Miqdad Asaria – Heatwaves don’t affect us all equally
Heatwaves not only affect the poor much more than the rich, they also contribute to widening inequality between the classes.
200 Stories
No items found for this source.
David Hearst – Why the Mecca Agreement has given the UAE-Israel alliance the jitters
Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia could potentially offer an alternative basis for power in the Middle East for more countries seeking alternatives to US-Israeli hegemony. David Hearst is co-founder and editor-in-chief of Middle East Eye.
Middle East Eye – Israel allows Jewish ritual at Al-Aqsa Mosque in unprecedented violation of status quo
It is quite clear that what is happening in Israel ahead of October elections is the pursuit of all out Jewish supremacy in every ambit.
Hossam Shaker – Gaza genocide: How Israel made horror a ritual of daily life
A portrait of life under genocide.
Dropsite News – U.S.-Iran MOU expires without agreement; Israeli strikes kill 11 in Lebanon
Latest from the Middle East, where things are going from bad to worse. Read the article HERE.
Fiji Hands Over a Man Suspected of Ponzi-style Crypto Investment Schemes to US
Fiji handed over an American citizen suspected of involvement in multi-million-dollar cryptocurrency Ponzi schemes across the United States that promised participants returns as high as 25 percent a month and encouraged them to recruit friends and acquaintances for bonuses.
Spain Seizes 13 Tonnes of Nitrous Oxide in Tenerife
Spain’s Civil Guard dismantled an alleged criminal organization accused of illegally importing and distributing nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, in Tenerife, seizing nearly 13 tons of the substance in what authorities called Europe’s second-largest haul.
Brussels extends flexibility in energy accounts
Brussels – The European Commission is opening the way for greater freedom and flexibility in spending for Member States that need to strengthen their energy security and accelerate the phase-out of fossil fuels. The EU executive has adopted a notice clarifying how to extend the National Escape Clause, NEC—already used to allow countries to temporarily increase defence spending without automatically falling foul of European fiscal rules—to these measures. This possibility had been announced on 3 June in the European Semester 2026 Spring Package.
EU allocates 2.3 million euros to curb cholera in Africa
Brussels – The European Commission has allocated 2,3 milioni euros in humanitarian funding today (17 August) to support Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Chad in tackling the ongoing cholera outbreak. According to figures from the World Health Organisation, over 61,000 cases were recorded in the African region during the first five months of 2026. The European Commissioner for Equality, Crisis Preparedness and Management, Hadja Lahbib, stated that cholera is both “preventable and treatable.
‘Don’t get too comfortable’: Wall Street’s ‘fear gauge’ hits 2026 low — here’s why it’s unlikely to last
A falling VIX points to growing investor complacency ahead of a traditionally turbulent time for markets, strategists warn.
Business insolvencies outpace registrations in the second quarter of 2026
Brussels – In the second quarter of 2026, business registrations in the EU fell by 0.5 per cent compared with the first quarter of 2026, while insolvencies rose by 5.7 per cent, according to Eurostat figures released today (17 August). Between April and June, the manufacturing sector recorded the sharpest decline in new business start-ups (-3.6 per cent), followed by accommodation and food services (-3.4 per cent), and education and social services (-3.2 per cent).
Latvia is asking the EU for 7 billion to cover defence costs
Brussels – Seven billion euros to help cover the costs associated with defence and the severing of trade ties with Russia: this is what the Latvian Prime Minister, Andris Kulbergs, is asking of the European Union. In an interview with Politico, Kulbergs explained that these funds should be allocated through the Competitiveness Fund as part of the upcoming long-term EU 2028-2034 budget (MFF).
Russia targets Danube port after one of Ukraine’s largest aerial attacks of the war
Russia struck port infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odesa region, damaging a Togo-flagged civilian vessel near Izmail after Kyiv launched a major drone attack on Moscow.
War in Ukraine: Kallas announces “new sanctions against Russia in the autumn”
Brussels – The European Union is trying not to stand idly by in the face of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which shows no sign of abating, and is seeking to stay one step ahead. “This autumn, I will present the most ambitious list of sanctions since the start of the war,” said the Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative for the EU’s Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, in an interview published today (17 August) by the German newspaper Die Welt.
Turkey advances energy annexation of Northern Cyprus as European Parliament raises the prospect of sanctions
Brussels – Northern Cyprus: Turkey is drawing that part of the island ever closer to itself, distancing it further and further from southern Europe. The Ankara government’s decision to secure energy links through targeted investments is once again bringing to the fore an issue that has never been resolved: an island that is more contested than ever, against a completely new backdrop that includes discussions on sanctions against a NATO member state.
Tobacco: EU Commission consultation has closed
The Commission is continuing to prepare the review of the directives on tobacco products and advertising, following the call for evidence which received over 80,000 responses. The issues under discussion include the protection of young people, online advertising and the different risk profiles of traditional cigarettes and nicotine alternatives.
Heatwave and wildfires: Belgium is also ablaze. Two deaths in Greece
Brussels – France, even more so Greece, and then Belgium again. Heat and drought, as well as the resulting wildfires, continue to grip the European Union. The last twenty-four hours have seen what is probably the most serious emergency yet, with two fatalities from the fires on the Greek island of Salamis and the largest fire ever to have affected Belgium, in the Hautes Fagnes nature reserve on the border with Germany.
Ferrari Luce: Polarizing EV becomes a $40 million collector’s item
The auction of the Luce comes nearly three months after Ferrari unveiled its first fully electric car, which was priced at 550,000 euros (roughly $640,000).
How the anti-AfD firewall broke German politics
A policy designed to keep the far right from office has ended up strengthening it
The Grayzone: Palestine Action facing new rigged ‘terrorism’ trials
As the British state seeks to destroy Palestine Action, a new trial is underway in which a judge has threatened defendants with a ‘terrorism connection’ if they explain the motives behind their activism.
Alastair Crooke – Netanyahu’s réprise of the ‘Iraq WMD deceit’ – re-launched to promote war on Iran
Trump’s pivot to economic pressure as the key to Iranian capitulation is not a credible strategy.
Richard Murphy – The YouTube problem
As is the case of so many corporate internet media the youtube is being corrupted in soporate interest and propaganda. Richard Murphy is an economic justice campaigner.
Michael Roberts – A value theory of inflation
What actually causes inflation? There are a number of theories. Part 3 Michael Roberts is an Economist in the City of London and a prolific blogger.
Branko Milanović – Apocalypse, When?
On a new film about the Reagan-Gorbachev 1986 summit in Reykjavik Branko Milanović is an economist specialised in development and inequality.
