Death metal in a mining town, Arctic Nest’s Arctic dreams, and industrial uproar: stories from Kainuu
Kainuu, Finland. With just under 40 thousand people, the town of Kajaani is the biggest town in the sub-arctic region of Kainuu.
Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
European ‘arrogance’ behind current EU crises, German minister tells WEF
European "arrogance" regarding world order led to the continent's current economic difficulties, Germany's climate change minister said during a World Economic Forum…
Bpost and Belgian Government sued by private postal rival PPP
Belgian private postal service PPP is suing its rival Belgian Post Group (Bpost) and the Belgian Government.
Hamburg’s Mayor left flat by electric car’s range
The Socialist Mayor of the German city of Hamburg Peter Tschentscher is dumping his electric Mercedes EQE 500 as, it seems, with the current cold weather its range…
Good COP, bad COP? Macron takes flak over environment pledges
After winning praise at the COP 28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai for announcing €173 million in donations to multilateral climate funds, France's President…
EU and China trade blows at World Economic Forum
China and the European Union have exchanged verbal blows at the World Economic Forum amid ongoing tensions over trade.
EU mulls Red Sea naval mission but support divided over US/UK missile strikes
With European Union representatives meeting to discuss a possible naval mission to the Red Sea, members are divided on whether or not to support ongoing US and UK…
‘Biden’s green LNG review risks making US energy dependent’
According to a recent report in Politico, the current US administration is conducting a review of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) export facilities under construction…
Germany’s shrinking economy to boost populist AfD further, say experts
Germany's already bleak economy looks set to contract further through 2024, economists have told Brussels Signal.
Greens MP mowed down by car at German climate-change protest
German Greens MP Sebastian Striegel experienced first-hand how dangerous blocking traffic for the climate can be.
More religion than science: To understand today’s climate alarmists read a long-dead Austrian economist, Joseph Schumpeter
The downfall of capitalism will not be brought about by a superior system, but rather by the success of the capitalist system itself.
EP publishes report into ‘gendered’ impact of EU inflation crisis
The European Parliament has published a report into the so-called "gendered" impact of the bloc's inflation crisis.
‘EU more food dependent on Russia than before Ukraine war’
The European Union is now more reliant on Russia in terms of food security than it was before the start of the war in Ukraine, the head of a major fertiliser firm…
Bucharest under siege by angry farmers and truckers on third day of protests
Major protests by farmers and truckers have entered their third day in Romania, with demonstrators breaking through police blockades in Bucharest.
Greece ‘behind Russia’s ability to evade EU sanctions’
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, economic sanctions were imposed on Moscow by the European Union and others in a bid to pressure Moscow into…
World trade hammered by Red Sea shipping attacks, says Germany’s IfW Kiel
Global trade declined by 1.
Explore the heart of Spain’s olive oil powerhouse
Andalusia, Spain. Spain is the world’s top producer of olive oil. It is estimated to be responsible for about 20 - 40 per cent of global production.
German house-building industry faces ‘bleak’ 2024
This year looks set to be “exceptionally weak” for residential construction in Germany, according to the Institute for Economic Research (ifo).
More sabotage suspected after damage to new German gas pipeline
The evidence makes a technical mistake or natural causes unlikely
Bitter pill: EU faces possible €465 million hit for empty London offices
This year alone the EU is liable to take a £27 million (€31.
German farmers sow seeds of revolt in subsidy-cuts protests
Farmers across Germany started a planned week-long protest en masse against the Government's plans for cutbacks.
Tankers continue Red Sea run despite Houthi rebel raiders
Oil and fuel tanker traffic in the Red Sea was stable in December, even though many container ships have rerouted due to attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi militants,…
Sparks of excitement at VW’s new ‘solid-state’ EV battery
German manufacturer Volkswagen has announced the successful test of an advanced "solid-state" electric vehicle battery that barely degrades.
What would Napoleon do? Brandy trade war breaks out between EU and mean-spirited China
China said it will investigate brandy products in containers containing less than 200 litres from the EU, without naming any companies
EC insists it has not screwed up wine-labelling rule change
The European Commission has left a bad taste in the mouths of vintners after publicly insisting it has not botched the implementation of new European Union wine-labelling…
Spot container shipping rates soar 173 per cent on Red Sea diversions
Short-term rates for container shipping between Asia, Europe and the US are climbing on reduced capacity caused by the ongoing threats to cargo vessels in the Red…
Meloni sees Italy growing faster than EU partners this year
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she sees scope for Italy’s economy to grow faster than the European Union average this year, and looked forward to likely interest…
Sugar-rich snacks banned around European Commission headquarters
Travellers at Brussels Metro Stations Schuman, Montgomery and Arts-Law will soon only be able to purchase nutritious bites from snack-vending machines.
Polish farmers to resume blockade of Ukraine border crossing
Polish farmers will resume their blockade at the Medyka border crossing with Ukraine from Thursday as they say they have not received a signed assurance from the…
European gas prices edge higher as outlook for cold snap deepens
European natural gas prices have edged higher as the intensity of a looming cold snap deepened, lifting demand for the heating fuel.