International and regional news from around the globe.
MEPs were informed on Tuesday, during the launch of PsyPal, the inaugural EU-funded clinical research project exploring psychedelic-assisted mental health treatments, that despite the growing awareness of mental health issues, there hasn’t been a translation of this awareness into innovative treatments. Tilly Metz, a Greens MEP, highlighted the potential of psychedelics to revolutionize mental health…
The riskiest corporate debt is increasingly posing dangers for investors as signs of a growing default cycle emerge. Recently, the holding company of Thames Water Ltd. failed to meet payments on a £400 million bond ($504 million), while Altice France saw a drop in bond prices last month after announcing “discounted transactions” to reduce its…
A decade ago, Xi Jinping received a warm welcome in Duisburg, Germany’s Ruhr valley, where he commended the region as a focal point for Chinese investment. He celebrated the arrival of a train from Chongqing to Europe’s industrial heartland and enjoyed performances of traditional mining songs. However, a recent Chinese arrival in Germany, the BYD…
According to a recent industry report released on Tuesday, the global plastics production landscape has seen notable shifts, with Europe experiencing a decline in its share while China’s output has surged to encompass a third of the market. Over the period from 2006 to 2022, Europe’s contribution to global plastics production dwindled from 22 percent…
In an effort to boost Egypt’s flagging economy, EU leaders have reached a financial pact worth €7.4 billion (£6.3 billion). This endeavor aims to maintain regional stability and avert another European migrant catastrophe. The EU-Egypt strategic partnership spans three years and encompasses several components: €5bn in soft loans to support economic reforms, €1.8bn to encourage…
In a bid to bolster the enforcement of sanctions, the European Parliament has endorsed the implementation of new regulations extending to cryptocurrency assets. The objective behind this legislation is to streamline the enforcement of sanctions across the European Union’s 27 member states, aiming to rectify existing disparities and close loopholes that have hindered the efficacy…
European consumers will soon experience changes in their digital landscape as new regulations come into effect this week. These changes, mandated by the Digital Markets Act (DMA) of the European Union, aim to address concerns regarding the dominance of certain tech companies dubbed “gatekeepers.” These companies include Amazon, Apple, Google (Alphabet), Meta, Microsoft, and ByteDance…
In February, the inflation rate in the European economy saw a decline to 2.6%, attributed to various factors such as elevated interest rates, stabilized oil and gas prices, and sluggish economic growth, which restrained price hikes in retail outlets. Eurostat, the statistical agency of the European Union, reported Friday that this figure for the 20…
Amidst a pivotal moment characterized by impending environmental and technological shifts, an investment firm emerges as a catalyst poised to lead Europe towards a sustainable and digitally progressive future. Known for its innovative approach to investing, Verdane recently established a historic €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) fund aimed at supporting businesses that propel Europe’s ecological and…
According to a report published on Sunday morning by the Financial Times, Apple faces a fine of €500 million (equivalent to about $539 million USD) following an investigation by regulators prompted by a complaint from Spotify. The music streaming service alleged that Apple’s policies restrict iPhone apps from informing users about cheaper alternatives to Apple…
