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Europe’s fertilizer supplies to the Third World remains frozen as private Russian companies step in

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:14:27 GMT

Amidst growing evidence that the “grain deal” that was signed in July by Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations to create procedures for the safe export of grain from certain ports to attempt to address a potential catastrophic food crisis has been a complete failure.Grain and fertilizers produced in Russia still have not reached dozens of countries that need them most despite assurances from the world’s leading international authorities that vital supplies would be delivered to Thir... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Legal battle between David and Goliath energy firms heats up

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:14:27 GMT

TotalEnergies could be dragged to arbitration by the relative energy minnow, Trina Solar Ltd, in an ongoing row about a breach of contract.The French oil giant instigated legal action against Trina earlier this summer, claiming Trina US had conspired to inflate the agreed price of its solar modules, costing the company more than $100 million in losses.However, Trina has now hit back, insisting the matter belongs in arbitration while dismissing the oil giant’s claims as “fatally deficient... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Europe’s agricultural sector is crying out for support amid energy and food crisis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:14:27 GMT

Europe’s energy crisis – which has been sparked mainly by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and President Putin’s subsequent curtailing of natural gas flows to the EU – is swiftly turning into a food crisis. With the costs of maintaining their operations spiralling out of control, many farmers are being forced to curb production. The situation is particularly serious coming against a backdrop of global food shortages and after a summer of devastating droughts which had already brought the agricultura... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Healing Ukraine’s war wounds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:14:27 GMT

As the 200th day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine passes, the immense human cost of this conflict has never been clearer. Millions of Ukrainians have fled their homes and thousands of civilians are believed to have been killed as fighting engulfs densely populated urban areas.The Western economic front, including both sanctions and large military and economic aid packages led by the United States and the United Kingdom, has sought – along with the voluntary sector – to remedy some of the most acute needs of Ukraine and its people. But one area, in particular, remains neglected – the mental health of both children and adults as a result of this war.Research by World Vision International highlights that the constant fear, hopelessness and loneliness, inherent in the most violent wars such as those in Syria, South Sudan, and now Ukraine, can lead to PTSD, depression, and anxiety in as many as one-fifth of the population. Children are naturally resilient, and with the right support...

European Commission calls on member states to modernise minimum income schemes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:14:27 GMT

The European Commission has called upon EU Member States to modernise their minimum income schemes as part of the ongoing pledge to reduce poverty and social exclusion in Europe. Minimum income is cash payments that help households who need it to bridge the gap to a certain income level to pay the bills and live a life in dignity. They are particularly important in times of economic downturns, helping to cushion drops in household income for people most in need, thereby contributing to sustainable and inclusive growth. They are generally complemented with in-kind benefits giving access to services and targeted incentives to access the labour market.The proposed Council Recommendation on adequate minimum income ensuring active inclusion sets out how Member States can modernise their minimum income schemes to make them more effective, lifting people out of poverty, while promoting the labour market integration of those who can work. The social and economic advantages of adequate and t...

The EU’s revised sanctions policy hinders vital supplies of Russian fertilizers to the Third World

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:14:27 GMT

The European Commission on August 29 published an updated text of clarifications on the application of sanctions for fertilizers produced or exported from Russia, including potassium chloride, as well as complex fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.  Brussels' new position now makes it impossible to supply Russian fertilizers to third countries, including Africa, that use European operators and infrastructure, along with the EU's territory. This dec... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Ex-Magna CEO could take control of Volkswagen’s assets in Russia 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:14:27 GMT

The Russian media reported that Volkswagen AG could sell its Russian business – including an assembly plant and an internal combustion engine producer – to Austrian business conglomerate Steyr Automotive owned by ex-Magna CEO Siegfried Wolf.According to people familiar with the matter the company aims to resume the production of VW cars in Russia, suspended in March in a response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, under a different brand. VW will continue to supply components and sp... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Why the upcoming Samarkand SCO summit is important and what to expect from the outcome

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:14:27 GMT

On September 15-16, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's (SCO) summit will be held in the historic Uzbek city of Samarkand. At the upcoming event, the leaders of the SCO countries will come together for the first time in three years in a face-to-face format, one that will be a unique and effective opportunity to discuss the bilateral, regional and global issues that have accumulated since the start of the COVID pandemic.In the context of serious shifts both in international politics and e... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Alisher Usmanov: The billionaire-turned-philanthropist who is essential to Uzbekistan’s global future

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:14:27 GMT

Uzbek tycoon Alisher Usmanov once quipped to a Western journalist that his life story would require more than a couple of vodka bottles to tell in full. A quick look at his biography, one that begins with his humble origins in Chust, a medium-sized city in Uzbekistan's Fergana Valley, to being ranked among the 100 wealthiest people in the world.Usmanov is unique amongst those from the former Soviet Union who made their fortunes in the wild 1990s following the collapse of the Communist comman... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Tokayev’s national address launches a new political era for Kazakhstan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 21:14:27 GMT

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s most recent address to the nation is a new political milestone in the history of the country by setting qualitatively different standards for the system of power through the highest forms of transparency for the most important political decisions, and his sense of constant renewal and the need for open competition..Tokayev’s decision to make the entire electoral schedule public is an unprecedented step for Kazakhstan’s political culture.The launch of the entire election cycle is conditioned by the need for a radical reboot of our political system and is fully consistent with the rationale of the constitutional reform supported by the majority of citizens in the June referendum.The consecutive holding of presidential elections, followed by the election of deputies to the majilis (the lower chamber of the parliament) and maslikhats (local representative bodies) will focus on the solution of urgent and strategic tasks for the socio-economic...