Killing of Tory MP declared a ‘terrorist incident’
The Metropolitan Police have declared the stabbing to death of Tory MP Sir David Amess as a terrorist incident. Sir David, 69, was killed in a church hall on Friday and the police said there was “a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism”. A 25-year-old British national who, from initial inquiries, appears to be of Somali heritage, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. The force believes the man acted alone but inquiries are continuing. The man is in custody. Sir David had been an MP since 1983 and was married with five children. He is the second serving MP to be killed in the past five years, following the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016.
Woman attacks Capitol Hill officer
In the United States, a police officer guarding the Congress building was hit by a woman screaming and brandishing a baseball bat. The 25-year-old woman was arrested. Police are investigating the motive for the attack, while the policeman’s injuries are not life-threatening. This was the latest in a series of attacks against Capitol Police since the attack on Congress on January 6.
Germany closer to a new government
The leaders of Germany’s centre-left Social Democrats, the Greens and the Free Democrats are to recommend to their parties that they should begin formal coalition negotiations. “We are convinced that we can conclude an ambitious and viable coalition agreement,” the parties said Friday. Negotiators from the three political parties expressed enthusiasm about the road ahead, with all pointing to the opportunity for fundamental change.
Five EU countries prepare for trade war with UK
The representatives of Italy, France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands met this week with European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic, post Brexit negotiator for the EU, to ask him to elaborate emergency plans for a possible trade war. The Financial Times reports options include “limiting UK access to EU energy supplies, imposing duties on British exports and, in extreme circumstances, terminating the trade agreement between the two parties”. On Friday Sefcovic met Lord David Frost, Britain’s post-Brexit minister.
No Green Pass does not stop Italy
Strikes in companies, protests in ports, inconvenience in transport and demonstrations throughout Italywere the order of the day on Friday but there was no block on the first day of the obligation of the Green pass for those who work. Sickness certificates increased by 23.3%. In Trieste, over 5,000 people gathered in front of a gate amid shouts of ‘freedom’ and slogans against the Draghi government. There were moments of tension when a Tg3 troupe was surrounded by numerous demonstrators and forced to leave, chased by the shouts ‘Venduti!’ (‘Sold!’). Today, CGIL members are expected to protest in Rome after Forza Nuova’s assault on the union headquarters a week ago.
US to lift travel ban in November
The US has said that it would reopen its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from 33 countries on November 8. Under new rules, vaccinated people who have had a negative test in the 72 hours before travelling will be allowed to enter. The new rules will apply to Schengen countries.
87% increase in migrant arrivals in the Med
Frontex reports that in the first nine months of the year, some 47,620 illegal border crossings were recorded in the Central Mediterranean route – an increase of 87% over the same period last year. There were 5,670 illegal border crossings in September, 33% more than in the same month last year. Most of the migrants came from Tunisia, Bangladesh and Egypt.
40 died in Afghan mosque attack
The Islamic State group says it carried out a suicide attack on Friday that killed more than 40 people and injured another 50 at a mosque in the Afghan city of Kandahar. The mosque is used by the minority Shia moslem minority. Two of the attackers had shot dead guards at the mosque and then blown themselves up.
Elton John scores first number one in 16 years
Sir Elton John has topped the UK singles chart for the first time in 16 years with a little help from Dua Lipa, making him the first artist to score a top 10 single in six separate decades. Their collaboration, Cold Heart (Pnau Remix), made it to number one on Friday after three weeks at number two. He last topped the singles chart in 2005 when he appeared on US rapper 2Pac’s posthumous single Ghetto Gospel. Cold Heart scored 64,000 chart sales, thanks largely to 5.9 million streams.
