XI Jinping’s Agenda for His Central Asia Trip

On 14 September, Chinese leader Xi Jinping embarked on a three-day trip (Sept. 14–16) to Central Asia, where he is visiting both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. During his trip, he will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the southeastern Uzbekistani city of Samarkand and meet with his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin, write Jianli…

Surveillance Spyware in Greece

In the opening Plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs have demanded that the European Commission take action against Greece for alleged failure to uphold EU privacy law.  For some MEPs the case of spyware in Greece, as in other cases, highlights a wider problem in the EU that the rule of law…

Calling all Ferrari Fans

An expo devoted to one of the world’s best-known sports brands is set to open in Brussels. There couldn’t be a better time to pay homage to this mythical sports car as this year Ferrari is celebrating its 75th anniversary. For just over two months (23 September-4 December) Autoworld in Brussels will showcase 15  exceptional Ferrari models. Each one…

EU Migration and Asylum Rules

The European Parliament and five rotating Council Presidencies have commit to work together to adopt the reform of the EU migration and asylum rules before the 2024 EU elections. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Chair of the Civil Liberties Committee Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Asylum Contact Group Chair Elena Yoncheva and the Permanent Representatives of…

Why Russia is a Terrorist State

Russia uses terror tactics as a tool of warfare. The asymmetrical weakness of the Russian army, unable to effectively accomplish even mediocre tasks on the front line, has resulted in Putin terrorizing Ukraine and the world with military and nuclear terror. The Russian army’s unprecedented crimes in Ukraine give every reason to recognize Russia as…

Minimum Wages in the EU

EU Minimum Wages

MEPs say that minimum wages in all EU countries should allow for decent living and working standards, and member states should promote collective bargaining for pay. With 505 votes in favour, 92 against and 44 abstentions, Parliament adopted new laws on adequate minimum wages in the EU, on Wednesday. The EU law, agreed with the Council…

The Samarkand Summit

Samarkand

The 22nd summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be held on 15-16 September this year in Samarkand, and will be the largest diplomatic event of the year in Uzbekistan and the Central Asian region. The heads of states and governments of all eight SCO members, three observer states, leaders of invited countries and 10…

Escalation of Hostilities Between Azerbaijan and Armenia

Azerbaijan Army

Overnight on 12 September, action was taken by the army of Azerbaijan to defend their positions and stop shelling by the Armenian Army close to the border in the regions of Kalbajar, Lachin and Dashkasan. Sabotage groups of the armed forces of Armenia took advantage of the difficult mountainous terrain of the area and adverse…