Europe

Beijing's decision appeared to be a retaliatory move after the European slapped more import tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. Trade relations between Brussels and Beijing have become increasingly strained.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry released a list showing the rates each firm would expect to pay, ranging from 30.6% for cognac house Martell to 39% for Jas Hennessy and 38.1% for Remy Martin.

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Minister of Economy and Industry Erkki Keldo (Reform) said at the government's weekly press conference that the immigration quota limit could be raised depending on the state of the economy.

He suggested the current limit could be raised from 1,303 people per year – 0.1 percent of Estonia's permanent residents – to 2,600 people under normal circumstances. But when economic growth is over 2 percent per year it could increase to 3,900 per year.

The minister said different-sized quotas could be applied to each sector of the economy. Salary requirements should also be set by the government.

UN Blue-helmets.

Complainants request examination of allegations that Israel tried to derail international criminal court inquiry

From the description:

"I'm Andres Acevedo and this is The Market Exit. During the migration crisis of 2015, the small country of Sweden admitted a very large number of refugees. What effects did this surge of migrants to Swedish have on the Swedish economy? To find out, I met professor Peo Hansen, author of the book "A Modern Migration Theory" and from our conversation, I realized that many of the economic models we use for assessing our economy and society are deeply flawed.

In the conversation, we talk about the field of research called the fiscal impact of migration. We talk about the difference between real resources and financial resources. We talk about the so-called brain drain within the European Union. We talk about why politicians are so afraid of speaking the truth about migration."

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A technical expert from Studsvik, a Swedish nuclear technology company, has been exposed for having links to the Chinese Communist Party.

The researcher, who held a critical security position within the company, was also a member of the United Front Expert Committee, part of the Chinese regime’s network aimed at expanding its global influence.

Despite his work in nuclear research in Sweden, the researcher participated in several inspection trips with high-ranking officials from the United Front.

It appears he was also recruited into China’s Thousand Talents Program, which aims to bolster China’s military and industrial strength. According to the FBI, this program, controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, encourages members to steal foreign technology for China’s benefit.

This was reported by TV4 Nyheterna.

“The recruits in the Thousand Talents Program are expected to support the transfer of knowledge, particularly in cutting-edge technology,” explains William Hannas, former CIA director and now chief analyst at Georgetown University. “This poses a serious threat to countries targeted by these activities.”

China’s United Front, a tool used to strengthen the Communist Party’s global power, has long worked to influence and recruit overseas Chinese to serve the Party’s interests.

“The goal is to consolidate the Party’s power, eliminate threats, and increase the Communist Party’s influence worldwide,” said Alexis von Sydow, an analyst at the National China Knowledge Center.

https://archive.is/b1CT9

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/3549864

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On Sept. 13, the Central Bank of Russia raised its key interest rate to 19% and warned of further hikes to come. The Central Bank claims the move was necessary to combat inflation, which it attributes to an alleged excessive rise in domestic demand.

However, there is an alternative viewpoint. According to economist Valery Kizilov, it was the Central Bank itself that fueled inflation by unjustifiably expanding the monetary base for years while simultaneously encouraging a credit boom. Russia has grown accustomed to living with an inflation rate of close to 10%, negligible real growth, and interest rates on loans exceeding 25% per year.

Breaking away from this course is difficult, writes Kizilov, and those caught up in the euphoria tend to ignore the risks and disregard the future.

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Romania’s constitutional court (CCR) on October 5 invalidated the presidential candidacy of far-right populist politician Diana Sosoaca, a decision that looks set to boost the position of the more moderate far-right candidate George Simion in the first round on November 24.

After independent candidate Mircea Geoana came under attack for his ties to a local politician with Russian links, this is the second development within days that looks likely to pave the way for Simion to make it to the second round of the presidential elections.

[...]

The CCR has not published the detailed ruling yet, but the objections to Sosoaca’s candidacy as filed by two individuals (including one of her political partners) relate to allegations that there were forgeries on the lists of voters filed along with the candidacy request.

[...]

Sosaca is one of Romania's most controversial politicians. The pro-Kremlin rabble rouser was expelled from the far-right party AUR while a member of the Romanian parliament. She was thrown out of the European Parliamentary chamber in July after repeatedly interrupting other speakers. She has accused European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of "killing people" and "impoverishing Romanians" for supporting Ukraine's defence against Russian aggression, and said she would bring in a priest to exorcise the EP chamber.

[...]

https://archive.is/fB9BI

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/3535523

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Russian companies have established a barter trade system with Pakistan to facilitate economic exchanges without the need for monetary transactions, as they seek to overcome challenges with payments related to Western sanctions on Moscow.

The alternative trade arrangement was signed at the first Pakistan-Russia Trade and Investment Forum in Moscow. According to the Russian state media outlet TASS, the first Russian company to use the mechanism will be Astarta-Agrotrading, which will supply Pakistan with chickpeas and lentils. Pakistan’s Meskay + Femtee Trading Company will reciprocate by providing mandarins and rice.

Under the terms of the agreement, Russia will export 20,000 tons of chickpeas, while Pakistan will supply an equivalent amount of rice. Another contract stipulates that Russia will send 15,000 tons of chickpeas and 10,000 tons of lentils in exchange for 15,000 tons of mandarins and 10,000 tons of potatoes.

[...]

While monetary transactions are under increasing scrutiny due to international sanctions against Russia in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, barter schemes offer companies a way to circumvent complications by exchanging goods directly rather than involving bank payments. Such deals help avoid attention from monitoring organizations tasked with ensuring compliance with sanctions.

This is not Russia's first exploration of barter trade as a solution to payment issues. In August, Reuters reported that Russia had been in discussions with China about resuming barter trade, particularly in metals and agricultural products. However, that project has been slow to gain momentum, as individual companies have struggled to meet the specific needs of both sides.

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Thousands of Hungarians gathered outside the headquarters of the country's state television on Saturday, protesting against what they described as the government's "propaganda machine" and calling for an independent public service media.

The protestors, from the opposition TISZA party, say that the state broadcaster MTVA is running biased propaganda, featuring only politicians from Prime Minister Viktor Orban's party and government, and analysts repeating their narrative.

The centre-right TISZA party, led by media-savvy political newcomer, Peter Magyar, is posing the biggest challenge to right-wing nationalist Orban since he swept to power in 2010.

[...]

While the public media primarily serves as a government mouthpiece, private media is largely controlled by allies of Orban's Fidesz.

[...]

The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression Irene Khan has said there was "a distorted media environment in Hungary where pluralism, diversity and independence of media is being questioned."

cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/44172736

cross-posted from: https://sopuli.xyz/post/17737107

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