Euro zone’s trade boomed in May with both exports and imports of goods to the rest of the world growing markedly.The European Union, the world’s main trader, also saw its trade increase with all its main partners, with a surge of exchanges with Russia despite economic sanctions on Moscow. Eurostat said on Friday the 19-country currency area in May exported goods worth 189.6 billion euros (167.08 billion pounds) to the rest of the world, an increase by 12.9 percent on the year. Imports also grew yearly by 16.4 percent for a total volume of 168.1 billion euros. Source: Euronews
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will discuss with Russian President Vladimir Putin his concerns about Iran’s military presence in Syria. “I will raise the problem of Iran trying to establish a military presence in Syria,” Netanyahu said on August 22. Source: RadioFreeEurope
The German government said on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump’s decision to send additional troops to Afghanistan was “the right thing to do.” Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen also welcomed the decision but said that Germany would not follow suit by further raising its troop numbers. Source: The Local
EU enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn has called for a change of course for the EU on Turkey’s accession to join the bloc, after president Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Turks living in Germany not to vote for the county’s two ruling parties in the upcoming September elections. Source: Euobserver
