By Rainbow Murray and Robin Pettitt

If you live in a safe seat, don’t feel inspired by the choices on offer, and/or would rather spend December 12 doing your Christmas shopping, you might be considering not voting in the 2019 general election – then here are five reasons to change your mind.

1. Your vote does matter

The first and by far and away the most important reason to vote is that, regardless of what anyone might tell you, it matters. The ongoing saga of Brexit is very much a case in point. The way people voted in 2015 resulted in a majority Conservative Party government, which paved the way for the 2016 Brexit referendum. Regardless of whether you think that was a good thing or not, voting mattered.

In the referendum of 2016, a majority of those who voted, voted for Leave. Regardless of whether you think that was a good thing or not, voting mattered.

The way people voted in 2017 deprived Theresa May of a parliamentary majority – which meant the then prime minister was unable to get her deal through parliament, a problem inherited by her successor, Boris Johnson. Regardless of whether you think that was a good thing or not, voting mattered.

It is true that in many parts of the UK some parties utterly dominate. There are areas of the UK that have been represented by MPs from the same party since the 1800s. In areas where one party has a massive majority it may seem that voting will make little difference, which can be deeply frustrating. However, not voting is the one thing guaranteed to make no difference.

Even if voting will not affect the outcome of the result in an individual constituency, it will affect national vote shares for the parties. Parties that cannot win can still get their agendas taken seriously by the other parties if their vote share is strong. Part of the reason why the former prime minister, David Cameron, decided to call a referendum in the first place was the rise of UKIP as a political force. The newer party had no significant presence in parliament but had Cameron’s Conservatives running scared every time it increased its vote share.

In addition, national vote share is increasingly part of the political debate after elections and your vote can be part of that story, even if it doesn’t swing your constituency result. Again, voting matters.

2. Turn up to change the system

Even if you have no hope of your vote making a difference in your constituency, at least consider going to your local polling station and spoiling your ballot paper. This is not a pointless exercise. If thousands of voters in safe constituencies spoiled their ballot papers it would give ammunition to those who are campaigning to replace the UK’s antiquated electoral system with something that gives votes everywhere more weight. The number of spoiled ballots is recorded in each constituency.

3. Defending democracy

Having the right to vote cannot be taken for granted. Just as the right to vote can be obtained, so it can be lost. There are numerous examples of countries where democratic standards were undermined, sometimes fatally so.

The UK’s democracy is still seen as being in good health. However, the Windrush scandal, the government’s attempt to prorogue parliament to avoid debate, and the potential impact of Brexit on human rights shows that the freedoms we have now are not immutable. The most simple and basic thing anyone can do to keep democracy strong is to vote. Arguably, voting is not enough in itself to protect freedoms, but it is a necessary minimum.

4. Don’t vote, can’t moan 
 
Any complaints you may have about anything related to politics (and everything is related to politics) will ring rather hollow after December 12 if you do not do the absolute minimum to make a difference by voting. Quite apart from Brexit, the plans presented by the main parties in their manifestos offer radically different futures for the country.

Voting is the most fundamental way of expressing an opinion on what the parties are planning on doing if elected. Failing to do so makes any subsequent complaints about what the government is doing fairly hypocritical. Don’t vote? Can’t moan! Want to moan? Got to vote!

5. Paying respects 
 
Having a system of government where ordinary people have a say in how they are governed is not automatic. Indeed, it was not always so in the United Kingdom.

The extension of the right to vote in the UK was a long and hard struggle with very real human costs – as exemplified by the 18 killed and hundreds injured during the Peterloo Massacre just over 200 years when cavalry (yes, men, on horses, wielding swords) attacked protesters demanding a greater say in how parliament was put together. This atrocity, and the brutality experienced by those who fought for the right of women to vote remind us how controversial the right to vote really is. Voting is a way of paying respect to those who suffered and died to secure that vote.

And finally, one last reason to vote, if the above still aren’t good enough, is that if people didn’t turn out on election day, we would not have #dogsatpollingstations.

 
(Rainbow Murray is Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London; Robin Pettitt is Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Kingston University) 
 
(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/five-reasons-to-vote-in-this-election-127666">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp; 
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By Rainbow Murray and Robin Pettitt If you live in a safe seat, don’t feel inspired by the choices on offer, and/or would rather spend December 12 doing your Christmas shopping, you might be considering not voting in the 2019 general election – then here are five reasons to change your mind.

By Rainbow Murray and Robin Pettitt If you live in a safe seat, don’t feel inspired by the choices on offer, and/or would rather spend December 12 doing your Christmas shopping, you might be considering not voting in the 2019 general election – then here are five reasons to change your mind. 1. Your vote does matter The first and by far and away the most important reason to vote is that, regardless of what anyone might tell you, it matters. The ongoing saga of Brexit is very much a case in point. The way people voted in 2015 resulted in a majority Conservative Party government, which paved the way for the 2016 Brexit referendum. Regardless of whether you think that was a good thing or not, voting mattered. In the referendum of 2016, a majority of those who voted, voted for Leave. Regardless of whether you think that was a good thing or not, voting mattered. The way people voted in 2017 deprived Theresa May of a parliamentary majority – which meant the then prime minister was unable to get her deal through parliament, a problem inherited by her successor, Boris Johnson. Regardless of whether you think that was a good thing or not, voting mattered. It is true that in many parts of the UK some parties utterly dominate. There are areas of the UK that have been represented by MPs from the same party since the 1800s. In areas where one party has a massive majority it may seem that voting will make little difference, which can be deeply frustrating. However, not voting is the one thing guaranteed to make no difference. Even if voting will not affect the outcome of the result in an individual constituency, it will affect national vote shares for the parties. Parties that cannot win can still get their agendas taken seriously by the other parties if their vote share is strong. Part of the reason why the former prime minister, David Cameron, decided to call a referendum in the first place was the rise of UKIP as a political force. The newer party had no significant presence in parliament but had Cameron’s Conservatives running scared every time it increased its vote share. In addition, national vote share is increasingly part of the political debate after elections and your vote can be part of that story, even if it doesn’t swing your constituency result. Again, voting matters. 2. Turn up to change the system Even if you have no hope of your vote making a difference in your constituency, at least consider going to your local polling station and spoiling your ballot paper. This is not a pointless exercise. If thousands of voters in safe constituencies spoiled their ballot papers it would give ammunition to those who are campaigning to replace the UK’s antiquated electoral system with something that gives votes everywhere more weight. The number of spoiled ballots is recorded in each constituency. 3. Defending democracy Having the right to vote cannot be taken for granted. Just as the right to vote can be obtained, so it can be lost. There are numerous examples of countries where democratic standards were undermined, sometimes fatally so. The UK’s democracy is still seen as being in good health. However, the Windrush scandal, the government’s attempt to prorogue parliament to avoid debate, and the potential impact of Brexit on human rights shows that the freedoms we have now are not immutable. The most simple and basic thing anyone can do to keep democracy strong is to vote. Arguably, voting is not enough in itself to protect freedoms, but it is a necessary minimum. 4. Don’t vote, can’t moan Any complaints you may have about anything related to politics (and everything is related to politics) will ring rather hollow after December 12 if you do not do the absolute minimum to make a difference by voting. Quite apart from Brexit, the plans presented by the main parties in their manifestos offer radically different futures for the country. Voting is the most fundamental way of expressing an opinion on what the parties are planning on doing if elected. Failing to do so makes any subsequent complaints about what the government is doing fairly hypocritical. Don’t vote? Can’t moan! Want to moan? Got to vote! 5. Paying respects Having a system of government where ordinary people have a say in how they are governed is not automatic. Indeed, it was not always so in the United Kingdom. The extension of the right to vote in the UK was a long and hard struggle with very real human costs – as exemplified by the 18 killed and hundreds injured during the Peterloo Massacre just over 200 years when cavalry (yes, men, on horses, wielding swords) attacked protesters demanding a greater say in how parliament was put together. This atrocity, and the brutality experienced by those who fought for the right of women to vote remind us how controversial the right to vote really is. Voting is a way of paying respect to those who suffered and died to secure that vote. And finally, one last reason to vote, if the above still aren’t good enough, is that if people didn’t turn out on election day, we would not have #dogsatpollingstations. (Rainbow Murray is Professor of Politics, Queen Mary University of London; Robin Pettitt is Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Kingston University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

UK elections 2019: Five reasons to vote

Brussels' next top official Ursula von der Leyen presents her top&nbsp;team&nbsp;to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/microsoft-increases-data-protection-responsibilities-for-european-union-262842">European Parliament</a> on Wednesday, hoping to finally put a difficult transition behind her.

The&nbsp;incoming&nbsp;president of the European Commission had hoped to take office a month ago but was thwarted by wrangling over the membership of her executive&nbsp;team.

The former German defence minister&nbsp;faces&nbsp;a daunting brief when her mandate starts on December 1, with the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;at loggerheads with Washington over trade, climate and Iran, while it grapples with a sluggish economy and frets about Russia.

The 61-year-old, a veteran from Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right CDU party, also has to contend with growing divisions between her old boss and French President Emmanuel Macron as the&nbsp;EU's vaunted "Franco-German motor" misfires.

But first, she must convince MEPs in Strasbourg to give their backing to a&nbsp;team&nbsp;drawn from each of 27 member states, all of them bar Britain, which plans to leave the bloc.

Her own appointment to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the commission was approved in July with only nine votes more than she needed, a narrow margin in&nbsp;EU&nbsp;politics.

Three of her initial nominees to the commission were rejected during the parliamentary confirmation process, an unprecedented snub, weakening her authority from the outset.

Nevertheless,&nbsp;EU&nbsp;diplomats and parliamentary leaders are cautiously optimistic she will clear Wednesday's hurdle, a public&nbsp;vote&nbsp;of MEPs at 12:30 pm.

"We will be united in our support for the commission," vowed Manfred Weber, head of the parliament's centre-right EPP bloc and himself a disappointed former presidential hopeful.

Weber was one of a small group of so-called "Spitzenkandidats" or lead candidates representing party blocs that MEPs had hoped would provide the eventual commission leader.

But&nbsp;EU&nbsp;member state leaders, spearheaded by Macron, overturned this experiment in a parliamentary democracy and imposed an outside choice.

The&nbsp;vote&nbsp;to confirm Von der Leyen was conducted by secret ballot, allowing many MEPs to&nbsp;vote&nbsp;against her in protest at the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;leaders' political tactics.

But Wednesday's roll-call to approve the commission as a whole will be conducted openly, helping the main centre-right, social democratic and liberal factions to whip support.

The leader of the Socialists and Democrats group, Iratxe Garcia Perez, noted that pressure from the left had forced von der Leyen to commit to a broad-based political platform.

Brexit cloud

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britain-threatens-to-deport-european-union-citizens-failing-to-comply-residency-deadline-262035">The commission</a> has members from across the political spectrum, and von der Leyen altered plans to name one portfolio "Protecting our European Way of Life",&nbsp;a title seen by many as too close to the rhetoric of the far-right.

Twelve out of 27 of the members will be women, not quite the parity that was promised but the highest number ever in the European Commission.

"We'll have the most progressive commission of recent times, the most equal and its political priorities will include those our group finds essential," Garcia Perez said.

There will nevertheless be opposition. The parliament's eurosceptic, far-left and right-wing populist parties will&nbsp;vote&nbsp;against, and the Greens have said they will abstain.

Five French socialists will also sit on their hands. "We won't sign a blank cheque," declared MEP Raphael Glucksmann.

And there is one more potential cloud hanging over the investiture: the absence of a British commissioner.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is determined to pull Britain out of the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;on January 31, after Brexit was repeatedly delayed amid wrangling in Westminster over the divorce terms.

But in the meantime he has refused to fill Britain's seat on the commission, citing advice from officials that he cannot make such an appointment during an&nbsp;election&nbsp;campaign.

Some Brussels lawyers are concerned that&nbsp;EU&nbsp;directives may be subject to legal challenge if the commission is not properly constituted with a full 28-member complement.

But von der Leyen's&nbsp;team&nbsp;hope that their threat to launch a legal challenge to London's decision will prove they made a good faith attempt to follow the treaty.

Brussels' next top official Ursula von der Leyen presents her top team to the European Parliament on Wednesday, hoping to finally put a difficult transition behind her.

Brussels' next top official Ursula von der Leyen presents her top team to the European Parliament on Wednesday, hoping to finally put a difficult transition behind her. The incoming president of the European Commission had hoped to take office a month ago but was thwarted by wrangling over the membership of her executive team. The former German defence minister faces a daunting brief when her mandate starts on December 1, with the EU at loggerheads with Washington over trade, climate and Iran, while it grapples with a sluggish economy and frets about Russia. The 61-year-old, a veteran from Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right CDU party, also has to contend with growing divisions between her old boss and French President Emmanuel Macron as the EU's vaunted "Franco-German motor" misfires. But first, she must convince MEPs in Strasbourg to give their backing to a team drawn from each of 27 member states, all of them bar Britain, which plans to leave the bloc. Her own appointment to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the commission was approved in July with only nine votes more than she needed, a narrow margin in EU politics. Three of her initial nominees to the commission were rejected during the parliamentary confirmation process, an unprecedented snub, weakening her authority from the outset. Nevertheless, EU diplomats and parliamentary leaders are cautiously optimistic she will clear Wednesday's hurdle, a public vote of MEPs at 12:30 pm. "We will be united in our support for the commission," vowed Manfred Weber, head of the parliament's centre-right EPP bloc and himself a disappointed former presidential hopeful. Weber was one of a small group of so-called "Spitzenkandidats" or lead candidates representing party blocs that MEPs had hoped would provide the eventual commission leader. But EU member state leaders, spearheaded by Macron, overturned this experiment in a parliamentary democracy and imposed an outside choice. The vote to confirm Von der Leyen was conducted by secret ballot, allowing many MEPs to vote against her in protest at the EU leaders' political tactics. But Wednesday's roll-call to approve the commission as a whole will be conducted openly, helping the main centre-right, social democratic and liberal factions to whip support. The leader of the Socialists and Democrats group, Iratxe Garcia Perez, noted that pressure from the left had forced von der Leyen to commit to a broad-based political platform. Brexit cloud The commission has members from across the political spectrum, and von der Leyen altered plans to name one portfolio "Protecting our European Way of Life", a title seen by many as too close to the rhetoric of the far-right. Twelve out of 27 of the members will be women, not quite the parity that was promised but the highest number ever in the European Commission. "We'll have the most progressive commission of recent times, the most equal and its political priorities will include those our group finds essential," Garcia Perez said. There will nevertheless be opposition. The parliament's eurosceptic, far-left and right-wing populist parties will vote against, and the Greens have said they will abstain. Five French socialists will also sit on their hands. "We won't sign a blank cheque," declared MEP Raphael Glucksmann. And there is one more potential cloud hanging over the investiture: the absence of a British commissioner. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is determined to pull Britain out of the EU on January 31, after Brexit was repeatedly delayed amid wrangling in Westminster over the divorce terms. But in the meantime he has refused to fill Britain's seat on the commission, citing advice from officials that he cannot make such an appointment during an election campaign. Some Brussels lawyers are concerned that EU directives may be subject to legal challenge if the commission is not properly constituted with a full 28-member complement. But von der Leyen's team hope that their threat to launch a legal challenge to London's decision will prove they made a good faith attempt to follow the treaty.

European Commission's president-elect faces final vote

Hundreds of French farmers angered by international trade deals and government policy drove tractors along the main highways into Paris on Wednesday, blocking commuter traffic and adding to the social unrest facing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-commissions-president-elect-faces-final-vote-264765">President Emmanuel Macron</a>.

On the A1 autoroute, an artery that links the capital to the north of France and its ports, one group temporarily blocked three lanes of traffic.

"No rural France without farmers. Let us get on with our jobs," one farmer wrote on his tractor.

Another in a convoy flanked by police motorcyclists took aim at the president: "Macron, answer us! Save farmers."

Farmers unions said their members would converge on Avenue Foch, a wide boulevard flanked by some of Paris' most luxurious properties near the Arc de Triomphe in central Paris.

The two main farm unions are staging the protest and demanding a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron to express grievances over policies they say hurt French agriculture, such as the phasing out of the weedkiller glyphosate.

"We want to warn everyone that if there are no more farmers in France it has a knock-on effect on the French economy," 29-year-old farmer Alix Heurtaut told Reuters ahead of the protest.

