Author: Olga Winter - EU Newsdesk

Olga Winter is a specialist editor writing about current affairs on the EU news desk for WTX News. Based in Brussels she ideally suited to the address the domestic and global affairs of the European continent, with assignments that include expose and In Review features for specialist reports..

How was Syria’s economy ravaged by the civil war? Syria’s economy was worth $67.5 billion (€63.9 billion) in 2011 — the same year that large-scale protests broke out against President Bashar Assad’s regime, which sparked a rebel insurgency that escalated into a full-blown civil war. The country was placed 68th among 196 countries in global GDP rankings, comparable to Paraguay and Slovenia. By last year, the economy had fallen to 129 in the league table, having shrunk by 85% to just…

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Union politicians hope that with the fall of the Assad regime, many Syrians will return to their home country. Foreign Minister Baerbock (Greens) and Interior Minister Faeser (SPD) reject a premature return debate. Watch this and other news on WELT TV.© Axel Springer Germany GmbH. All rights reserved. Now live: After Assad’s fall in Syria – return debate polarized – video

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EU adapts product liability rules to digital age and circular economy EU

New product liability rules have entered into force, reflecting the increasing digital features of products and the growing circular economy. The EU’s product liability regime was established in 1985 to compensate those who have suffered physical injury or property damage due to a defective product. Since then, technological developments, new circular economy business models and ever-more global supply chains have made updating the rules essential. The new rules explicitly cover products like software, AI systems or…

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Manuel Neuer suffered a broken rib when he fouled Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong. “He probably won’t play again this year,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany on the eve of the game against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Schalke Arena. After the loudly proclaimed “title at home”, FC Bayern has to solve a groundbreaking compulsory task for the Champions League anniversary, even without Manuel Neuer, who has been injured for a long time. The captain will not only…

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Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Tuesday it had detected 47 Chinese military aircraft around the island. The French AFP news agency cited a senior Taiwanese security source as saying that “nearly 90” Chinese naval and coast guard vessels had been detected in waters along the so-called first island chain, which links Okinawa, Taiwan and the Philippines. The Defense Ministry said that 47 aircraft and 12 warships were detected in the last 24 hours. It added that this…

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Iran, the EU and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps EU

“The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) should be recognized by the EU as a terrorist group” was the main message of a conference hosted at the European Parliament by MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen on 4 December. The event titled “The Iranian regime, a risk for the security of Europe and Israel” was attended by about 200 participants and several members of the Parliament. The IRGC which was designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. on…

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Nationale-Nederlanden has launched its winter pension campaign which aims to attract self-employed clients by improving bonuses. It maintains the advantageous bonuses of up to 10% on transfers and hiring that occur until December 31, 2024 with a novelty: the campaign covers both its Duplo System – which includes two individual Pension Plans – and the recently launched Plan of Simplified Employment Pensions for the Self-Employed. This campaign stands out for offering customers a cumulative bonus…

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Max Verstappen to work with junior drivers in Rwanda F1

Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen will serve his “work of public interest” punishment for swearing when he visits Rwanda next week, the sport’s governing body said on Sunday. Verstappen, who won his fourth straight championship in Las Vegas last month, will travel to the Rwandan capital Kigali to collect his trophy at the FIA’s annual awards gala. The Dutchman was punished for using foul language during a press conference at the Singapore Grand Prix in September.…

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Tens of thousands of Georgians protest against ruling party for the 11th straight day EU

Tens of thousands of Georgians protest against ruling party for the 11th straight day Georgian protesters hopeful of keeping European Union membership dream alive as they take to the streets in an 11th consecutive day of protests against the ruling Georgian Dream party in Tbilisi. Tens of thousands of people flooded the streets of the Georgian capital to demonstrate against the governing party’s decision to suspend EU accession talks for four years. The rally took…

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The militia alliance led by the Islamist group Hajat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has forced Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to flee. Israel moves tanks to its border with Syria. Watch this and other news on WELT TV.© Axel Springer Germany GmbH. All rights reserved. Now live: Israel moves tanks to the border – All reactions to the fall of the regime in Syria – Video

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The arrival of a cold front in the north of the peninsula was felt this Sunday on the return of the Constitución and Inmaculada bridges. A total of 50 roads have been affected by snow, especially in Huesca, Asturias and Lleida. In the main network, the worst section was on the AP-66, near the municipality of Lena (Asturias). The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has asked for caution and to reduce speed, in addition to,…

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Italy’s Trenitalia claims top spot as the best rail operator in Europe, according to a new study released on Monday. The ranking was published by the European NGO Transport & Environment (T&E). Trenitalia was followed by Swiss operator SBB and Czech company RegioJet. Austria’s ÖBB came in fourth, ahead of France’s SCNF. “Trenitalia stands out for its travel experience, SBB is the most punctual operator in Europe and RegioJet has some of the most affordable tickets,” T&E said in…

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Caren Miosga was talking about Ukraine on Sunday evening; the fall of Assad and the future of Syria were only discussed in passing. For Armin Laschet, the situation in the shattered country was worth a warning. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has been raging for over 1,000 days. Now the situation is getting worse: Russia is reporting military successes and increasing attacks on civilian infrastructure. At the same time, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD)…

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More than 110 people have been brutally murdered in a slum in Haiti – most of them over the age of 60. The background to the murder is said to be rumors about voodoo magic being used on the child of a powerful criminal. Criminal gangs rule large parts of Haiti with extreme violence. Attacks on the civilian population occur again and again. But the latest reports from the desperately poor island state are extreme…

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