Norwegian prosecutors are seeking an eight-year jail sentence for a jihadist who they say fought for the Islamic State group and an affiliate of Al-Qaeda in Syria. Ishaq Ahmed a 24-year-old Norwegian left for Syria in 2013. Prosecutors say he fought for IS before joining the Al-Nusra Front, Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate. He could face up to nine years in jail if found guilty of ‘support for a terrorist organisation’.
Ahmed insists he is innocent and that he was in Syria carrying out humanitarian work. But prosecutors maintain that in the months before his departure he carried out online research into weapons and body armour and have found no evidence of humanitarian work or any effort to procure medical materials. His is the second trial in Norway over suspected links to the IS militants.

The number of new claims for invalidity benefit under the Wajong scheme has dropped 90% since new rules were introduced at the beginning of this year. In the first four months of 2014, 5,109 youngsters were found to be entitled to the benefit, compared with just 515 in the first four months of this year. The benefit is for those unable to work because of illness or handicap at a young age. Since the beginning of this year, only people who cannot work at all are entitled to claim. Others who used to be entitled to help, such as people who hold down a small part-time job or people with Downs syndrome, have to apply to their local authority for welfare benefits instead. Elsevier magazine reported last week that 820,330 people in the Netherlands are considered unable to work and are receiving some form of invalidity benefit. The total Dutch working population is 7.2 million. Some 250,000 of them claim Wajong benefits, of whom almost 80% have behavioural issues such as ADHD or autism.

The nation’s government, a parliamentary democracy, has many political parties. Its recent independence has brought a renewed sense of hope and optimism, giving this small nation a greater sense of potential. Joining the European Union and adopting the Euro will hopefully open up many economic opportunities for Montenegrins. But, in the midst of progress, the economy still faces many obstacles. Despite a difficult history of ethnic division, Montenegro desires to step into the future with a strong national identity. Deep divisions remain between the Serbian and Montenegrin Orthodox Churches, and the Christian population remains predominantly nominal. Additionally, Bosniak Muslims residing in the nation harbour bitterness towards Christians for the way they historically treated the Muslim population. Prayer is needed for sensitive and effective outreach to Muslim Bosniaks. Evangelicals claim .03% of the population. Portions of the country remain largely un-evangelised .

Monaco has wealth, fast cars and casinos. A mecca for the rich. The mini country is home to 38,000 people and one in three is a millionaire. It has the highest per capita GDP in the world. The big draw is tax. The principality has no income tax and other tax rates for companies and individuals are exceptionally low. The prospect of keeping hold of most of their wealth has attracted people from over 100 nations. Living standards are high. Since the principality's priority is to attract wealthy individuals to acquire real estate and live and spend in the country, the government uses its economic advantages to improve the quality of life and to combine work and leisure. Indeed, many of the world's rich buy property in Monaco to take advantage of Monaco's tax regime, although they seldom abide by the legal requirement to live 6 months of every year in the country. See also: http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Europe/Monaco-POVERTY-AND-WEALTH.html