German Recession: German auto manufacturing employment hits 14-year low
Employment across Germany’s automotive sector fell to 721,400 workers at the end of September, the lowest level recorded since mid-2011 when the industry employed 718,000 people. The federal statistics office reported the sector shed 48,700 positions over the 12 months to September, representing a 6.3% decline and marking the steepest drop among major industrial sectors employing over 200,000 staff.
Larry C. Johnson: A Dependency Decades in the Making: How Washington Let Five Minerals – and China – Take the US Arsenal Hostage
There is a single sentence in a 2025 defense-industry study that ought to end a certain kind of complacency in Washington. Researchers at Govini, a firm that maps the Pentagon’s supply chains, found that more than 80,000 parts across roughly 1,900 weapon systems incorporate just five processed minerals — and that the global supply of all five is dominated by China. The conclusion, in the report’s own words: nearly 78% of all Department of War (DoW) weapon systems are potentially affected.
Russia’s economy has defied the skeptics. Cracks are getting harder to hide
Russia's wartime economy is under growing strain as its budget deficit widens and analysts warn pressure could intensify next year.
Extreme heat spurs earliest-ever Champagne harvest, putting its famous taste to the test
Producers of the iconic French fizz face a challenge to preserve its taste profile while they also battle tariff complications and fewer drinkers.
Electronic Intifada: The Zionist Anti-Defamation League wants to cancel Susan Abulhawa
As genocide continues in Gaza, the pro-Israel lobby in the US is stepping up its campaign against Palestinian cultural expression in the West.
Jonathan Cook – Thatcher warned in 1989 of a climate crisis. She did nothing. Nor will her successors
Governments knew what was coming. They failed to act because the political costs of taking on the corporate sector were too immense.
Michael von der Schulenburg – Are Western illusions of victory driving Ukraine towards collapse?
Ukraine is hardly a state – let alone an army – to which the media could realistically attribute an imminent military turnaround or even victory.
Group including Jeff Bezos buys minority stake in Liverpool FC, with option to become controlling owner
The group that includes Jeff Bezos has an option to become the majority shareholder within the next year.
Thomas Palley – Ukraine and the failure of Western journalism: even the brilliant Simon Jenkins has fallen victim
An open letter to the brilliant British journalist, Simon Jenkins, concerning his writings concerning the Ukraine war.
In 2026, irregular arrivals fall, and there is no migrant crisis: Frontex exposes the EU countries’ false claims
Brussels – EU: there is no migrant crisis. Frontex, the European Union’s border and coastguard agency, reports a fall in irregular arrivals. The preliminary data released today (14 August) on trends for the first seven months of the year show a general decrease in landings and border crossings.
EU Q1 2026 greenhouse gas emissions up 0.3 per cent
Brussels – Greenhouse gas emissions from the European Union’s economy rose again in the first quarter of 2026, but at a slower pace than at the end of last year. According to figures published today by Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office, between January and March, 837 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent were emitted, up 0.3 per cent from the 835 million tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2025. At the same time, the EU’s gross domestic product remained stable.
NATO aircraft shoot down drone over Latvia, which blames ‘Russian electromagnetic warfare’
NATO fighters shot down a foreign drone over Latvia as Finland briefly restricted airspace and sea areas amid heightened Baltic security concerns.
EU May asylum applications down by 22 per cent
Brussels –In May 2026, 42,525 third-country nationals filed an initial application for international protection in a Member State of the European Union. Asylum applications fell by 22 per cent from May 2025, when there were 54,765, and by 2 per cent from April 2026, when there were 43,360 applicants. Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Union, released the data in its monthly update on asylum applications published today (14 August).
AI’s infrastructure boom is getting more leveraged — and harder to track
AI’s infrastructure boom is increasingly being funded through bonds, leases and private capital, while leveraged investors add another layer of market risk.
‘Absolutely unacceptable’: Japan PM Takaichi condemns Putin’s visit to disputed Kuril Islands
Japan protested Vladimir Putin’s first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, escalating tensions over territory claimed by both Tokyo and Moscow.
The Kyiv Independent: Massive explosion rocks Italian ammunition plant that produces artillery for Ukraine
A large-scale blast hit an ammunition factory in the Italian town of Colleferro, near Rome, on Aug. 13, local authorities and regional media reported.
How a niche copper trade became a real-time gauge of Trump’s next tariff move
The widening price of copper between two metals exchanges is offering investors a gauge of U.S. tariff risk.
Former U.S. Banker Jailed for Laundering Medicare Funds
A former Brooklyn bank manager was sentenced to 18 months in prison for helping an international criminal syndicate launder millions of dollars derived from a sprawling $10.6 billion Medicare fraud scheme, the U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday.
BBC: Romania shuts only nuclear plant as heat causes huge drop in Danube River level
Romania has shut down its only nuclear power station because of extremely low water levels in the Danube river caused by prolonged hot weather affecting much of Europe.
Medea Benjamin, Nicolas J. S. Davies – Paper Tiger: the Failure of America’s Trillion Dollar War Machine
The failure of the US military despite trillions of dollars to defeat Iran Medea Benjamin is co-founder of Global Exchange and CODEPINK: Women for Peace Nicolas J. S. Davies is an independent journalist and a [...]
Aurelien – Worse Than Hate…Fear is the mind-killer
The influence of fear on the behaviour of states.
Michael Roberts – WAPE 2026: Adam Smith, imperialism and financialisation – and an award
A closer look at the work of the Adam Smith Michael Roberts is an Economist in the City of London and a prolific blogger.
FAQ: What to Know About Ireland’s Probe Into Our Reporting on Its Alumina Exports to Russia
Following an investigation by OCCRP and partners, the Irish government launched its own probe into whether the country’s alumina exports have been feeding into the supply chains of sanctioned Russian arms makers. Here is what the leaked report says, what questions remain, and what comes next.
Tapes Hidden in an Ice Cream Box Lay Bare a Maltese Journalist’s Assassination
In the trial of business magnate Yorgen Fenech, a middleman’s secret recordings and auto-deleting texts exposed the chilling mechanics behind the 2017 car bombing—and the political leaks that shielded the killers.
Eurostat: EU coal consumption at an all-time low: 9.2 per cent in 2025
Brussels – Coal is losing ground in the European energy mix. In 2025, bituminous coal and lignite together accounted for just 9.2 per cent of the European Union’s gross electricity generation, marking the lowest level ever recorded. The figure confirms a long-term trend in which coal’s share of EU electricity generation fell from over a third in 1990 to less than a tenth last year. This is demonstrated by Eurostat data, the Statistical Office of the European Union.
