US President Donald Trump said on January 29 that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to a request to refrain from attacking Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities and villages for a period of one week. Speaking at a press conference, Trump stated that he had personally asked Putin not to carry out attacks during the […]
Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Pause on Attacks on Kyiv and Other Cities Read More »
France and Italy are urging the European Union to temporarily exempt fertilisers from its carbon border levy, arguing that the measure risks further straining Europe’s agricultural sector at a time of low crop prices and high input costs. According to documents seen by Reuters, the two countries are seeking a delay or suspension of the
France and Italy push for temporary exemption of fertilisers from EU carbon border levy Read More »
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that the United States is deploying naval forces toward Iran, describing the movement as an “armada” while suggesting that the deployment may serve as a deterrent rather than a prelude to immediate action. Speaking to reporters while returning from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump stated that although
U.S. Signals Military Deployment Toward Iran Amid Regional Tensions Read More »
By Pieter Cleppe EU member states are seeking to reach agreement by the end of this year on the European Union’s next long-term budget, formally known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The proposed framework would cover EU expenditure from 2028 to 2034. Negotiations are proving more complex than in previous cycles, partly because interest
Is an agreement on the EU’s long term budget in sight? Read More »
By R. Dercksen In order to protect socialist Maduro, woke critics of Trump’s actions in Venezuela forget about the Venezuelan people, who have been robbed, tortured, oppressed and murdered for decades. By a cruel dictator who ignored the election results and is dependent on Cuba, Russia, China, Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah. Does international law, which
Trump’s new year’s surprise Read More »
The European Union’s decision to delay the implementation of its deforestation law is increasingly seen as a stark illustration of how difficult it has become for Brussels to project its regulatory power beyond its borders. The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), first proposed in 2021, was intended to prevent products linked to deforestation from entering the bloc’s
EUDR delay seen as exposing the limits of the “Brussels effect” Read More »
The Israeli government has approved a plan to expand natural gas production at the Leviathan field in the eastern Mediterranean, enabling a significant increase in gas exports to Egypt over the coming decades. Leviathan, Israel’s largest offshore gas field, is operated by a consortium led by Chevron, alongside NewMed Energy and Ratio Energies. The newly
Israel approves expansion of Leviathan gas production for exports to Egypt Read More »
By Pieter Cleppe The EU summit that blocked the Ukraine loan plan championed by Ursula von der Leyen and Friedrich Merz was widely framed as a setback for European unity. In reality, it was something else entirely: a rare moment where escalation was paused before doing lasting damage. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (picture)
A Belgian EU Summit win Read More »
As diplomatic efforts continue to address the war in Ukraine, developments beyond the battlefield are reshaping the strategic environment of the wider Black Sea region. One of the less visible but increasingly significant dimensions of the conflict concerns energy security and the way energy infrastructure has become entangled in the hostilities. Since the beginning of
A security reset in the Black Sea Region Read More »
The European Union has reached a political agreement to delay and amend its flagship Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), thereby also confirming that books, newspapers and other printed materials will no longer fall under the law’s requirements. After intensive trilogue negotiations on December 4, the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission agreed
EU Finalises Delay to Deforestation Rules Read More »