Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 12 May 2017

NATO chief sees quick decision on joining anti-IS coalition

members of the anti-IS co- Germany expanding any
alition, though NATO itself military activity.
formally isn’t. NATO is also considering at
“The question is whether present whether to send
NATO as an alliance should several thousand more
be at the table coordi- troops to Afghanistan but,
nating with the others, or as at present, not in a di-
whether we should con- rect combat role.
tinue to provide support to Germany is one of the
the coalition,” Stoltenberg major contributors to the
said after meeting German NATO-led Resolute Support
Chancellor Angela Merkel. mission, with 964 soldiers.
If it does join, “it will not Merkel said: “I don’t see us
change the fundamen- in the front row, and I don’t
tal role of NATO, because have any concrete plans”
we will not be engaged in as far as increasing that
combat operations — nei- number is concerned.
ther in Syria nor Iraq,” it said. Stoltenberg said decisions
NATO currently provides will be made “within weeks”
support with AWACS sur- on requests from military
veillance planes and with authorities for more troops.
training in Iraq, in addition “If there is any increase,
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, right, to what its member nations which is not yet decided,
shake hands after a joint press conference as part of a meeting at the chancellery in Berlin, Ger- provide individually. then we will go out and ask
many, Thursday, May 11, 2017. Merkel was noncommittal all allies and partners,” he
(AP Photo/Michael Sohn) on whether NATO should said. NATO currently has
By GEIR MOULSON, Associ- countries’ leaders meet Donald Trump is keen for a formally join the coalition, about 13,000 troops in Af-
ated Press May 25 on whether the al- greater emphasis on NATO saying that she had “en- ghanistan, more than half
BERLIN (AP) — NATO’s sec- liance formally joins the co- fighting terrorism. NATO couraged” Stoltenberg to of them American.
retary-general said Thurs- alition fighting the Islamic chief Jens Stoltenberg said pursue talks on the matter. Alliance members’ leaders
day that he hopes for a de- State group. that all members of the She stressed that the possi- will meet in Brussels May 25.
cision by the time member The U.S. under President 28-alliance are already ble move wouldn’t lead to q

‘Wages won’t keep up:’ UK central bank says inflation biting

By CARLO PIOVANO sumer spending this year. by making borrowing more Chief Economist Lucy rates on hold, with one
Associated Press “Wages won’t keep up with expensive for companies O’Carroll. “It has to base its member seeking a quarter-
LONDON (AP) — The Bank the price of goods and ser- and households. forecasts on a view of the point increase.
of England says a rise in in- vices,” Bank Governor Mark The Bank of England ex- Brexit deal but, with so little “Inflationary pressures and
flation driven by the market Carney told a news confer- pects wages to start pick- to go on at present, it’s not uncertainty around Brexit
turmoil over Brexit is starting ence as he presented new ing up in 2018 and inflation an easy judgment. So far, will persist and rushing into
to hurt consumers, weak- economic forecasts. to ease back down — but the Bank is sticking to its a decision now could be
ening growth and pushing The Bank of England pre- only assuming Britain gets a assumption that Brexit will dangerous. The Bank of
the central bank to keep dicts the annual inflation new trade deal with the EU. be “smooth” - a deal will England’s verdict shows
its interest rates at record rate will rise to 2.7 percent Britain in March triggered be reached and there will that they are mindful of the
lows. by the middle of this year, two years of talks on leav- be a transition period from possibility of lower growth
The bank on Thursday kept up from the current rate ing the EU and striking a 2019. To say that is far from as companies put invest-
its main interest rate at 0.25 of 2.3 percent and push- new trade relationship. certain is a huge under- ment on hold in the face
percent as it noted that the ing the official limit of close Carney said the central statement.” of this uncertainty,” Kerim
economy will be weaker to 2 percent. It trimmed its bank did not prepare any On Thursday, the policy- Derhalli, CEO of investment
than expected this year as forecast for growth to 1.9 forecasts based on the as- makers erred on the side of app invstr.
Britain prepares to leave percent from 2.0 percent sumption of no new trade caution, particularly after In the minutes to Thursday’s
the European Union. previously. deal with the EU, leaving official figures showed eco- decision, the bank said that
Since the Brexit vote in The combination of high- uncertain what the eco- nomic growth more than if the economy performs as
June, the pound has fallen er inflation and weaker nomic impact would be. halved to 0.3 percent in the expected, its interest rates
as much as a fifth in cur- growth puts the Bank of “The Bank of England is first quarter compared with may be raised “by a some-
rency markets, pushing up England in a bind. Raising stuck between a rock and the previous three months. what greater extent” than
inflation in Britain. That, in interest rates would help hard place,” said Aber- The Monetary Policy Com- is currently expected in fi-
turn, is weighing on con- limit inflation but hurt growth deen Asset Management mittee voted 7-1 to keep nancial markets.q