European Union

Mobile phones will be prohibited in French schools when classes start again this autumn. The move is a bid to improve pupils' concentration levels in class and increase physical activity during breaks. Internet-enabled devices will be banned in most schools, while lycées (upper secondary schools) will be allowed to decide for themselves whether to impose the ban. Commentators disagree about how effective the measure will be.

The city of Vilnius will launch a new PR campaign in Berlin and London on Wednesday in a bid to raise the city's profile and attract tourists. The Lithuanian capital is presented as Europe's G-spot with the advertising slogan: "Nobody knows where it is, but when you find it it's amazing". The Lithuanian government had requested in vain that the launch of the campaign be postponed until after the Pope's visit at the end of September. Rightly so?

Members of the Christian Democratic Union in Germany have reignited the debate about reintroducing compulsory military or community service for men and women. In France, a month of national service will be compulsory as of this autumn. Commentators believe the move could be beneficial for society.

Three Czech Nato soldiers have been killed in an attack in Afghanistan. President Zeman offered his condolences to the victims' families and called for renewed vigour in the fight against international terrorism. The Czech Republic has 250 soldiers stationed in Afghanistan as part of the international military presence in the country. Czech media lambaste commentaries that deny that the soldiers are heroes.

The Russian government decided to expel two Greek diplomats from its territory on Monday (6 August) in response to Greece’s similar “hostile” move last month, according to the Kremlin.

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The EU and New Zealand collaborate under the Joint Declaration on Relations and Cooperation, signed on 21st September 2007, in such areas as global and regional security, counter-terrorism and human rights, visas, development and economic cooperation, trade, climate change as well as science and technology.

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The world is at risk of entering “hothouse” conditions where global average temperatures will be 4-5 degrees Celsius higher even if emissions reduction targets under a global climate deal are met, scientists said in a study published on Monday (6 August).

Danish state prosecutors on Monday launched an official investigation into Danske Bank over allegations that the country's biggest lender has been involved in money laundering through its Estonian branch. Meanwhile, Bill Browder, champion of the Russian whistleblower Sergei Magnitski, killed in Russia, requested a criminal investigation of 26 officials of the Estonian branch of Danske Bank, who allegedly enabled the money laundering, Estonian daily Postimees reported.

A record low of 22 percent of British voters approve of prime minister Theresa May's handling of Brexit negotiations, a drop from 55 percent in the first half of 2017, according to a survey from ORB International pollster published on Monday. The UK is posed to leave the EU in a little more than eight months, on 29 March 2019.