Major German union demands political plan to save industrial jobs
"We have no time to lose - in fact I believe we only have one chance left," Christiane Benner, first chairwoman of IG Metall, said in Frankfurt. "This country now needs a plan for the future, people need clear prospects."
Thousands of jobs are on the line, for example at Germany's carmakers and auto industry suppliers as well as in the country's struggling steel industry.
"For every job that is lost, a new one must be created. Everyone must now do their bit to keep value creation in the country and at the same time attract new jobs and industries," warned Benner.
Germany's stagnant economy and a sharp downturn in key industries such as the auto and chemicals sectors has raised fears that the country's economic model is in terminal decline.
Manufacturing remains a larger segment of the German economy than in most other wealthy countries, such as France or the United States, and industrial exports are seen as a pillar of the economy.
Fierce global competition, rising labour expenses and high energy costs, however, have put that model under growing strain.
With German elections approaching on February 23, IG Metall leaders on Monday demanded that parties focus on solutions - and called for a nationwide day of action after the vote in order to put pressure on potential coalition talks.
The trade union is planning demonstrations on March 15 in cities across the country in order to "bring our demands to the streets during the coalition negotiations," said Benner.
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American Press
2 hours ago
- American Press
Trump warns of 'severe consequences' if Putin does not agree to stop war after summit
President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that there will be 'very severe consequences' if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to stop the war against Ukraine after the two leaders meet for a summit later this week in Alaska. Trump made the comment in response to a question from a reporter after announcing this year's Kennedy Center Honors recipients in Washington. He did not say what the consequences might be. The remark came soon after Trump consulted with European leaders, who said the president assured them he would make a priority of trying to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine when he speaks with Putin on Friday in Anchorage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined several of Kyiv's main allies in the virtual meeting with the U.S. leader, and Zelenskyy told the group that Putin 'is bluffing' ahead of the planned summit about Russia's ability to occupy all of Ukraine and shake off sanctions. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said afterward that 'important decisions' could be made in Alaska, but he stressed that 'fundamental European and Ukrainian security interests must be protected.' Merz convened Wednesday's meeting in an attempt to make sure European and Ukrainian leaders are heard ahead of the summit. He stressed that a ceasefire must come at the beginning of negotiations. He told reporters that Trump 'also wants to make this one of his priorities' in the meeting with Putin. At a separate appearance in France, French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump 'was very clear' that the U.S. wants to achieve a ceasefire at the summit. Following Friday's summit, Macron added, Trump will 'seek a future trilateral meeting' — one involving Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy. He said he hoped that it could be held in Europe 'in a neutral country that is acceptable to all parties.' Merz, who described Wednesday's conversation as 'constructive and good,' said the Europeans made clear that 'Ukraine must sit at the table as soon as there are follow-up meetings.' European allies have pushed for Ukraine's involvement in any peace talks, fearful that discussions that exclude Kyiv could otherwise favor Moscow. The Ukrainian president, who traveled to Berlin to join the meeting alongside Merz, has repeatedly cast doubt on whether Putin would negotiate in good faith. He said Wednesday that he hoped an immediate ceasefire will be 'the central topic' in Alaska, but also argued that Putin 'definitely does not want peace.' Zelenskyy said Putin 'is trying to apply pressure … on all sectors of the Ukrainian front' in an attempt to show that Russia is 'capable of occupying all of Ukraine.' Putin is also bluffing that sanctions 'do not matter to him and are ineffective,' he added. 