IA, EPC: “The EU is closing the gap with the US and China with more compute capacity”
Brussels – Europe is attempting to bridge the gap with the United States and China in the global race for computing power—the computational power required to train, run and develop artificial intelligence models.
A liberal party is barred in Russia for implicitly opposing the war
Russia’s authorities are increasingly fearful of the slightest sign of dissent
Might Moldova merge with Romania?
Its leaders are starting to mention an alternative route to joining the EU
Europe’s dry rivers are exposing mammoths and Nazi warships
Record heat and drought are crippling
Europe must do more to guard its airports from Russian drones
The Leipzig attack shows the danger of Russian-style hybrid warfare
Europe’s true architects of integration
The nominees for the Charlemagne column prize are
Heatwaves, EU: “Energy supplies are stable; there is no cause for concern”
Brussels – “There is no cause for concern; energy supplies are stable“. The European Commission, through its spokesperson Eva Hrncirova, has sought to allay fears of a blackout caused by the shutdown of nuclear and power stations due to extreme summer weather.
Trump-linked oil venture delays Greenland drilling plans after government warning
Greenland Energy Company and joint venture partner 80 Mile have delayed planned oil drilling in Greenland until winter 2027.
EU row over wind power. Sovereigntists: turbines release microplastics; Commission: levels far lower than other sources
Brussels – Wind turbines release microplastics into the atmosphere, making them less sustainable than claimed. True, but not nearly as unsustainable as the traditional fossil-fuel-based economy. There is a clash over the green economy between the European Commission and the Eurosceptic sovereigntists in the European Parliament. Quoting a scientific study, the Austrian MEP Gerald Hauser (FPO/PfE) denounces that “one wind turbine can shed up to 62 kg of microplastics annually, with harmful effects on the air, water bodies, soil and oceans.”
Eurozone: cash still the top payment method
Brussels – In the euro area, cash remains the most widely accepted payment method, according to the European Central Bank’s survey on Use of coins and banknotes. In 2026, 92 per cent of retail outlets, cafés, restaurants, hotels, cinemas and museums reported receiving and accepting cash payments. This figure marks a slight increase compared with 2024 (90 per cent).
ECB: early EU talks on the post‑Lagarde era, with power balances and negotiations tougher than ever
The president of the Central Bank has been cryptic about her future and the possibility of her term ending early, sparking the usual speculation about potential successors.
Europol: expanded powers lead to greater risks to privacy
Brussels – The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) has published an opinion on the Proposal to reform the Regulation governing Europol, the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation. The text would substantially expand the Agency’s remit and data-processing capabilities, allowing it to process data relating to individuals with no established links to criminal investigations or proceedings, for an extended and unspecified period.
ATLAS Network: Italy to take a leading role among Europe’s elite counter‑terrorism units
Brussels – In 2025, the ATLAS network — which brings together the 38 special intervention units (SIUs) from EU Member States and associated countries (the United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland), comprising around 4,000 personnel — has organised 50 activities in 33 countries, involving 1,500 operators.
Shipping giants warn ports and trucks could hold up deliveries and push up prices
Global shipping demand remains strong despite geopolitical turmoil, but port and trucking bottlenecks are increasing congestion and putting upward pressure on freight rates.
In pictures: Europe’s best solar eclipse since 1999
A total solar eclipse crossed Iceland and Spain on Aug. 12, while much of Europe saw a partial eclipse and businesses benefited from demand.
Ukraine attacks Russian grain export terminals in Black Sea, prompting warning about food markets
Ukraine has launched a heavy drone assault on warships and major Russian grain export terminals in the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk.
Ann Pettifor: On Converging and Systemic Crises… and Operation Economic Fury
What is happening to the US dollar? Why has the Federal Reserve set up a ‘pawnshop’ on its estate? Why do Japan’s low rates of interest threaten the US? Why are Europeans angered by US Treasury Secretary Bessant’s not-so-stealthy hedge-fund-style moves? And what has that all got to do with the AI bubble and Silicon Valley’s vast mountains of debt?
Jonathan Cook – A dying West is eating its children. Yet we still can’t imagine life without capitalism
Our unwillingness to think about how to change our reality may simply be the noise of capitalism speaking through us.
Chris Hedges – Gaza’s Board of Pieces
Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza is a mirage, a conjuring trick in which peace is unilaterally declared as Israel seizes more Palestinian land and brings the genocide to its grim conclusion.
Branko Milanović – The strange case of China’s urban consumption
Why are the rich not consuming? Branko Milanović is an economist specialised in development and inequality.
John Bellamy Foster, Lynn Fries – Why “Albert Einstein’s ‘Why Socialism?’”?
John Bellamy Foster reflects on the enduring relevance of Einstein’s “Why Socialism?” in this fourth segment of our series on ecology and materialism.
Middle East Eye: Libya reels from assassination, oil strikes and central bank turmoil
The violence has shaken claims of stability and placed further pressure on Libya’s divided authorities
Dutch Court Hears Case against Whistleblower’s Murder Suspect
Just five days before a whistleblower who exposed a sprawling illegal gambling network was gunned down in the Netherlands, police briefly detained a key suspect in the killing after intercepting him in a car packed with weapons and bearing stolen licence plates, a Dutch court heard on Wednesday.
Eurostat on universities: 4.5 million new graduates
Brussels – In 2024, the European Union recorded 4.5 million new graduates, with women clearly outnumbering men at university: 2.6 million were women. This gap has widened over the years: in 2022, there were around 2.5 million female graduates, compared with 1.8 million men. However, the greater presence of women in higher education has not eliminated imbalances across different fields of study.
The Mediterranean is becoming increasingly dangerous for migrants
According to the report by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the most dramatic figure relates to the Central Mediterranean route: between January and April 2026, arrivals fell by 46 per cent,
ECB experts: “Reforms are needed to boost investment, starting with the labour market”
Brussels – Reforms, reforms, reforms. Time and again, the European Union in its various forms—the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the Eurogroup—has called on national governments to adopt a decisive policy agenda in the name of competitiveness and resilience to external pressures. The call for structural reforms stems from the crises the eurozone experienced in the early 2000s, and since then this call has never ceased, as Italy, which continues to be under pressure, is well aware.
Frederiksen: “If the influx resumes, we’ll close the borders”
Brussels – The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, is not backing down one iota on the issue of migration. Indeed, just today (12 August), speaking in the Danish Parliament, she reaffirmed her determination to maintain control over the management of migration flows. Speaking before the Folketing, which had convened in an extraordinary session to discuss the crisis in Ceuta, she reiterated that “a strict migration policy is essential for Denmark and for Europe,” describing the images coming from the Spanish enclave as “disturbing.”