Macron, 41, faces growing discontent against his social and economic reform agenda across French society.

His government last week announced emergency financing in a failed attempt to head off further hospital strikes and has been locked in negotiations with unions this week over pension reform ahead of nationwide transport strikes on December&nbsp;5th.

Resentment among farmers has been growing at what they call "agri-bashing", or criticism of agriculture over issues ranging from pesticide use to animal welfare.

Attacks on livestock farms and butcher's shops by vegan activists have caused particular outrage. Longstanding tensions with environmental associations have meanwhile deepened amid debates about banning glyphosate and restricting pesticide use near residential areas.

Farmers widely blame Macron for rushing to ban glyphosate by 2021, going beyond the current European Union policy, although the government has promised exemptions for farms that have no viable alternative.

Macron has also been under pressure from farmers over EU trade deals with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-raonic-withdraws-from-canadas-davis-cup-team-261552">Canada</a> and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-boris-johnson-very-worried-about-trade-tensions-tariff-hikes-245371">Mercosur bloc</a> of South American countries, which farming groups say will usher in imports of cheaper agricultural goods produced to lower standards.

A food law passed by Macron's government, which aimed to give farmers a fairer share of profits, has failed to dispel discontent over modest revenues.

France is the largest agricultural producer in the EU and the biggest beneficiary of subsidies under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy.

Farm unions are gearing up for negotiations over the next EU budget, which could see agricultural spending trimmed due to Britain's planned exit from the bloc.

Hundreds of French farmers angered by international trade deals and government policy drove tractors along the main highways into Paris on Wednesday, blocking commuter traffic and adding to the social unrest facing President Emmanuel Macron.

Hundreds of French farmers angered by international trade deals and government policy drove tractors along the main highways into Paris on Wednesday, blocking commuter traffic and adding to the social unrest facing President Emmanuel Macron. On the A1 autoroute, an artery that links the capital to the north of France and its ports, one group temporarily blocked three lanes of traffic. "No rural France without farmers. Let us get on with our jobs," one farmer wrote on his tractor. Another in a convoy flanked by police motorcyclists took aim at the president: "Macron, answer us! Save farmers." Farmers unions said their members would converge on Avenue Foch, a wide boulevard flanked by some of Paris' most luxurious properties near the Arc de Triomphe in central Paris. The two main farm unions are staging the protest and demanding a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron to express grievances over policies they say hurt French agriculture, such as the phasing out of the weedkiller glyphosate. "We want to warn everyone that if there are no more farmers in France it has a knock-on effect on the French economy," 29-year-old farmer Alix Heurtaut told Reuters ahead of the protest. Macron, 41, faces growing discontent against his social and economic reform agenda across French society. His government last week announced emergency financing in a failed attempt to head off further hospital strikes and has been locked in negotiations with unions this week over pension reform ahead of nationwide transport strikes on December 5th. Resentment among farmers has been growing at what they call "agri-bashing", or criticism of agriculture over issues ranging from pesticide use to animal welfare. Attacks on livestock farms and butcher's shops by vegan activists have caused particular outrage. Longstanding tensions with environmental associations have meanwhile deepened amid debates about banning glyphosate and restricting pesticide use near residential areas. Farmers widely blame Macron for rushing to ban glyphosate by 2021, going beyond the current European Union policy, although the government has promised exemptions for farms that have no viable alternative. Macron has also been under pressure from farmers over EU trade deals with Canada and the Mercosur bloc of South American countries, which farming groups say will usher in imports of cheaper agricultural goods produced to lower standards. A food law passed by Macron's government, which aimed to give farmers a fairer share of profits, has failed to dispel discontent over modest revenues. France is the largest agricultural producer in the EU and the biggest beneficiary of subsidies under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy. Farm unions are gearing up for negotiations over the next EU budget, which could see agricultural spending trimmed due to Britain's planned exit from the bloc.

French farmers clog highways to protest at 'agri-bashing'

German conservative <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-commissions-president-elect-faces-final-vote-264765">Ursula von der Leyen</a> told the European Parliament on Wednesday that fighting climate change was an "existential" challenge and she would ensure money was provided to help adapt economies to lower fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Speaking ahead of a final vote in the chamber to confirm her as European Commission president from December&nbsp;1, and also confirm the other Commission members, von der Leyen said: "We don't have a moment to waste any more on fighting climate change."

She said that the transition towards "climate neutrality" by mid-century had to be achieved in a "sustainable way", meaning it must keep onboard workers, regions, and governments that still rely on coal for jobs, energy needs, and economic growth.

"It must be inclusive or it will not happen at all," she said.

German conservative Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament on Wednesday that fighting climate change was an "existential" challenge and she would ensure money was provided to help adapt economies to lower fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

German conservative Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament on Wednesday that fighting climate change was an "existential" challenge and she would ensure money was provided to help adapt economies to lower fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Speaking ahead of a final vote in the chamber to confirm her as European Commission president from December 1, and also confirm the other Commission members, von der Leyen said: "We don't have a moment to waste any more on fighting climate change." She said that the transition towards "climate neutrality" by mid-century had to be achieved in a "sustainable way", meaning it must keep onboard workers, regions, and governments that still rely on coal for jobs, energy needs, and economic growth. "It must be inclusive or it will not happen at all," she said.

Incoming European union chief vows to fight 'existential' climate risks

Romania's&nbsp;centrist <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/romania-votes-for-president-with-liberal-incumbent-favoured-261170">President Klaus&nbsp;Iohannis</a>&nbsp;won a&nbsp;presidential&nbsp;election runoff on Sunday as expected, crushing his socialist challenger with a&nbsp;pledge&nbsp;to resume judicial reforms slowed down by successive Social Democrat (PSD) governments.

Two separate exit polls showed&nbsp;Iohannis&nbsp;garnered 64 per cent-67per cent&nbsp;of the vote, with former prime minister Viorica Dancila of the left-leaning PSD taking 33-36 per cent.&nbsp;

"The winner today is modern Romania, European Romania, normal Romania,"&nbsp;Iohannis&nbsp;told reporters in his victory speech.

Under a succession of PSD governments, Romania, a European Union member state, has rolled back anti-corruption measures in recent years. Along with ex-communist peers Poland and Hungary, it has been heavily criticized by Brussels for its actions.

However, 60-year-old&nbsp;Iohannis&nbsp;has been credited by Western allies and the European Union with trying to protect the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;of&nbsp;law, in particular by challenging attempts to limit judges' independence.

The president's powers are mostly limited to nominating a prime minister on the basis of who can command a majority, challenging&nbsp;laws in the Constitutional Court, and appointing some chief prosecutors.

Lohannis&nbsp;is expected to install anti-graft and anti-mafia prosecutors who are serious about tackling endemic corruption with the backing of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/romanias-liberals-present-minority-government-258012"> Prime Minister Ludovic Orban</a>, who became head of a liberal minority government by winning a parliamentary vote of confidence three weeks ago.

Teacher Andreea Mihai, 50, said "things should slowly return to normality. Both Orban and&nbsp;Iohannis&nbsp;will work together in the same direction."

Dancila's PSD had increased the burden of proof in corruption cases, reorganized panels of judges and set up a special unit to investigate magistrates for potential abuses, a move widely seen as an instrument of political coercion.

Romania's&nbsp;judicial reforms have been monitored by Brussels since it joined the EU in 2007; in October, Brussels said the reforms were going backward.

Lohannis, a soft-spoken ethnic German and former mayor of Sibiu, became president in 2014.

He helped to secure popular approval in a referendum last May that called for the government to be banned from altering legislation by emergency decrees and advocated a ban on amnesties and pardons for graft-related crimes.

Data from&nbsp;Romania's&nbsp;election commission, which is expected to announce partial official results on Monday, showed a turnout of about 50 per cent, with a record 920,000 voters from the country's diaspora taking part.

Romania's centrist President Klaus Iohannis won a presidential election runoff on Sunday as expected, crushing his socialist challenger with a pledge to resume judicial reforms slowed down by successive Social Democrat (PSD) governments.

Romania's centrist President Klaus Iohannis won a presidential election runoff on Sunday as expected, crushing his socialist challenger with a pledge to resume judicial reforms slowed down by successive Social Democrat (PSD) governments. Two separate exit polls showed Iohannis garnered 64 per cent-67per cent of the vote, with former prime minister Viorica Dancila of the left-leaning PSD taking 33-36 per cent. "The winner today is modern Romania, European Romania, normal Romania," Iohannis told reporters in his victory speech. Under a succession of PSD governments, Romania, a European Union member state, has rolled back anti-corruption measures in recent years. Along with ex-communist peers Poland and Hungary, it has been heavily criticized by Brussels for its actions. However, 60-year-old Iohannis has been credited by Western allies and the European Union with trying to protect the rule of law, in particular by challenging attempts to limit judges' independence. The president's powers are mostly limited to nominating a prime minister on the basis of who can command a majority, challenging laws in the Constitutional Court, and appointing some chief prosecutors. Lohannis is expected to install anti-graft and anti-mafia prosecutors who are serious about tackling endemic corruption with the backing of Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, who became head of a liberal minority government by winning a parliamentary vote of confidence three weeks ago. Teacher Andreea Mihai, 50, said "things should slowly return to normality. Both Orban and Iohannis will work together in the same direction." Dancila's PSD had increased the burden of proof in corruption cases, reorganized panels of judges and set up a special unit to investigate magistrates for potential abuses, a move widely seen as an instrument of political coercion. Romania's judicial reforms have been monitored by Brussels since it joined the EU in 2007; in October, Brussels said the reforms were going backward. Lohannis, a soft-spoken ethnic German and former mayor of Sibiu, became president in 2014. He helped to secure popular approval in a referendum last May that called for the government to be banned from altering legislation by emergency decrees and advocated a ban on amnesties and pardons for graft-related crimes. Data from Romania's election commission, which is expected to announce partial official results on Monday, showed a turnout of about 50 per cent, with a record 920,000 voters from the country's diaspora taking part.

Romania's Klaus Iohannis wins second presidential election runoff

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveils his Conservative Party's manifesto on Sunday, pledging to move on from Brexit and austerity in a bid to secure a general election majority.

Having taken over a minority administration in July and been unable to speed his EU divorce deal through parliament, Johnson is seeking a clear victory at the December 12 snap election.

He sees Britain's third general election in four-and-a-half years as the only way to break the Brexit logjam.

Having got the Brexit date delayed three months from October 31 to January 31, opposition parties backed his call for an early general election.

Johnson is promising to bring back his Brexit deal to parliament before December 25 if the centre-right Conservatives are returned to power.

"As families sit down to carve up their turkeys this Christmas, I want them to enjoy their festive-season free from the seemingly unending Brexit box-set drama," Johnson said ahead of the launch.

"The Conservative manifesto, which I'm proud to launch today, will get Brexit done and allow us to move on and unleash the potential of the whole country," he said.

'Oven-ready' Brexit deal

The main plank of the Conservative manifesto is the Brexit deal Johnson negotiated with Brussels in October. He claims the treaty is "oven-ready" and good to go -- as long as he can get a majority.

He insists the deal will allow Britain to regain control over its laws, money and immigration policy.

Johnson's chief rival, left-wing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, wants to renegotiate a new, softer Brexit agreement within three months and then put that to a referendum alongside remaining in the EU by the end of June. Corbyn would stay neutral during the process.

Johnson has blasted Corbyn for his strategy in refusing to recommend either his own proposed Brexit deal or staying in the EU.

Johnson tweeted: "It's time to turn the page from the dither, delay and division of recent years, and start a new chapter in the incredible history of this country.

"We have achieved amazing things together in the past, and I know we will achieve even more in the future -- if only we choose the right path at this critical election."

The party is pledging it will not raise the three main taxes -- income tax, sales tax and national insurance contributions to state benefits -- in what it branded a triple tax lock.

Other measures being unveiled Sunday include more money for childcare support, energy efficiency measures, skills retraining and road upgrades.

Hospital car parking charges would be axed for certain patients and the National Health Service (NHS) staff.

Poll lead

Britain Elects poll aggregator puts the Conservatives on 42 per cent, ahead of the Labour main opposition on 29 per cent, the anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats on 15 per cent, the Brexit Party on six per cent and the Greens on three per cent.

The Conservatives have seen their popularity surge since Johnson took over from Theresa May four months ago.

Despite the poll advantage, commentators urge caution, mindful that May had a huge percentage lead in the 2017 general election which rapidly melted.

Johnson has his weak spots, especially after the years of austerity imposed by Conservative governments since 2010.

He promises to end the years of reining in the budget deficit by pumping billions of pounds into public services.

Johnson has pledged to make the streets safer by recruiting 20,000 police officers.

He is also committed to increasing the NHS budget by £33.9 billion ($43.5 billion, 39.5 billion euros) by 2023-24, and has pledged to upgrade 20 hospitals and rebuild 40 over the next decade.

Johnson was criticised by members of the public during a televised questions session on Friday over the Conservatives' handling of the NHS -- but he insisted progress could only be made once the Brexit impasse is resolved.

Johnson has announced a three-year plan to increase state-school spending in England by £7.1 billion by 2022-23.

On immigration, he wants to end freedom of movement for EU citizens and introduce an Australian-style points-based system.

The scale of eastern European immigration since 2004 was one of the key factors behind the Brexit referendum vote in 2016.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveils his Conservative Party's manifesto on Sunday, pledging to move on from Brexit and austerity in a bid to secure a general election majority.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveils his Conservative Party's manifesto on Sunday, pledging to move on from Brexit and austerity in a bid to secure a general election majority. Having taken over a minority administration in July and been unable to speed his EU divorce deal through parliament, Johnson is seeking a clear victory at the December 12 snap election. He sees Britain's third general election in four-and-a-half years as the only way to break the Brexit logjam. Having got the Brexit date delayed three months from October 31 to January 31, opposition parties backed his call for an early general election. Johnson is promising to bring back his Brexit deal to parliament before December 25 if the centre-right Conservatives are returned to power. "As families sit down to carve up their turkeys this Christmas, I want them to enjoy their festive-season free from the seemingly unending Brexit box-set drama," Johnson said ahead of the launch. "The Conservative manifesto, which I'm proud to launch today, will get Brexit done and allow us to move on and unleash the potential of the whole country," he said. 'Oven-ready' Brexit deal The main plank of the Conservative manifesto is the Brexit deal Johnson negotiated with Brussels in October. He claims the treaty is "oven-ready" and good to go -- as long as he can get a majority. He insists the deal will allow Britain to regain control over its laws, money and immigration policy. Johnson's chief rival, left-wing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, wants to renegotiate a new, softer Brexit agreement within three months and then put that to a referendum alongside remaining in the EU by the end of June. Corbyn would stay neutral during the process. Johnson has blasted Corbyn for his strategy in refusing to recommend either his own proposed Brexit deal or staying in the EU. Johnson tweeted: "It's time to turn the page from the dither, delay and division of recent years, and start a new chapter in the incredible history of this country. "We have achieved amazing things together in the past, and I know we will achieve even more in the future -- if only we choose the right path at this critical election." The party is pledging it will not raise the three main taxes -- income tax, sales tax and national insurance contributions to state benefits -- in what it branded a triple tax lock. Other measures being unveiled Sunday include more money for childcare support, energy efficiency measures, skills retraining and road upgrades. Hospital car parking charges would be axed for certain patients and the National Health Service (NHS) staff. Poll lead Britain Elects poll aggregator puts the Conservatives on 42 per cent, ahead of the Labour main opposition on 29 per cent, the anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats on 15 per cent, the Brexit Party on six per cent and the Greens on three per cent. The Conservatives have seen their popularity surge since Johnson took over from Theresa May four months ago. Despite the poll advantage, commentators urge caution, mindful that May had a huge percentage lead in the 2017 general election which rapidly melted. Johnson has his weak spots, especially after the years of austerity imposed by Conservative governments since 2010. He promises to end the years of reining in the budget deficit by pumping billions of pounds into public services. Johnson has pledged to make the streets safer by recruiting 20,000 police officers. He is also committed to increasing the NHS budget by £33.9 billion ($43.5 billion, 39.5 billion euros) by 2023-24, and has pledged to upgrade 20 hospitals and rebuild 40 over the next decade. Johnson was criticised by members of the public during a televised questions session on Friday over the Conservatives' handling of the NHS -- but he insisted progress could only be made once the Brexit impasse is resolved. Johnson has announced a three-year plan to increase state-school spending in England by £7.1 billion by 2022-23. On immigration, he wants to end freedom of movement for EU citizens and introduce an Australian-style points-based system. The scale of eastern European immigration since 2004 was one of the key factors behind the Brexit referendum vote in 2016.

