Twenty-three member states of the European Union have signed a historic deal to cooperate more closely on defense. The deal - known as Permanent Structured Cooperation or PESCO - legally binds its signatories into joint defense projects and increased spending. Britain, one of the bloc’s biggest military powers, has long resisted such moves, but its departure from the bloc has persuaded other members to press ahead. Henry Ridgwell reports from London.
Pact intended to complement NATO, give EU more coherence in tackling international threats, crises
From Queen Elizabeth to U2 frontman Bono, the leak of more than 14 million documents from firms involved in offshore finance, known as the Paradise Papers, has engulfed some of the world's most famous names. One country appears more than most in the papers: Britain. Campaigners say weak regulation means Britain is at the center of the secretive industry, and its decision to leave the European Union is making things worse, as Henry Ridgwell reports from London.
New investigation says lax company laws exploited to launder illicit wealth
The crackdown on corruption in Saudi Arabia led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has extended to several members of the Royal Family and engulfed some of the richest and most powerful men in the Middle East. Many of them are big investors, leading to global concerns over the economic fallout. The purge comes at a tumultuous time for the region, and there are also fears it could worsen long-standing tensions. Henry Ridgwell reports.
Among those arrested is one of world's richest men, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a major shareholder in giant corporations whose arrest will likely spook business partners in the West
Britain's foreign secretary faces calls to resign after saying a British-Iranian woman currently in jail in Iran had been training journalists' in the country when she was arrested. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was detained in 2016 and her family and employers say she was on vacation visiting family. As Henry Ridgwell reports, Iran has already picked up on Boris Johnson's comments to justify its actions.
Boris Johnson wrongly told MPs Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was arrested in Tehran in April 2016, was training journalists
Scientists are calling for renewed efforts to develop a vaccine for one of the biggest causes of stillbirths and infant deaths worldwide. An estimated one in five pregnant women around the world carry Group B Streptococcus bacteria, and most show no symptoms. However, it can prove deadly for unborn and new-born babies – especially where traditional treatments such as antibiotics are unavailable, as Henry Ridgwell reports.
Supporters argue EU should support self-rule
Catalonia’s bid to break away from Spain took another twist this weekend as the former president of the region,Carles Puigdemont, handed himself in to Belgian police, having fled to Brussels last week. Spain has issued an arrest warrant for him and several other Catalan leaders on charges of rebellion. As Madrid seeks to quash the region’s independence efforts, other breakaway movements across Europe are looking on with interest – as Henry Ridgwell reports from London.
Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to rebound this year from 20-year lows in 2016, according to the International Monetary Fund's biannual report. The Washington-based organization warns that, despite the modest recovery, public debt is continuing to rise and could soon become unsustainable in some African countries. Henry Ridgwell has more.
Sub-Saharan regional economy is expected to almost double this year to 2.6 percent, and to reach 3.4 percent in 2018
European leaders have been offering their condolences and support in the wake of the terror attack in New York, which killed eight people. The suspect – who was shot and wounded by police – has been named by local media as Sayfullo Saipov, who had reportedly lived in the U.S. since arriving from Uzbekistan in 2010. There have been several similar attacks on so-called soft targets in Europe. Henry Ridgwell reports from London.
Spain’s chief prosecutor is seeking charges of rebellion and sedition against the political leaders of Catalonia, after they declared independence last week. The charges carry jail terms of up to 30 years. Media reports Monday said the region’s former president Carles Puigdemont – who was fired by Madrid along with the rest of the Catalan government – has traveled to Belgium with other ministers, where they may seek asylum. Henry Ridgwell reports.
The political crisis in Spain deepened Friday as lawmakers in the Catalan regional parliament voted to officially declare independence from Madrid. The Spanish government responded by invoking constitutional law to impose direct rule on the region and called snap elections there for Dec. 21, setting the stage for a confrontation with Catalan authorities and raising fears the crisis could turn violent. Henry Ridgwell has more.
At China's Communist Party Congress this week, President Xi Jinping said the country would be a contributor to global development. Key to that is the so-called One Belt One Road Initiative, which seeks to rekindle the ancient Silk Road trade routes linking China with Europe and Africa. Billions of dollars have been plowed into infrastructure projects along the route, but as Henry Ridgwell reports, there are calls for China to focus on development goals such as alleviating poverty.
Many banks have pulled out of the remittance industry over compliance fears
Remittances from overseas diaspora constitute a vital part of the economy of many developing nations, none more so than Somalia, where the inflows add up to more than foreign aid and investment combined. But analysts warn the industry is poorly understood by regulators and banks — and its precarious nature puts the welfare of millions of people at risk. Henry Ridgwell reports.
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