These are the headlines we are tracking for you in this episode of On the News Line:
Ireland government collapse
As European Union leaders are preparing for a key mid-December summit to discuss the terms of Britain’s departure from the bloc, recent developments in Ireland have cast a cloud over the high-level talks. Before Brussels moves forward with trade negotiations with London, it wants one matter resolved. And that is the issue of the future border between EU member Ireland and Northern Ireland which is part of the UK. The Irish prime minister is due to give the bloc such an assurance. But Leo Varadkar could witness the collapse of his minority government soon as lawmakers in the opposition Fianna Fail party have submitted a motion of no confidence in Deputy Prime Minister Frances Fitzgerald. She is under fire for her handling of a legal case involving a police whistle-blower. Opposition Fianna Fail supports the minority Fine Gael government in what’s called “confidence and supply” arrangement. Voting no confidence in a minister would result in the termination of that deal.
Syria challenges: The Kurds
With an end to the crisis in Syria apparently approaching, many believe the fate of one important party still remains undecided. The Kurds that have carved out autonomous cantons in the country’s north. Heavily supported by the United States, they made major advancements against the Daesh terrorists over the past months. The Kurds were particularly instrumental in the liberation of Raqqah - the de facto capital of the terrorists. But any prospect for them to get their own reign in northern Syria is strongly detested by Turkey which considers them as terrorists. It has been to the same effect that Ankara has already announced that it would not accept the presence of Kurds in talks over the future of Syria.