Treasury Rolls Back Ownership Reporting Obligations for U.S. Companies
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has permanently eliminated beneficial ownership reporting requirements for domestic companies and individuals under the Corporate Transparency Act, gutting a major federal anti-money-laundering disclosure program for American small businesses.
Solar eclipse drives Europe hotel prices to over $1,000 a night
Eclipse demand pushed some Spain and Iceland stays above $1,000 a night, while Iceland hotels cut prices sharply closer to Aug. 12.
Iraq PM’s Anti-Corruption Campaign Rumbles On
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi signaled this week that all corrupt officials — no matter how powerful — would face justice, as his high profile anti-graft campaign saw arrest warrants issued for a particularly prominent former government minister.
Air transport, Tzitzikostas: “Stocks of some fuels are tight”
Brussels – As regards the aviation sector, “at present, there is no immediate threat to the security of supply,
End-of-life vehicles: New regulations come into force on 13 August
Brussels – Every year in Europe, between 10 and 12 million vehicles reach the end of their useful life and are treated as waste. In addition to the loss of “millions of tonnes” of raw materials, if they are not managed properly, they can cause serious environmental problems. Tomorrow (13 August), new rules on the design, production, collection and treatment of end‑of‑life vehicles will enter into force to strengthen the circularity of the automotive sector and support Europe’s strategic autonomy.
Nuclear power plants are being shut down as Europe’s drought becomes an energy crisis
Heat and drought are curbing nuclear output across Europe, with Romania starting the process of disconnecting its sole working reactor from the power grid.
Extreme heat is becoming a problem for agriculture as summer and winter yields come under threat
Warnings are being issued at both the international and European levels: the FAO and the JRC highlight how the climate has added to the uncertainties facing a sector already under strain due to international geopolitical tensions
Five EU countries are considering building a repatriation centre in Uganda
Brussels – Rwanda and Albania weren’t enough. Now it is Uganda’s turn. According to reports from the Greek daily eKathīmerinī, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Greece are finalising a plan to build a repatriation centre in Uganda, aiming to send irregular migrants outside the EU’s borders.
CoreWeave gains 19%, Nebius surges 34% in post-earnings neocloud rally
AI cloud giant CoreWeave jumped in premarket trading after reporting that its second-quarter revenue doubled on surging AI demand from hyperscalers.
Operation Matryoshka: Russia influences German elections
This is a sophisticated hybrid warfare and disinformation campaign that takes its name from the famous Russian dolls because it layers propaganda across multiple levels: from mimicking Western media to spreading fake news to influence the European political processes
Hormuz closure squeezes global economy as oil demand destruction intensifies, IEA says
The IEA expects oil demand to fall by 1.6 million barrels a day in 2026 as high fuel prices and Strait of Hormuz disruptions weigh on consumption.
Data centres: nearly 2,800 facilities across the EU led by Germany and France; Milan ranks fourth among European cities
Milan – There are almost 2,800 data centres across the 27 countries of the European Union, spread across 505 cities, with a total installed capacity of over 50.5 GW. The European network of data centres is heavily concentrated in a few countries and major urban areas, with Germany and France alone hosting nearly a thousand facilities.
Aviva’s remarkable revival leaves one big question: What next?
Aviva shares are up around 150% since Amanda Blanc become CEO. Before long, investors will be asking: what next?
Vijay Prashad – Iran Has Changed the Question
Every country in the world, especially the United States, must now take Iran and what it want’s seriously. Vijay Prashad is the Director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.
Politico – Greece’s aging power grid blamed for catastrophic wildfires
This is the consequences of the EU destroying a country’s public infrastructure through austerity. Read the article HERE.
Bela Galgóczi: A “Car Crash” Made in Europe – And How to Fix It
Europe’s car industry has lost ground to China by failing to adapt to electrification, but it still makes up the largest share of European manufacturing jobs: if it is to survive,
Dave Kellaway – The battle for the beaches in Italy
A number of Southern European countries are at risk of being overtaken by mass tourism to the point that what made them beautiful and enjoyable places to live completely disappears. In ‘International Viewpoint’.
Terina Hine – Climate breakdown is a class issue
It should be obvious that it is the working class who will suffer most from climate breakdown, but sometimes the obvious must be pointed out again and again.
Lebanon Issues New Charges Against Former Central Bank Chief Riad Salame
Prosecutors launch fresh proceedings against Riad Salameh and former Bank Audi head Samir Hanna as the country's central bank pursues legal action to recover billions lost in the 2019 financial crash.
Chechnya’s boss cheers on Russia’s war, but quietly avoids it
Ramzan Kadyrov uses his sway to spare his people from the fight
How many “Dublin-case” migrants are there in Europe (evading, in particular, the Italian authorities)?
Milan – The crisis in Ceuta has put the issue of immigration back on the European agenda. For Italy, the situation is becoming more complicated: following the diplomatic crisis with Spain, a new front has now opened up with Germany. At the heart of the clash between Giorgia Meloni and Friedrich Merz lies the issue of the so-called “Dublin cases”: asylum seekers who have landed on Italian shores but, instead of remaining on the peninsula, have crossed the Alps to reach Germany.
Ukraine war sparked race for countries to build spy satellites, space-tech CEO says
Governments are ramping up satellite capabilities as space intelligence becomes increasingly critical to modern warfare.
EU pits Meta and TikTok against “false promises” following the Ceuta incident
Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen held talks with the Spanish Minister for Digital Transformation, Óscar López, during which the importance of the “full implementation of the DSA” in Spain was emphasised.
Lebanon: an end to the death penalty. Kallas: “A model for the Middle East”
Brussels – Lebanon has abolished the death penalty, becoming the first country in the Middle East to adopt a law that eliminates capital punishment for all offences, replacing it with life imprisonment with hard labour. A decision welcomed by the European Union, which is seen as a significant step forward in the protection of human rights and a signal to the entire region. The law was approved by a majority of the 128 members of the Lebanese Parliament, with the exception of the Hezbollah parliamentary bloc.
EU Packaging Regulation: new requirements from 12 August
Brussels – Reducing packaging waste and moving towards reusable products: from tomorrow (12 August), the new requirements of the Regulation on packaging and packaging waste in the European Union will come into force.
