news

Global:

Global food price are down by 2.1% in August from July, though rice prices have surged to a 15 year high and sugar prices are also up a bit.^PD^

Global demand for uranium to rise 28% by 2030 according to the World Nuclear Association.^BNE^

OPEC+ is maintaining its oil cuts to force oil prices upwards, putting pressure on America.^AM^

The UN has allocated $125 million in relief for 14 countries around the world;^PD^ humanitarian efforts are less than 30% this year.

Turns out it's more profitable for countries to ignore sanctions on Russia than it is to comply.^BNE^ Damn it, basic economics!

Europe:

29% of Europeans say their financial condition is precarious, and only 15% think it is "good". 12% have had to skip a meal despite being hungry recently, 16% have given up on getting treatment despite having a health problem; 23% have been cold but not turned up the heating; and, at some point in the recent past, 15% have needed to be housed by friends or family because they could no longer afford their homes.^EN^

The Eurozone GDP grew by a staggering 0.1% in Q2 2023.^CGTN^

France:

The top administrative court has upheld a government ban on girls in state schools wearing abayas.^TG^ Macron says there can be no Russian flag at Paris Olympics.^AM^

Germany:

The government has passed a heavily watered down law that would have originally banned new gas and oil boilers, requiring new systems to be powered by at least 65% renewable energy from January 2024.^FT^

Germany's industrial production continues to fall; carmaking declines 9%.^FT^ Germany's fertilizer imports from Russia hit a record $151 million in May^AM^

Greece:

The government has unveiled a new labour bill attacking workers' rights and conditions, most significantly criminalizing picketing and facilitates strike-breaking, as well as ensuring the protection of scabs.^WSWS^

Hungary:

An article on Chinese EV battery corporations in Hungary.^RoW^

Lithuania:

Beware of Lithuania.^PS^

This is a sports article but I laughed out loud when I saw it on my feed.

Netherlands:

There have been climate protests after the government gave billions in subsidies for industries that use fossil fuels.^EN^

Poland:

The central bank has cut interest rates by 0.75%, which shocked the market which only expected a 0.25% cut.^BNE^

Serbia:

China's Zijin Mining is investing $3.8 billion in Serbia, particularly for copper and gold mining, and Zijin is also building a solar power plant there to provide electricity for the project.^BNE^

Slovakia:

Former PM Fico of the Smer party is rising in the polls, which has done some good things like defending welfare, but is also mired by corruption and is nationalist (and socdem at best, as far as I can tell).^Jacobin^

Slovenia:

The central bank is going to tax banks to pay for the flood reconstruction.^BNE^

Sweden:

The government has restricted a 800 square kilometer area after swine fever was discovered in the area.^TS^

Ukraine:

The NYT has identified ex-legislator Serhiy Pashinsky as the government's biggest private arms supplier, while not mentioning his role in the massacre of 70 anti-government protestors in Maidan Square.^SP^

80% of Ukrainian refugees in Germany are jobless.^RT^

United Kingdom:

Interest rates could head higher, or be at their peak. Who can say? Not the Bank of England.^MP^ Almost 250,000 people have died in the past two years waiting for health service care.^WSWS^ Chinese spies in the UK,^FT^ while Sunak becomes best of friends with Modi.^FT^ The whole stupid concrete thing could have been prevented if the government listened to advice in 2020.^FT^ The UK has recorded the highest temperature this year, at 32.7 degrees.^AM^ British Museum facing renewed calls to return cultural relics.^CGTN^

How big business took over the Labour Party.^OD^ The Jewish Voice for Labour, founded to represent Jews who supported Corbyn, have pointed out that in the new Labour Party under Starmer, Jewish members are 13 times more likely to be expelled for supporting left-wing groups than non-Jewish members, and Jewish members are six times more likely to come under investigation for antisemitism than non-Jews.^MEE^

Western Asia:

A US-led plan to create an infrastructure project linking Europe to Saudi Arabia, and then to India, has been signed, in order to challenge China's BRI.^RT^ Chinese media is, obviously, downplaying its importance, though does rightfully point out that the United States has often promised and proposed projects that never went anywhere - like the "New Silk Road" project under Obama.^GT^

Also worth noting - I think the Greek port of Piraeus is part of the plan, which is majority owned by China.

Afghanistan:

An article on Afghanistan's women who are attempting to circumnavigate the Taliban's repressive policies as well as sanctions; they criticize the West's empty calls for solidarity (especially while also putting sanctions on the country, plunging them into greater poverty).^ET^

Armenia:

Relations between Armenia and Russia are deteriorating, with the former criticizing the latter of having "absolute indifference" to Azerbaijan's aggression, and saying that dependence on Russia for security was a strategic mistake - and is now sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine for the first time.^EN^ Ethnic Armenian authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh are agreeing to let in aid shipments in return for the restoration of road links to Armenia.^CGTN^

Azerbaijan:

Former employees of Radio Free Europe are calling for an internal investigation into allegations of mismanagement by its Azerbaijani service, which is becoming less critical of the president.^OD^

Bahrain:

800 political prisoners and human rights activists are on their fourth week of hunger strike.^MEE^ Israel opens new embassy in Bahrain, agrees to boost trade relations.^AJ^

Iran:

The Iranian deputy commander of the Air Defense Force has said that US aircraft have been warded off via the Karrar interceptor drone on numerous occasions over the past two years.^PD^ The Fattah hypersonic missile will inflict "heavy costs" on Israel.^AM^ The US DoJ admits that they stole 1 million barrels of Iranin oil in April.^AM^

The Taliban has denounced the high number of executions in Iran. lmao.^MEE^ Raisi has said that his country is ready to prevent any new conflict in the Caucasus, on a call to Armenia's president.^PD^ Russia's Sberbank has launched direct bank transfers to Iran.^BNE^

Iraq:

How the US, UAE and Israel plundered Iraq's antiquities.^TC^ Turkey seeks $950m damages against Iraq in the US over KRG oil dispute.^MEE^ Iraq and Egypt consider enhancing cooperation in urban development.^IN^

Israel:

German politicians love apartheid.^Jacobin^. Hundreds of Israeli students have publicly declared that they will refuse to serve in the army in protest of the judicial reforms.^MEE^ Papua New Guinea opens Israel embassy in West Jerusalem.^AJ^ Israel will reopen the main commercial crossing to Gaza after Israeli authorities closed it earlier this week, saying they had found explosives headed out of the blockaded territory.^AJ^

Jordan:

Members of Parliament have called for the expulsion of Israel's ambassador after the attack on Al-Khalil in the West Bank.^AM^

Kuwait:

Medicine shortages grow and the country faces a national crisis.^MEE^

Saudi Arabia:

Saudi Arabia and Iran have exchanged ambassadors as normalization continues.^MEE^ Meanwhile, the Saudis are delaying issuing Israeli ministers visas to the Kingdom.^AM^

Germany is ending the training of Saudi border forces after news of atrocities against Ethiopian migrants came out^MEE^; they never told Germany that those guns were going to SHOOT people! The Bank of China has opened a branch in Riyadh.^TS^ Saudi Arabia tops 100 executions in 2023.^MEE^