European Union

Some 3,500 army personnel will be on standby for a no-deal Brexit in March 2019, the UK defence secretary Gavin Williamson told MPs on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the British cabinet said it would publish some 160 technical notices, with 80,000 emails going out to businesses this week, plus a 100-page Partnership Pack. The move comes as premier Theresa May's deal with the EU comes up for a parliamentary vote in January.

A political earthquake hit Europe’s furthest far-flung frontier last week, as Armenians voted in what has been labelled their nation’s first free and transparent elections. But just who is the revolutionary leader that has captured the hearts of Armenia’s inhabitants?

For several days now thousands of people have taken to the streets in Hungary to protest a new labour law and the policies of the national-conservative government. The rallies are also supported by a broad alliance of opposition parties and unions. The significant mobilisation is mainly the result of strategic mistakes committed by Prime Minister Orbán, commentators believe.

The French Minister of the Interior Christophe Castaner ordered the police to clear the last of the yellow vests' barricades on Monday. Only 33,000 people across the nation took part in the protests on the weekend, according to official accounts. While some commentators see the movement on its last legs, others hope it will get a second wind.

Social networks like Facebook played an important role in mobilising the yellow vest protests in France. French media scientist Frederic Filloux has described Facebook as the "most threatening weapon to democracies". Commentators examine whether this criticism is justified.

A bomb attack has been carried out against the headquarters of TV station Skai in the Athens suburb of Faliron. Warning calls had prompted the evacuation of the building so that no one was injured. The police are investigating evidence that this was the work of left-wing terrorists. Does ruling party Syriza, which boycotts the conservative broadcaster, bear part of the blame for the attack?