Ignoring Amnesty International’s call for his immediate and unconditional release, an Israeli military judge on 9 August extended by eight days the detention of Palestinian human rights defender and BDS co-ordinator Mahmoud Nawajaa (pictured) for continued interrogation, according to Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association. Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, which is interrogating […]
The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €6 billion German scheme to compensate companies providing regional and local public passenger transport services in Germany for the damage suffered due to the coronavirus outbreak and the emergency containment measures introduced in Germany to limit the spread of the virus. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, […]
Clashes broke out as early election results indicated Alexander Lukashenko (right) had won in a landslide against Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (left) – Copyright Sergei Grits/AP Photo Thousands of protesters have been dispersed by Belarusian police as they flooded the streets in opposition of early election results that indicate longtime authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko has secured a landslide victory, writes Rachael Kennedy with AP. State […]
Huawei is still celebrating overtaking Samsung to become the world’s number one smartphone maker for the second quarter this year, but that might be short lived. The global sales numbers were driven by the phased coronavirus recovery of Huawei’s and Samsung’s respective key markets—China versus the U.S. and elsewhere. But when it comes to sales numbers, […]
Keeping an eye on things: Lockdown has been extended until mid-August. (Photo: Government handout) Kazakhstan’s health ministry has said it is managing to get on top of the coronavirus outbreak, but authorities have nonetheless extended the existing lockdown regime and brought in stricter rules on where and when masks must be worn, writes Almaz Kumenov.Health […]
Britain and Japan have reached consensus on core elements of a post-Brexit bilateral trade deal which the two countries hope to seal in principle later this month, British Trade Minister Liz Truss said on Friday (7 August),writes William Schomberg. “Negotiations have been positive and productive, and we have reached consensus on the major elements of […]
President Tayyip Erdogan (pictured) said on Friday (7 August) that Turkey had resumed energy exploration work in the eastern Mediterranean as Greece had not kept its promises regarding such activities in the region, write Ali Kucukgocmen and Nevzat Devranoglu. NATO members Turkey and Greece have long been at loggerheads over overlapping claims for hydrocarbon resources […]
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday (6 August) he was shocked by the blast in Beirut and that Britain would continue to focus on the needs of the people of Lebanon, write Guy Faulconbridge and William James. “I was absolutely apalled and shocked by the scenes from Lebanon, from Beirut,” Johnson said. “I am […]
Dominic Cummings (pictured), a top aide to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, damaged public confidence in the government’s coronavirus response by travelling out of London when the city was in lockdown, an academic study published on Thursday (6 August) said, writes William James. Cummings was at the centre of a huge public outcry among locked-down Britons […]
How the West can avoid a dangerous and costly confrontation with #China
The Institute of Economic Affairs – our British member think tank – has released a new briefing paper, authored by the IEA’s Head of Education Dr Stephen Davies and Professor Syed Kamall, the IEA’s Academic and Research Director, who sat on the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee from 2005-2019. The main conclusions of the report include: Fears are […]
#FreeMahmoud – Israel extends BDS co-ordinator Mahmoud Nawajaa’s detention by eight days
Ignoring Amnesty International’s call for his immediate and unconditional release, an Israeli military judge on 9 August extended by eight days the detention of Palestinian human rights defender and BDS co-ordinator Mahmoud Nawajaa (pictured) for continued interrogation, according to Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association. Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, which is interrogating […]
The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €6 billion German scheme to compensate companies providing regional and local public passenger transport services in Germany for the damage suffered due to the coronavirus outbreak and the emergency containment measures introduced in Germany to limit the spread of the virus. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, […]
#Belarus election: ‘Hundreds detained’ amid protest as early results indicate Lukashenko landslide
Clashes broke out as early election results indicated Alexander Lukashenko (right) had won in a landslide against Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (left) – Copyright Sergei Grits/AP Photo Thousands of protesters have been dispersed by Belarusian police as they flooded the streets in opposition of early election results that indicate longtime authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko has secured a landslide victory, writes Rachael Kennedy with AP. State […]
Forget Samsung – #Huawei new China problem suddenly confirmed
Huawei is still celebrating overtaking Samsung to become the world’s number one smartphone maker for the second quarter this year, but that might be short lived. The global sales numbers were driven by the phased coronavirus recovery of Huawei’s and Samsung’s respective key markets—China versus the U.S. and elsewhere. But when it comes to sales numbers, […]
