New details released about the change of head of the Russian “Wagner” group

A recent journalistic investigation by Bellilingcat  (https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2020/08/14/pmc-structure-exposed/) reports about the change of the head of the Wagner Private Military Group. This joint investigation by The Insider, Bellingcat and Der Spiegel notes that the new head of the group may be Konstantin Pikalov, better known as “Mazay”. According to media reports, “Mazay” participated in the campaign […]

#Belarus – EU will use sanctions and offers to act as a mediator to resolve crisis

Today (14 August), at a hastily organized informal EU foreign affairs council, ministers discussed a number of pressing issues including the current situation in Belarus, following Presidential elections that took place on Sunday (9 August).  The EU issued a statement on Tuesday (11 August) stating that it did not consider the elections to be either […]

New details released about the change of head of the Russian “Wagner” group

A recent journalistic investigation by Bellilingcat  (https://www.bellingcat.com/news/uk-and-europe/2020/08/14/pmc-structure-exposed/) reports about the change of the head of the Wagner Private Military Group. This joint investigation by The Insider, Bellingcat and Der Spiegel notes that the new head of the group may be Konstantin Pikalov, better known as “Mazay”. According to media reports, “Mazay” participated in the campaign […]

The Achilles Heel covered by #Macron #Beirut triumph

French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured) received a hero’s welcome in Beirut, walking the streets and embracing the victims of last week’s explosion the way no Lebanese leader could dream to do. Faced with the pleadings of a desperate population, Macron was even placed in the bizarre position to politely decline suggestions to retake Lebanon under […]

#Russia – #Germany – A lot in common or still at odds?

No one will deny that Russia and Germany have a very solid list of issues on which both sides are ready to co-operate in the long term. Despite the current EU sanctions over Ukraine, economic co-operation between the two countries has positive dynamics. A striking example is the Nord stream-2 energy project, which, despite the […]

#Germany – Optimistic we’ll have a #Coronavirus vaccine in coming months and certainly next year

German Health Minister Jens Spahn (pictured) said on Thursday (13 August) he expected there to be a COVID-19 vaccine in the coming months and definitely next year, speaking after the public health agency withdrew a report suggesting there would be one in autumn, writes Thomas Escritt. “I’m optimistic that in the next months, and certainly […]

French government to help SMEs with €3 billion recovery plan – finance minister

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire (pictured) confirmed on Thursday (13 August) that the government will set aside €3 billion ($3.55bn) in aid for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), writes Sudip Kar-Gupta. Le Maire also told French BFM TV that the government will further accelerate economic recovery plan from 25 August.

UK chief negotiator says aiming for #Brexit deal in September

Britain’s assessment is that a Brexit agreement can be reached with the European Union in September, the UK chief negotiator David Frost (pictured) said on Thursday (13 August) ahead of a round of negotiations with his EU counterpart Michel Barnier next week, writes Estelle Shirbon. “As we keep saying, we are not looking for a […]

Commission approves modified €100 million Hungarian scheme to support companies affected by #Coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has found the modification of a previously approved Hungarian scheme to support the Hungarian economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak to be in line with EU state aid rules, in particular with the State Aid Temporary Framework. The existing scheme was approved on 20 May 2020 under case number SA.57285 and amended on 28 […]

Commission authorizes France to provide additional support to wine producers

The Commission has adopted a decision authorizing France to provide additional support to wine producers through crisis distillation. This measure aims to reduce wine stocks, free up storage capacity and restore the balance between supply and demand on the French wine market affected by the coronavirus crisis. France introduced the distillation of wine in the […]

Commission approves €2 billion Italian guarantee scheme to support trade credit insurance market in the context of the #Coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved, under EU state aid rules, a €2 billion Italian scheme to support the trade credit insurance market in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. Trade credit insurance protects companies supplying goods and services against the risk of nonpayment by their clients. Given the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak, the […]

EU calls for intensified efforts to solve trade disputes with US

The European Union on Wednesday (12 August) called for intensified efforts to resolve trade disputes with the United States after Washington kept in place tariffs on European aircraft and other goods, writes Andrea Shalal. “The Commission acknowledges the decision of the U.S. not to exacerbate the ongoing aircraft dispute by increasing tariffs on European products,” […]

Turkey’s #Erdogan says only solution in Mediterranean is dialogue

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (pictured) said on Thursday (13 August) that the only solution to Turkey’s dispute with Greece over energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean was through dialogue and negotiation, and Ankara was not chasing any “adventures” in the region, write Tuvan Gumrukcu and Ali Kucukgocmen. Turkey and Greece, NATO allies, are vehemently at […]

Irish PM sees ‘landing zone’ for #Brexit after Johnson talks

New Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin (pictured, left) said after his first meeting with British premier Boris Johnson on Thursday that he believes there is a “landing zone” for securing a post-Brexit trade deal between the United Kingdom and the European Union, write Padraic Halpin and Conor Humphries in Dublin and William James in London. […]

#Belarus says police detained around 700 protesters overnight

Belarusian police detained about 700 people on a fourth night of protests following President Alexander Lukasheko’s contested election victory, the former Soviet republic’s interior ministry said on Thursday (13 August), write Andrei Makhovsky in Minsk and Maria Kiselyova in Moscow. Security forces have clashed daily with protesters since Lukashenko claimed a landslide re-election victory in […]

#Sassoli on #Belarus – Stop the violence

Statement of European Parliament President David Sassoli (pictured). “The European Parliament has been closely following the presidential elections in Belarus. I am deeply concerned by the violence used by the state authorities against people peacefully demonstrating their desire for change. The Belarusians have a right to protest and express their anger against the contested results […]

#EAPM – Orphan Regulation developments ahead of race to the White House

Greetings one and all – summer is now well and truly with us as we land in mid-August, and ahead of the weather there have been storms internationally as well, in Lebanon and Belarus, as well, of course, as the upcoming race to the White House in the US, which reaches a climax in just […]

#Belarus elections caused popular unrest

A few days after the presidential elections in Belarus, the country is in a state of instability and political vacuum. Official bodies declared a landslide victory of Lukashenko over his competitors, 80% against 10% for the housewife Tikhanovich, writes Alexi Ivanov, Moscow correspondent. Opponents of the government, including Svetlana Tikhanovich herself, did not recognize these […]

#Kazakhstan proposes 15% tax on #Bitcoin mining to help combat #Coronavirus

Kazakhstan has proposed legislation that would see a 15% tax imposed on bitcoin mining firms. This is part of efforts to raise money to help with the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Proposed by the country’s ministry of economy, the new tax plan requires bitcoin (BTC) miners to first file an application for registration with […]