Boris Johnson unveils manifesto for Brexit Britain

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/fatf-european-union-offers-technical-assistance-to-pakistan-262766">European Union</a> (EU) countries on Friday endorsed a tough line for selecting 5G suppliers, including vetting the domestic legal framework to which they are subjected, potentially dealing a blow to telecoms equipment market leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/microsoft-granted-licence-to-export-mass-market-software-to-huawei-263823">Huawei Technologies</a>.

Ambassadors meeting in Brussels agreed to the approach, a spokeswoman for Finland, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said in a tweet.

EU countries should consider non-technical factors such as the legal and policy framework to which suppliers may be subject in third countries, a draft document seen by Reuters ahead of the meeting said. The document did not mention any specific countries or companies.

EU governments should also diversify their suppliers and not depend on one, the document said. EU ministers will give the green light to the approach at a meeting next month.

The United States has urged the EU to ban Huawei equipment, saying that its gear could be used by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-wants-to-take-over-australian-politics-ex-spy-chief-263762">China</a> for spying. Concerns have focused on a Chinese law on domestic companies' cooperation with the government on security matters, with critics saying that these could compel them to be a vehicle for Chinese spying.

The Shenzen-based company, which competes with Finland's Nokia&nbsp;and Sweden's Ericsson&nbsp;has denied the US&nbsp;charges and dismissed the concerns as groundless.

Last month, the EU warned of the risk of increased cyber attacks by state-backed entities but did not name any company or country. The bloc sees 5G networks as key to boosting economic growth.

The EU is now looking into a so-called toolbox of measures by the end of the year to address cyber security risks at national and bloc-wide level. The European Agency for Cybersecurity is also finalising a map of specific threats related to 5G networks.

European Union (EU) countries on Friday endorsed a tough line for selecting 5G suppliers, including vetting the domestic legal framework to which they are subjected, potentially dealing a blow to telecoms equipment market leader Huawei Technologies.

European Union (EU) countries on Friday endorsed a tough line for selecting 5G suppliers, including vetting the domestic legal framework to which they are subjected, potentially dealing a blow to telecoms equipment market leader Huawei Technologies. Ambassadors meeting in Brussels agreed to the approach, a spokeswoman for Finland, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said in a tweet. EU countries should consider non-technical factors such as the legal and policy framework to which suppliers may be subject in third countries, a draft document seen by Reuters ahead of the meeting said. The document did not mention any specific countries or companies. EU governments should also diversify their suppliers and not depend on one, the document said. EU ministers will give the green light to the approach at a meeting next month. The United States has urged the EU to ban Huawei equipment, saying that its gear could be used by China for spying. Concerns have focused on a Chinese law on domestic companies' cooperation with the government on security matters, with critics saying that these could compel them to be a vehicle for Chinese spying. The Shenzen-based company, which competes with Finland's Nokia and Sweden's Ericsson has denied the US charges and dismissed the concerns as groundless. Last month, the EU warned of the risk of increased cyber attacks by state-backed entities but did not name any company or country. The bloc sees 5G networks as key to boosting economic growth. The EU is now looking into a so-called toolbox of measures by the end of the year to address cyber security risks at national and bloc-wide level. The European Agency for Cybersecurity is also finalising a map of specific threats related to 5G networks.

EU countries back tough line on 5G suppliers in potential blow to Huawei

A White House official testified in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump on Tuesday that the president's phone call urging Ukraine's leader to investigate Trump's political rivals was improper and blasted what he called "cowardly" attacks on witnesses in the investigation.

Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, the White House National Security Council's top Ukraine expert, testified at the third public hearing in the impeachment effort before the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee.

Vindman, who along with other witnesses has been publicly criticized by Trump, also told lawmakers that "vile character attacks" against public servants testifying in the impeachment inquiry were "reprehensible," urging Americans to be "better than callow and cowardly attacks." Vindman, an Iraq war veteran, appeared at the hearing wearing his Army uniform and medals.

Vindman did not specifically mention Trump when he referred to "cowardly attacks." Some Trump allies in the conservative media have questioned Vindman's loyalty to the United States.

"It is improper for the president of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a US citizen and political opponent," Vindman said in his opening statement in the second week of public hearings.

Three other witnesses were scheduled to testify at Tuesday's hearing: Kurt Volker, the former US special envoy to Ukraine; Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence; and former National Security Council Russia expert Tim Morrison.

The inquiry focuses on a July 25 phone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to carry out two investigations that would benefit him politically including one targeting Democratic political rival Joe Biden. The other involved a debunked conspiracy theory embraced by some Trump allies that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US election.

In her prepared statement to the committee, Williams said Trump's July 25 call was "unusual" because it "it involved discussion of what appeared to be a domestic political matter." Williams said the White House Budget office had said Trump's acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, had directed that $391 million in security aid to Ukraine be put on hold and that she never learned why the assistance was later released in September.

Williams, who was attacked by Trump on Twitter just days before her public appearance, also told lawmakers that she was committed to serving America's interests, adding "it was with great pride and conviction that I swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution."

Williams was among the US officials who monitored the Trump-Zelenskiy call. She previously testified behind closed doors this month that some of Trump's comments were "inappropriate."

Trump assailed her on Twitter on Sunday as a "Never Trumper" who should "work out a better presidential attack." He has used the term "Never Trumper" to describe Republicans who oppose him. Trump has called them "human scum."

The investigation could lead the House to approve formal charges against Trump – known as articles of impeachment – that would be sent to the Republican-controlled Senate for a trial on whether to remove him from office. Few Republican senators have broken with Trump.

Differing testimony

Volker, the former US special envoy to Ukraine, won praise from Republicans after he testified privately last month but can expect a cooler reception from Democrats during Tuesday's hearing.

Volker told lawmakers in October he did not know of any effort by Trump to press Ukraine to investigate Biden, a leading Democratic contender opposing Trump's bid for re-election next year, and Biden's son Hunter, who had served on the board of a Ukrainian energy firm called Burisma.

"Vice President Biden was never a topic of discussion," Volker said in his October 3 closed-door testimony.

But other witnesses have identified Volker as one of the "Three Amigos," along with Energy Secretary Rick Perry and US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland, who were tasked by Trump to obtain Zelenskiy's commitment to probing the Bidens. Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani also was a central figure in trying to get Ukraine to carry out those investigations.

Among those whose previous testimony was at odds with Volker's deposition was Vindman.

Vindman and Volker have clashed, for example, over what occurred at a July 10 White House meeting. Volker testified that US and Ukrainian officials in the meeting did not discuss any investigations. Vindman said Sondland raised the need for Ukraine to open "specific investigations" if Zelenskiy wanted to have a coveted meeting with Trump.

At a follow-up meeting that both also attended, Vindman said in previous testimony: "Sondland emphasized the importance that Ukraine deliver the investigations into the 2016 election, the Bidens and Burisma."

Ahead of his request that Zelenskiy carry out the two investigations, Trump had frozen $391 million in US security aid approved by Congress to help Ukraine combat Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country.

Democrats have accused Trump of using the frozen aid and Zelenskiy's desire for an Oval Office meeting as leverage to pressure a vulnerable US ally to dig up dirt on political adversaries. Trump is seeking re-election next year.

Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and raged on Twitter against what he calls "a witch hunt" and a "hoax." He said on Monday he might testify before the House Intelligence Committee, which is leading the inquiry. Democrats responded with skepticism.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay and Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Mark Hoseball; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Peter

A White House official testified in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump on Tuesday that the president's phone call urging Ukraine's leader to investigate Trump's political rivals was improper and blasted what he called "cowardly" attacks on witnesses in the investigation.

A White House official testified in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump on Tuesday that the president's phone call urging Ukraine's leader to investigate Trump's political rivals was improper and blasted what he called "cowardly" attacks on witnesses in the investigation. Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, the White House National Security Council's top Ukraine expert, testified at the third public hearing in the impeachment effort before the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee. Vindman, who along with other witnesses has been publicly criticized by Trump, also told lawmakers that "vile character attacks" against public servants testifying in the impeachment inquiry were "reprehensible," urging Americans to be "better than callow and cowardly attacks." Vindman, an Iraq war veteran, appeared at the hearing wearing his Army uniform and medals. Vindman did not specifically mention Trump when he referred to "cowardly attacks." Some Trump allies in the conservative media have questioned Vindman's loyalty to the United States. "It is improper for the president of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a US citizen and political opponent," Vindman said in his opening statement in the second week of public hearings. Three other witnesses were scheduled to testify at Tuesday's hearing: Kurt Volker, the former US special envoy to Ukraine; Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence; and former National Security Council Russia expert Tim Morrison. The inquiry focuses on a July 25 phone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to carry out two investigations that would benefit him politically including one targeting Democratic political rival Joe Biden. The other involved a debunked conspiracy theory embraced by some Trump allies that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US election. In her prepared statement to the committee, Williams said Trump's July 25 call was "unusual" because it "it involved discussion of what appeared to be a domestic political matter." Williams said the White House Budget office had said Trump's acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, had directed that $391 million in security aid to Ukraine be put on hold and that she never learned why the assistance was later released in September. Williams, who was attacked by Trump on Twitter just days before her public appearance, also told lawmakers that she was committed to serving America's interests, adding "it was with great pride and conviction that I swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution." Williams was among the US officials who monitored the Trump-Zelenskiy call. She previously testified behind closed doors this month that some of Trump's comments were "inappropriate." Trump assailed her on Twitter on Sunday as a "Never Trumper" who should "work out a better presidential attack." He has used the term "Never Trumper" to describe Republicans who oppose him. Trump has called them "human scum." The investigation could lead the House to approve formal charges against Trump – known as articles of impeachment – that would be sent to the Republican-controlled Senate for a trial on whether to remove him from office. Few Republican senators have broken with Trump. Differing testimony Volker, the former US special envoy to Ukraine, won praise from Republicans after he testified privately last month but can expect a cooler reception from Democrats during Tuesday's hearing. Volker told lawmakers in October he did not know of any effort by Trump to press Ukraine to investigate Biden, a leading Democratic contender opposing Trump's bid for re-election next year, and Biden's son Hunter, who had served on the board of a Ukrainian energy firm called Burisma. "Vice President Biden was never a topic of discussion," Volker said in his October 3 closed-door testimony. But other witnesses have identified Volker as one of the "Three Amigos," along with Energy Secretary Rick Perry and US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland, who were tasked by Trump to obtain Zelenskiy's commitment to probing the Bidens. Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani also was a central figure in trying to get Ukraine to carry out those investigations. Among those whose previous testimony was at odds with Volker's deposition was Vindman. Vindman and Volker have clashed, for example, over what occurred at a July 10 White House meeting. Volker testified that US and Ukrainian officials in the meeting did not discuss any investigations. Vindman said Sondland raised the need for Ukraine to open "specific investigations" if Zelenskiy wanted to have a coveted meeting with Trump. At a follow-up meeting that both also attended, Vindman said in previous testimony: "Sondland emphasized the importance that Ukraine deliver the investigations into the 2016 election, the Bidens and Burisma." Ahead of his request that Zelenskiy carry out the two investigations, Trump had frozen $391 million in US security aid approved by Congress to help Ukraine combat Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country. Democrats have accused Trump of using the frozen aid and Zelenskiy's desire for an Oval Office meeting as leverage to pressure a vulnerable US ally to dig up dirt on political adversaries. Trump is seeking re-election next year. Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and raged on Twitter against what he calls "a witch hunt" and a "hoax." He said on Monday he might testify before the House Intelligence Committee, which is leading the inquiry. Democrats responded with skepticism. (Reporting by Jonathan Landay and Patricia Zengerle; Additional reporting by Mark Hoseball; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Peter

Impeachment inquiry: White House official criticizes Trump call, decries 'cowardly' attacks

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/malaysia-offers-to-buy-more-imports-from-india-after-threat-of-palm-oil-curbs-256078">Malaysia</a>, the second-biggest producer and exporter of palm oil after Indonesia, will enforce regulations to ensure that by 2021 its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesian-palm-oil-executive-arrested-over-journalist-killings-260987">palm oil </a>meets new food safety standards under consideration by the European Union, a minister said on Tuesday.

The EU is considering setting new limits by an as-yet-unspecified date on food contaminants in refined fats and oils and is discussing imposing a safety level for so-called 3-MCPD esters found in palm oil.

The European Food Safety Authority has said the esters raise potential health concerns.

"The palm oil industry in Malaysia has been instructed (by the government) to adhere to the EU-prescribed level of 3-MCPDE of 2.5 ppm for food products by 2021," Malaysia's minister of primary industries, Teresa Kok, told an industry event, referring to contaminants in milligrams per kilo of oil.

"We are now in the process of enforcing several regulations to ensure that palm oil produced meets the acceptable safety level for 3-MCPDE."

Malaysia last month said new EU rules could hurt demand for palm oil in food - which accounts for nearly 70 per cent of&nbsp;global consumption of the oil, and where it is used in products such as bread and chocolate spread.

The $60 billion palm industry is often blamed for stripping tropical rainforest, and the EU this year introduced a law to phase out palm oil from renewable fuel by 2030 due to deforestation concerns. Malaysia and Indonesia have said they plan to challenge the law at the World Trade Organisation.

The EU biodiesel market is worth an estimated 9 billion euros ($10 billion) a year.

"Despite our best efforts, if certain importing countries choose to impose discriminatory trade barriers against palm oil-producing countries, we must not keep silent nor hesitate to take countermeasures," Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said at the same event on Tuesday.

Kok said 60 per cent&nbsp;of the country's total oil palm planted area had received the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, which requires growers to meet certain standards regarding environmental protection and workers' rights.

The Southeast Asian country aims for 70 per cent&nbsp;oil palm areas to have received MSPO certification by February, Kok said.

She reiterated the Malaysian Palm Oil Board's warning of legal action or licence cancellation if palm mills and growers with plantations of 100 acres and more are not certified by January&nbsp;1.

Kok said on Monday certification among smallholder farmers, who account for nearly 40 per cent&nbsp;of Malaysia's total palm oil production, was particularly low because of concerns they would not be able to recover the high costs of complying with the regulations.

Malaysia, the second-biggest producer and exporter of palm oil after Indonesia, will enforce regulations to ensure that by 2021 its palm oil meets new food safety standards under consideration by the European Union, a minister said on Tuesday.

Malaysia, the second-biggest producer and exporter of palm oil after Indonesia, will enforce regulations to ensure that by 2021 its palm oil meets new food safety standards under consideration by the European Union, a minister said on Tuesday. The EU is considering setting new limits by an as-yet-unspecified date on food contaminants in refined fats and oils and is discussing imposing a safety level for so-called 3-MCPD esters found in palm oil. The European Food Safety Authority has said the esters raise potential health concerns. "The palm oil industry in Malaysia has been instructed (by the government) to adhere to the EU-prescribed level of 3-MCPDE of 2.5 ppm for food products by 2021," Malaysia's minister of primary industries, Teresa Kok, told an industry event, referring to contaminants in milligrams per kilo of oil. "We are now in the process of enforcing several regulations to ensure that palm oil produced meets the acceptable safety level for 3-MCPDE." Malaysia last month said new EU rules could hurt demand for palm oil in food - which accounts for nearly 70 per cent of global consumption of the oil, and where it is used in products such as bread and chocolate spread. The $60 billion palm industry is often blamed for stripping tropical rainforest, and the EU this year introduced a law to phase out palm oil from renewable fuel by 2030 due to deforestation concerns. Malaysia and Indonesia have said they plan to challenge the law at the World Trade Organisation. The EU biodiesel market is worth an estimated 9 billion euros ($10 billion) a year. "Despite our best efforts, if certain importing countries choose to impose discriminatory trade barriers against palm oil-producing countries, we must not keep silent nor hesitate to take countermeasures," Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said at the same event on Tuesday. Kok said 60 per cent of the country's total oil palm planted area had received the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification, which requires growers to meet certain standards regarding environmental protection and workers' rights. The Southeast Asian country aims for 70 per cent oil palm areas to have received MSPO certification by February, Kok said. She reiterated the Malaysian Palm Oil Board's warning of legal action or licence cancellation if palm mills and growers with plantations of 100 acres and more are not certified by January 1. Kok said on Monday certification among smallholder farmers, who account for nearly 40 per cent of Malaysia's total palm oil production, was particularly low because of concerns they would not be able to recover the high costs of complying with the regulations.

