International

Monday, October 5th 2020 - 09:31 UTC
The scrap metal yard for cruise vessels, Aliaga in Turkey

At a sea dock in western Turkey, five hulking cruise ships are being dismantled for scrap metal after the COVID-19 pandemic all but destroyed the industry. Cruise ships were home to the some of the earliest clusters of COVID-19 as the pandemic spread globally early this year.
Monday, October 5th 2020 - 09:01 UTC
New Caledonia votes to remain as a French Overseas Territory

Voters on the South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia were on course to reject breaking away from France in a referendum on Sunday, partial results showed. With votes from 282 out of 304 polling stations tallied, the partial results showed the “no” camp ahead with 53.6% support after expanding its lead as results came in from the capital, Noumea, traditionally a bastion of pro-Paris loyalty.
Monday, October 5th 2020 - 09:01 UTC
Johnson does not want to end Brexit transition without a new trade deal, but can live with such an outcome

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson does not particularly wish for the Brexit transition period to end without a new trade deal in place but believes that Britain could live with such an outcome, he said on Sunday.
Monday, October 5th 2020 - 08:00 UTC
Saudi Arabia cautiously resumes pilgrimage to the Grand Mosque in Mecca

Mask-clad Muslims circled Islam's holiest site along socially distanced paths on Sunday, as Saudi authorities partially resumed the year-round umrah pilgrimage amid extensive health precautions after seven-month coronavirus hiatus.
Saturday, October 3rd 2020 - 08:36 UTC
Boris Johnson’s Cunning Plan; If PM Johnson is Blackadder, who is his Baldrick?

By Gwynne Dyer – “I’ve got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel,” said Blackadder’s sidekick Baldrick in the BBC’s brilliant historical comedy series ‘Blackadder.’ In fact, he said, “I have a cunning plan” in almost every episode, but the plans hardly ever worked, and it became a popular catch-phrase.
Saturday, October 3rd 2020 - 08:36 UTC
Merkel and UK remain optimistic on a post Brexit-deal, but “the fisheries gap is unfortunately very large”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she had no breakthrough to announce on Friday as a week of EU talks with Britain ended, but remained optimistic that sealing a deal on a post-Brexit trade relationship was still possible before the end of the year.
Saturday, October 3rd 2020 - 08:19 UTC
French Overseas Territory New Caledonia votes independence referendum on Sunday

Voters in New Caledonia, a French archipelago in the South Pacific, will choose whether they want independence from France in a referendum that marks a milestone in a three-decade decolonization effort.
Saturday, October 3rd 2020 - 08:15 UTC
Gibraltar leaders hold virtual meeting with the All Party Group on post Brexit talks with EU

Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and the Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Joseph Garcia held a virtual meeting with members of the All-Party Group on Gibraltar on Thursday, which included Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords with Group Chair Sir Bob Neil MP.
Friday, October 2nd 2020 - 09:17 UTC
Azerbaijan/Armenia clash: waiting for Russia to impose a cease fire

By Gwynne Dyer – It’s probably Azerbaijan that started the shooting in this latest round of fighting with neighboring Armenia. Which is not to say that it’s all Azerbaijan’s fault.
Friday, October 2nd 2020 - 09:01 UTC
China suspends beef imports from a Brazilian meatpacker Minerva plant

China said it would temporarily suspend imports from a beef plant owned by Brazilian meatpacker Minerva SA for a week, in the latest suspension amid concerns over coronavirus contamination in Brazilian meat plants.