“Russia is afraid, which is why it silences dissenting voices”
Brussels – The banning of the Yabloko party, the last Russian opposition party not directly controlled by the state? “It essentially shows that Russia is afraid and therefore really needs to eliminate any dissenting voice.” This is the European Commission’s position on the ruling by the Moscow Supreme Court, which yesterday (10 August) barred the opposition party, and above all one opposed to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, Yabloko, from the parliamentary elections in September.
French Prosecution Says Alleged ‘DZ Mafia’ Gang Leader Arrested in Algeria
Algerian authorities have arrested an alleged leader of the ‘DZ Mafia,’ an organized crime syndicate linked to a wave of drug violence in France. Mehdi Laribi, a French-Algerian national, was arrested in Algeria in late July under an arrest warrant issued by investigating magistrates from the Marseille Public Prosecutor's Office.
Ukraine: EU temporary protection up by 0.6 per cent in June
Brussels – On 30 June 2026, a total of 4.41 million non-EU citizens who had fled Ukraine had temporary protection in the EU. Compared with the end of May 2026, the number of people from Ukraine under temporary protection increased by 24,380 (+0.6 per cent), according to Eurostat figures released today (11 August).
Hotel giant says ‘growing middle class’ boosted hotel demand despite Middle East hit
IHG reported higher first-half profit as U.S. demand accelerated and Middle East disruption weighed on travel.
Western Sahara and relations with Algeria: Morocco’s levers to pressure the EU
As early as 2021, a migration crisis in Ceuta was Rabat’s response to Spain’s support for the Sahrawi independence movement, backed by Algiers.
Zelenskyy warns Putin is preparing for escalation by bringing in North Korean military equipment
His comments come shortly after deadly Russian attacks on cities across Ukraine overnight.
Mercosur: Sefcovic says supply-chain costs unrelated to the deal
Brussels – The free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur is not designed to harm consumers. On the contrary, thanks to the removal of tariffs on products imported from Latin America, costs for European citizens are expected to fall.
Earthquake in Colombia; EU activates Copernicus
Brussels – In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Colombia yesterday (10 August), the European Union is responding. After calling the Colombian Foreign Minister, Omar Bula, to express her condolences, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, today said that the EU “has mobilised Copernicus, our satellite service, to support rescue and relief operations” and is “providing funding to support the response, including through the Red Cross.”
Albania’s Cheerful ‘AI Minister’ Is the Product of a Government Agency Under Investigation for Massive Corruption
Prosecutors are investigating the agency that developed Albania’s AI-minister ‘Diella’ in a case that involves alleged rigged tenders, a kidnapping, and tens of millions in seized assets. The affair deepens doubts about how artificial intelligence will be used to address the country’s widespread graft problem.
Hormuz Deadlock: Where oil prices could head next as prospects for an imminent deal fade
Oil traders keep clinging to hope that the Strait of Hormuz will reopen. That won't last forever.
Anatol Lieven – Mutual Delusion
Fantasies all around in the seemingly never-ending Ukraine War. In New Left Review’s ‘Sidecar’. Read the article HERE.
Marchella Ward – Zionism has warped the lexicon, so words are now convenient weapons
Words are weapons, and the Zionists use control over language to criminalise their political enemies. Marchella Ward is Lecturer in Classical Studies at the Open University.
David Hearst – Why the Mecca Agreement is a necessary show of force
There’s lots of ways to interpret the Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani defence pact: one is that it is a deliberate snub to the US-Israel axis. David Hearst is co-founder and editor-in-chief of Middle East Eye.
DropSite News – Trump “low-keys” Iran; Netanyahu rejects BoP plan for Gaza; Ukraine kills 13 in strike targeting Russian refinery
Update on important global developments, especially in the Middle East. Read the article HERE.
Matilde Rosina – Ceuta shows how migration can be weaponised – but numbers are falling, not rising
The fallout from Ceuta has much more to do with politics than it does the reality of the EU’s external borders Dr Matilde Rosina is Lecturer at Brunel University London and Visiting Fellow at the [...]
Alleged Irish Crime Boss Charged After UAE Extradition
The alleged leader of a major Irish organized crime group was extradited from Dubai and charged with directing a criminal organization. Appearing without a lawyer, he told the court: “I think we know I won’t be getting bail.”
More than 600,000 people: the EU must uphold nature conservation laws
Brussels – “The devastating wildfires continue to highlight the urgent need to protect nature,” and for this reason the European Commission must use the review of EU environmental protection laws “to ensure that existing legislation is fully enforced and funded, rather than weakened.” This is the warning of the #HandsOffNature campaign launched in September 2025 and promoted by a coalition of four European environmental organisations—BirdLife Europe, ClientEarth, the European Environment Agency and the European office of the WWF.
The European Athletics Championships kick off in Birmingham
Brussels – Following Rome in 2024, it is now the United Kingdom’s turn. From today, 10 August, until Sunday 16 August, the city of Birmingham will host the European Athletics Championships, the continental athletics competition organised by the European Athletics Association. This is a biennial championship, held in even-numbered years. The same rules also apply to the Under-18 championship, which took place this year in Rieti. This year’s edition features 1.643 athletes, 840 men and 803 women, from 49 countries.
The EU Commission approves the Khazna-ENI joint venture
Brussels – The European Commission has approved, under the European Merger Regulation, the creation of the joint venture between Khazna Data Center Holdings Limited of the United Arab Emirates and ENI. According to a press release by the European Commission, the transaction primarily relates to “the construction, management and operation of data centres.”
Ceuta widens the EU rift over immigration as Meloni hardens her stance
While the standoff between Italy and Spain continues, Berlin is once again calling on Rome to resume the transfers of so-called ‘Dublin cases’ – asylum seekers who entered the EU in one country and subsequently moved to another Member State. Meanwhile, Meloni has found an ally in the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, with whom she shares the view that repatriations need to be stepped up.
Migrants: EU provides over 20 million to strengthen Tunisia’s Coast Guard
Brussels – The EU has allocated 20.1 million euros to train the Tunisian coastguard to stem the flow of migrants across the Mediterranean. The total expenditure covered two different types of action: the first involves collaboration with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the German Federal Police to develop training programmes for the Tunisian Coastguard and support the possible establishment of a maritime training academy, the Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica, said.
New Caledonia, a reserve of nickel (and more): France and the EU are keeping it close
Brussels – New Caledonia: so distant, yet so strategic. Because of its position in the Pacific, which provides an outpost in that part of the world. But above all because of what lies underground and in its seabed. Specifically nickel, essential for the energy transition and defence — today’s new priorities for the European Union. It’s easier to understand why French President Emmanuel Macron has wanted to keep a tight hold on the archipelago, more than 16,700 kilometres from Paris.