#Kazakhstan – Authorities see #COVID-19 improvement, but tighten restrictions
Keeping an eye on things: Lockdown has been extended until mid-August. (Photo: Government handout) Kazakhstan’s health ministry has said it is managing to get on top of the coronavirus outbreak, but authorities have nonetheless extended the existing lockdown regime and brought in stricter rules on where and when masks must be worn, writes Almaz Kumenov.Health […]
UK says it has agreement with #Japan on core elements of trade deal
Britain and Japan have reached consensus on core elements of a post-Brexit bilateral trade deal which the two countries hope to seal in principle later this month, British Trade Minister Liz Truss said on Friday (7 August),writes William Schomberg. “Negotiations have been positive and productive, and we have reached consensus on the major elements of […]
#Erdogan says #Turkey restarted energy exploration in east Mediterranean
President Tayyip Erdogan (pictured) said on Friday (7 August) that Turkey had resumed energy exploration work in the eastern Mediterranean as Greece had not kept its promises regarding such activities in the region, write Ali Kucukgocmen and Nevzat Devranoglu. NATO members Turkey and Greece have long been at loggerheads over overlapping claims for hydrocarbon resources […]
Johnson says: We will focus on the needs of #Lebanon people
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday (6 August) he was shocked by the blast in Beirut and that Britain would continue to focus on the needs of the people of Lebanon, write Guy Faulconbridge and William James. “I was absolutely apalled and shocked by the scenes from Lebanon, from Beirut,” Johnson said. “I am […]
PM aide Cummings damaged public confidence in UK #COVID-19 response
Dominic Cummings (pictured), a top aide to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, damaged public confidence in the government’s coronavirus response by travelling out of London when the city was in lockdown, an academic study published on Thursday (6 August) said, writes William James. Cummings was at the centre of a huge public outcry among locked-down Britons […]
UK ‘won’t hesitate’ to add more countries to #Coronavirus quarantine list
Britain will not hesitate to add more countries to its quarantine list, Finance Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured) said on Friday (7 August) when asked about whether France could join Spain on the list, writes Sarah Young. “If we need to take action as you’ve seen overnight we will of course not hesitate to do that,” […]
UK says it’s confident of #Brexit trade deal as EU changing tone
Britain’s top minister overseeing Brexit talks said on Friday (7 August) he was confident a free trade deal would be clinched with the European Union as there had been a distinct change of tone from the bloc in recent weeks allowing progress to be made, write Guy Faulconbridge and Kate Holton. The United Kingdom left […]
EU progress towards its #ClimateChange goals
The EU has set out ambitious targets to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Fighting climate change is a priority for the EU. It has committed to a series of measurable objectives and taken several measures to reduce greenhouse gases. What progress has already been achieved? 2020 climate goals to be reached Graphic showing the evolution […]
Commission approves Croatian plans enabling €197 million of investments to extend #IstrianY motorway
The European Commission has approved under EU state aid rules a Croatian plan to prolong the Istrian Y motorway concession agreement between Croatia and the company Bina-Istra. This will allow €197 million of new investments by the concession operator to go ahead, while limiting distortions of competition. The Istrian Y motorway is a 145-kilometre long […]
More batches of FFP2 and FFP3 protective masks have been distributed to Croatia, Montenegro and North Macedonia from rescEU – the common European reserve of medical equipment set up this year to help countries affected by the coronavirus pandemic. “We are delivering more masks from the rescEU reserve of medical equipment to help the national […]
#Belarus – Statement by High Representative Josep Borrell ahead of the presidential elections
“The presidential elections in Belarus will take place this Sunday, 9 August, and early voting has already started. During the electoral campaign, the Belarusian people have shown unprecedented political mobilization in favour of free elections and democracy. The peaceful mobilization of the society has been met so far with unacceptable further restrictions on freedoms of […]
Hip-hop artist #Tyga cancels dictator-sponsored concert
American hip-hop artist Tyga (pictured) has cancelled his performance at a government-sponsored concert in Belarus on August 8, after pressure from the Human Rights Foundation and hundreds of fans on social media. HRF wrote to Tyga, urging him to cancel his concert on Saturday and stand with the people of Belarus against the dictator. Within […]
Brussels court suspends extradition of ex-Catalan leader #Puigdemont
A Brussels court has suspended the extradition of former Catalan pro-independence leader Carles Puigdemont (pictured), his lawyer said on Thursday (6 August), write Jorrit Donner-Wittkopf in Brussels and Nathan Allen in Madrid. Paul Beckaert told Reuters that the Belgian judge in charge of the case had ruled in favor of Puigdemont and Toni Comin, another […]
#EAPM – Tough questions and mask opposition for health care
Welcome all – as summer finally gets into its swing, here is your second August update from the European Alliance for Personalised Medicine (EAPM) for those of you still to depart on much-needed holidays, writes EAPM Executive Director Denis Horgan. Mark your calendars As ever, a reminder that there is still time to register for […]