'In reality, sanctions are very helpful and are hitting Russia's war economy hard.' The stakes for Europe Trump has said he wants to see whether Putin is serious about ending the war, now in its fourth year, describing Friday's summit as 'a feel-out meeting' where he can assess the Russian leader's intentions. Yet Trump has disappointed allies in Europe by saying Ukraine will have to give up some Russian-held territory. He has also said Russia must accept land swaps, although it was unclear what Putin might be expected to surrender. Trump on Monday ducked repeated chances to say that he would push for Zelenskyy to take part in his discussions with Putin, and the president was dismissive of Zelenskyy and his need to be part of an effort to seek peace. Trump said that following Friday's summit, a meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders could be arranged, or that it could also be a meeting with 'Putin and Zelenskyy and me.' The Europeans and Ukraine are wary that Putin, who has waged the biggest land war in Europe since 1945 and used Russia's energy might to try to intimidate the European Union, might secure favorable concessions and set the outlines of a peace deal without them. The overarching fear of many European countries is that Putin will set his sights on one of them next if he wins in Ukraine. Merz said that 'if there is no movement on the Russian side in Alaska, then the United States and the Europeans should and must increase the pressure' on Moscow. Land concessions a non-starter for Kyiv Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Putin wants Ukraine to withdraw from the remaining 30% of the Donetsk region that it still controls as part of a ceasefire deal, a proposal the Ukrainian leader categorically rejected. Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine would not give up any territory it controls, saying that would be unconstitutional and would serve only as a springboard for a future Russian invasion. He said diplomatic discussions led by the U.S. focused on ending the war have not addressed key Ukrainian demands, including security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression and ensuring that Europe is included in negotiations. Three weeks after Trump returned to office, his administration took the leverage of Ukraine's NATO membership off the table — something Putin has demanded — and signaled that the EU and Ukraine must handle security in Europe now while America focuses its attention elsewhere. Senior EU officials believe Trump may be satisfied with simply securing a ceasefire in Ukraine and that he is probably more interested in broader U.S. interests and great power politics, aiming to ramp up business with Russia and rehabilitate Putin.
The Hill
4 hours ago
- The Hill
Trump talks tough on Putin ahead of summit
PRESIDENT TRUMP took a hardline with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ahead of their high-stakes summit in Alaska at the end of the week. Speaking to reporters at the Kennedy Center, Trump promised there would be 'severe consequences' if Russia fails to reach a ceasefire deal with Ukraine after the summit. 'There will be consequences,' Trump said. 'I don't have to say. There will be very severe consequences.' Asked if he believed Putin will stop targeting civilians in Ukraine, Trump responded: 'I've had that conversation with him. I've had a lot of good conversations with him. Then I go home and I see that a rocket hit a nursing home, or a rocket hit an apartment building, and people are laying dead in the street. So I guess the answer to that is no, because I've had this conversation.' Trump and Vice President Vance met virtually with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders Wednesday to strategize ahead of the summit. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz organized the meeting, as European leaders seek a united front to stand against Putin's land demands and to ensure Ukraine's future security. ' We have had a very good call,' European Commission President Urusula von der Leyen posted on X. 'Today Europe, the US and NATO have strengthened the common ground for Ukraine,' she continued. 'We will remain in close coordination. Nobody wants peace more than us, a just and lasting peace.' Trump said that after his Friday summit, he hopes to arrange a trilateral meeting with Putin and Zelensky 'almost immediately.' RUSSIAN INCURSION CONTINUES The Russian military broke through Ukraine's frontlines in the eastern Donetsk region this week, pushing forward with the new offensive only days before Putin's meeting with Trump. Putin also had his own summit with an ally Wednesday, speaking with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un about the 'bravery, heroism and self-sacrificing spirit' of the North Korean fighters that have joined Putin's war efforts, according to North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. Zelensky on Wednesday warned that Putin is 'bluffing' about being open to peace. 