Australian rare earth miner surges after U.S. Department of War investment
The Trump administration has backed plans to build an Australian scandium mine as part of a push to challenge China’s critical-minerals dominance.
Trump says oil supermajors are making too much money. What will they do with it?
The windfall is fueling fresh political and environmental backlash, with Trump accusing Exxon Mobil and Chevron of making “too much money.”
Sexually transmitted infections are surging in Europe
To restrain them, countries must increase testing and reduce stigma
Juan Cole – Türkiye and Saudi Arabia seek Pakistani Nuclear Umbrella against Israel
What are the consequences of the Mecca Defence Pact between Pakistan, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia? Juan Cole is the founder and chief editor of Informed Comment.
Michael Roberts – Japan: caught between inflation and slump
“All roads are now leading to ‘stagflation’, where inflation rises, but economies do not expand. This is the story for Japan,
Saudi Aramco extinguishes fire at refinery as Houthis claim responsibility
Iran's foreign minister reportedly said his country is not engaging in talks with the U.S., but added: "Messages are being exchanged through intermediaries."
Larry C. Johnson: Iran Holds Firm on the Strait of Hormuz
Although Donald Trump insists that the Strait of Hormuz is open, it ain’t. There are no direct talks between Iran and US representatives. In fact, it looks like Pakistan’s attempt at mediation is going nowhere. Iran has been talking with Oman, but those talks — despite claims of progress — appear to have stalled.
The Cradle: Wikipedia co-founder says encyclopedia ‘compromised’ by CIA
Larry Sanger accused the CIA and it’s allies of editing articles for years to spread propaganda
Alastair Crooke, Chris Hedges – Why the Iran War Won’t End Soon
9 August 2026 Trump’s reckless war on Iran is threatening global economic collapse — as the region breaks out into a matrix of conflagrations, Trump seemingly has no way out.
UAE says one of its ships was targeted as U.S.-Iran tensions over Strait of Hormuz remain high
Iran's military stressed that the crucial waterway would only be reopened when the U.S. accepts Iran's conditions.
The Kyiv Independent: Russian attacks on critical Ukrainian energy infrastructure destroy key facilities ahead of winter
Russian attacks against Ukraine on Aug. 7 targeted critical energy sites operated by state oil and gas company Naftogaz, shutting down production at several facilities, the firm reported.
Inside the startup drone maker powering Ukraine’s deep-strike campaign
Fire Point CEO Iryna Terekh says Ukraine has "learned the hard way" that military leverage is integral to to bringing diplomacy within reach.
Alleged ‘Enforcer’ in Prince Group Scam Network Identified
A U.S. federal indictment against Prince Group Chairman Chen Zhi anonymized his alleged co-conspirators, but personal details in the document identify one of them as Chen Sokly. U.S. authorities allege Chen Sokly was a Prince Group “enforcer” who protected the sanctioned conglomerate from police. He has not been charged.
Apollo agrees to buy UK airline EasyJet in $7.7 billion deal as Castlelake withdraws
EasyJet shares tumbled Thursday after Castlelake said it would not be bidding for the U.K. airline.
“Auschwitz”, or how Guccini reminded us of who we are and the reason for a united Europe
Brussels – Guccini had never set foot in the European Union. Neither in person nor in his songs. There are no accounts of him visiting the EU institutions, nor are there any lyrics that touch on the subject of integration. By choice, presumably, the singer-songwriter has always avoided the subject. At least not directly.
Farewell to Francesco Guccini, who chronicled his times and Italy
Brussels – Time has been the recurring theme in Francesco Guccini’s work. Time that passes, that changes people, that fades memories without ever erasing them completely. “And one day you realise that you are no longer the master of time, but that time is the master of you,” said Guccini, a phrase that does not appear in his songs but which captures the spirit of his writing perfectly.
Donald Trump’s Arctic threats are pushing Iceland towards Europe
The island is voting on whether to restart EU membership talks
Italians may help Germany get its trains to run on time
Opening up national markets has worked wonders for European railways
EU says Russian media outlets have spread disinformation about Ceuta
Brussels – “We have observed the presence of information and manipulation channels, Russian ones in particular, that have been urging action on various online platforms starting on 30 July,” said the European Commission spokesperson, Guillaume Mercier, today (6 August), regarding the viral spread of fake news that has exaggerated the recent events in Ceuta.
Spain and Ecuador Bust International Drug Ring, Seize 21 Tonnes of Cocaine
Police in Spain and Ecuador arrested 44 suspects and seized 21 tonnes of cocaine in a multi-year operation targeting an international drug ring allegedly financed by Dubai-based Albanian investors, Spain’s Interior Ministry announced. Investigators revealed that the financiers funneled large sums of money into Spanish companies to camouflage the drug shipments.
Retail trade down 0.3% in the euro area, 0.1% in the EU
Brussels – Retail trade volumes are falling. According to Eurostat, the European Union’s statistical office, in June 2026 there was a 0.3 per cent fall in the euro area and a 0.1 per cent drop across the European Union as a whole compared with the previous month. However, when comparing the figures with those from June 2025, there was an increase of 0.7 per cent in the euro area and 1.2 per cent across the EU.
World’s biggest spirits maker pops 4% on $1 billion cost-cutting plan
Diageo, whose brands include Johnnie Walker scotch whisky, Captain Morgan rum and Guinness stout, said costs relating to the savings program will amount to $1.2 billion.
Europol: three officials arrested for migrant smuggling
The international operation is reported to have dismantled two trafficking networks which are alleged to have organised the transport of over 900 irregular migrants,
Ceuta, 6 agosto riunione straordinaria Commissione LIBE
Brussels – “It will be a good opportunity to exchange views on the current situation and the lessons learnt from the events in Ceuta.” This is how the European Commissioner for Migration, Magnus Brunner, commented on the fact that tomorrow (6 August) an extraordinary meeting of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament (LIBE) will be held. The meeting aims to facilitate an exchange of views on the events affecting the Spanish enclave in recent days.
SpaceX moon crash is a perfect metaphor for rocket maker’s share price, analysts say
Parts of a SpaceX rocket reportedly crashed into the Moon on Wednesday
EU allocates 1.4 billion from frozen Russian assets to Ukraine
Brussels – New European funds to support Ukraine are coming from interest accrued on Russian assets frozen within the European Union. On 3 August, the EU received €1.4 billion in windfall profits generated by the frozen assets of the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) held with central securities depositories (CSDs). This is reported in a press release from the European Commission published today (5 August).
