US energy giant ExxonMobil has started exploring for oil and gas in block 10 of Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the country’s energy minister, Giorgos Lakkotrypis, said on Friday. Source: Ekathimerini
European Union
Eurozone officials on Thursday essentially gave the green light for the suspension of planned pension cuts in January by not expressing any objections to the Greek government’s intention to scrap those reductions. Source: Ekathimerini
Italy’s Data Protection Authority has advised against a reform proposed by Interior Minister Matteo Salvini that would replace the word ‘parents’ with ‘mother and father’ on children’s national ID cards. Source: The Local
“The risk of a war coming back – said the Northern League to the sole political party of the party in Milan – is not due to populism and nationalism, but to those who took the European dream hostage, and has sclerotized it into a bureaucracy represented by the European Commission, which is the denial of Europe “. A strong stance, which will probably provoke a tight debate. “I have heard Merkel before.What do you think is the great danger that the European continent runs in? In recent years one says immigration out of control, unemployment, poverty, Islamic terrorism, but no, it is populism and nationalism. So you get the balls – he added – We are not against Europe. Source Il Giornale
European Council President Donald Tusk confirmed that the bloc would hold a special summit to seal the hard-fought Brexit agreement with the United Kingdom at a special summit on November 25. Source: New Europe
The Eurogroup Working Group (EWG) of eurozone member-states ended on Thursday without any objections being raised to a plan by the leftist-led government in Greece for suspending pension cuts planned to go into effect in 2019, Kathimerini has learned. Source: Ekathimerini
EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn was quoted Nov. 6 as telling German daily Die Welt: “I think that, in the long term, it would be more honest for Turkey and the EU to go down new roads and end the accession talks.” Source: Hürriyet Daily News
The United States said it would oppose on Friday for the first time an annual resolution at the United Nations calling on Israel to rescind its authority in the occupied Golan Heights, drawing praise from Israeli officials. Source: Reuters
North Korea’s leader publicly inspected a new weapon for the first time in nearly a year, state media reported on Friday, while it also decided to release a U.S. prisoner, sending conflicting signals at a time of sensitive negotiations. Source: Reuters
Italy’s Data Protection Authority has advised against a reform proposed by Interior Minister Matteo Salvini that would replace the word ‘parents’ with ‘mother and father’ on children’s national ID cards. Source: The Local
“The risk of a war coming back – said the Northern League to the sole political party of the party in Milan – is not due to populism and nationalism, but to those who took the European dream hostage, and has sclerotized it into a bureaucracy represented by the European Commission, which is the denial of Europe “. A strong stance, which will probably provoke a tight debate. “I have heard Merkel before.What do you think is the great danger that the European continent runs in? In recent years one says immigration out of control, unemployment, poverty, Islamic terrorism, but no, it is populism and nationalism. So you get the balls – he added – We are not against Europe. Source Il Giornale
The 94 passengers were rescued by a passing container ship last week as they were en route to Italy. After being returned to Libya they have refused to get off the ship. Source: Deutsche Welle
European Council President Donald Tusk confirmed that the bloc would hold a special summit to seal the hard-fought Brexit agreement with the United Kingdom at a special summit on November 25. Source: New Europe
China has released a policy white paper boasting of its protection of ethnic cultures in Xinjiang, and defying mounting criticism that it is undermining the religious and ethnic identity of Muslim minorities through mass internment and indoctrination in the far western region. Source: South China Morning Post
EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn was quoted Nov. 6 as telling German daily Die Welt: “I think that, in the long term, it would be more honest for Turkey and the EU to go down new roads and end the accession talks.” Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang on Wednesday said Beijing and countries with stakes in the South China Sea are closer than ever before to a “code of conduct” for the strategic thoroughfare. Source: Deutsche Welle
Downing Street has confirmed that a draft Brexit agreement has been reached between the UK and European Union. British Prime Minister Theresa May will present it to her senior ministers on Wednesday, but it is unclear if May will be able to get any deal approved by UK parliament. Source: Euronews
The Swedish parliament rejected Moderate party leader Ulf Kristersson as new prime minister Wednesday, leaving the country mired in a political impasse that has dragged on since inconclusive elections in early September. Source: Politico
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has launched a new hydroelectric station that had been vehemently opposed for years by the late leader of neighboring Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov. Source: Radio Free Europe
At least three tankers loaded with liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russian LNG facility Yamal have arrived in the United States recently, according to Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Source: Oil Price
Iraq restarted exports on Friday of Kirkuk oil, halted a year ago due to a standoff between the central government and Kurdistan’s semi-autonomous region, after a new government in Baghdad agreed a tentative deal with Erbil. Source: Reuters
A long-awaited project led by France’s Total SA that will help double liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from Papua New Guinea has come another step closer, with the government agreeing to set financial terms early next year. Source: Reuters
US energy giant ExxonMobil has started exploring for oil and gas in block 10 of Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the country’s energy minister, Giorgos Lakkotrypis, said on Friday. Source: Ekathimerini
Eurozone officials on Thursday essentially gave the green light for the suspension of planned pension cuts in January by not expressing any objections to the Greek government’s intention to scrap those reductions. Source: Ekathimerini
China’s central bank on Thursday ordered financial institutions to improve their “political positioning” and ensure adequate financing support for the real economy. Source: South China Morning Post
The Eurogroup Working Group (EWG) of eurozone member-states ended on Thursday without any objections being raised to a plan by the leftist-led government in Greece for suspending pension cuts planned to go into effect in 2019, Kathimerini has learned. Source: Ekathimerini
India’s crude oil imports from Africa jumped in October to their highest level in three years as Indian refiners rushed to secure more African barrels amid uncertainties over the U.S. waivers for Iran’s oil, while a narrowing premium of Brent Crude prices over Dubai swaps made Brent-linked African grades more attractive for buyers in Asia. Source: Oil Price
Nigeria will increase its oil production to 1.8 million barrels per day in 2019 and raise condensate production to 0.5 million bpd, the managing director of Nigerian state oil firm NNPC said on Tuesday. Source: Reuters
China said it will continue pursuing negotiations with Canada on a free-trade deal after assurances that a recently settled North American trade agreement would not stop Ottawa from signing deals with other countries. Source: South China Morning Post