'I stress that any questions concerning our country's territorial integrity cannot be discussed without regard for our people, for the will of our people and the Ukrainian constitution,' Zelensky said. Trump has in recent days taken shots at both Putin and Zelensky, adding an element of uncertainty to the meeting, which will take place at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. The president has turned on Putin in recent weeks, authorizing the sale of U.S. defensive munitions to European countries to pass through to Ukraine. Trump has also threatened economic sanctions on Russia's trading partners, and hit India with steep tariffs for continuing to buy Russian oil. However, Trump has also lashed out at Zelensky. The Hill's Ellen Mitchell writes: 'President Trump's sharp criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday is sending chills across Europe, where leaders are working to guard against the worst-case scenario: Trump aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin to force a bad deal on Kyiv.' Trump has said that any deal will have 'good stuff, not bad stuff, also some bad stuff for both' parties. LAND SWAPS Trump's talk of land swaps has Kyiv and its European allies on edge, as they fear the president will give Putin a sweetheart deal that carves-up Ukraine. Zelensky is drawing a red line, saying he won't cede portions of the Donbas region to Russia to achieve a deal. 'We will never leave the Donbas,' Zelensky told reporters, saying Russia would use it as a 'springboard for a future new offensive.' The Hill's Ashleigh Fields writes: 'Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and captured most of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions within Donbas. The Kremlin has already expressed a desire to keep Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson before committing to ending the violent strikes in eastern Europe.' Trump has so far downplayed expectations for the meeting with Putin. The White House has described the Putin meeting a 'listening session' and a 'feel-out meeting.' Trump is already fuming at the press coverage of the meeting, pointing to John Bolton, the former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, who has been blanketing the airwaves to warn Trump is giving Putin everything he wants. Some experts have warned through the media that Putin is merely seeking a photo-op with Trump on American soil to show his strength back home. 'Very unfair media is at work on my meeting with Putin,' Trump posted on Truth Social. 'Constantly quoting fired losers and really dumb people like John Bolton, who just said that, even though the meeting is on American soil, 'Putin has already won,' What's that all about? We are winning on EVERYTHING.' 'The Fake News is working overtime (No tax on overtime!). If I got Moscow and Leningrad free, as part of the deal with Russia, the Fake News would say that I made a bad deal!,' he continued. 'But now they've been caught Look at all of the real news that's coming out about their CORRUPTION. They are sick and dishonest people, who probably hate our Country.' 💡 Perspectives: • The Atlantic: Putin could be laying a trap for Trump. • The American Spectator: Trump has Putin where he wants him. • The Hill: Stop the senseless slaughter and starvation in Gaza. • The Nation: An interview with Zohran Mamdani. • Tablet: Mamdani's fantasy island. Read more: • Russia is behind hacking of federal court system. • Netanyahu hints Gaza ceasefire talks focus on releasing all hostages. • Israel is in talks to resettle Palestinians from Gaza in South Sudan. • Trump's DC move forces Democrats to again grapple with crime. • Trump wields funding card in fight with DC. CATCH UP QUICK President Trump said Wednesday he'll seek 'long-term extensions' from Congress to prolong his federal takeover of the Washington, D.C., police department. A federal appeals court voted 2-1 to lift an order requiring the Trump administration to resume billions of dollars in foreign aid payments. Actor Sylvester Stallone, disco singer Gloria Gaynor and rock band KISS will be recognized as Kennedy Center Honors recipients, in the first awards gala held since President Trump's overhaul of Washington's prominent arts destination. NEWS THIS AFTERNOON Newsom says he'll move forward with redistricting California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said Wednesday he'll move forward with a new gerrymander after he says President Trump 'missed' his deadline to call off redistricting in Texas. Newsom said he'd hld a press conference this week to detail how California, which has an independent districting commission, would draw new maps and take them directly to voters in a special election later this year. The nonpartisan watchdog group Common Cause, which was initially against blue states retaliating against Texas's redistricting, is now signaling openness to it. Common Cause said in a statement it would not 'endorse partisan gerrymandering even when its motive is to offset more extreme gerrymandering by a different party,' but it also said that 'a blanket condemnation in this moment would amount to a call for unilateral political disarmament in the face of authoritarian efforts to undermine fair representation and people-powered democracy.' 'We have established a fairness criteria that we will use to evaluate all countermeasures so we can respond to the most urgent threats to fair representation while holding all actors to the same principled standard: people—not parties—first,' Common Cause president and CEO Virginia Kase Solomón said in a statement. It appears the standoff in Texas will continue, with Democrats holding a joint press conference this afternoon with Indiana Democrats in Chicago. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) says he's considering redrawing the Hoosier State's maps after a meeting with Vice President Vance last week. The Texas Senate on Tuesday passed a new GOP-friendly House map, bringing it one step closer to final passage. It's an identical map to the one passed by state House Republicans and could help the GOP pick up an additional five House seats in next year's midterm elections. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has called for a new special session to take effect later this week after Democrats ran out the clock on the first special session by fleeing the state. Abbott says he'll continue calling for new special sessions until the Democrats return. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate former Rep. Beto O'Rourke 's (D) political group and others for helping fund the Democrats who fled the state. 'These outside groups appear to be acting in violation of federal public corruption and election laws,' Cornyn said. Cornyn is in a bitter primary battle against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), who called for O'Rourke's arrest earlier this week. In the latest edition of The Gavel, The Hill's courts newsletter, Zach Schonfeld reports: 'A chasm has emerged between two Texas Republican Senate candidates in the legal fight against Democrats who fled the state to block a redistricting push…It has also become a shadow war in the state's upcoming Senate GOP primary.' 💡 Perspectives: • Free Beacon: Dems curse more, obey less, protect criminals at all costs. • The Free Press: Is Trump's takeover of D.C. lawful? • New Republic: Trump is taking over D.C. police because he's a racist thug. • Jeanine Pirro: The fight to make D.C. safe and beautiful. • The National Review: Anti-semitism is everywhere. • West Point, Air Force Academy settle lawsuits on race-based admissions. • Trump administration must restore hundreds of UCLA research grants. • Billy Long's IRS ouster follows clashes with Treasury. IN OTHER NEWS Markets hover near highs ahead of expected rate cut The four major U.S. stock market indices hovered near their all-time highs Wednesday, as investors bet the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next month. The combination of lower-than-expected inflation from President Trump 's tariffs and a weak jobs report have set the table for Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to potentially cut rates at the next central bank meeting in September. Trump has been pressuring Powell to cut rates, nicknaming him 'too late' and threatening to investigate renovations taking place at a Federal Reserve building in Washington. 💡 Perspectives: • The Liberal Patriot: Economic pessimism remains potent among voters. • Wall Street Journal: Does Trump's BLS have a plan to make data reliable? • The Hill: Trump's tariffs will leave lasting scars. • Progressive: Chicago's sanctuary fights back.
Politico
5 hours ago
- Politico
Moscow and Washington lean on allies for support
With help from Daniel Lippman Subscribe here | Email Eric As the Anchorage summit between Russian leader VLADIMIR PUTIN and President DONALD TRUMP fast approaches, both Moscow and Washington have circled the wagons with their allies. Trump spoke with a coterie of European leaders today, who downplayed that any daylight existed between them. Trump dubbed the call a '10' and said he was hopeful that the meeting with Putin would result in a second, more productive bilateral meeting. He also voiced optimism that Putin, Trump and Ukrainian President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY could also gather for a quick trilateral meeting afterward. Other leaders offered more specifics. German Chancellor FRIEDRICH MERZ, who convened the call, told reporters afterward that Trump 'largely shares' Europe's positions on Ukraine's security and that European leaders conveyed the importance of safeguarding 'fundamental European and Ukrainian security interests.' French President EMMANUEL MACRON, who was also on the call with Trump, told reporters that the president agreed with European leaders that only Ukraine can negotiate any territorial concessions with Russia to end the war. European officials seemed pleased with the call, but much will depend on what happens once Trump is in the room with Putin. 'The big win would be a ceasefire,' one senior European official told Felicia, granted anonymity to speak freely about the sensitive meeting. 'Territory is not, and should not be on the agenda Friday. My guess is there will be a backlash if Putin won't agree to ceasefire.' SAM CHARAP, a Russia analyst at the RAND think tank, told Felicia that these shows of unity are important because Moscow will look to exploit any cracks to win a favorable deal. 'It's certainly useful for him to be able to drive wedges between the U.S. and the E.U.,' Charap said. 'When he's facing a united West, it's harder for him to get he wants.' FRED FLEITZ, who served as National Security Council chief of staff during the first Trump administration, told Eric that Trump deserves credit for consulting the Europeans and listening to their perspectives before he meets with Putin. The call also reduces the potential for any European grumbling about the final terms. 