Europe's Households Face Surging Gas Bills
Around 310,000 households face an 11.5 percent increase in their gas bills in Germany, piling an extra €172 to a typical €1,516 annual cost. Imports cover more than two-thirds of Italy's energy needs. Rome plans to introduce €3 billion in short-term measures to cut consumer prices. Spanish
Serbia Puts Troops On High Alert Along Border With Kosovo Amid Recognition Standoff
Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo have been blocking the border since Kosovar authorities on September 20 began strictly enforcing a new policy of removing Serbian license plates from incoming vehicles and replacing them with temporary local plates. Serbian authorities for years have insisted on the removal of Kosovar license plates
US Aerospace Giant Boeing Says It Will Build Drones In Australia
Boeing said on Wednesday that it has selected Toowoomba city in Queensland state as the final assembly point for its unmanned Loyal Wingman planes. Boeing completed its first test flights earlier this year. It's the first military combat aircraft to be designed and manufactured in Australia in half a century.
German Election: SPD's Front-Runner Olaf Scholz Is Brimming With Confidence
The SPD (Social Democratic Party) has been in the lead in pre-election polls only three times in Germany's history: 1972, 1998, and 2002. Now, in 2021, it has happened again. Klingbeil speaks of a "historic opportunity" for the party. Scholz has spent several years in coalition with Merkel as a
World Leaders Address United Nations General Assembly
Venezuela: The United States is giving $247m in humanitarian aid and $89m in economic and development aid to Venezuelans. Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz told the assembly that his kingdom supports efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons as world leaders prepare to resume talks with
Lithuania: Cybersecurity Agency Warns Against Chinese-Made Phones
The Lithuanian National Security Center, a part of the defense ministry, said in a report that it found four "cybersecurity risks" in phones made by Chinese firms Huawei and Xiaomi. The center said Xiaomi phones were able to censor phrases by users, which were against the official stances of the
Taiwan Applies To Join TPP Free Trade Pact On China's Heels
Taiwan's Central News Agency said the application was submitted to New Zealand, the depository for what is formally known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership aimed at liberalizing trade and investment among Pacific Rim economies. China has taken a dim view of the prospect of Taiwan's membership
India Seizes $3.7 Billion Afghan Heroin Haul Amid Kabul Takeover Chaos
More than 2,988 kilograms of heroin was recovered in one of India's biggest such hauls to date. The investigation conducted so far has also revealed the involvement of Afghan nationals, who are under investigation. The containers had been declared as containing semi-processed talc stones from Afghanistan and shipped from
Record Backlog Of Cargo Ships At California Ports
Retailers and manufacturers have rushed to place orders and restock their inventories, but the global shipping system is struggling to keep up. It's contributed to shortages of children's toys, timber, new clothes, and pet food while also pushing up consumer prices. Last week, Gene Seroka, head of the Port of
U.S. President Joe Biden Meets With 'That Fellow Down Under' Scott Morrison After UN Assembly
While the federal government did not reveal the precise cost for canceling the French contract, it suggested it would be more than 2 billion dollars. Mr. Morrison said the US would not be picking up that tab, as Australia had initiated the nuclear deal. President Biden stressed that the world
World Leaders Speak At United Nations General Assembly
CHINA: During his UNGA address, President Xi Jinping said his country would stop funding coal projects overseas, reducing a key source of pollution behind climate change. He also reiterated that China aims to provide two billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to the world by the end of the year. TURKEY: Turkeys
Macron And Modi Vow To 'Act Jointly' In Indo-Pacific As Submarine Row Intensifies
Macron assured Modi of France's continued "commitment to the strengthening of India's strategic autonomy, including its industry and technology base, as part of a close relationship based on trust and mutual respect." The commitment to stability in the Indo-Pacific region would be under "the framework of the Europe-India relationship and