Ukraine: officials meet in Vienna for peace talks
Brussels – There has been no communication between Moscow and Brussels since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But some contacts need to be (re)established, some strings need to be pulled so that we can talk—who knows when—about peace talks. And this informal “underground diplomacy” has been set in motion as part of a process that was meant to remain secret, but which was revealed to the press.
Eurostat: in 2025, one in six people in the EU used tobacco or similar products
Brussels – The number of smokers in the European Union continues to fall, but tobacco and alternative products remain a daily habit for millions of people. In 2025, one in six Europeans aged 16 and over consumed cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products or nicotine pouches on a daily basis. This is what appears from the latest figures published by Eurostat, which show a slow but steady decline in consumption compared with three years ago.
From Headlines to Impact: Connecting Journalism and Civil Society to Drive Accountability in Ukraine
Navigating the intersecting frontlines of a brutal war and structural state reforms, OCCRP and a network of Ukrainian partners have introduced a new approach for driving reform and accountability in the country.
Oil prices fall on negotiations to manage ship traffic in Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump told Fox News late Tuesday that the negotations went all day long. “It looks like things are very good,” Trump said.
Digital euro, Dombrovskis: “Mandatory acceptance is necessary”
Brussels – The “mandatory acceptance of the digital euro” is “necessary”, said the Commissioner for the Economy, Valdis Dombrovskis, in response to a parliamentary question. “The legal basis” for making the digital euro compulsory is Article 133 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), Dombrovskis said. In other words, the European Commission’s proposal “grants the digital euro, as a new, digital form of the single currency, legal tender status,” in the same way as banknotes and coins, for which acceptance is mandatory.
Russian attack kills at least 17 in Kyiv as Ukraine hammers more Wildberries warehouses
The bombardment comes as each side ramps up air attacks on critical infrastructure and logistics hubs.
Clean Industrial Deal adopted without any assessment of corporate relocation risks
Brussels – Sustainability and competitiveness: the EU is legislating without carrying out impact assessments. This “careless” approach risks having repercussions, as highlighted by Ioan-Rareş Bogdan, an EPP MEP who sees a risk of business relocation due to excessive EU regulation, whilst the United States, by contrast, offers incentives to do business. In the parliamentary question submitted by the EPP representative to the Commission, there is no allegation of unfair competition on the part of the US.
EU to overhaul postal services in early 2027
Brussels – Sending a letter from Italy to Sweden does not cost the same as sending one in the opposite direction. Strange, yet true. Despite a process of integration spanning more than half a century, obstacles remain, which the European Commission intends to tackle in early 2027 with a proposal aimed at reorganising the postal services market.
‘I terminated this channel’: Inside the Fake Copyright Racket Silencing News Outlets
Independent media often face off against autocratic governments in countries like Georgia. But last week, OCCRP member center Monitori was forced to contact a tech giant to fend off a censorship attempt: YouTube.
Uganda: EIB provides loans to over 24,000 micro-enterprises
Brussels – Supporting the Ugandan economy, with a particular focus on women-led businesses and micro-enterprises located in rural areas. Since the launch of the new partnership between EIB Global, the specialised division of the European Investment Bank (EIB) set up to manage activities and partnerships outside the European Union, and the Ugandan bank Centenary Bank, some 24,000 micro-enterprises in Uganda have benefited from the investments provided for under the agreement between the two.
Six Years On, Victims of Beirut Port Blast Still Waiting For Justice
Lebanon has yet to indict those allegedly responsible for the deadly blast in Beirut’s port six years ago, amid fears from victims groups that the long-stalled investigation has not gone far enough to answer fundamental questions about the disaster.
Indian Police Arrest Seven in Cyber Fraud Sweep
Police in the Indian state of Goa arrested seven people and summoned 24 others for questioning in connection with 40 cyber fraud cases that caused nearly $262,000 in losses. About 40 police teams raided more than 40 locations across 11 states, targeting suspects allegedly involved in investment, parcel, sextortion, “digital arrest” and fake hotel-booking scams.
Ceuta: ‘A test passed for the EU’; discontent remains in Spain
Ceuta: “A test passed by the EU” on migration.
USA: risks in Belgium relating to crime, terrorism, and civil unrest
Brussels – “Exercise increased caution” in Belgium. That is what the United States is advising those travelling to the European federal state. The reasons? The presence of “crime, terrorism, and unrest”. On 23 July, the US State Department changed the risk level for the European country in its travel advisory system, the government’s official programme that assesses the safety of every country in the world for American travellers using a four-tier scale.
Foreigners are buying fewer U.S. properties, but luxury homebuilders still draw them in
Foreign buyers are pulling back sharply from U.S. residential real estate, in part due to a pullback among workers that would qualify for H-1B visas.
Danube running dry posing nuclear risks; EU ready to convene energy experts
Brussels – Heat and drought are causing the Danube to dry up at such a rate and to such an extent that Hungary risks having to shut down its nuclear reactors due to a lack of water for cooling. These developments, linked to the heatwave gripping Europe, are also causing concern for the European Commission. “So far, there has been no need to convene the Electricity Coordination Group, but we are ready to convene it” should the situation require it, says Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, spokesperson for the European Commission on energy matters.
EU launches ScaleUp Europe with 5 billion euros to boost business competitiveness
Brussels – Innovation “can become the competitive advantage” of European businesses, but to achieve this, adequate funding for growth and support is needed. For this reason, the European Commission announced today (4 August) the completion of the final legislative stages of the ScaleUp Europe Fund, the investment vehicle that aims to mobilise up to 5 billion euros to support innovative EU businesses and help them grow more rapidly in global markets.
One in four book tickets online in the EU; Italy ranks last
Brussels – Concerts, films, exhibitions, matches: whatever the event, Europeans continue to prefer buying their tickets at the box office. In 2025, just 26.8 per cent of Europeans booked their tickets online. This figure is up on 2024 (+3.8 per cent), according to Eurostat, but overall there remains little inclination to buy tickets online.
Ceuta: Rabat presents Madrid with the bill for the migration crisis
Brussels – “It is not possible to dismantle the fight against illegal immigration and shift its cost on Morocco.” This is Rabat’s response to the migration crisis that swept through Ceuta last Friday (31 July) and to the controversy that followed in Spain. After days of silence, a government source from the Kingdom of Morocco defended the country’s role in controlling the western Mediterranean route. The source also reiterated that international cooperation “is the only effective response to the new migration dynamics”.
Brunner: Member States asked the Commission to engage with the Taliban on Afghan repatriations
Brussels – Legitimising the Taliban regime to get rid of asylum seekers and migrants, both legal and, above all, irregular. The European Union has for some time now been pursuing a policy of direct dialogue with Afghanistan’s new government, but at the express wish of the Member States. The Commissioner for Immigration, Magnus Brunner, wishes to set the record straight and refute criticism and accusations.