'They can't complain that he didn't know their position or that he didn't give them the opportunity to weigh in with him,' said Fleitz, now vice chair of the America First Policy Institute's Center for American Security. 'And I think this is great because whatever is agreed to, Trump can say this represents the opinion and the will of the international community.' Some in Europe feel that Team Trump has moved into their corner, particularly Vice President JD VANCE, who has held several consultations with the Europeans about Russia. 'People are pretty impressed by Vance, who is looking for solutions while being clear that Putin is the bad guy here,' the senior European official said. Trump isn't the only one trying to present a united front before the face-to-face in Alaska. Putin spoke with North Korean leader KIM JONG UN on Tuesday evening. North Korean state media reported that Putin praised the 'bravery, heroism and self-sacrificing spirit' of North Korean troops who fought in Kursk earlier this year. Russian state media added that Putin discussed the upcoming Alaska meeting with Kim, though neither side offered details about what was discussed between them. The question is how long this Western unity will last. Charap warned that if Europe and the U.S. aren't on the same page going forward, it only stands to benefit Putin. He said that if the U.S. goes for sanctions relief but doesn't have Europe's support, it would undermine Europe's efforts to increase pressure on Russia. Meanwhile, if the U.S. stops military support for Ukraine or if the Ukraine contact group falls apart, that could hurt European security, too. The Inbox TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: We're eager to know how you feel about the information you're getting in your inbox every day. Please let us know what's working for you, what isn't and what we're missing. Take our survey here. TRUMP ACKNOWLEDGES HACKS: The president acknowledged that Russia was behind a hack of the U.S. federal court system but didn't offer much in the way of condemnation. 'They hack in, that's what they do. They're good at it, we're good at it, we're actually better at it,' Trump said. He added he was indeed aware of the hack and didn't rule out mentioning it to Putin. How did the hackers get in? As our own John Sakellariadis reported Tuesday night, hackers managed to exploit basic vulnerabilities in the court's file management system, which were known about and remained unresolved since 2020. Russian hackers are being accused of 'pilfering source code for the filing system from at least three federal district courts and vacuuming up sealed case data,' John wrote. Our Pro subscribers got this analysis and more on the federal hack in today's edition of Morning Cybersecurity. Want to get these insights delivered to your inbox every morning? Sign up for POLITICO Pro here. MEXICO'S FEARS: Trump's reported decision to authorize the Pentagon to use military force against transnational criminal groups, among them Mexican cartels, is rattling Mexico's business elites, our own Nahal Toosi reports from Mexico City. In her column out today, there are worries that Trump's policies toward the cartels could end up punishing companies that may have few options but to do business with the criminal groups. And anxiety rages that an accompanying economic downturn, plus deportations and the unintended consequences of U.S. attacks against the cartels, could ultimately help the cartels become stronger. That said, U.S. officials are very happy that Mexico extradited a group of gang leaders to the United States. Ambassador to Mexico RONALD JOHNSON wrote on X today that the action reflects the Mexican security cabinet's 'dedication and commitment' as well as 'the strength of our bilateral cooperation as sovereign partners.' The warm response, in the meantime, offers public vindication of a consistent argument from the Mexican side — that the Sheinbaum government is cooperating fully with the Trump administration in its fight against the cartels and is actively helping reduce the amount of fentanyl and other drugs smuggled into the United States. HAVANA MAXIMUM PRESSURE: The State Department imposed new visa restrictions on Cuban, African and Grenadian officials accused of mistreating Cuban doctors sent abroad as part of the island's 'medical missions.' In a statement, State said the actions were part of the U.S. commitment to 'confront the Cuban regime's abuses and stand with the Cuban people.' State had previously targeted some Mexican government officials and officials in other Latin American countries with visa restrictions over the treatment of Cuban doctors in those countries. It's the latest example of the Trump administration gradually ratcheting up economic pressure on Havana. The administration has focused on the medical missions, in which countries pay Cuba to provide them with doctors. The island's communist government argues the revenues are being reinvested in the island's health care system. The United States disputes those claims, arguing officials