours reported 2558 new cases of covid-19. But stories of how the human spirit is fighting on from one end of the world to another, fill us with hope.
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Live blog
Live Blog - 12 April 2020

Live Blog - 12 April 2020

This Easter Sunday political and religious leaders issued messages urging courage and resilience as the world continues to struggle against the coronavirus pandemic. In Rome, Pope Francis made a passionate appeal calling for a cease-fire in all conflict areas, and for countries to work together to fight the pandemic and more.