TOP NEWS

Political situation in Germany
German government crisis threatens: "Worst imaginable time"

Germany's coalition government is at risk of falling due to internal strife between Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, the Greens and the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP), reports AFP.

Finance and Climate Minister Robert Habeck, who leads the Greens, states that the government is "in trouble" but at the same time warns:

- This is the worst possible time for the government to fall [...] considering what is happening in Ukraine, the economic situation in Germany and the election in the USA.

The row is about how the government, which has fallen in public opinion, should handle the limping German economy. The Social Democrats want to focus on equal wages and welfare, the Greens on climate and the environment, and the FDP on market-friendly reforms.

In mid-November, the parties must agree on a budget for next year.

 

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The Russian invasion The electoral movement
"Neither Trump nor Harris can bring Putin to the negotiating table"

American politics is at a crossroads regarding the war in Ukraine, writes CNN's Lauren Kent in an analysis. While Kamala Harris has promised continued uncompromising support for Kyiv, Donald Trump has taken a more restrained position, claiming that he is the only one who can bring a quick end to the war.

However, there is no indication that Russia is ready to come to the negotiating table - regardless of who wins the election, according to John Lough of London-based think tank Chatham House. Russia's warfare extends beyond Ukraine's borders.

"Ukraine is just a means to an end, and the goal is to further limit US influence in international affairs," says Lough.

And even if Harris wins, it is not certain that she can pursue a policy that supports Ukraine, points out the American political science professor Charles Bullock III for SvD.

- How will she get aid packages through if Congress is controlled by Republicans who are more critical of continued support?

 

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The election in the United States The electoral movement
Trump's victory could hit Asia's economies hard

Even for Asia's economies, a lot is at stake when the superpower USA goes to the polls on Tuesday, writes Nikkei Asia. If Donald Trump wins, he is expected to primarily target China, where he has promised tariffs of at least 60 percent.

He has also flagged for tariffs of 10-20 percent against all countries, which would increase the costs of goods from major trading partners such as Japan, Vietnam and South Korea, the newspaper writes.

Former WTO Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff believes the tariffs of a second Trump presidency are impossible to calculate. "This is a high-risk experiment with no known limits," he recently wrote in a blog post.

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The roof collapse in Serbia
Serbia's construction minister resigns after roof collapse

Serbia's Construction Minister Goran Vesic is leaving his post after last week's roof collapse at a train station in Novi Sad, when 14 people died, writes AFP.

- I am resigning to show that in today's Serbia there is moral responsibility because such a terrible accident happened during the ministry I lead, he says on live television.

Vesic adds that he does not accept responsibility for the deaths.

When the roof collapse occurred, the station had recently been renovated for three years, but not the roof in question. The accident has caused major protests against inadequate building inspections in the country.

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The Canada-India relationship
Tension between India and Canada after temple row

Diplomatic tensions between India and Canada continue to rise. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemns what he calls a "deliberate attack" on a Hindu temple in Brampton, Canada, writes The Guardian.

Clips on social media reportedly show Sikh activists clashing with a rival group at the temple, where Indian diplomats were visiting ahead of Diwali celebrations.

On social media, Modi called it "a cowardly attempt to intimidate" Indian diplomats. The Sikh group claims to have been attacked by "Indo-Canadian nationalists" instigated by the diplomats.

The Canadian government has condemned the violence. Four people have been arrested.

Relations between the countries have been strained since last fall, when Canada accused the Indian state of murdering Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.