Malaysian palm oil to meet new European Union food safety levels by 2021: Minister

By Dimitrios Syrrakos

The eurozone has emerged from its debt crisis of 2010-18 intact, but at a very high cost to the periphery. Greece’s exit from its third bailout in August 2018, the swan song of the crisis, is perceived as successful only from a purely accounting perspective. Of the approximately €290 billion (£248 billion) lent to the country overall by the IMF, European Commission and European Central Bank, less than 12 per cent was spent on investment.

The remainder has been used to service Greece’s spiralling national debt, and even then, repayments are only covered up to 2022. Thanks to the government spending cuts implemented from 2010-18 in return for these loans, unemployment is still running at 17 per cent.

What timing for the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, to make his first official visit to Athens, intensifying a friendship between the two countries that has been developing for more than a decade. Earlier this year, Greece already became a member of China’s 17+1 initiative, which aims to deepen cooperation between Beijing and 17 states in central and eastern Europe and the Balkans.

The initiative is part of China’s One Belt One Road project to develop connectivity and trade in Eurasia and beyond, to which the Greeks committed as far back as 2009 – the first developed economy and NATO member to do so. Greece has also unnerved its Western allies in the past couple of years by obstructing EU plans to condemn China over issues like human rights and the law of the sea.

To mark Xi Jinping’s visit to Athens, 16 new bilateral agreements were announced. They build on previous Chinese investments into Greek shipping, while also covering sectors as diverse as education and agriculture. This comes just two months after the Chinese president made a similar trip to Italy. That, too, saw the announcement of trade deals covering various sectors worth multiple billions of euros. The Italians also became the first major Western power to endorse One Belt One Road.

The Chinese alternative

The timing of these Italian and Greek announcements is not a coincidence. Italy, like Greece, is saddled with high debts and is bearing the brunt of the EU external migration crisis. Both countries had been calling on the EU for pan-European investment programmes for the past three years, but were rejected outright by core eurozone members like Germany, the Netherlands and Finland.

Greece and Italy are attempting the fine balancing act of dealing with China without undermining the EU’s overarching external trade policy, but the EU and Americans are still uneasy. The EU, in particular, is worried about China promoting its alternative model of governance without democracy.

In the case of the Greek announcement, one major concern is China’s involvement in the port of Piraeus via its state-owned China Ocean Shipping Corporation (COSCO). Though COSCO has taken stakes in at least 15 European ports in recent years, including the likes of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Marseilles, the port of Piraeus is a particularly eye-catching commitment.

The Chinese became the port’s majority owner in 2016, and had already committed €800m towards upgrading its facilities. Now there will be a further €600m investment. This aims to turn Piraeus into the biggest commercial port in Europe, while raising COSCO’s stake from 51 per cent to 67 per cent by 2022. The Chinese see Piraeus as a gateway to EU markets, with a strategic role in Asia-European-African trade routes thanks to its close proximity to the Suez Canal.

Greece’s participation in China’s 17+1 initiative is also viewed by the West as particularly significant. Greece is the biggest of the five eurozone members to have joined – the others are Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. Membership is part of Greece’s broader plan to realise international trade agreements via new trade routes. The move seems to have rejuvenated an initiative which has been limited to upgrading infrastructure and had stalled since 2016.

While Greece initially joined 17+1 under its hard-left Syriza government, the fact that the new conservative government is prepared to upgrade strategic relations with China demonstrates that the relationship can survive political change in Athens. Xi Jinping’s visit came just a week after prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Shanghai, after China made Greece the official guest country of the 2019 China International Import Expo.

The way ahead

In truth, it looks somewhat late for the EU to be concerned about these moves by Greece and Italy. They are the direct result of the strict bailouts and the eurozone’s refusal to invest seriously in either country. Other eurozone reforms that might help these countries – a eurozone fiscal union with an unemployment insurance programme; a eurozone banking union with a pan-European deposits guarantee scheme; a single European immigration policy – are also long overdue.

To make matters worse, eurozone growth rates have slowed considerably – led by Germany, the supposed powerhouse. France seems to be the only member yet to feel the impact of US tariffs, the Brexit process and the slowdown in the Chinese economy. The gloom is being exacerbated by the likes of the new fragmented European parliament and fragile Italian banks.

This all means that there is less room for manoeuvre than there might have been two or three years ago. So while the West may wish that its Mediterranean allies were not looking eastwards, it is going to be difficult to put this particular genie back inside its bottle. The growing sense in Rome and Athens that they have been abandoned by their allies will be difficult to reverse.

(Dimitrios Syrrakos is Deputy Head - Department of Economics, Policy and International Business, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester Metropolitan University)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/chinas-relationships-with-greece-and-italy-are-deepening-eu-is-reaping-exactly-what-it-sowed-127087">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

By Dimitrios Syrrakos The eurozone has emerged from its debt crisis of 2010-18 intact, but at a very high cost to the periphery. Greece’s exit from its third bailout in August 2018, the swan song of the crisis, is perceived as successful only from a purely accounting perspective.

By Dimitrios Syrrakos The eurozone has emerged from its debt crisis of 2010-18 intact, but at a very high cost to the periphery. Greece’s exit from its third bailout in August 2018, the swan song of the crisis, is perceived as successful only from a purely accounting perspective. Of the approximately €290 billion (£248 billion) lent to the country overall by the IMF, European Commission and European Central Bank, less than 12 per cent was spent on investment. The remainder has been used to service Greece’s spiralling national debt, and even then, repayments are only covered up to 2022. Thanks to the government spending cuts implemented from 2010-18 in return for these loans, unemployment is still running at 17 per cent. What timing for the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, to make his first official visit to Athens, intensifying a friendship between the two countries that has been developing for more than a decade. Earlier this year, Greece already became a member of China’s 17+1 initiative, which aims to deepen cooperation between Beijing and 17 states in central and eastern Europe and the Balkans. The initiative is part of China’s One Belt One Road project to develop connectivity and trade in Eurasia and beyond, to which the Greeks committed as far back as 2009 – the first developed economy and NATO member to do so. Greece has also unnerved its Western allies in the past couple of years by obstructing EU plans to condemn China over issues like human rights and the law of the sea. To mark Xi Jinping’s visit to Athens, 16 new bilateral agreements were announced. They build on previous Chinese investments into Greek shipping, while also covering sectors as diverse as education and agriculture. This comes just two months after the Chinese president made a similar trip to Italy. That, too, saw the announcement of trade deals covering various sectors worth multiple billions of euros. The Italians also became the first major Western power to endorse One Belt One Road. The Chinese alternative The timing of these Italian and Greek announcements is not a coincidence. Italy, like Greece, is saddled with high debts and is bearing the brunt of the EU external migration crisis. Both countries had been calling on the EU for pan-European investment programmes for the past three years, but were rejected outright by core eurozone members like Germany, the Netherlands and Finland. Greece and Italy are attempting the fine balancing act of dealing with China without undermining the EU’s overarching external trade policy, but the EU and Americans are still uneasy. The EU, in particular, is worried about China promoting its alternative model of governance without democracy. In the case of the Greek announcement, one major concern is China’s involvement in the port of Piraeus via its state-owned China Ocean Shipping Corporation (COSCO). Though COSCO has taken stakes in at least 15 European ports in recent years, including the likes of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Marseilles, the port of Piraeus is a particularly eye-catching commitment. The Chinese became the port’s majority owner in 2016, and had already committed €800m towards upgrading its facilities. Now there will be a further €600m investment. This aims to turn Piraeus into the biggest commercial port in Europe, while raising COSCO’s stake from 51 per cent to 67 per cent by 2022. The Chinese see Piraeus as a gateway to EU markets, with a strategic role in Asia-European-African trade routes thanks to its close proximity to the Suez Canal. Greece’s participation in China’s 17+1 initiative is also viewed by the West as particularly significant. Greece is the biggest of the five eurozone members to have joined – the others are Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. Membership is part of Greece’s broader plan to realise international trade agreements via new trade routes. The move seems to have rejuvenated an initiative which has been limited to upgrading infrastructure and had stalled since 2016. While Greece initially joined 17+1 under its hard-left Syriza government, the fact that the new conservative government is prepared to upgrade strategic relations with China demonstrates that the relationship can survive political change in Athens. Xi Jinping’s visit came just a week after prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Shanghai, after China made Greece the official guest country of the 2019 China International Import Expo. The way ahead In truth, it looks somewhat late for the EU to be concerned about these moves by Greece and Italy. They are the direct result of the strict bailouts and the eurozone’s refusal to invest seriously in either country. Other eurozone reforms that might help these countries – a eurozone fiscal union with an unemployment insurance programme; a eurozone banking union with a pan-European deposits guarantee scheme; a single European immigration policy – are also long overdue. To make matters worse, eurozone growth rates have slowed considerably – led by Germany, the supposed powerhouse. France seems to be the only member yet to feel the impact of US tariffs, the Brexit process and the slowdown in the Chinese economy. The gloom is being exacerbated by the likes of the new fragmented European parliament and fragile Italian banks. This all means that there is less room for manoeuvre than there might have been two or three years ago. So while the West may wish that its Mediterranean allies were not looking eastwards, it is going to be difficult to put this particular genie back inside its bottle. The growing sense in Rome and Athens that they have been abandoned by their allies will be difficult to reverse. (Dimitrios Syrrakos is Deputy Head - Department of Economics, Policy and International Business, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester Metropolitan University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

China’s relationships with Greece and Italy are deepening – EU is reaping exactly what it sowed

Microsoft&nbsp;said on Monday it was updating the&nbsp;privacy&nbsp;provisions of its commercial cloud contracts after&nbsp;European regulators found its deals with&nbsp;European Union institutions failed to protect&nbsp;data&nbsp;in line with&nbsp;EU&nbsp;law.

The EDPS, the&nbsp;EU's&nbsp;data&nbsp;watchdog, opened an investigation in April to assess whether&nbsp;Microsoft's contracts with the&nbsp;European Commission and other&nbsp;EU&nbsp;institutions met&nbsp;data&nbsp;protection rules. It raised concerns about compliance in October.

In a statement on its website addressing the issue,&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;said: "We will increase our&nbsp;data&nbsp;protection responsibilities for a subset of processing that&nbsp;Microsoft&nbsp;engages in when we provide enterprise services."

The company, the only major cloud provider to offer such&nbsp;terms&nbsp;in the&nbsp;European Economic Area and beyond, expects to offer the new provisions to public sector and enterprise customers in early 2020.

Microsoft said on Monday it was updating the privacy provisions of its commercial cloud contracts after European regulators found its deals with European Union institutions failed to protect data in line with EU law.

Microsoft said on Monday it was updating the privacy provisions of its commercial cloud contracts after European regulators found its deals with European Union institutions failed to protect data in line with EU law. The EDPS, the EU's data watchdog, opened an investigation in April to assess whether Microsoft's contracts with the European Commission and other EU institutions met data protection rules. It raised concerns about compliance in October. In a statement on its website addressing the issue, Microsoft said: "We will increase our data protection responsibilities for a subset of processing that Microsoft engages in when we provide enterprise services." The company, the only major cloud provider to offer such terms in the European Economic Area and beyond, expects to offer the new provisions to public sector and enterprise customers in early 2020.

Microsoft increases data protection responsibilities for European Union

President Donald Trump on Monday said he is "strongly" considering answering a challenge from opposition Democrats to testify in his own impeachment investigation.

After the speaker of the lower house, Nancy Pelosi, upped the ante by suggesting that Trump come forward to tell the "truth," the Republican president said he was keen.

Pelosi suggested "that I testify about the phony Impeachment Witch Hunt. She also said I could do it in writing," Trump tweeted.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
....that I testify about the phony Impeachment Witch Hunt. She also said I could do it in writing. Even though I did nothing wrong, and don’t like giving credibility to this No Due Process Hoax, I like the idea &amp; will, in order to get Congress focused again, strongly consider it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1196425928768929792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"Even though I did nothing wrong, and don’t like giving credibility to this No Due Process Hoax, I like the idea &amp; will, in order to get Congress focused again, strongly consider it!"

Trump's pressure on Ukraine is at the heart of the Democratic-led inquiry into whether the Republican president misused US foreign policy to undermine former Vice President Joe Biden, one of his potential opponents in the 2020 election.

Eight more witnesses are due to testify in Week Two of the televised hearings. They include Gordon Sondland, the US&nbsp;ambassador to the European Union, whose direct interactions with Trump are likely to be the main focus in the investigation of whether the president made security aid to Ukraine contingent on it agreeing to dig up dirt on a political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.

The latest round of hearings will stretch from Tuesday to Thursday before the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee. Seeking to build on last week’s testimony by three key witnesses, Democrats leading the inquiry - the first public impeachment drama in two decades - will continue trying to make the case that Trump abused the power of his office.

President Donald Trump on Monday said he is "strongly" considering answering a challenge from opposition Democrats to testify in his own impeachment investigation.

President Donald Trump on Monday said he is "strongly" considering answering a challenge from opposition Democrats to testify in his own impeachment investigation. After the speaker of the lower house, Nancy Pelosi, upped the ante by suggesting that Trump come forward to tell the "truth," the Republican president said he was keen. Pelosi suggested "that I testify about the phony Impeachment Witch Hunt. She also said I could do it in writing," Trump tweeted. ....that I testify about the phony Impeachment Witch Hunt. She also said I could do it in writing. Even though I did nothing wrong, and don’t like giving credibility to this No Due Process Hoax, I like the idea & will, in order to get Congress focused again, strongly consider it! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2019 × "Even though I did nothing wrong, and don’t like giving credibility to this No Due Process Hoax, I like the idea & will, in order to get Congress focused again, strongly consider it!" Trump's pressure on Ukraine is at the heart of the Democratic-led inquiry into whether the Republican president misused US foreign policy to undermine former Vice President Joe Biden, one of his potential opponents in the 2020 election. Eight more witnesses are due to testify in Week Two of the televised hearings. They include Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, whose direct interactions with Trump are likely to be the main focus in the investigation of whether the president made security aid to Ukraine contingent on it agreeing to dig up dirt on a political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. The latest round of hearings will stretch from Tuesday to Thursday before the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee. Seeking to build on last week’s testimony by three key witnesses, Democrats leading the inquiry - the first public impeachment drama in two decades - will continue trying to make the case that Trump abused the power of his office.

'Strongly' considering to testify in impeachment probe, tweets Trump

The European Union has offered technical assistance to Pakistan for the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan by the country, according to a media report.

According to a joint press release issued at the conclusion of the 10th session of the European Union-Pakistan Joint Commission in Brussels on Friday, two sides emphasised the importance of the implementation of the FATF action plan by Pakistan, The Dawn reported.

The EU recognised the challenges faced by Pakistan in handling the most protracted refugee situation, and assured the country of continuation of its cooperation and assistance, working towards durable solutions for Afghan refugees and their host communities in the region, including the promotion of voluntary, safe, and dignified return to Afghanistan.

Global terror financing watchdog FATF last month retained Pakistan on its 'Grey List' till February 2020 for its failure to take adequate action against money laundering and terror financing.

Pakistan was placed on the Grey List by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in June last year and was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019 or face the risk of being placed on the Black List.

The European Union has offered technical assistance to Pakistan for the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan by the country, according to a media report.

The European Union has offered technical assistance to Pakistan for the implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan by the country, according to a media report. According to a joint press release issued at the conclusion of the 10th session of the European Union-Pakistan Joint Commission in Brussels on Friday, two sides emphasised the importance of the implementation of the FATF action plan by Pakistan, The Dawn reported. The EU recognised the challenges faced by Pakistan in handling the most protracted refugee situation, and assured the country of continuation of its cooperation and assistance, working towards durable solutions for Afghan refugees and their host communities in the region, including the promotion of voluntary, safe, and dignified return to Afghanistan. Global terror financing watchdog FATF last month retained Pakistan on its 'Grey List' till February 2020 for its failure to take adequate action against money laundering and terror financing. Pakistan was placed on the Grey List by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in June last year and was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019 or face the risk of being placed on the Black List.

FATF: European Union offers technical assistance to Pakistan

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservatives said on Sunday they would end preferential treatment for European Union migrants from January 2021 if they win an election next month.