Saudi Aramco profits jump 33% in second quarter as Iran war squeezes oil supply
The results come as oil supermajors have reported blowout quarterly profits, benefitting from higher fossil fuel prices amid the Iran war.
Middle East Eye – German court rules comparing Israel to Nazi Germany constitutes ‘protected speech’
A blow to Germany’s rising authoritarianism. Read the article HERE.
Euronews – Ceuta crisis prompts EU ministers to consider internal border checks
Schengen will collapse, sooner or later. Read the article HERE.
Vijay Prashad – The Odyssey of the West
Christopher Nolan’s hotly-debated new film raises questions about the crisis of Western leadership. Vijay Prashad is the Director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.
Chris Bambery – Spain is struggling to cope with climate breakdown
Whether it is wildfires, floods or droughts, Spain’s climate has become increasingly extreme and the southern European country is moving from one ecological crisis to the next.
Elfadil Ibrahim – Saudi Arabia v. the Houthis round 2: This time it’s regional
The unofficial truce between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis is over. The war re-opens up yet another front of conflict in the Middle East.
US Fines UBS Record $125M for ‘Willful’ Anti-Money Laundering Violations
The U.S. Treasury’s financial watchdog fined a record $125 million penalty Monday against UBS Financial Services Inc. for "willful" anti-money laundering violations, including failing to monitor over $10 billion in foreign currency wires and ignoring red flags on high-risk clients. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network said in a statement that UBS failed to conduct proper due diligence on customers tied to Russia and Latin America, missing warning signs of corruption and money laundering even when an internal affiliate raised concerns.
AI Fuels 55% of African Cybercrimes as Losses Top $480 Million, INTERPOL Warns
AI now powers more than half of reported cybercrimes across 26 African nations as phishing and mobile fraud transition into industrialized criminal enterprises, according to INTERPOL.
Ceuta divides the EU: the face-to-face meeting of the interior ministers
The Spanish exclave, Ceuta,
Schengen: here are the countries that have suspended it and why
Brussels – It is not just Italy. A total of eight European countries (both EU and non-EU) have suspended the free movement of people and goods for public safety reasons.
INTERVIEW: “The Long Shadow of the Empire” by Angelo Boccato
The journalist: “In Britain, it is not the existence of the empire that is denied, but its nature, whereas in Italy the colonial experience is portrayed as a mere appendage of fascism,
EU allocates €20 million in state aid to Friuli
Brussels – €20 million has been approved for agricultural and fisheries businesses in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The European Commission today (3 August) approved a State aid scheme to support the region, which has been hit by rising prices for fuel and fertilisers caused by the crisis in the Middle East, triggered by the US and Israeli war in Iran and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Greece wildfire in pictures: Firefighters battle blaze worsened by 100km per hour winds
Greece is entering its second week of wildfires spread by extreme winds as more countries in Southern Europe battle with intensifying climate change.
Iran: ECB flags households’ real‑income fears as the crux for growth prospects
Brussels – Consumer confidence “has deteriorated markedly” in the wake of the war in Iran and the resulting rise in fuel and energy prices. This implies a lower propensity to consume, which could worsen if the belief in persistent, non‑recoverable income losses were to take hold. This is the finding of an analysis by the European Central Bank, which examines consumption trends following the conflicts in the Middle East.
Six Indicted in Czech $20M VAT Fraud Case
European prosecutors have indicted five people and a company for allegedly evading more than $20 million in VAT on goods imported from China, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office announced Monday. After clearing the goods through customs in Czechia, the defendants allegedly claimed they had been supplied to companies elsewhere in the European Union. Investigators believe the purported buyers were fictitious and the shipments were instead sent to e-commerce logistics centers and sold to consumers across the bloc.
The Rise and Fall of Kyrgyzstan’s Seemingly Untouchable Security Chief
For years, Kamchybek Tashiev was considered the co-ruler of Kyrgyzstan, transforming the country’s security agency into a shadowy empire with its own kindergartens, billions in seized assets, and a stifling grip on citizens’ lives. Now he’s been convicted of plotting a violent power grab. What happened? And what’s next?
EIB grants 150 million euro to Puglia for sustainability
Brussels – Strengthening economic, social, and territorial cohesion, accelerating the green transition and improving the quality of services for citizens and businesses. These are the main objectives of the 150 milioni di euro funding approved by the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the Puglia Region.
Brunner: “Spain under migratory pressure”
Brussels – Spain was already a country facing migratory pressures, which is why it had been at the centre of solidarity mechanisms; however, in the face of the events in Ceuta, these have been set aside by everyone. The Commissioner for Home Affairs and Immigration, Magnus Brunner, finds himself responding to a Parliamentary question on the movements of asylum seekers between Algeria and the Balearic Islands, a migration issue in Spain that has nothing to do with recent events.
In Malta Courtroom, Murdered Journalist’s Son Describes Last Day With His Mother
Matthew Caruana Galizia has testified about the assassination of his mother, a journalist who spent years investigating government corruption in Malta. Businessman Yorgen Fenech is alleged to have ordered the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. He has pleaded not guilty.
EIB grants 20 million euro to Aiforia for cancer research
Brussels – The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed today (3 August) a 20 million euro venture debt financing agreement – a loan granted to innovative start-ups or growing companies already backed by equity funds – to Aiforia, a Finnish company specialising in the development of artificial intelligence software and cloud technologies for digital pathology – the medical technique that converts traditional glass tissue slides into high‑resolution digital images.
CNBC Daily Open: Back to the negotiating table
Trump said negotiations with Iran will begin Monday after he held off on new strikes, raising hopes for a diplomatic end to the conflict.
Building an Engaged Community through Collaboration and In-Depth Investigations, All While Maintaining a Sense of Humor
“The thing we feared the most in the very beginning, given our relaxed vibe, was becoming too serious and turning into a bureaucratic office,” says Miglė Krancevičiūtė, co-founder of the Lithuanian investigative outlet Siena.
David Hearst: Karim Khan dared to hold Israel to account – and that’s why he was brought down
The ICC arrest warrant against Benjamin Netanyahu has, to date, been the only serious attempt by the international community to bring the Israeli state to justice for the genocide in Gaza.
Al Jazeera – Iran accuses Ukraine of deadly attack on Caspian commercial vessel
Zelensky is clearly trying to show the US and Israel just how loyal he is. Read the article HERE.
