Welcome one and all – this week’s first update from the European Alliance for Personalised Medicine (EAPM) brings you more news of the EU’s orphan drug legislation, which the European Commission has produced a 400-page review of, for those of you looking for distraction on your jolly hols, please see the following link, writes EAPM Executive […]
Extending Britain’s furlough scheme would leave some workers trapped in false hope that they could return to their jobs after the coronavirus pandemic, British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured) said on Friday (7 August), write Andy Bruce and Kate Holton. With redundancies mounting, opposition politicians and think tanks have said Sunak should extend the Coronavirus […]
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he wanted Britain and France to work together to stop boats carrying migrants from crossing the Channel to England, as they have been doing in increasing numbers over the past few days, writes Kate Holton. “We want to stop that, working with the French,” he said. “There is […]
Huawei, the world’s biggest smartphone vendor, says it’s running out of processor chips because of US sanctions against the company, The Associated Pressreported. And according to Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei’s consumer business unit, as of next month the Chinese phone manufacturer will no longer be able to make its own Kirin chipsets due to the […]
Concerns are rising across Europe that the coronavirus-induced slump in oil prices could knock demand for recycled plastics but data is still patchy on how the pandemic has affected the amount of trash piling up, the European Union’s environment chief said, write Kate Abnett and Catarina Demony. As lockdowns around the world caused a drop […]
Masked intentions: Kazakh First Deputy Foreign Minister Shahrat Nuryshev meets Ambassador Zhang Xiao in April (photo: Kazakh Foreign Ministry) Suspicions about an increasingly assertive China show little sign of flagging in Kazakhstan. But authorities are still intent on demonstrating fealty to Beijing by thwarting grassroots activism critical of the Chinese government, writes Chris Rickleton. Serik […]
Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Monday (10 August) that Britain would be weaker if the union that binds its four nations were broken – his latest rejection of a growing push for Scottish independence, write William Schomberg and William James. Disagreements between Britain’s constituent nations – Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England – over […]
As part of the international conference on aid and support for Beirut and the Lebanese people, organized by the French government and the United Nations, the European Commission has pledged new funding of €30 million to meet the needs the most pressing of those affected by the deadly explosion of 4 August in Beirut. This […]
The European Commission has cleared a €6 billion German scheme under EU state aid rules to compensate companies providing public passenger transport services regionally and locally in Germany for the damage suffered as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the emergency containment measures taken by the German authorities to limit the spread of the […]
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 […]
#EAPM – Orphan Regulation under review by Commission
Welcome one and all – this week’s first update from the European Alliance for Personalised Medicine (EAPM) brings you more news of the EU’s orphan drug legislation, which the European Commission has produced a 400-page review of, for those of you looking for distraction on your jolly hols, please see the following link, writes EAPM Executive […]
Extending UK #Coronavirus furlough would trap people in false hope, finance minister says
Extending Britain’s furlough scheme would leave some workers trapped in false hope that they could return to their jobs after the coronavirus pandemic, British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured) said on Friday (7 August), write Andy Bruce and Kate Holton. With redundancies mounting, opposition politicians and think tanks have said Sunak should extend the Coronavirus […]
PM Johnson says he wants to work with French to stop migrant boats
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he wanted Britain and France to work together to stop boats carrying migrants from crossing the Channel to England, as they have been doing in increasing numbers over the past few days, writes Kate Holton. “We want to stop that, working with the French,” he said. “There is […]
#Huawei says it’s running out of chips for its smartphones because of US sanctions
Huawei, the world’s biggest smartphone vendor, says it’s running out of processor chips because of US sanctions against the company, The Associated Pressreported. And according to Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei’s consumer business unit, as of next month the Chinese phone manufacturer will no longer be able to make its own Kirin chipsets due to the […]
Risk of #COVID-19 plastic trash pile-up worries Europe
Concerns are rising across Europe that the coronavirus-induced slump in oil prices could knock demand for recycled plastics but data is still patchy on how the pandemic has affected the amount of trash piling up, the European Union’s environment chief said, write Kate Abnett and Catarina Demony. As lockdowns around the world caused a drop […]
#Kazakhstan squeezes #China critics as #Xinjiang anxieties spread
Masked intentions: Kazakh First Deputy Foreign Minister Shahrat Nuryshev meets Ambassador Zhang Xiao in April (photo: Kazakh Foreign Ministry) Suspicions about an increasingly assertive China show little sign of flagging in Kazakhstan. But authorities are still intent on demonstrating fealty to Beijing by thwarting grassroots activism critical of the Chinese government, writes Chris Rickleton. Serik […]
Johnson fears loss of UK’s power and magic if #Scotland breaks away
Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Monday (10 August) that Britain would be weaker if the union that binds its four nations were broken – his latest rejection of a growing push for Scottish independence, write William Schomberg and William James. Disagreements between Britain’s constituent nations – Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England – over […]
With an additional €30 million, the European Commission promises immediate support for #Lebanon
As part of the international conference on aid and support for Beirut and the Lebanese people, organized by the French government and the United Nations, the European Commission has pledged new funding of €30 million to meet the needs the most pressing of those affected by the deadly explosion of 4 August in Beirut. This […]
The European Commission has cleared a €6 billion German scheme under EU state aid rules to compensate companies providing public passenger transport services regionally and locally in Germany for the damage suffered as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the emergency containment measures taken by the German authorities to limit the spread of the […]
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control over Keihin, Showa, Nissin Kogyo and HIAMS, by Honda and Hitachi, all of Japan. Keihin provides electrification systems for hybrid and electric vehicles, products for fuel cells and engine management systems. Showa manufactures components for automobiles, motorcycles and outboard motors. […]
The European Commission has found a CZK 1 billion (€38 million) Czech scheme to support providers of SPA medical procedures and curative rehabilitation treatments that were impacted by the coronavirus outbreak to be in line with EU state aid rules. The public support will take the form of direct payments to cover discounts applied by […]
UK steps up plans to tackle migrant Channel crossings with new commander
Britain appointed a commander on Sunday (9 August) to lead its response to illegal small boat crossings across the Channel and said it was exploring tougher action after a spate of migrant arrivals, writes Sarah Young. Taking advantage of calm sea conditions, hundreds of people including children and pregnant women have made the dangerous crossing […]
#Coronavirus – UK says getting children back to school is a national priority
It is a national priority for children to return to school after months away from the classroom due to the coronavirus pandemic, a junior British health minister said on Monday (10 August), write Guy Faulconbridge and Kate Holton. “Sadly we have seen children from more disadvantaged backgrounds (are) more likely to fall behind during this […]
#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 […]
