Welcome back: London sees surge in foreign visitor bookings Hotels in the capital say they are seeing huge interest, particularly from Americans and European travellers Evening Standard · Feb 18, 2022
Independent Scotland 'better off staying outside the EU' to avoid hard border with England Nicola Sturgeon is committed to holding an IndyRef2 by the end of next year but questions remain over key issues like pensions and cross-border trade. Daily Record · Feb 18, 2022
AU/EU summit interview: Africa needs to find its own way, NGO director says EU and African leaders on Thursday launched a two-day summit aimed at rebooting ties through pledges of major investment in the face of competition from China and Russia. But critics say Africa should be able to deal with other blocs on an equal footing. RFI English's Jan van der Made… Radio France Internationale · Feb 18, 2022
What's going to happen in Ukraine? Yes, Russia could invade Ukraine, as Biden keeps saying. But other outcomes are more likely — and far preferable Salon · Feb 18, 2022
Boris Johnson jets to Munich for security speech as fears mount of Russia-Ukraine war The Prime Minister is due to fly to the Munich Security Conference as tensions grip Europe - with Whitehall figures now said to be convinced Vladimir Putin will order Kremlin forces to attack Daily Mirror · Feb 18, 2022
From Turkish jail, French woman accuses Greece of 'pushback' A French woman is accusing Greek authorities of forcing her and other migrants back across the border into Turkey, violating her rights as a person fleeing persecution and as a European citizen The Independent UK · Feb 18, 2022
Sisi Stresses Egypt’s Interest in Developing Partnership with Europe Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held talks on Thursday with President of the European Commission Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen, on the sidelines of his visit to Brussels. Sisi headed to Brussels to participate in the sixth European Union-African Union Summit, held on Feb. Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 18, 2022
Allies Watch for Kremlin Attempt to Justify Ukraine Invasion The US issued some of its starkest, most detailed warnings yet about how a Russian invasion of Ukraine might unfold, and its Western allies went on high alert for any attempts by the Kremlin to create a false pretext for a new war in Europe. US President Joe Biden sounded… Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 18, 2022
Latest Ukraine updates: US says Putin made decision to invade Russia-Ukraine news from February 18: Biden says Moscow has plan to attack Kyiv in ‘coming days’. Al Jazeera · Feb 18, 2022
Biden says diplomacy still possible; OSCE reports more attacks in east – as it happened Russian state media say a blast has occurred in Donetsk amid multiple US warnings of false flag incidents The Guardian - US · Feb 18, 2022
Tory government's 'oven ready' Brexit trade deal is a dog's dinner under Boris The UK Government's handling of the exit from the EU has been an "unmitigated disaster" with little cause for optimism, writes Record View. Daily Record · Feb 18, 2022
As it happened: Russia-backed rebels evacuate civilians in east Ukraine Several Russian infantry units returned to their bases in Dagestan and Chechnya after completing drills in Crimea, the Interfax news agency cited Russia’s defence ministry as saying on Friday. Pro-Russian separatists accused the Ukrainian military of shelling in eastern Ukraine, while Ukraine’s military said it has recorded dozens of ceasefire… France 24 · Feb 18, 2022
What If Russia Wins? A Kremlin-Controlled Ukraine Would Transform Europe Foreign Affairs · Feb 18, 2022
France announces Mali withdrawal after nine-year jihadist fight We explain why France and its European allies have decided to withdraw troops from Mali after almost a decade. France sent soldiers to its former colony in 2013 to beat back advancing Islamist extremists, but its initial battlefield success was followed by a grinding insurgency and rising hostility from Malians.… France 24 · Feb 17, 2022
Al Jazeera · Feb 17, 2022 EU launches reset with AU after pandemic disruption The European Union will offer several packages of support at the summit to bolster health and education in Africa.
France 24 · Feb 17, 2022 After Mali withdrawal: Sahel insecurity, coup contagion dominate EU-AU summit Europe and Africa already had more than enough in their in-tray going into their first Brussels summit in nearly eight years. Now you can add coup contagion and the pullout of French-led anti-terror forces from Mali. The day began in Paris for key players in the Sahel. Will the crisis…
The Independent UK · Feb 17, 2022 EU praises vaccine cooperation with Africa at summit European Union leaders have lauded the bloc’s cooperation with Africa on vaccines in the fight against the coronavirus, but there is no sign they will move toward the temporary lifting of intellectual property rights protection for COVID-19 shots
The Hindu · Feb 17, 2022 Jaishankar leaves for Germany, France; focus remains on Russia European counterparts expected to push for a tougher line from New Delhi on Moscow’s actions
Daily Mirror · Feb 17, 2022 Welsh leeks to get protected status alongside Cheddar cheese and Cornish clotted cream Welsh growers have made an application under the Protected Geographical Indication scheme – the British version of the EU protected status - to give leeks protected status
Reuters · Feb 17, 2022 Hungary's opposition leader flags higher family subsidies, fight against graft Hungary's opposition will double subsidies for families and will also set up an anti-corruption agency to prevent fraud involving EU funds if it wins an election on April 3, opposition leader Peter Marki-Zay said on Thursday.
Reuters · Feb 17, 2022 African leader asks Europe of COVID response: 'Are we equal?' Sierra Leone's leader challenged Europeans on Thursday to remember there are "human beings on the other side" in Africa who have been left behind in the unequal global response to COVID-19.
The Independent UK · Feb 17, 2022 ‘Creating chaos’: Russia fans flames in the Balkans to threaten EU and Nato While all eyes are on Ukraine, Moscow’s manoeuvring in southeast Europe has stirred ethnic tensions and risks threatening fragile peace in several states, writes Borzou Daragahi
The Guardian - UK · Feb 17, 2022 The evidence is all around us: life outside the single market is an utter disaster An island nation must trade with its nearest mainland, whatever our new Brexit opportunities minister claims, says Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins
The Independent UK · Feb 17, 2022 Bulgarian MEP's salute causes scandal at EU parliament The European Parliament has launched a disciplinary procedure against a Bulgarian nationalist legislator who appeared to make a Nazi salute as he left a plenary debate on the rule of law late Wednesday
The Independent UK · Feb 17, 2022 EU must drop pretence that protocol is protecting peace – DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said unionism is ‘rapidly losing faith’ that a negotiated solution can be found on the trading arrangements.