The level of immigration and concerns over the pressure this puts on public services was a major driver behind the 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU.

Setting out details of their post-Brexit immigration policy ahead of a December&nbsp;12 election, the Conservatives said EU nationals would typically have to wait five years before they could access welfare payments, compared with the current three months.

"As we come out of the EU we have a new opportunity for fairness and to make sure all those who come here are treated the same. We will make our immigration system equal," Johnson said in a statement.

The Conservatives also said they would increase the international health surcharge paid by migrants to access Britain's National Health Service to 625 pounds ($800) from 400 pounds from next year, and extend it to all foreign workers.

This would include EU migrants after free movement ends in January 2021, the party said, adding that they expected the move to raise more than 500 million pounds a year.

The Conservatives said the vast majority of migrants would need a job offer to come to Britain to work regardless of where they are from in the world, with exceptions including highly skilled scientists and those who want to start a business.

Johnson's predecessors, David Cameron and Theresa May, came under fire for failing to meet a pledge to reduce annual net migration to less than 100,000. It was more than double that in the latest official figures released in August.

The Conservatives have pledged to introduce a points-based system for post-Brexit immigration.

"We are not going to fix on an arbitrary target," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told BBC TV, when asked by how much the Conservatives would reduce immigration.

"What we will do is make sure that the government and parliament has got control over immigration so we get the advantages, the benefits ... and we also control the costs and the pressures."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservatives said on Sunday they would end preferential treatment for European Union migrants from January 2021 if they win an election next month.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservatives said on Sunday they would end preferential treatment for European Union migrants from January 2021 if they win an election next month. The level of immigration and concerns over the pressure this puts on public services was a major driver behind the 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU. Setting out details of their post-Brexit immigration policy ahead of a December 12 election, the Conservatives said EU nationals would typically have to wait five years before they could access welfare payments, compared with the current three months. "As we come out of the EU we have a new opportunity for fairness and to make sure all those who come here are treated the same. We will make our immigration system equal," Johnson said in a statement. The Conservatives also said they would increase the international health surcharge paid by migrants to access Britain's National Health Service to 625 pounds ($800) from 400 pounds from next year, and extend it to all foreign workers. This would include EU migrants after free movement ends in January 2021, the party said, adding that they expected the move to raise more than 500 million pounds a year. The Conservatives said the vast majority of migrants would need a job offer to come to Britain to work regardless of where they are from in the world, with exceptions including highly skilled scientists and those who want to start a business. Johnson's predecessors, David Cameron and Theresa May, came under fire for failing to meet a pledge to reduce annual net migration to less than 100,000. It was more than double that in the latest official figures released in August. The Conservatives have pledged to introduce a points-based system for post-Brexit immigration. "We are not going to fix on an arbitrary target," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told BBC TV, when asked by how much the Conservatives would reduce immigration. "What we will do is make sure that the government and parliament has got control over immigration so we get the advantages, the benefits ... and we also control the costs and the pressures."

No more preferential treatment for EU migrants after Brexit: UK Conservatives

Poland's PGNiG state-owned natural gas company announced on Friday it would not extend a major contract with Russian gas giant Gazprom when it ends in 2022, thanks to its successful diversification of energy sources.

PGNiG said it had notified Gazprom about its "intent to terminate" a long-term so-called Yamal contract from 1996 on "December 31, 2022", according to a company press release.

Two-thirds of the gas consumed in Poland, about 10 billion cubic meters, is currently delivered by Russia under the Yamal contract.&nbsp;

An EU and NATO member, Poland has long wanted to wean itself off Russian gas, notably by having opened an LNG terminal on its Baltic coast capable of receiving LNG shipments from the US and the Middle East.

Polish companies have also acquired several gas fields in the North Sea and Warsaw has signed an agreement with Denmark on the construction of a pipeline under the Baltic Sea to ensure deliveries.

A former Soviet satellite state, Poland maintains that reliance on Russian energy supplies makes it vulnerable to political pressure from Moscow. Warsaw has also accused Gazprom of price gouging.

Along with the US, Ukraine and the Baltic states, Poland has lashed out against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that runs under the Baltic Sea and is set to double shipments of Russian natural gas to Germany, the EU's biggest economy.

They warn that Moscow could seize on Europe's increased reliance on Russian gas to exert political pressure.

Poland's PGNiG state-owned natural gas company announced on Friday it would not extend a major contract with Russian gas giant Gazprom when it ends in 2022, thanks to its successful diversification of energy sources.

Poland's PGNiG state-owned natural gas company announced on Friday it would not extend a major contract with Russian gas giant Gazprom when it ends in 2022, thanks to its successful diversification of energy sources. PGNiG said it had notified Gazprom about its "intent to terminate" a long-term so-called Yamal contract from 1996 on "December 31, 2022", according to a company press release. Two-thirds of the gas consumed in Poland, about 10 billion cubic meters, is currently delivered by Russia under the Yamal contract. An EU and NATO member, Poland has long wanted to wean itself off Russian gas, notably by having opened an LNG terminal on its Baltic coast capable of receiving LNG shipments from the US and the Middle East. Polish companies have also acquired several gas fields in the North Sea and Warsaw has signed an agreement with Denmark on the construction of a pipeline under the Baltic Sea to ensure deliveries. A former Soviet satellite state, Poland maintains that reliance on Russian energy supplies makes it vulnerable to political pressure from Moscow. Warsaw has also accused Gazprom of price gouging. Along with the US, Ukraine and the Baltic states, Poland has lashed out against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that runs under the Baltic Sea and is set to double shipments of Russian natural gas to Germany, the EU's biggest economy. They warn that Moscow could seize on Europe's increased reliance on Russian gas to exert political pressure.

Poland to end major Russian gas contract by 2022

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Wednesday declare that the UK can "end the groundhoggery of Brexit" if he wins next month's election, saying the rest of the world was wondering why so much time has been spent agonising over whether to leave the European Union.

Britons will <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-set-for-third-election-in-four-years-to-try-to-break-brexit-gridlock-258692">vote on December&nbsp;12</a> after parliament agreed to an early election, seeking to end three years of deep disagreement over Brexit that has sapped investors' faith in the stability of the world's fifth-largest economy and damaged Britain's international standing.

"The UK is admired and respected around the world but people are baffled by our debate on Brexit and they cannot understand how this great country can squander so much time and energy on this question and how we can be so hesitant about our future," Johnson will say at an electric vehicle manufacturer in the West Midlands, according to prepared remarks.

"If we can get a working majority we can get parliament working for you, we can get out of the rut. We can end the groundhoggery of Brexit," Johnson said in an apparent reference to the 1993 movie Groundhog Day in which a TV weatherman finds himself reliving the same day over and over again.

Johnson, 55, hopes to win a majority to push through the last-minute Brexit deal he struck with the European Union last month after the bloc granted the third delay to the divorce that was originally supposed to take place on March 29. Most voters who took part in a June 2016 referendum voted in favour of the UK leaving the EU.

The first December election in Britain since 1923 will be one of the hardest to forecast in years. Brexit has scrambled voters' traditional loyalties and is giving smaller rivals a chance to challenge the two biggest parties, Johnson's Conservative Party and the left-of-centre Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn.

Opinion polls show the Conservatives are well ahead of Labour, but analysts caution the overshadowing issue of Brexit, which has divided both major parties and their voters, could confound conventional calculations.

Johnson will urge voters to back the Conservatives and say that if Labour is elected, they face the prospect of two more referendums, one on Britain's membership of the EU, and another on Scottish independence, which risks ripping apart the United Kingdom.

"We face a historic choice. At this election, the country can either move forwards with policies that will deliver years of growth and prosperity, or it can disappear into an intellectual cul-de-sac of far-left Corbynism," Johnson will say.

"We can honour the wishes of the people, or else we can waste more time."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Wednesday declare that the UK can "end the groundhoggery of Brexit" if he wins next month's election, saying the rest of the world was wondering why so much time has been spent agonising over whether to leave the European Union.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Wednesday declare that the UK can "end the groundhoggery of Brexit" if he wins next month's election, saying the rest of the world was wondering why so much time has been spent agonising over whether to leave the European Union. Britons will vote on December 12 after parliament agreed to an early election, seeking to end three years of deep disagreement over Brexit that has sapped investors' faith in the stability of the world's fifth-largest economy and damaged Britain's international standing. "The UK is admired and respected around the world but people are baffled by our debate on Brexit and they cannot understand how this great country can squander so much time and energy on this question and how we can be so hesitant about our future," Johnson will say at an electric vehicle manufacturer in the West Midlands, according to prepared remarks. "If we can get a working majority we can get parliament working for you, we can get out of the rut. We can end the groundhoggery of Brexit," Johnson said in an apparent reference to the 1993 movie Groundhog Day in which a TV weatherman finds himself reliving the same day over and over again. Johnson, 55, hopes to win a majority to push through the last-minute Brexit deal he struck with the European Union last month after the bloc granted the third delay to the divorce that was originally supposed to take place on March 29. Most voters who took part in a June 2016 referendum voted in favour of the UK leaving the EU. The first December election in Britain since 1923 will be one of the hardest to forecast in years. Brexit has scrambled voters' traditional loyalties and is giving smaller rivals a chance to challenge the two biggest parties, Johnson's Conservative Party and the left-of-centre Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn. Opinion polls show the Conservatives are well ahead of Labour, but analysts caution the overshadowing issue of Brexit, which has divided both major parties and their voters, could confound conventional calculations. Johnson will urge voters to back the Conservatives and say that if Labour is elected, they face the prospect of two more referendums, one on Britain's membership of the EU, and another on Scottish independence, which risks ripping apart the United Kingdom. "We face a historic choice. At this election, the country can either move forwards with policies that will deliver years of growth and prosperity, or it can disappear into an intellectual cul-de-sac of far-left Corbynism," Johnson will say. "We can honour the wishes of the people, or else we can waste more time."

Boris Johnson to declare Britain can end 'the groundhoggery of Brexit'

Britain is threatening to deport European Union citizens if they fail to apply on time for a new immigration status after Brexit and will only grant leniency in exceptional circumstances, according to people briefed on the plans.

In previously unreported guidelines, the government has drafted a narrow list of exemptions, such as those with a physical or mental incapacity, or children whose parents fail to apply on their behalf, the people said.

The government is introducing the biggest shake-up of Britain's border controls in decades, ending the priority given to EU migrants over those from other countries. Most EU citizens will need some form of prior permission from the government to remain in Britain.

The government has often been accused of failing to establish who is living in Britain legally or illegally. In what became known last year as the Windrush scandal, thousands of Caribbean migrants were wrongly denied basic rights. Some lost jobs, others were wrongly deported.

Government figures show just over half of the estimated 3.5 million European Union citizens living in Britain have received the new legal status ahead of the December&nbsp;31, 2020 deadline.

Immigration lawyers say they were invited to the Home Office a few months ago to read the government's draft immigration guidelines, which had a section on what will happen to EU nationals who fail to apply on time. The government has not said when it will publish the information.

A general election is being held on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-set-for-third-election-in-four-years-to-try-to-break-brexit-gridlock-258692">December&nbsp;12</a> and if the Conservative government loses, the proposals could be changed.

"We are looking at a fairly high threshold, saying 'I forgot' won’t be good enough," one of the lawyers said. "If someone fails to apply before the deadline they will have no lawful residence. Then the process to deport them will kick in."

The Home Office said in a statement individuals who miss the deadline through no fault of their own will still be able to apply for lawful status.

Until now the government has said officials will do everything they can to grant EU nationals the right to remain and steered away from focusing on what would happen to those who fail to apply on time.

Campaign groups fear that many EU citizens lawfully in the country could fall through the net and plans to have all EU nationals registered by the end of December next year are too ambitious.

A study in March said that most historic take-up rates for large-population registrations ran from less than 20 per cent&nbsp;in the UK to 43 per centr&nbsp;in the United States and 77 per cent&nbsp;in Spain. The only scheme that came near to a 100 per cent&nbsp;take-up was an ID card system in India.

Maike Bohn, who works for the 3million group, which supports the rights of EU citizens, says the most vulnerable in society such as the elderly, those not in regular employment and victims of domestic violence may fail to apply.

"We are massively concerned about this. It’s our biggest worry," she said. "I meet people on almost daily basis who are aware of the scheme, but think they don't need to apply."

The application process in Britain has come under fire, with people who have lived in the country for decades saying they face an inflexible bureaucratic system.

Even if the application scheme in Britain achieved 95 per cent success, about 175,000 people would be left out.

After the deadline, EU nationals who have failed to apply face being gradually transformed from legal residents into undocumented migrants, and the government has been explicit about the threat of deportation.

The Home Office has said EU nationals who fail to apply on time "will be liable to enforcement action, detention and removal as an immigration offender".

Other migrants say their difficulties with the British immigration system are a warning to EU nationals.

Hari Babu, an Indian migrant, said he faces deportation because his accountant made a mistake on a tax return and he is being punished under a law designed, in part, to deal with people who are a threat to national security.

For the past three and a half years, the government has held Babu's passport, preventing him from working or visiting his grandmother in India.

The Home Office said applications were considered on their merits and indefinite leave to remain would be refused if false representations were made or false documents or information submitted.

Babu moved to Britain in 2007 to study for a masters degree and then had a variety of jobs, including as a recruitment manager at the upmarket clothing company Thomas Pink.

But when he applied for permanent residency the government said he had underpaid about 1,000 pounds in tax. Babu said it was an error by his accountant and when rectified there was no additional tax to pay.

"I have been depressed and barely slept for last three years," he said. "I have no doubt people from the EU will face similar problems."

Britain is threatening to deport European Union citizens if they fail to apply on time for a new immigration status after Brexit and will only grant leniency in exceptional circumstances, according to people briefed on the plans.

Britain is threatening to deport European Union citizens if they fail to apply on time for a new immigration status after Brexit and will only grant leniency in exceptional circumstances, according to people briefed on the plans. In previously unreported guidelines, the government has drafted a narrow list of exemptions, such as those with a physical or mental incapacity, or children whose parents fail to apply on their behalf, the people said. The government is introducing the biggest shake-up of Britain's border controls in decades, ending the priority given to EU migrants over those from other countries. Most EU citizens will need some form of prior permission from the government to remain in Britain. The government has often been accused of failing to establish who is living in Britain legally or illegally. In what became known last year as the Windrush scandal, thousands of Caribbean migrants were wrongly denied basic rights. Some lost jobs, others were wrongly deported. Government figures show just over half of the estimated 3.5 million European Union citizens living in Britain have received the new legal status ahead of the December 31, 2020 deadline. Immigration lawyers say they were invited to the Home Office a few months ago to read the government's draft immigration guidelines, which had a section on what will happen to EU nationals who fail to apply on time. The government has not said when it will publish the information. A general election is being held on December 12 and if the Conservative government loses, the proposals could be changed. "We are looking at a fairly high threshold, saying 'I forgot' won’t be good enough," one of the lawyers said. "If someone fails to apply before the deadline they will have no lawful residence. Then the process to deport them will kick in." The Home Office said in a statement individuals who miss the deadline through no fault of their own will still be able to apply for lawful status. Until now the government has said officials will do everything they can to grant EU nationals the right to remain and steered away from focusing on what would happen to those who fail to apply on time. Campaign groups fear that many EU citizens lawfully in the country could fall through the net and plans to have all EU nationals registered by the end of December next year are too ambitious. A study in March said that most historic take-up rates for large-population registrations ran from less than 20 per cent in the UK to 43 per centr in the United States and 77 per cent in Spain. The only scheme that came near to a 100 per cent take-up was an ID card system in India. Maike Bohn, who works for the 3million group, which supports the rights of EU citizens, says the most vulnerable in society such as the elderly, those not in regular employment and victims of domestic violence may fail to apply. "We are massively concerned about this. It’s our biggest worry," she said. "I meet people on almost daily basis who are aware of the scheme, but think they don't need to apply." The application process in Britain has come under fire, with people who have lived in the country for decades saying they face an inflexible bureaucratic system. Even if the application scheme in Britain achieved 95 per cent success, about 175,000 people would be left out. After the deadline, EU nationals who have failed to apply face being gradually transformed from legal residents into undocumented migrants, and the government has been explicit about the threat of deportation. The Home Office has said EU nationals who fail to apply on time "will be liable to enforcement action, detention and removal as an immigration offender". Other migrants say their difficulties with the British immigration system are a warning to EU nationals. Hari Babu, an Indian migrant, said he faces deportation because his accountant made a mistake on a tax return and he is being punished under a law designed, in part, to deal with people who are a threat to national security. For the past three and a half years, the government has held Babu's passport, preventing him from working or visiting his grandmother in India. The Home Office said applications were considered on their merits and indefinite leave to remain would be refused if false representations were made or false documents or information submitted. Babu moved to Britain in 2007 to study for a masters degree and then had a variety of jobs, including as a recruitment manager at the upmarket clothing company Thomas Pink. But when he applied for permanent residency the government said he had underpaid about 1,000 pounds in tax. Babu said it was an error by his accountant and when rectified there was no additional tax to pay. "I have been depressed and barely slept for last three years," he said. "I have no doubt people from the EU will face similar problems."

