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Europe
France
April 9, 2025 French Industry Minister Ferracci warned Wednesday that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s upcoming trip to meet U.S. President Trump threatens to undermine European unity against American tariffs. (Source: Politico - U.S.)
Poland
10.04.2025 Above all, we should be ready for the EU to fall apart, Confederation MP Wawer told Polish broadcaster Radio ZET on Wednesday, as support for Poland’s ’far-right’ Confederation party rises ahead of May’s presidential election. A few years ago, we even prepared a document called ‘PolExit – Safe Emergency Exit’. A situation may arise in which Poland wants or must leave the EU, and we should focus on preparing for it at the moment, he said. Wawer also criticized what he called the EU’s incompetent response to US-imposed tariffs. “It looks like the race between the tortoise and the hare, and America is already about three laps ahead of the EU,” he said. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
9 April 2025 Poland has downplayed the significance of a US decision to pull its troops out of the key Polish base Rzeszów-Jasionka, south-eastern Poland, supplying military aid to Ukraine. The move to redeploy of US personnel from was “the result of plans adopted after the NATO summit in Washington in 2024″, said a post on X from the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces yesterday. US troops remain in Poland!, Kosiniak-Kamysz, defence minister and deputy prime minister in Donald Tusk’s government, wrote on X: They would be “in different locations”, while now the mission in Jasionka involves mainly Norwegian, German, British and Polish troops, he added. US army newspaper Stars and Stripes reported: “The “US forces’ exit from Polish city key to arming Ukraine is [the] latest shift of burden to Europe.” The American’s removal from the Jasionka complex showed “real signs of an end to US financial aid for Ukraine”, wrote Polish MEP Buczek on X. (Source: Brussels Signal - Belgium)
April 9, 2025 General Donahue, the commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, has announced the relocation of American troops and equipment from a temporary base in Jasionka, Poland, established in 2022 about 30 miles from the Ukrainian border. He said the move was driven by budgetary concerns. Poland had already developed permanent infrastructure at the site. The base which has served as a key hub for the delivery of military assistance to Ukraine, will remain in use by Polish forces and NATO troops. Facilitating military aid to Ukraine via Jasionka will continue under Polish and NATO leadership, supported by a streamlined U.S. military footprint, read a press release from U.S. Army Europe and Africa. (Source: Meduza – based in Riga, Latvia)
European Commission
April 10, 2025 The European Union has announced it is pausing the retaliatory measures against the United States for 90 days, following President Trump’s announcement on Wednesday that he is temporarily halting reciprocal tariffs. 'If negotiations are not satisfactory, our countermeasures will kick in', European Commission President der Leyen wrote on X. (Source: Greek Reporter - Greece)
April 10, 2025 Yesterday, the European Commission has disbursed an additional €1 billion tranche of its exceptional Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) loan to Ukraine, to be repaid with proceeds from immobilised Russian State assets in the EU. This payment brings the total MFA disbursements to Ukraine to €5 billion. The EU’s €18.1 billion MFA forms part of the G7-led Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) initiative, which aims to provide around €45 billion in support to Ukraine. Also, the Commission announced that this week it will receive €2.1 billion due in windfall profits generated from immobilised assets of the Russian Central Bank, held by the Central Securities Depositories. The proceeds from this tranche will be channelled via the European Peace Facility (EPF) and the Ukraine Facility’ to help strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities’ and contribute to the country’s recovery and reconstruction. Three finance contracts worth €300 million were signed yesterday between the European Investment Bank and Ukraine. The funding will empower local actors to swiftly rebuild essential infrastructure such as water systems and energy-efficient facilities, alleviating pressure on government administration while ensuring effective delivery. A major business summit co-hosted by the European Commission, the Ukrainian government, the Polish Presidency of the EU Council, and Italy, is taking place today and tomorrow. It aims to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and reform efforts, with over 700 stakeholders attending. On this occasion, European Commissioner Kos and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal will launch a new EU-Ukraine Business Partnership to deepen economic ties between the EU and Ukraine and supporting its path to EU accession and integration into the EU Single Market. (Source: EUNeighbours east - under the guidance of the European Commission)
April 9, 2025 6:10 All member countries of the European Union except Hungary voted Wednesday in favor of proposals that would impose tariffs on specific U.S. products sold into Europe, starting next week. The proposals were first published on Monday by the European Commission. (Source: NPR - U.S.)
Moldova
09/04/2025 Moldovan court places Gutul, leader of autonomous Gagauzia region under house arrest for 30 days. Gagauzia is an autonomous region in Moldova with a population of approximately 120,000 Gagauz people – an Orthodox Christian, Turkic community that speaks Gagauz Turkish. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
Ukraine
April 10, 2025 The Ukrainian soldiers clambered from the ruined house at gunpoint - one with arms raised in surrender to the Russian troops - and lay face-down in the early spring grass. Two videos. Two stories. In one, the prisoners appear to live. In the other, they die. (Source: AP - U.S.)
April 09, 2025 A Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian cities of Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Kramatorsk late yesterday wounded more than two dozen people. (Source: RFE/RL - U.S.)
09/04/2025 Ukraine says at least 155 Chinese nationals - mercenaries allegedly recruited by Moscow - fighting for Russia, claims Beijing is aware. (Source: France 24 "with AFP = France, AP" - U.S.)
United Kingdom
10 Apr 2025 Artificial intelligence programs could manipulate markets by creating intentional crises in order to boost profits, according to new information from the Bank of England. Robot rogue traders could rule world and make bankers even richer, a report by the bank’s financial policy committee said. "Models might learn that stress events increase their opportunity to make profit and so take actions actively to increase the likelihood of such events.' (Source: Daily Star – United Kingdom)
Asia
China
April 9, 2025 China retaliates against Trump with total 84 percent tariff on US goods. (Source: Politico - U.S.)
Iran
April 10, 2025 3:55 AM Iran showcased new nuclear achievements just days ahead of talks with the United States on its nuclear program. It announced advancements in uranium enrichment, progress on nuclear plant projects at Bushehr and Karoun, and applications in medicine, agriculture, and industry, according to Iranian news reports. (Source: Miami Herald / Newsweek = U.S.)
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