Raskin, international observers call for end to blasphemy legislation across globe
On Thursday on Capitol Hill, a lawmaker and international observers called for an end to blasphemy laws and other measures that direct religious thought.
Germany
Germany Pitches Internationally-Controlled ‘Security Zone’ in Northern Syria
Germany should leverage its U.N. Security Council membership to push for an ‘internationally-controlled security zone’ in Syria, the country’s defense minister said on Monday.
Iran not ‘drawing back’ militarily after Saudi attack – U.S. admiral
Iran has not drawn back to a less threatening military posture in the region following the Sept. 14 attack on Saudi Arabia, the top U.S. admiral in the Middle East told Reuters, suggesting persistent concern despite a lull in violence.
U.N. Security Council likely to meet next week over North Korea missile launch: diplomats
The U.N. Security Council will likely meet behind closed doors on North Korea next week, diplomats said on Thursday, after Pyongyang said it had successfully test-fired a new submarine-launched ballistic missile ahead of fresh nuclear talks with Washington.
Rouhani claims Trump offered to drop sanctions in exchange for talks
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Friday that Trump had offered to drop all sanctions against the Islamic Republic in exchange for talks at the UN General Assembly, a claim Trump later vehemently denied.
Britain, France, Germany, Blame Iran For Saudi Attack, Urge Talks On Nuclear, Missile Issues
The leaders of Britain, France, and Germany have backed the United States in assertions that Iran is to blame for the attack on Saudi oil facilities and urged Tehran to choose dialogue over ‘provocation.’
The European Central Bank cut rates to a surprise record low and launched a sweeping round of stimulus
The European Central Bank on Thursday announced a sweeping round of stimulus for the continent’s slowing economy, cutting interest rates to their lowest ever level and introducing a round of quantitative easing.
G-7 Leaders Prepare for Summit Amid Fears Over Global Economy
The G-7 host, Emmanuel Macron, has made fighting inequality the theme for the annual meeting of the seven industrialized nations, which opens Saturday in the French seaside resort of Biarritz with the leaders of the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Canada in attendance.
US formally asks Germany to ‘help secure’ Strait of Hormuz
The United States has formally asked Germany to join a European naval mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the US embassy in Berlin said Tuesday.
World powers, Iran to meet in attempt to save nuclear deal
Representatives of five world powers met with Iranian diplomats Sunday in an effort to save the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal the U.S. withdrew from in 2018, according to the Associated Press.
Europe boils in record-setting heat wave
Residents across Europe suffered from a second day of record-setting heat on Thursday, as the second heat wave of the summer continues to bake the region.
US nuke locations accidentally exposed in NATO-affiliated report
A document accidentally published by a NATO-affiliated body has hit headlines across Europe this week, seeming to affirm a longstanding open secret that is technically still classified: precisely where in Europe the United States stores its nuclear weapons.
France, Britain and Germany say risks Iran nuclear deal could collapse
France, Britain and Germany said on Sunday they were preoccupied by the escalation of tensions in the Persian Gulf region and a risk of Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal falling apart, calling for dialog between all the parties to resume.
International Pressure Increases on Iran as IAEA Verifies Breach of 2015 Nuclear Terms
A closed-door meeting of the UN atomic watchdog agency in Vienna Wednesday determined that Iran had indeed breached the 3.76% uranium enrichment limit of the 2015 nuclear deal, confirming reports from Iran Monday that it had ramped up its enrichment to 4.5%.
Signatories to Iran Nuclear Deal Voice Concern Over Tehran’s Breach of Uranium Stockpile
The remaining signatories to the 2015 international pact to restrain Iran’s nuclear weapons development all voiced concern Tuesday that Tehran had exceeded the limit of how much low-enriched uranium it could stockpile.
‘I’ve Never Seen Such Scenes’: Hail Storm in Mexico Shocks Governor, Residents
On Sunday a Mexican city was deluged in hail and ice, leaving cars buried beneath 5 feet of the frozen substance and leading the state governor to exclaim he had never seen anything like it.
Europe Circumvents U.S. Sanctions On Iran
Europe has found a way of circumventing U.S. sanctions on Iran. The governments of France, Germany and the United Kingdom have developed a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to enable European businesses to maintain non-dollar trade with Iran without breaking U.S. sanctions. That SPV, known as INSTEX, is now up and running.
European Signatories Attempt Last-Ditch Effort to Save Nuclear Deal, While Iran Prepares To Break It
Brian Hook, U.S. special envoy for Iran, is in Paris discussing the looming crisis in the Persian Gulf with Britain, France, and Germany, ahead of talks Friday that will see the European allies seek to implement the ‘INSTEX’ currency system with Iran to circumvent Trump’s sanctions.
New Generation of European Fighter Jets To Be Produced By France, Germany, and Spain
France, Germany, and Spain will cooperate to produce the next generation of European fighter jets, according to European officials who met at the Paris air show Monday.
Germany, UK warn Iran over enrichment threat; EU takes wait-and-see approach
Germany and Britain on Monday warned Tehran not to breach uranium stockpile limits set by the 2015 nuclear deal, as the EU’s diplomatic chief dismissed Iranian threats as ‘political dialectics.’