PRAGUE (AFP) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday expressed support for a proposal by the French President Emmanuel Macron for an expanded European political forum. Leaders from the European Union and its European partners needed “a regular exchange at the political level... to discuss the key issues that affect our continent as a whole, such as security, energy, the climate and connectivity”, Scholz said.The new forum was “not an alternative to the upcoming process of EU enlargement”, he added in the speech at Charles University in Prague outlining his vision for the bloc.  Scholz also pledged emphatic backing for the six nations of the western Balkans, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine to join the European Union. “Their EU accession is in our interest,” said Scholz in a speech on his vision for the bloc at Charles University in Prague.

 

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PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AFP) -- The European Union is planning to suspend an agreement that eases the path for Russians to apply for visas to travel to the bloc, an EU diplomat told reporters Monday. “We cannot continue the visa policy as it has been up to now,” he said, requesting not to be named, ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Prague to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The EU move, aimed at reducing the number of visas issued to Russian nationals after pressure from eastern member states, falls short of an outright ban but would make getting travel documents significantly more complicated and expensive.

 

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AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -- A Dutch special forces soldier shot outside his hotel in the U.S. city of Indianapolis three days ago has died of his injuries, the Dutch Defence Ministry said on Monday. Three Dutch commandos in the United States for training exercises were wounded in the shooting, which happened while they were off duty on Friday. The two other men were stable in hospital, the ministry said, without giving new details about the incident. An Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) police officer told broadcaster FOX 59 it appeared there was an altercation earlier away from the Hampton Inn in downtown Indianapolis.

 

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NEW DELHI (Guardian) -- India has accused China of “militarization of the Taiwan Strait”, in an escalating war of words triggered by a Chinese military ship docking in a controversial Sri Lankan port. The accusation, referenced in a statement by the Indian high commission in Sri Lanka on Sunday, is reportedly the first time the Indian government has used the descriptor, and is a rare intervention on the cross-straits issues as India contends with tensions on its own border with China. Earlier this month a Chinese military research vessel docked at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port for a week. Analysts say the Yuan Wang 5 is among a group of Chinese ships operated by the People’s Liberation Army that monitor satellite, rocket and intercontinental ballistic missile launches. The docking of the Yuan Wang 5 was delayed for several days after India objected. China’s foreign affairs ministry had said the vessel was conducting maritime research, in line with international law and practice, and would not affect “the security and economic interests of any country”.

 

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SAO PAULO (AFP) -- Sparks flew Sunday as far-right President Jair Bolsonaro accused leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of massive corruption -- and drew accusations of “destroying Brazil” in return -- as they faced off in their first election debate. The two front-runners, who waited until the last minute to confirm they would attend the first televised debate ahead of October’s elections, wasted no time in attacking each other. “Your government was the most corrupt in Brazilian history,” said Bolsonaro, 67. Lula fired back that Bolsonaro was spreading “untruths” -- one of several exchanges in which they accused each other of lying. He in turn accused the incumbent of trashing his legacy of economic growth and anti-poverty initiatives. “This country has been destroyed,” Lula said in his trademark gravelly voice, attacking Bolsonaro over increased poverty and hunger, soaring prices and a surge in the destruction of the Amazon rainforest.

 

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JAKARTA (Reuters) -- Authorities in Indonesia’s Papua region have detained six army officers and launched an investigation into their alleged involvement in the brutal murder of four civilians last week, military officials said on Monday. Teguh Muji Angkasa, a senior military officer in Papua, told a televised news briefing the military and police would conduct a joint investigation. Six officers have been named as suspects, Lieutenant General Chandra W. Sukotjo told Reuters, after body parts were found in a river near the city of Timika. The military is investigating the murder of four victims, he said. The victims had been looking to buy weapons from the military officers on Aug. 22 before the deal went awry, he said. Media reported the victims’ bodies had allegedly also been mutilated, but Chandra declined to comment on the allegations.