GERMANY: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced that he will ask for a vote of confidence on December 16, paving the way forward for an early parliamentary election in February.

Mr Scholz declared his plans for a vote of confidence during a speech in parliament today, one week after his three-party coalition government collapsed.  

He had initially wanted to have an early election only by late March.

NIGER: The military rulers of Niger have banned the French aid group Agency for Technical Co-operation and Development from working in the country, amid tensions with France.

The Ministry of the Interior signed a decree on Tuesday withdrawing the non-profit organisation's licence to operate, without providing reasons for the decision.

Another aid group, Niger’s Action for Well-Being, also saw its licence revoked.

NETHERLANDS: Far-right Dutch political leader Geert Wilders today blamed “Moroccans” for attacks on Israeli football fans in Amsterdam last week, saying during a parliamentary debate that they “want to destroy Jews” and recommending deporting those convicted.

While politicians condemned antisemitism and agreed that perpetrators of the violence should be tracked down and prosecuted, they accused Mr Wilders of “pouring oil on the fire” and said his statements were not conducive to “a better society.”

UNITED STATES: The Biden administration is determined in its final months to help ensure that Ukraine continues its fight against Russia’s invasion next year.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today that Washington would send as much aid as possible while the current administration was still in power so that it might hold Russian forces at bay and strengthen Kiev’s hand for any potential peace negotiations.