Britain threatens to deport European Union citizens failing to comply residency deadline

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered the release on bail of more than 70 opposition activists arrested in recent weeks and accused of plotting to overthrow the government, he said on Thursday.

Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for more than 34 years, has been under increasing international pressure to improve his human rights record, with the European Union threatening the withdrawal of important trade benefits.

"There are over 70 people, please hurry up work on this case so that these brothers can be released on bail," Hun Sen said in a speech at a new cement factory in the southern province of Kampot, in comments directed at judicial authorities.

Cambodia arrested dozens of people in the run-up to last Saturday when veteran opposition figure Sam Rainsy had said he would return from self-imposed exile to rally opposition to authoritarian ruler Hun Sen.

But Sam Rainsy did not return to Cambodia, saying he had been stopped in Paris from boarding a flight to neighbouring Thailand. He instead flew to Malaysia before arriving in Indonesia on Thursday.

On Saturday, Cambodia also relaxed the house arrest conditions on opposition leader Kem Sokha, who was arrested on treason charges more than two years ago. He says the charges are ridiculous and has called for them to be dropped.

Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy co-founded the Cambodia National Rescue Party, which was banned in 2017. By then, Sam Rainsy had flown into self-exile in France after a defamation conviction and other charges he says are political.

On Tuesday, the European Union voiced concern at human rights in Cambodia as it gave a one-month deadline to authorities to respond to a report on its investigation before deciding whether to suspend trade benefits.

Hun Sen said that in addition to ordering the release of the opposition activists, he had ordered the Justice Ministry to withdraw arrest warrants for other opposition activists who had fled to Thailand or were in hiding in Cambodia.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered the release on bail of more than 70 opposition activists arrested in recent weeks and accused of plotting to overthrow the government, he said on Thursday.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered the release on bail of more than 70 opposition activists arrested in recent weeks and accused of plotting to overthrow the government, he said on Thursday. Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for more than 34 years, has been under increasing international pressure to improve his human rights record, with the European Union threatening the withdrawal of important trade benefits. "There are over 70 people, please hurry up work on this case so that these brothers can be released on bail," Hun Sen said in a speech at a new cement factory in the southern province of Kampot, in comments directed at judicial authorities. Cambodia arrested dozens of people in the run-up to last Saturday when veteran opposition figure Sam Rainsy had said he would return from self-imposed exile to rally opposition to authoritarian ruler Hun Sen. But Sam Rainsy did not return to Cambodia, saying he had been stopped in Paris from boarding a flight to neighbouring Thailand. He instead flew to Malaysia before arriving in Indonesia on Thursday. On Saturday, Cambodia also relaxed the house arrest conditions on opposition leader Kem Sokha, who was arrested on treason charges more than two years ago. He says the charges are ridiculous and has called for them to be dropped. Kem Sokha and Sam Rainsy co-founded the Cambodia National Rescue Party, which was banned in 2017. By then, Sam Rainsy had flown into self-exile in France after a defamation conviction and other charges he says are political. On Tuesday, the European Union voiced concern at human rights in Cambodia as it gave a one-month deadline to authorities to respond to a report on its investigation before deciding whether to suspend trade benefits. Hun Sen said that in addition to ordering the release of the opposition activists, he had ordered the Justice Ministry to withdraw arrest warrants for other opposition activists who had fled to Thailand or were in hiding in Cambodia.

Cambodian Prime Minister orders to free more than 70 opposition activists on bail

Britain will lose influence in international affairs and become a "second-rate player" after it leaves the European Union, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Wednesday.

Backers of Britain's 2016 vote to exit the EU, the world's largest trading bloc, say that the country - the world's fifth-largest economy - will achieve a new global status unshackled from EU rules and closer to the United States.

Tusk said only a united Europe could confront an assertive China and play an effective global role.

"I have heard repeatedly from Brexiteers that they wanted to leave the European Union to make the United Kingdom global again, believing that only alone, it can truly be great...," Tusk said in a speech at the College of Europe in the Belgian city of Bruges.

"But the reality is exactly the opposite. Only as part of a united Europe can the UK play a global role, only together can we confront, without any complexes, the greatest powers of this world. And the world knows it," said Tusk, who has chaired EU summits for the past five years and been an influential voice in European politics.

"I have heard the same in India, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and South Africa - that after its departure, the UK will become an outsider, a second-rate player."

Tusk has repeatedly voiced a wish for Britain to change its mind and stay in the EU. The former Polish prime minister will step down from his post on December&nbsp;1, handing over to former Belgian prime minister Charles Michel

Britain is set to leave the bloc on January&nbsp;31, 2020, if British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wins a majority in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-set-for-third-election-in-four-years-to-try-to-break-brexit-gridlock-258692">next month's election</a> and thereby secures parliamentary ratification of his EU withdrawal deal.

London remains a powerful financial centre and Britain has long been the United States' closest military ally.

But Britain's status as an influential power in the EU has also given it clout to diverge from Washington when it disagrees - something it has frequently done since US&nbsp;President Donald Trump came to office.

Many Western diplomats believe Britain after Brexit must be careful not alienate itself from other friendly countries who have a more multilateral approach to world politics than Trump.

"'Why are they doing this?' – I was asked this regretful question everywhere I went,", Tusk said. "One of my English friends is probably right when he says with melancholy that Brexit is the real end of the British Empire."

Britain will lose influence in international affairs and become a "second-rate player" after it leaves the European Union, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Wednesday.

Britain will lose influence in international affairs and become a "second-rate player" after it leaves the European Union, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Wednesday. Backers of Britain's 2016 vote to exit the EU, the world's largest trading bloc, say that the country - the world's fifth-largest economy - will achieve a new global status unshackled from EU rules and closer to the United States. Tusk said only a united Europe could confront an assertive China and play an effective global role. "I have heard repeatedly from Brexiteers that they wanted to leave the European Union to make the United Kingdom global again, believing that only alone, it can truly be great...," Tusk said in a speech at the College of Europe in the Belgian city of Bruges. "But the reality is exactly the opposite. Only as part of a united Europe can the UK play a global role, only together can we confront, without any complexes, the greatest powers of this world. And the world knows it," said Tusk, who has chaired EU summits for the past five years and been an influential voice in European politics. "I have heard the same in India, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and South Africa - that after its departure, the UK will become an outsider, a second-rate player." Tusk has repeatedly voiced a wish for Britain to change its mind and stay in the EU. The former Polish prime minister will step down from his post on December 1, handing over to former Belgian prime minister Charles Michel Britain is set to leave the bloc on January 31, 2020, if British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wins a majority in next month's election and thereby secures parliamentary ratification of his EU withdrawal deal. London remains a powerful financial centre and Britain has long been the United States' closest military ally. But Britain's status as an influential power in the EU has also given it clout to diverge from Washington when it disagrees - something it has frequently done since US President Donald Trump came to office. Many Western diplomats believe Britain after Brexit must be careful not alienate itself from other friendly countries who have a more multilateral approach to world politics than Trump. "'Why are they doing this?' – I was asked this regretful question everywhere I went,", Tusk said. "One of my English friends is probably right when he says with melancholy that Brexit is the real end of the British Empire."

Britain to become 'second rate' in the world after Brexit: European Union President Donald Tusk

&nbsp;The Polish opposition secured the post of Senate speaker in a parliamentary vote on Tuesday seen as a test of its ability to retain control of the upper house after winning it in an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polands-ruling-nationalists-win-majority-in-parliament-255794">October&nbsp;13 general election</a>.

The loss of the Senate was a blow to the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party because that could delay some of its legislative ambitions. These include further changes to the justice system, which have concerned the European Union.

Since the election, Polish media have reported that PiS had made overtures to opposition senators in an attempt to establish a working majority.

In Tuesday's vote for speaker, the opposition candidate, centrist Civic Platform's (PO) senator Tomasz Grodzki, a 61-year-old surgeon, won 51 votes, while the PiS' candidate Stanislaw Karczewski received 48 votes in the 100-member Senate. One lawmaker refrained from voting.

"This is a victory of democracy," Grodzki told the Senate.

During its first term in power PiS, accused by the EU of subverting the rule of law, gained a reputation for pushing through bills at breakneck speed, with hastily called late-night lower house sittings followed by quick approval from the Senate.

"Taking over the Senate means very severe strengthening of the opposition. For the PiS every vote lost in the Senate is an image loss," said Warsaw University sociologist Jacek Haman.

The Polish opposition secured the post of Senate speaker in a parliamentary vote on Tuesday seen as a test of its ability to retain control of the upper house after winning it in an October 13 general election.

The Polish opposition secured the post of Senate speaker in a parliamentary vote on Tuesday seen as a test of its ability to retain control of the upper house after winning it in an October 13 general election. The loss of the Senate was a blow to the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party because that could delay some of its legislative ambitions. These include further changes to the justice system, which have concerned the European Union. Since the election, Polish media have reported that PiS had made overtures to opposition senators in an attempt to establish a working majority. In Tuesday's vote for speaker, the opposition candidate, centrist Civic Platform's (PO) senator Tomasz Grodzki, a 61-year-old surgeon, won 51 votes, while the PiS' candidate Stanislaw Karczewski received 48 votes in the 100-member Senate. One lawmaker refrained from voting. "This is a victory of democracy," Grodzki told the Senate. During its first term in power PiS, accused by the EU of subverting the rule of law, gained a reputation for pushing through bills at breakneck speed, with hastily called late-night lower house sittings followed by quick approval from the Senate. "Taking over the Senate means very severe strengthening of the opposition. For the PiS every vote lost in the Senate is an image loss," said Warsaw University sociologist Jacek Haman.

Poland's opposition wins speaker seat in upper house of parliament

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/european-union-concerned-by-irans-nuclear-deal-breach-261502">Europe's threat</a> to trigger a mechanism that could reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran marks a significant breakdown in diplomacy to try to save the 2015 nuclear deal and could presage its death knell, diplomats say.

Britain, France and Germany have sought to salvage the pact, under which Iran undertook to curtail its uranium enrichment programme in return for relief from sanctions crippling its economy since the United States withdrew last year.

But the three European powers have failed to make good on the trade and investment dividends promised to Iran under the deal as they have been unable to shield Tehran from renewed US&nbsp;sanctions that have strangled its vital oil trade.

That has prompted Iran to renege step by step from its non-proliferation commitments under the deal.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uranium-particles-detected-at-undeclared-site-in-iran-iaea-report-261503">U.N. nuclear watchdog (IAEA)</a> confirmed on Monday that Iran had resumed enriching uranium in its underground Fordow plant and was rapidly accelerating enrichment with a variety of advanced centrifuge machines also banned by the deal.

The move has alarmed European powers that had previously dismissed Tehran's breaches, such as exceeding the cap on stockpiles of enriched uranium and on the fissile purity of enrichment, as insignificant and reversible.

Britain, France, and Germany raised the prospect of a restoration of international sanctions for the first time late on Monday after a meeting of foreign ministers in Paris, saying they were ready "to consider all mechanisms ... including the dispute resolution mechanism".

Under the terms of the 2015 deal, if any party believes another is not upholding their commitments they can refer the issue to a Joint Commission comprising Iran, Russia, China, the three European powers, and the European Union.

If the complaining party cannot resolve the matter at the Commission level, it could then notify the U.N. Security Council, which must vote within 30 days on a resolution on continuing Iran's sanctions relief.

If this is not adopted within that time span, sanctions that were in place under previous U.N. resolutions would be reimposed - known as a "snapback" - unless the Council decided otherwise.

"We don't want to pull out of the (deal) too soon, but equally we cannot sit back. The Russians and the Chinese are not going to trigger this, but us, as Europeans, will have to take a stance at some point," said a European diplomat.

"It is not if but when, unless Iran pulls back, but even then, they are gaining (nuclear) knowledge by spinning these centrifuges, so we have to react."

Enrichment is the main pathway towards producing fuel that detonates a nuclear bomb, though Iran has refined to a fissile purity of 4.5 per cent&nbsp;- roughly suitable for electricity generation - far below the bomb-grade threshold of 90 per cent.

European disquiet has been exacerbated by the detention of an IAEA inspector at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility at the end of October, contrary to stipulations in the deal that Iran must grant daily access to the site as requested.

Diplomats said a meeting of the parties to the accord would take place over the next week to discuss latest developments. However, they say, the Europeans are unlikely to trigger the mechanism before January when Iran is due to announce its next round of steps away from compliance with the deal.

"What we're now seeing is the dismantling of the JCPOA," said another diplomat, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the agreement is formally known.

"We haven't decided on launching the mechanism, because we need to be sure of how it will help us in trying to defuse tensions. The questions we're asking is when, how, and whether it benefits us to do it?"

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated on Tuesday that Iran had itself launched the complaint mechanism and it was ceasing to heed its deal commitments because the Europeans had failed to protect it from US&nbsp;sanctions.

The deal's objective was to extend the time Iran would need to accumulate enough fissile material for an atom bomb, if it sought one - something sometimes referred to as "breakout time" to about a year from 2-3 months.

"We're now entering a phase where Iran's actions have a serious impact on the breakout time," said another EU diplomat, adding that the window to bring Iran and the United States back to the negotiating table was very small now.

Europe's threat to trigger a mechanism that could reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran marks a significant breakdown in diplomacy to try to save the 2015 nuclear deal and could presage its death knell, diplomats say.

Europe's threat to trigger a mechanism that could reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran marks a significant breakdown in diplomacy to try to save the 2015 nuclear deal and could presage its death knell, diplomats say. Britain, France and Germany have sought to salvage the pact, under which Iran undertook to curtail its uranium enrichment programme in return for relief from sanctions crippling its economy since the United States withdrew last year. But the three European powers have failed to make good on the trade and investment dividends promised to Iran under the deal as they have been unable to shield Tehran from renewed US sanctions that have strangled its vital oil trade. That has prompted Iran to renege step by step from its non-proliferation commitments under the deal. The U.N. nuclear watchdog (IAEA) confirmed on Monday that Iran had resumed enriching uranium in its underground Fordow plant and was rapidly accelerating enrichment with a variety of advanced centrifuge machines also banned by the deal. The move has alarmed European powers that had previously dismissed Tehran's breaches, such as exceeding the cap on stockpiles of enriched uranium and on the fissile purity of enrichment, as insignificant and reversible. Britain, France, and Germany raised the prospect of a restoration of international sanctions for the first time late on Monday after a meeting of foreign ministers in Paris, saying they were ready "to consider all mechanisms ... including the dispute resolution mechanism". Under the terms of the 2015 deal, if any party believes another is not upholding their commitments they can refer the issue to a Joint Commission comprising Iran, Russia, China, the three European powers, and the European Union. If the complaining party cannot resolve the matter at the Commission level, it could then notify the U.N. Security Council, which must vote within 30 days on a resolution on continuing Iran's sanctions relief. If this is not adopted within that time span, sanctions that were in place under previous U.N. resolutions would be reimposed - known as a "snapback" - unless the Council decided otherwise. "We don't want to pull out of the (deal) too soon, but equally we cannot sit back. The Russians and the Chinese are not going to trigger this, but us, as Europeans, will have to take a stance at some point," said a European diplomat. "It is not if but when, unless Iran pulls back, but even then, they are gaining (nuclear) knowledge by spinning these centrifuges, so we have to react." Enrichment is the main pathway towards producing fuel that detonates a nuclear bomb, though Iran has refined to a fissile purity of 4.5 per cent - roughly suitable for electricity generation - far below the bomb-grade threshold of 90 per cent. European disquiet has been exacerbated by the detention of an IAEA inspector at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility at the end of October, contrary to stipulations in the deal that Iran must grant daily access to the site as requested. Diplomats said a meeting of the parties to the accord would take place over the next week to discuss latest developments. However, they say, the Europeans are unlikely to trigger the mechanism before January when Iran is due to announce its next round of steps away from compliance with the deal. "What we're now seeing is the dismantling of the JCPOA," said another diplomat, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the agreement is formally known. "We haven't decided on launching the mechanism, because we need to be sure of how it will help us in trying to defuse tensions. The questions we're asking is when, how, and whether it benefits us to do it?" Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated on Tuesday that Iran had itself launched the complaint mechanism and it was ceasing to heed its deal commitments because the Europeans had failed to protect it from US sanctions. The deal's objective was to extend the time Iran would need to accumulate enough fissile material for an atom bomb, if it sought one - something sometimes referred to as "breakout time" to about a year from 2-3 months. "We're now entering a phase where Iran's actions have a serious impact on the breakout time," said another EU diplomat, adding that the window to bring Iran and the United States back to the negotiating table was very small now.

