Luxembourg: 1 July - Let the Presidency begin
03 Jul 2015
Luxembourg on Wednesday took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with 237 EU meetings and summits scheduled to take place until December. While the Presidency started on 1 July , it will be celebrated with a big European picnic on Friday, 3 July , from 4pm until midnight. Delicacies from around the EU will be served in Place d'Armes, at the Maison de l'Europe in Rue du Curé, in Rue des Capucins and in Place du Théâtre. Over the coming six months, more than 26,000 visitors and 6,875 delegations are expected for 237 meetings and summits. There are 89 cars at the ready to transport guests, with an estimated 221,700 litres of diesel and 91,695 litres of petrol budgeted. Around 12,000 rooms at 25 hotels have been booked for more than 24,000 nights. Additionally, 170 dinners have been planned with 35 restaurants signed up for the job. For the 12th Luxembourg Presidency not only delegates from fellow EU member states will visit the Grand Duchy. For example, on 5 and 6 November , Luxembourg will host the Asia Europe Meeting. Luxembourg takes over from Latvia, with the Netherlands taking on the next Presidency at the start of 2016.
Lithuania: US supports Lithuania against Russia
03 Jul 2015
On Wednesday, America’s House Speaker John A. Boehner ended a three-day trip to Lithuania, where aides said he reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to resisting Russian aggression in the region.
Visiting the capital, Vilnius, to mark the country’s 25th anniversary of independence, Mr. Boehner and seven other House members discussed security issues with the nation’s leaders, including legislation that gave the Obama administration the ability to provide arms to Ukraine. Mr. Boehner frequently says that American allies in world trouble spots are uncertain about the Obama administration’s foreign policy intentions and he has used overseas trips such as the one to Lithuania to offer reassurances to friendly nations. ‘Whether it’s arming Ukraine or declaring energy independence, Lithuania sets an example for the region and ‘the world,’ Mr. Boehner said.
Liechtenstein: An end to ‘justice of the peace’
03 Jul 2015
Liechtenstein: An end to ‘justice of the peace’
The ‘justice of the peace’ has had its day. From 1 July there will be no more brokers elected in communities. This ends 100 years of the system and is a concession to developments of modern times. The importance of intermediaries as ‘magistrate’ has fallen sharply in recent years.
Latvia: Two Christian movements to pray for
03 Jul 2015
The Agape Students Movement is an active student network, formed by student initiatives. It wants every student’s university experience to be successful, not only academically, but also in relations with others and life in the spiritual field. Its aims are to help Christian students to look at their university as a place where they can serve God as well as to train and encourage them to take steps in faith to give every student the opportunity to invoke the gospel truths and encourage other Christians to do the same. Also in Latvia is a Christian Music Movement called Crescendo which unites professional Christian musicians and music students. Their main goal is to introduce and encourage musicians who have similar interests with each other; in many ways a sign of faith, making Christian accents in their society through the arts; and serve the churches and other Christian ministries.
Kosovo: Iranians and IS
03 Jul 2015
Last Wednesday, as reported by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), a foreign-funded news agency, the government of Kosovo sent police to raid the offices of five Iranian-controlled non-governmental organisations in the Balkan country. Kosovo authorities said the five entities are suspected of money-laundering and financing terrorism and that action against them conforms to a state anti-extremist strategy. ‘The raids are tied to a case that is being investigated, with the goal of preventing and fighting terrorism in the Republic of Kosovo,’ an official representative said. Two targets of the police sweep were identified – Bregu i Diellit (Sunny Hill) in Pristina, the Kosovan capital, and the Koran Foundation in Prizren, the country’s main southern city and a centre of Muslim and Christian religious life. Express, which takes a strong line against all forms of radical Islam, was the main media source in the latest incidents. Duriqi, following threats to him and allegations that he is an apostate from Islam, now lives in Germany.
The head of the cantonal government of Ticino is warning that the border with Italy will have to be closed to refugees to stem the tide of asylum seekers entering Switzerland. ‘If the influx of refugees from Italy continues, we will have to close the border temporarily.’ Norman Gobbi, the Ticino government's president said. ‘It’s the only way for Switzerland to put pressure on other countries that do not respect their obligations.’ The number of asylum seekers and illegal immigrants crossing the border from Italy has doubled since last year and Switzerland is particularly critical of Italy for not honouring the Dublin Regulation, which requires that the first country in the EU where an asylum seeker arrives is responsible for dealing with his or her claim. Since the beginning of the year more than 50,000 refugees have arrived in Italy after crossing the Mediterranean in boats. Over the summer, the level of monthly requests for asylum is expected to surpass 3,000.
A Draft White Paper on defence policy outlines main security threats over the next 10 years. Authorities in Ireland are concerned about the threat of ‘lone wolf’ terrorists. This is repeated further down the article.The document details security concerns to which the country is or could be exposed, including cyber-attacks, the emergence of domestic terrorism and the risks of organised crime. The paper which went before Cabinet on Tuesday says the emergence of extremist groups in Syria, Iraq and Libya are playing a major part in the evolution of terrorist threats. There is also concern regarding the process of radicalisation through a range of influences, including the internet. In addition, Ireland has a responsibility to seek to prevent transnational terrorist groups from using the State as a refuge or as a base from which to direct their activities against targets in other countries.
IceNews this week reported that Iceland has been named the world’s most peaceful country according to the Institute for Economics and Peace. The non-profit group, which released its latest Global Peace Index for 2015 earlier in the week, ranked 162 countries around the world based on factors such as conflict, violence and militarisation. YWAM is very active in Iceland with a vision to be a community of missional disciples growing in intimacy with God and who are surrendered to his Son. Their goal is to partner with other believers whenever they can, connecting across church boundaries to transform every area of Icelandic society to make all things new. They believe that everything is spiritual. How we treat others, stand up for the oppressed and care for the environment go hand in hand with prayer, worship and reading scripture. See also: http://www.ywamiceland.org/ourvision/