enrich themselves through the 'forced labor' of Cuban doctors with little benefit to the Cuban people. IT'S WEDNESDAY: Thanks for tuning in to NatSec Daily! This space is reserved for the top U.S. and foreign officials, the lawmakers, the lobbyists, the experts and the people like you who care about how the natsec sausage gets made. Aim your tips and comments at ebazail@ and follow Eric on X @ebazaileimil. While you're at it, follow the rest of POLITICO's global security team on social media at: @dave_brown24, @HeidiVogt, @jessicameyers, @RosiePerper, @ @PhelimKine, @felschwartz, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @reporterjoe, @JackDetsch, @samuelskove, @magmill95, @johnnysaks130 and @delizanickel Keystrokes TRUST BUT VERIFY: The U.S. is secretly embedding location tracking devices in shipments of advanced artificial intelligence chips to catch illegal diversions to China, Reuters reports. The law enforcement tactic targets select shipments of servers from companies like Dell and Super Micro that contain Nvidia and AMD processors, focusing on shipments authorities see as high-risk for diversion to restricted destinations. The covert surveillance program represents a significant escalation in Washington's efforts to enforce semiconductor export restrictions and prevent cutting-edge AI technology from reaching Chinese hands. It also signals that U.S. authorities suspect widespread evasion of the chip controls that both the Biden and Trump administrations made central to their China containment strategies. The Complex THE NDAA PILE-ON: The National Defense Authorization Act is shaping up to be this year's biggest legislative vehicle as lawmakers scramble to attach unrelated bills to the must-pass defense policy measure, our Joe Gould writes. Subscribers got this first in Morning Defense (for Pros!). With the GOP megabill already enacted, and a potential government shutdown looming that could stall other major legislation, the NDAA has become prime real estate for measures that might not otherwise get floor time. House Speaker MIKE JOHNSON has already opened the door by previously agreeing to include a ban on government-issued digital currency in the defense bill to secure GOP hardliner support for landmark cryptocurrency legislation in July. Defense hawks aren't amused. Rep. ROB WITTMAN (R-Va.), vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee, argued Johnson's crypto deal should be viewed as 'a one-time scenario' and warned against opening 'carte blanche' for other unrelated measures. Broadsides SAVE THE CHILDREN: Moscow must return thousands of deported children before Ukraine reaches any peace deal with Russia, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs MARIANA BETSA argues in an op-ed published earlier today in POLITICO. Russia has systematically deported, illegally adopted and forcibly assimilated Ukrainian children, transferring many deep into Russia, where their names and identities have been changed and their native language forbidden, she writes. Despite three rounds of talks in Istanbul where Ukraine presented a modest starting point of 339 names to test Russian good faith, Moscow's delegation has met Ukrainian appeals with 'silence, evasion and scorn,' she said, with the most recent meeting lasting less than an hour due to Russia's refusal to engage seriously. Ukraine has so far returned around 1,500 children through government and humanitarian efforts, but officials stress this represents only a fraction of those taken. Transitions — MICHAEL CARPENTER is now senior fellow for transatlantic affairs at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He previously was National Security Council senior director for Europe in the Biden administration and U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. — BILYANA LILLY has joined the Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation as an adjunct fellow. — DAVID FRASH, the former director for state and local government external affairs at NetJets, has joined Anduril as director of state and local government affairs. He will be based at the company's Arsenal-1 hyperscale manufacturing facility in Ohio. What to Read — Souad Mekhennet, Ellen Nakashima, Joanna Slater and Aaron Schaffer, The Washington Post: Inside the 13-year search for Austin Tice, the journalist who disappeared — Marcus Walker and Ian Lovett, The Wall Street Journal: Ukraine's Once Nimble Army Is Mired in Soviet Decision-Making — Liam Scott, Columbia Journalism Review: Stars and Stripes Keeps Its Head Down Tomorrow Today — Center for a New American Security, 10 a.m.: Policy Options on Afghanistan Four Years After the U.S. Withdrawal — U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, 10:30 a.m.: Freedom of Religion or Belief in Turkey — Foreign Policy, 11 a.m.: The Future of European Defense — Arab Center Washington, D.C., 12 p.m.: A book discussion on 'Understanding Palestine & Israel' — Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 12 p.m.: The Future of UNIFIL and Hezbollah Disarmament Thanks to our editors, Rosie Perper and Emily Lussier, who are never united against us.