European concerns raise prospect of renewed U.N. sanctions on Iran

The French government on Wednesday attempted to defuse the anger caused by the attempted suicide of a student who set himself alight to protest the hardship he faced.

The 22-year-old student suffered burns on 90 per cent of his body after attempting to take his life outside a university building in central Lyon on November 8.

The man, who had recently lost his student grant, remains in critical condition in hospital.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, hundreds of students demonstrated in Lyon, Paris and Lille over the desperate act which the student blamed in a Facebook post on successive French presidents and the European Union.

In Paris, protesters tore down the gate of the higher education ministry and scrawled "financial insecurity kills" on the wall. At Lille university, a conference by ex-president Francois Hollande had to be called off. In Lyon, classes were disrupted.

Junior interior minister Laurent Nunez on Wednesday condemned the incidents.

"The real emotion" triggered by the man's suicide bid was "understandable", he told France Inter radio.

But the damage caused to buildings, the death threats received by managers of student bursaries and the blocking of Hollande's conference were "totally unacceptable, the minister said.

The political sciences student, who lost his grant after twice failing his second year, accused President Emmanuel Macron, his two predecessors, Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, and the European Union of having "killed me".

Even when he had his grant of 450 euros ($495) a month, he said he struggled to get by, adding that he had decided to "commit the irreparable" outside the student loan authority building because he saw it as a "political place".

High failure rate

In Lyon, several hundred people demonstrated outside the regional headquarters of the loan authority on Tuesday.

"It's not normal that students should have to go to such extremes to draw attention to a Kafkaesque system which crushes students and puts them in financial difficulty," Bastien Pereira Besteiro, a union activist and teacher argued.

In the student's home town of Saint-Etienne in central France, one of his cousins told a rally he had committed a "heroic act" and urged fellow students to "continue fighting".

In France, where basic higher education is free, students often repeat a year or more of their programme.&nbsp;

Government statistics from 2016 showed that 28.3 per cent of students repeated their first year. Only 28.4 per cent of students obtained their three-year degree in three years.

Many students work to support themselves, a factor often cited for the high rates of exam failure. A 2018 survey by the UNEF student union showed that 46 per cent of students planned to work.

As part of his bid to cut the budget deficit, Macron last year trimmed a housing subsidy available to students.

While the cut -- five euros ($5.50) a month was limited -- the move caused controversy, coming as the government cut taxes on the wealthy. 
&nbsp;

The French government on Wednesday attempted to defuse the anger caused by the attempted suicide of a student who set himself alight to protest the hardship he faced.

The French government on Wednesday attempted to defuse the anger caused by the attempted suicide of a student who set himself alight to protest the hardship he faced. The 22-year-old student suffered burns on 90 per cent of his body after attempting to take his life outside a university building in central Lyon on November 8. The man, who had recently lost his student grant, remains in critical condition in hospital. On Tuesday, hundreds of students demonstrated in Lyon, Paris and Lille over the desperate act which the student blamed in a Facebook post on successive French presidents and the European Union. In Paris, protesters tore down the gate of the higher education ministry and scrawled "financial insecurity kills" on the wall. At Lille university, a conference by ex-president Francois Hollande had to be called off. In Lyon, classes were disrupted. Junior interior minister Laurent Nunez on Wednesday condemned the incidents. "The real emotion" triggered by the man's suicide bid was "understandable", he told France Inter radio. But the damage caused to buildings, the death threats received by managers of student bursaries and the blocking of Hollande's conference were "totally unacceptable, the minister said. The political sciences student, who lost his grant after twice failing his second year, accused President Emmanuel Macron, his two predecessors, Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, and the European Union of having "killed me". Even when he had his grant of 450 euros ($495) a month, he said he struggled to get by, adding that he had decided to "commit the irreparable" outside the student loan authority building because he saw it as a "political place". High failure rate In Lyon, several hundred people demonstrated outside the regional headquarters of the loan authority on Tuesday. "It's not normal that students should have to go to such extremes to draw attention to a Kafkaesque system which crushes students and puts them in financial difficulty," Bastien Pereira Besteiro, a union activist and teacher argued. In the student's home town of Saint-Etienne in central France, one of his cousins told a rally he had committed a "heroic act" and urged fellow students to "continue fighting". In France, where basic higher education is free, students often repeat a year or more of their programme. Government statistics from 2016 showed that 28.3 per cent of students repeated their first year. Only 28.4 per cent of students obtained their three-year degree in three years. Many students work to support themselves, a factor often cited for the high rates of exam failure. A 2018 survey by the UNEF student union showed that 46 per cent of students planned to work. As part of his bid to cut the budget deficit, Macron last year trimmed a housing subsidy available to students. While the cut -- five euros ($5.50) a month was limited -- the move caused controversy, coming as the government cut taxes on the wealthy.

French government faces backlash after student sets himself on fire

Does the European Union Have The Ability To Protect Itself?

WION Edit: Is European Union Falling Apart? What Next For Nato?

European Union concerned by Iran's nuclear deal breach. Watch video to know more.

European Union concerned by Iran's nuclear deal breach

Moldova's government was brought down by a no-confidence vote on Tuesday, threatening more instability just five months after pro-Western Prime Minister Maia Sandu took office promising to fight corruption.

Sandu had formed an uneasy coalition with the Russian-backed Socialist party. But relations broke down over a proposed reform to how the top prosecutor is appointed.

The government lost with 63 out of 101 lawmakers voting in favour of the no-confidence motion.

Parties now have 90 days to try to form a new government. If they fail to do so, another parliamentary election would be called.

The country of 3.5 million, which sits between Ukraine and European Union member Romania, has lurched from crisis to crisis since the disappearance of $1 billion from the financial system in 2014 tarnished the reputation of its political class.

A Harvard-educated former World Bank economist known for her tough stance on corruption, Sandu had formed an unlikely alliance with the Socialists to remove a party run by a tycoon from power after an inconclusive election in February.

Reflecting the divided opinion in Moldovan society, Sandu's ACUM bloc wants the country to join the European Union while the Socialist party formerly run by President Igor Dodon advocates closer ties to Moscow.

Their coalition has tussled over who should have the power to appoint a new prosecutor-general. Sandu wants to be able to make the choice herself, but the Socialists wanted a special commission under the justice ministry to decide.

Sandu says the move is essential for her to be able to deliver on a promise to fight corruption and claw back the $1 billion that was stolen from three banks in a scam known locally as the "theft of the century".

"Citizens did not expect miracles in five months, they understand and appreciate a responsible government, consisting of honest ministers, who came to office to make people's lives better," Sandu said on Facebook before the vote.

"We want efficient prosecutors and judges who make decisions in the name of the law. We want those who stole the billion to go to jail. It's simple. This is what the whole society wants."

Moldova's government was brought down by a no-confidence vote on Tuesday, threatening more instability just five months after pro-Western Prime Minister Maia Sandu took office promising to fight corruption.

Moldova's government was brought down by a no-confidence vote on Tuesday, threatening more instability just five months after pro-Western Prime Minister Maia Sandu took office promising to fight corruption. Sandu had formed an uneasy coalition with the Russian-backed Socialist party. But relations broke down over a proposed reform to how the top prosecutor is appointed. The government lost with 63 out of 101 lawmakers voting in favour of the no-confidence motion. Parties now have 90 days to try to form a new government. If they fail to do so, another parliamentary election would be called. The country of 3.5 million, which sits between Ukraine and European Union member Romania, has lurched from crisis to crisis since the disappearance of $1 billion from the financial system in 2014 tarnished the reputation of its political class. A Harvard-educated former World Bank economist known for her tough stance on corruption, Sandu had formed an unlikely alliance with the Socialists to remove a party run by a tycoon from power after an inconclusive election in February. Reflecting the divided opinion in Moldovan society, Sandu's ACUM bloc wants the country to join the European Union while the Socialist party formerly run by President Igor Dodon advocates closer ties to Moscow. Their coalition has tussled over who should have the power to appoint a new prosecutor-general. Sandu wants to be able to make the choice herself, but the Socialists wanted a special commission under the justice ministry to decide. Sandu says the move is essential for her to be able to deliver on a promise to fight corruption and claw back the $1 billion that was stolen from three banks in a scam known locally as the "theft of the century". "Citizens did not expect miracles in five months, they understand and appreciate a responsible government, consisting of honest ministers, who came to office to make people's lives better," Sandu said on Facebook before the vote. "We want efficient prosecutors and judges who make decisions in the name of the law. We want those who stole the billion to go to jail. It's simple. This is what the whole society wants."

Moldova's fledgling government brought down by no confidence vote

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that he would not give in to EU demands to stop oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean around Cyprus.

Brussels has repeatedly warned Turkey to halt drilling off the coast of EU member Cyprus, and announced on Monday that a framework had been agreed to impose travel bans and asset freezes on the individuals and companies involved.

"Do not dare to give an ultimatum to Turkey about the developments on Cyprus," Erdogan said in a televised press conference. "We do not care about it, and we will proceed on our path."

The discovery of hydrocarbon reserves in the eastern Mediterranean has sparked a dispute between Cyprus and Turkey, which occupies the north of the Mediterranean island.

Erdogan again used the threat of "opening the gates" to millions of Syrian refugees that Turkey is hosting, and called for greater support, given its efforts in handling jihadist prisoners.&nbsp;

"Review your attitude toward a country which keeps so many Daesh members in prisons and similarly controls them on the Syrian side," Erdogan said, using another name for the Islamic State group.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that he would not give in to EU demands to stop oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean around Cyprus.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that he would not give in to EU demands to stop oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean around Cyprus. Brussels has repeatedly warned Turkey to halt drilling off the coast of EU member Cyprus, and announced on Monday that a framework had been agreed to impose travel bans and asset freezes on the individuals and companies involved. "Do not dare to give an ultimatum to Turkey about the developments on Cyprus," Erdogan said in a televised press conference. "We do not care about it, and we will proceed on our path." The discovery of hydrocarbon reserves in the eastern Mediterranean has sparked a dispute between Cyprus and Turkey, which occupies the north of the Mediterranean island. Erdogan again used the threat of "opening the gates" to millions of Syrian refugees that Turkey is hosting, and called for greater support, given its efforts in handling jihadist prisoners. "Review your attitude toward a country which keeps so many Daesh members in prisons and similarly controls them on the Syrian side," Erdogan said, using another name for the Islamic State group.

Erdogan defies European Union sanctions threat over Cyprus drilling

Tens of thousands of Poles took part in a far-right march in the capital Warsaw on Monday to mark Polish independence, an annual event that has become a focus of friction between nationalists and liberals.

Some chanted "God, honour, homeland!" and "No to the European Union!" and waved red-and-white Polish flags. Others lit red flares, blanketing sections of the parade with smoke.

"We have to return to our roots. Our world has abandoned God and Christianity," Robert Bakiewicz, head of a group organising the march, told participants in central Warsaw. "We will die as the nations of western Europe are dying."

A small group of hardline Italian far-right group Forza Nuova members also took part, waving flags.

Poland has become increasingly polarised since the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party came to power in 2015, calling for a revival of patriotic and Roman Catholic values in public life and a rejection of Western liberalism.

Critics say PiS, which won a second term last month with 44 per cent&nbsp;of the vote, has tacitly encouraged groups with roots in the fascist and anti-Semitic movements of the 1930s that organised the march, although the party denies this.

Last year, on the centenary of Polish independence, government officials and President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the PiS, agreed to hold a joint event with the annual march organisers, but walked at a distance, away from any overt displays of nationalism.

This year, PiS held its own, separate events.

"Our nation has a mission and it has to fulfil it," PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said on Sunday. "Our mission is to sustain everything that's a foundation of our Christian civilisation.

"We will walk this path, and if it's done in a thoughtful way, it will bring us to victory."

On November&nbsp;11, Poles commemorate the establishment in 1918 of the second Polish Republic, created after World War One from parts of what was then Russia, Germany and Austria.

Two years ago, the march was dotted with racist banners, some of them reading "Pure blood, clear mind" or "Europe will be white or uninhabited".

Before PiS came to power, scuffles between participants and police were not uncommon, but in recent years, more families with children have joined.

On Monday, some wore stickers saying "Stop 447", in a protest against a US&nbsp;law on the restitution of Jewish property seized during or after World War Two, an issue increasingly featuring in public debate in Poland.

The US&nbsp;Department of State is expected to provide a nonbinding report to Congress later this year on property restitution, under legislation known as the Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today (JUST) Act, or Act 447.

Poland was home to one of the world's biggest Jewish communities before it was almost entirely wiped out by Nazi German occupiers who set up death camps such as Auschwitz on Polish soil.

Another far-right march, in the southwestern city of Wroclaw, was ended by city authorities due to racist remarks 25 minutes after it had begun.

"The march was dissolved (...) due to hate-speech (anti-Semitism) and the use of pyrotechnics," the vice-president of the Wroclaw City Council, Bartlomiej Ciazynski, wrote on Facebook, adding that several hundred people took part in the march.

According to Poland's state news agency PAP, the police used water cannons to disperse the participants of the march.

Tens of thousands of Poles took part in a far-right march in the capital Warsaw on Monday to mark Polish independence, an annual event that has become a focus of friction between nationalists and liberals.

Tens of thousands of Poles took part in a far-right march in the capital Warsaw on Monday to mark Polish independence, an annual event that has become a focus of friction between nationalists and liberals. Some chanted "God, honour, homeland!" and "No to the European Union!" and waved red-and-white Polish flags. Others lit red flares, blanketing sections of the parade with smoke. "We have to return to our roots. Our world has abandoned God and Christianity," Robert Bakiewicz, head of a group organising the march, told participants in central Warsaw. "We will die as the nations of western Europe are dying." A small group of hardline Italian far-right group Forza Nuova members also took part, waving flags. Poland has become increasingly polarised since the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party came to power in 2015, calling for a revival of patriotic and Roman Catholic values in public life and a rejection of Western liberalism. Critics say PiS, which won a second term last month with 44 per cent of the vote, has tacitly encouraged groups with roots in the fascist and anti-Semitic movements of the 1930s that organised the march, although the party denies this. Last year, on the centenary of Polish independence, government officials and President Andrzej Duda, an ally of the PiS, agreed to hold a joint event with the annual march organisers, but walked at a distance, away from any overt displays of nationalism. This year, PiS held its own, separate events. "Our nation has a mission and it has to fulfil it," PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said on Sunday. "Our mission is to sustain everything that's a foundation of our Christian civilisation. "We will walk this path, and if it's done in a thoughtful way, it will bring us to victory." On November 11, Poles commemorate the establishment in 1918 of the second Polish Republic, created after World War One from parts of what was then Russia, Germany and Austria. Two years ago, the march was dotted with racist banners, some of them reading "Pure blood, clear mind" or "Europe will be white or uninhabited". Before PiS came to power, scuffles between participants and police were not uncommon, but in recent years, more families with children have joined. On Monday, some wore stickers saying "Stop 447", in a protest against a US law on the restitution of Jewish property seized during or after World War Two, an issue increasingly featuring in public debate in Poland. The US Department of State is expected to provide a nonbinding report to Congress later this year on property restitution, under legislation known as the Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today (JUST) Act, or Act 447. Poland was home to one of the world's biggest Jewish communities before it was almost entirely wiped out by Nazi German occupiers who set up death camps such as Auschwitz on Polish soil. Another far-right march, in the southwestern city of Wroclaw, was ended by city authorities due to racist remarks 25 minutes after it had begun. "The march was dissolved (...) due to hate-speech (anti-Semitism) and the use of pyrotechnics," the vice-president of the Wroclaw City Council, Bartlomiej Ciazynski, wrote on Facebook, adding that several hundred people took part in the march. According to Poland's state news agency PAP, the police used water cannons to disperse the participants of the march.

