By Thomas Matussek, Germany’s Former Ambassador to the UK, the UN and India This week, the World Bank announced it would expand the Resilient and Inclusive Supply-chain Enhancement initiative in Central Asia, with the aim of further improving the region’s capacity to produce, refine and transport key resources and minerals. This news has once again […]
Germany and Kazakhstan: A win-win relationship Read More »
The United Kingdom’s Trade and Agriculture Commission (TAC) has officially confirmed that Malaysia’s standards to prevent deforestation – called the MSPO – are equivalent to the UK’s. The MSPO scheme, shorthand for “Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO)” Certification Scheme is the national scheme in Malaysia for palm oil plantations, independent and organised smallholdings, and palm
UK officially recognises Malaysia’s environmental standards as equivalent Read More »
A European Union naval mission to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from missile attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen is expected to be launched on February 19, EU High Representative Josep Borrell announced today, according to Euronews. Borrell stated: “Maritime security in the Red Sea has significantly deteriorated over the last weeks and we
EU launches mission in Red Sea as European energy security hit by Houthi attacks Read More »
On 15 January, Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the M/V Gibraltar Eagle, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned and operated container ship, the U.S. military has announced. The ship has reportly no injuries or significant damage and is continuing its journey. Earlier in the day, at approximately
European Commission warns for risk of higher inflation as a result of Red Sea attacks Read More »
Novatek, Russia’s largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), has sent force majeure notifications to some of its clients over future supplies from its Arctic LNG 2 project, four industry sources have told Reuters. Commenting on the issue, Italian academic Francesco Sassi, describes this to be “a consequence of US sanctions against Russia’s LNG industry”
Russia’s largest LNG producer sends force majeure notifications Read More »
”Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, has issued fundamental criticism at the EU’s trade policies, stating they hurt developing countries. She told the Financial Times: “Many trade rules forbid policies that can be used by developing countries. And the developed countries have more fiscal space to subsidise in the areas
UN official slams EU for using green policies to hold back developing countries Read More »
In a new report, the EU’s European Environment Agency (EEA) warns the EU that it is failing its climate targets, noting that the current 10-year trend is “going in the wrong direction”. The EEA takes stock annually of progress towards the 8th Environment Action Programme (8th EAP) objectives on the basis of a set of
In a cross-party initiative, 180 representatives of the Bundestag and 350 members of the German state assemblies signed a joint statement supporting the Iranian people’s uprising and their demand to reject any type of dictatorship, including the deposed shah and the ruling theocracy, in favor of a secular and democratic republic. These representatives also supported Mrs.
Looking at the EU’s ongoing trade negotiations with Asian trade powerhouse, EU Trade Commissioner Dombrovkis has stated that “With elections due in Indonesia in February, it might be difficult to make seizable progress in coming months”, adding also that “negotiations with India are progressing at a slower pace than anticipated”. In Summer, both Indonesia and
Dombrovkis thinks quick progress in EU trade talks with Asia unlikely Read More »
Francesco Sassi, a researcher in energy geopolitics and markets at Ricerche Industriali ed Energetiche (RIE) in Bologna, takes a closer look at China’s policy to increase export controls on rare earth metals, oxide products, and crude oil imports. He writes: “The move will further politicise global energy trade and make harder for the collective West,