Europe
Europe: EC proposes drastic cut in steel imports, doubles tariffs
The European Commission has proposed halving the volume of steel imports entering the EU duty-free - from 30.5 million to 18.3 million tonnes annually - and doubling tariffs on imports exceeding that quota…
France: implications of Sarkozy’s unexpected conviction for corruption
Former president Nicolas Sarkozy has been convicted of criminal conspiracy and sentenced to five years in prison, marking a historic and dramatic moment in French politics. The Paris court ruled that he engaged…
Czech Republic: former PM poised for comeback, faces difficult balancing act
Billionaire and former prime minister Andrej Babis is poised for a political comeback as his ANO party leads polls ahead of the October 3-4 elections. Having shifted from a liberal to a national-conservative…
Moldova: president warns of Russian interference as elections near
Days before crucial parliamentary elections, Moldova’s president Maia Sandu has warned that Russian-backed plots are threatening her nation’s independence and European aspirations. Police have arrested 74 people accused of planning violent unrest, seizing…
Italy: two days of strikes in support of Palestine cause widespread disruption
Thousands of Italian workers and students staged a nationwide general strike and demonstrations on 21 September. Organised by grassroots unions and supported by Italy’s largest trade union, CGIL, the walkout disrupted public transport,…
Russia and Belarus conduct military exercises as NATO feels the heat
Watched by US military officers and delegates from Turkey and Hungary, Russia and Belarus have launched large-scale military exercises across their territories and nearby seas, showcasing advanced weaponry and tactical nuclear capabilities near…
France: Macron’s options after prime minister ousted
France faces a huge political crisis after lawmakers voted to oust prime minister François Bayrou’s minority government over his controversial austerity measures. His plan to cut €43.8 billion from the budget, including the…
Poland: reactions to Russia’s drone attacks
Russia’s unprecedented drone strikes on Poland on 9 September are framed as both a test and a warning to Europe and NATO. Moscow, adept at ‘salami-slicing’ escalation, is probing allied resolve with incremental…
Bulgaria: von der Leyen’s plane subjected to electronic jamming
On 1 September, In what authorities suspect was Russian interference, Ursula von der Leyen’s plane was subjected to GPS jamming while landing in Bulgaria,. The flight, which landed safely using paper maps, highlighted…
Ukraine: Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia all willing to contribute troops for security guarantees
Estonia’s president, Alar Karis, has said it is prepared to contribute troops to an international reassurance force that the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ plans to send to Ukraine as a post-ceasefire security guarantee.…