Polish far-right groups march on independence anniversary

The European Union's largest states are pushing for the establishment of a new supervisory authority that would take over from states the oversight of money laundering at financial firms, after a series of scandals at the bloc's banks.

In a joint statement, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Latvia said the 28-country EU needed a "central supervisor" to tackle the flow of dirty money within the bloc's financial system.

The move comes after European lenders were shut down over money laundering in Latvia, Malta and Cyprus, while top banks from the Baltic and Northern Europe were involved in dodgy transactions worth billions of euros of Russian dirty money through the Estonian branch of Danske Bank, in what is seen as the worst money-laundering scandal on the continent.

The need for an EU supervisor emerged after repeated failures by national watchdogs at spotting and countering money laundering, the statement said.

"Where large financial interests are at stake, there is a risk of national supervisors being influenced directly or indirectly by supervised institutions or interest groups," the statement said.

The six countries said the new supervisor could be a new body or an existing watchdog, the European Banking Authority (EBA), which would need to be beefed up.

The call for change comes just few months after the bloc has agreed to overhaul EBA's mandate to give the watchdog new powers to tackle money laundering.

That reform, proposed by EU finance commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, a former prime minister of Latvia, quickly appeared as insufficient to many observers.

The move marks a major shift in Germany's position. While France, Italy and Spain have been calling for months for stronger rules against money laundering, Berlin had opposed more ambitious changes in recent overhauls.

The six states also call for new anti-money laundering rules, in what would be the sixth review of those provisions, just one year after their latest overhaul was agreed in a reform now judged as "not decisive" by the six countries.

Existing rules should be merged into a single piece of legislation directly applicable in EU states, the statement said, reversing the existing system that allows countries to adapt EU money-laundering rules to national prerogatives.

That has caused lenient application of the rules in several states that, the statement says, could offer "arbitrage opportunities" to lure financial firms.

The move comes after EU finance ministers discussed a reform of money-laundering rules at a meeting last month and before another gathering in December when a common EU stance is expected to be adopted on the matter.

The Finnish presidency of the bloc prepared in October a draft of the paper that should be adopted in December, which called for changes similar to those contained in the six-country statement.

The European Union's largest states are pushing for the establishment of a new supervisory authority that would take over from states the oversight of money laundering at financial firms, after a series of scandals at the bloc's banks.

The European Union's largest states are pushing for the establishment of a new supervisory authority that would take over from states the oversight of money laundering at financial firms, after a series of scandals at the bloc's banks. In a joint statement, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Latvia said the 28-country EU needed a "central supervisor" to tackle the flow of dirty money within the bloc's financial system. The move comes after European lenders were shut down over money laundering in Latvia, Malta and Cyprus, while top banks from the Baltic and Northern Europe were involved in dodgy transactions worth billions of euros of Russian dirty money through the Estonian branch of Danske Bank, in what is seen as the worst money-laundering scandal on the continent. The need for an EU supervisor emerged after repeated failures by national watchdogs at spotting and countering money laundering, the statement said. "Where large financial interests are at stake, there is a risk of national supervisors being influenced directly or indirectly by supervised institutions or interest groups," the statement said. The six countries said the new supervisor could be a new body or an existing watchdog, the European Banking Authority (EBA), which would need to be beefed up. The call for change comes just few months after the bloc has agreed to overhaul EBA's mandate to give the watchdog new powers to tackle money laundering. That reform, proposed by EU finance commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, a former prime minister of Latvia, quickly appeared as insufficient to many observers. The move marks a major shift in Germany's position. While France, Italy and Spain have been calling for months for stronger rules against money laundering, Berlin had opposed more ambitious changes in recent overhauls. The six states also call for new anti-money laundering rules, in what would be the sixth review of those provisions, just one year after their latest overhaul was agreed in a reform now judged as "not decisive" by the six countries. Existing rules should be merged into a single piece of legislation directly applicable in EU states, the statement said, reversing the existing system that allows countries to adapt EU money-laundering rules to national prerogatives. That has caused lenient application of the rules in several states that, the statement says, could offer "arbitrage opportunities" to lure financial firms. The move comes after EU finance ministers discussed a reform of money-laundering rules at a meeting last month and before another gathering in December when a common EU stance is expected to be adopted on the matter. The Finnish presidency of the bloc prepared in October a draft of the paper that should be adopted in December, which called for changes similar to those contained in the six-country statement.

European Union heavyweight states push for joint supervisor against money laundering

Credit ratings agency Moody's on Friday downgraded the outlook for Britain's debt, citing mounting policy challenges amid the Brexit debate.

The agency cut the outlook to negative from stable but kept the debt at the investment-grade Aa2.

The rating agency Fitch had similarly put Britain on "negative watch" in February.

Pointing to "paralysis that has characterized the Brexit-era policymaking process," Moody's said London has "struggled to cope with the magnitude of policy challenges that they currently face."

In addition, Britain's "economic and fiscal strength are likely to be weaker going forward and more susceptible to shocks than previously assumed," Moody's said in a statement.

Britons voted by 52 per cent to leave the European Union in a 2016 referendum, but MPs have been divided over how, when and even if that result should be delivered.

The political wrangling has forced two successive Conservative governments to ask the European Union to delay Brexit three times this year. It is now set for January 31.

Current Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes the snap election next month will give him a majority in the House of Commons to allow him to ratify his exit terms and finally leave the EU.

"Over the longer term, institutional weakening may also impact the UK's economic strength, through its effect on the investment climate and on the UK's attractiveness to skilled and unskilled foreign labour," Moody's said.

"In recent years, we have already seen the negative impact this can have, and Moody's expects this negative influence will likely endure as the exit process continues and uncertainties persist during the subsequent phase of trade negotiations with the EU and with other nations."

Britain remains highly indebted and this was unlikely to change in the next three to four years, according to Moody's.

Credit ratings agency Moody's on Friday downgraded the outlook for Britain's debt, citing mounting policy challenges amid the Brexit debate. The agency cut the outlook to negative from stable but kept the debt at the investment-grade Aa2.

Credit ratings agency Moody's on Friday downgraded the outlook for Britain's debt, citing mounting policy challenges amid the Brexit debate. The agency cut the outlook to negative from stable but kept the debt at the investment-grade Aa2. The rating agency Fitch had similarly put Britain on "negative watch" in February. Pointing to "paralysis that has characterized the Brexit-era policymaking process," Moody's said London has "struggled to cope with the magnitude of policy challenges that they currently face." In addition, Britain's "economic and fiscal strength are likely to be weaker going forward and more susceptible to shocks than previously assumed," Moody's said in a statement. Britons voted by 52 per cent to leave the European Union in a 2016 referendum, but MPs have been divided over how, when and even if that result should be delivered. The political wrangling has forced two successive Conservative governments to ask the European Union to delay Brexit three times this year. It is now set for January 31. Current Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes the snap election next month will give him a majority in the House of Commons to allow him to ratify his exit terms and finally leave the EU. "Over the longer term, institutional weakening may also impact the UK's economic strength, through its effect on the investment climate and on the UK's attractiveness to skilled and unskilled foreign labour," Moody's said. "In recent years, we have already seen the negative impact this can have, and Moody's expects this negative influence will likely endure as the exit process continues and uncertainties persist during the subsequent phase of trade negotiations with the EU and with other nations." Britain remains highly indebted and this was unlikely to change in the next three to four years, according to Moody's.

Moody's downgrades Britain debt outlook to negative

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and incoming EU chief Ursula von der Leyen issued stark warnings Friday that the West faces new &nbsp;challenges from Russia and China, on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall.

Urging Western allies to defend hard-won freedoms, Pompeo stressed "we can never take ... things for granted".

With the West facing a slew of geopolitical challenges, he said the bulwark of the bloc's defence alliance, the 70-year-old NATO, also "runs the risk that it will become obsolete" if leaders failed to tackle new challenges.

Pompeo's warning came after French President Emmanuel Macron criticised the transatlantic partnership as experiencing "brain death".

The sharp words prompted an unusually firm retort from Chancellor Angela Merkel. Von der Leyen too on Friday defended NATO as an "outstanding" shield.

Dismissing the debate around Macron's comments as "kerfuffle," Pompeo acknowledged that "NATO needs to grow and change, it needs to confront the realities of today and the challenges today."

These threats include those posed by governments like China, Russia and Iran, Pompeo said, speaking just a few metres (yards) away from where the Wall ran past the German capital's world-famous Brandenburg Gate.

In a renewed attack against Beijing, Pompeo said the "Chinese Communist Party uses tactics and methods to suppress its own people that would be horrifyingly familiar to former East Germans".

The United States and its allies should "defend what was so hard-won... in 1989" and "recognise we are in a competition of values with unfree nations," he added.

'Complacency was naive'

Issuing a similar message, von der Leyen said 30 years after the epochal event that was thought to usher in the unstoppable train of liberal democracy, "today, we have to admit that our complacency was naive."

Russia is "using violence to shift established borders in Europe, and is trying to fill every vacuum that the US has left behind."

And hopes that China would develop closer to the Western model have not been fulfilled, the former German defence minister said.

In the face of such challenges, von der Leyen said Europe needs to bulk up against the world's biggest players.

"Soft power is no longer enough today, if we Europeans want to assert ourselves in the world," she said, adding that "Europe must also learn the 'language of power'."

This include "building our own muscles, on where we've for a long time been able to rely on others -- in security policies."

Faced with a mercurial US President Donald Trump, European leaders including Merkel have in the last years intensified their calls for the bloc to ensure that it stand on its own feet.

'Putin's whims'

On a whirlwind two-day tour of Germany where he revisited the site of his Cold War military service on the former Iron Curtain border and met Merkel and key members of her cabinet, Pompeo looked to shore up transatlantic relations.

But he did not hesitate to name longstanding US-EU differences that have shifted into the spotlight under Trump's tenure.

America's top diplomat said defending liberal democracy also means preventing "Europe's energy supplies... (from) depending on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's whims" through the under-construction Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

Merkel has repeatedly said the pipeline is a purely private business concern.

And Pompeo warned of "Chinese companies' intent to build 5G networks", after the German government failed to exclude tech giant Huawei from the next-generation mobile network infrastructure.

While Huawei is a world leader in the technology, the US and others including Germany's own security services have warned that it is close to Beijing.

But wary of a potential falling-out with China -- Germany's biggest trade partner -- Berlin last month said only that there would be "high standards" for security in the new network.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and incoming EU chief Ursula von der Leyen issued stark warnings Friday that the West faces new challenges from Russia and China, on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and incoming EU chief Ursula von der Leyen issued stark warnings Friday that the West faces new challenges from Russia and China, on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Berlin Wall's fall. Urging Western allies to defend hard-won freedoms, Pompeo stressed "we can never take ... things for granted". With the West facing a slew of geopolitical challenges, he said the bulwark of the bloc's defence alliance, the 70-year-old NATO, also "runs the risk that it will become obsolete" if leaders failed to tackle new challenges. Pompeo's warning came after French President Emmanuel Macron criticised the transatlantic partnership as experiencing "brain death". The sharp words prompted an unusually firm retort from Chancellor Angela Merkel. Von der Leyen too on Friday defended NATO as an "outstanding" shield. Dismissing the debate around Macron's comments as "kerfuffle," Pompeo acknowledged that "NATO needs to grow and change, it needs to confront the realities of today and the challenges today." These threats include those posed by governments like China, Russia and Iran, Pompeo said, speaking just a few metres (yards) away from where the Wall ran past the German capital's world-famous Brandenburg Gate. In a renewed attack against Beijing, Pompeo said the "Chinese Communist Party uses tactics and methods to suppress its own people that would be horrifyingly familiar to former East Germans". The United States and its allies should "defend what was so hard-won... in 1989" and "recognise we are in a competition of values with unfree nations," he added. 'Complacency was naive' Issuing a similar message, von der Leyen said 30 years after the epochal event that was thought to usher in the unstoppable train of liberal democracy, "today, we have to admit that our complacency was naive." Russia is "using violence to shift established borders in Europe, and is trying to fill every vacuum that the US has left behind." And hopes that China would develop closer to the Western model have not been fulfilled, the former German defence minister said. In the face of such challenges, von der Leyen said Europe needs to bulk up against the world's biggest players. "Soft power is no longer enough today, if we Europeans want to assert ourselves in the world," she said, adding that "Europe must also learn the 'language of power'." This include "building our own muscles, on where we've for a long time been able to rely on others -- in security policies." Faced with a mercurial US President Donald Trump, European leaders including Merkel have in the last years intensified their calls for the bloc to ensure that it stand on its own feet. 'Putin's whims' On a whirlwind two-day tour of Germany where he revisited the site of his Cold War military service on the former Iron Curtain border and met Merkel and key members of her cabinet, Pompeo looked to shore up transatlantic relations. But he did not hesitate to name longstanding US-EU differences that have shifted into the spotlight under Trump's tenure. America's top diplomat said defending liberal democracy also means preventing "Europe's energy supplies... (from) depending on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's whims" through the under-construction Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany. Merkel has repeatedly said the pipeline is a purely private business concern. And Pompeo warned of "Chinese companies' intent to build 5G networks", after the German government failed to exclude tech giant Huawei from the next-generation mobile network infrastructure. While Huawei is a world leader in the technology, the US and others including Germany's own security services have warned that it is close to Beijing. But wary of a potential falling-out with China -- Germany's biggest trade partner -- Berlin last month said only that there would be "high standards" for security in the new network.

US, EU warn of danger from Russia, China on Berlin Wall anniversary

The U.N.'s top court said on Friday it had jurisdiction to hear a case brought by Ukraine accusing Russia of supporting rebels in war-torn eastern Ukraine.

Russia had asked the International Court of Justice in September 2018 to throw out Kiev's case, saying the tribunal had no right to deal with the matter.

Ukraine dragged Russia to the Hague-based court in 2017 saying it had breached a U.N. convention on the financing of terrorism by funnelling arms and cash to pro-Russian fighters.

ICJ President Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf said the court "finds that it has jurisdiction... to entertain the claims made by Ukraine."

Kiev is seeking damages for attacks blamed on the pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine, where more than 13,000 people have died since the war broke out more than five years ago.

These include 298 people killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down over rebel territory in July 2014.

A Dutch court is due in March 2020 to begin the trial of three Ukrainians and one Russian over the MH17 crash.

The ICJ judgement came as Ukraine's army and Kremlin-backed separatists were set to complete the last phase of a troop pullback in war-torn eastern Ukraine on Saturday.&nbsp;

The ICJ was set up in 1946 to rule in disputes between countries in a bid to create a new global era of harmony after World War II.

The U.N.'s top court said on Friday it had jurisdiction to hear a case brought by Ukraine accusing Russia of supporting rebels in war-torn eastern Ukraine. Russia had asked the International Court of Justice in September 2018 to throw out Kiev's case, saying the tribunal had no right to deal with the matter.

The U.N.'s top court said on Friday it had jurisdiction to hear a case brought by Ukraine accusing Russia of supporting rebels in war-torn eastern Ukraine. Russia had asked the International Court of Justice in September 2018 to throw out Kiev's case, saying the tribunal had no right to deal with the matter. Ukraine dragged Russia to the Hague-based court in 2017 saying it had breached a U.N. convention on the financing of terrorism by funnelling arms and cash to pro-Russian fighters. ICJ President Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf said the court "finds that it has jurisdiction... to entertain the claims made by Ukraine." Kiev is seeking damages for attacks blamed on the pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine, where more than 13,000 people have died since the war broke out more than five years ago. These include 298 people killed when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down over rebel territory in July 2014. A Dutch court is due in March 2020 to begin the trial of three Ukrainians and one Russian over the MH17 crash. The ICJ judgement came as Ukraine's army and Kremlin-backed separatists were set to complete the last phase of a troop pullback in war-torn eastern Ukraine on Saturday. The ICJ was set up in 1946 to rule in disputes between countries in a bid to create a new global era of harmony after World War II.

Ukraine case against Russia over war can proceed: United Nations court

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