ISIS/ISIL declares state of emergency in Raqqa, U.S. official says

The de-facto capital of the Islamic State is under a state of emergency, a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition against the group confirmed.

Moscow: EU actions to plug financing channels of ISIS terrorists in Syria insufficient

 Russian Ambassador to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov asserted that the actions taken by EU’s officials to plug the channels, along which finances are pumped to terrorists in Syria, are insufficient and more attention should be given to the illegal trading in oil terrorists engage in with assistance from Turkey.

UNSC Resolution Against Funding Terrorism Lacks Strict Adherence - (Vitaly Churkin)

Obligations stipulated by the UN Security Council resolution on countering financing of terrorism are not being implemented by everyone in a transparent manner, Russian envoy to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said.

Foreign terrorist fighters pose ‘significant and evolving’ global threat, warns new UN report

 UN, 6 October 2015 – In the wake of last week’s meeting of world leaders at United Nations Headquarters on countering violent extremism, a new UN report released today throws into stark relief the growing threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, especially in an era where extremist groups freely use social media and the Internet to disseminate their ideologies and even raise funds.

Russia may consider providing financing to Greek firms for construction of Turkish Stream

Russia is ready to consider providing financing to Greek companies for construction of gas transportation system in Greece, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

U.S. midterm elections demonstrated commitment to democracy, but role of money increasingly problematic, say OSCE parliamentary observers

[From the Official Website of the OSCE]
WASHINGTON, 5 November 2014 – The 2014 United States midterm elections were another demonstration of the country’s commitment to democracy, as voters could readily inform themselves about their political options and could freely cast their ballots, observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) concluded. However, the increasing role of money in political campaigns threatened to overshadow the real issues at stake in the elections. While the elections benefitted from extensive media coverage, with diverse and critical analysis of many aspects of the campaigns, the actual interest of the public appeared limited.

Merkel says EU economic situation "uneasy". - German and France will receive refunds of around €1 billion each

The European Union is facing an uneasy economic situation, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after the EU leaders summit in Brussels on Friday.

She warned that swift measures need to be taken to increase the EU's competitiveness, revive its economy and reduce unemployment.

Regarding British Prime Minister David Cameron's reaction to the surprise €2.1 billion surcharge the EU demanded of him last week, Merkel said the calculations were accurate.

EU beschließt enge Kooperation bei Rüstungspolitik

Von Drohnen bis Cyber-Abwehr: Die EU-Staaten sollen künftig enger zusammenarbeiten. Aber es gibt noch viele Fragezeichen.

Die Europäer wollen in Rüstungs- und Verteidigungsfragen enger zusammenarbeiten. Bei einem EU-Gipfel in Brüssel vereinbarten die Staats- und Regierungschefs am Donnerstag, die militärischen Fähigkeiten in vier Bereichen zu stärken, nämlich Drohnen, Luftraumbetankung, Satelliten-Kommunikation und Cyber-Abwehr. Über den weiteren Kurs sind sich die Staaten aber uneins.