Author: Iris East

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to visit Australia later this month to advance a stalled trade agreement, contingent on upcoming negotiations between EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič and Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU-INC initiative at the World Economic Forum, aimed at simplifying company formation across the EU. The proposal seeks to eliminate legal fragmentation, allowing startups to operate under a single online system by 2027.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will convene a meeting on competitiveness in Leuven, addressing both economic strategies and internal tensions among commissioners. The seminar includes IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and focuses on implementing the competitiveness report by Mario Draghi.

Lawmakers at the European Parliament are struggling to agree on the design of the digital euro, jeopardising its legislative path. Rapporteur Fernando Navarrete proposed an offline “e-cash” model, while some factions back user accounts on the ECB ledger. S&D’s Nikos Papandreou emphasised the need for payment sovereignty amid geopolitical change.

Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña urged the European Union to implement the recently signed free trade agreement with Mercosur without delay, warning that stalling it amid rising geopolitical tensions would be a strategic mistake.

Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, urged European leaders to heed Mario Draghi’s call for radical EU reforms amid challenges from global tariffs, as the bloc prepares for a crucial informal meeting next week in Belgium.

Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski accused Elon Musk’s SpaceX of “making money on war crimes,” citing allegations of Russian forces using Starlink for drone operations in Ukraine. This follows evidence suggesting a significant increase in Russian drone attacks enabled by the technology.

Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will support the Olympic delegation during the Winter Olympics in Milan. This matters now due to controversy surrounding ICE’s recent actions in the U.S.

Mandelson Faces Police Inquiry Over Epstein Leak Allegations Peter Mandelson may face a police inquiry following revelations that he allegedly leaked governmental information to Jeffrey Epstein, according to recent reports. Documents suggest that Mandelson supported efforts to undermine Australia’s mining tax policies during his tenure as a senior Labour figure. While the exact circumstances leading to this leak remain unclear, the implications of the allegations have reignited public interest in the connections between political figures and Epstein, a convicted sex offender linked to numerous scandals. In the investigation outlined, it has been reported that Mandelson sent critical information to Epstein…

New Epstein files indicate trafficking of minors to others despite denials by Israeli’s to blackmail the ruling elite in the west. New Epstein files reveal Paedophile Trafficking Network and Mossad involvement Recent revelations from newly released files regarding Jeffrey Epstein suggest he may have trafficked minors to other individuals, contradicting earlier claims of isolated misconduct. These files, made public by the US Department of Justice, contain evidence that Epstein’s network extended beyond his immediate circle. The disclosure follows ongoing investigations into Epstein’s operations and the extensive networks that enabled his activities. Legal experts argue that the findings could reopen discussions…