The Bundesbank joined members of the government, think tanks and business analysts on Tuesday, warning of a plausible slump for Europe’s export-driven powerhouse. Recession is technically defined as two successive quarters of negative growth, with Germany moving from sluggish growth to negative over the summer. The Bundesbank referred to the Sino-American trade war and Brexit, factors with a significant bearing on industrial production. According to the Deutsche Bank Chief Economist Stefan Schneider, the situation is particularly dire for the automotive and chemical industries. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz warned on Sunday…
Read MoreDay: August 23, 2019
Syrian offensive threatens Turkish troops and border plans
Syrian army advances in northwest Syria are putting Turkish troops in the firing line and threaten Ankara’s hopes of preventing a new wave of refugees on its southern border. The offensive around Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria, has already forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee towards Turkey. It has also cut off a Turkish military post deep inside Syria as the deal to limit fighting in the region, which the Turkish troops were supposed to be monitoring, collapses. The breakdown of that deal would be…
Read MoreE85 to be allowed at gas pumps, expected to be twice cheaper than Euro98
The federal government is finalizing a framework to allow the so-called E85 fuel in our country as well. This fuel consists of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, and in France, for example, is only half as expensive as regular gasoline. Whoever is filling up with petrol at the pump today has a choice of roughly two options: euro 95 or euro 98. These two common terms have recently also been given a new name, depending on the amount of ethanol they contain. That ethanol is extracted from plants…
Read MoreBoris Johnson feels “very much at home” at Emmanuel Macron’s office
It was only his second visit to Britain as a new British Prime Minister, but Boris Johnson seemed to feel at home yesterday in the Elysée, the official residence of French President Emmanuel Macron. A little too good perhaps, because “BoJo” promptly planted his foot on top of a coffee table of the stately palace. Johnson made every effort in the world yesterday to show himself at his best in Paris and was very friendly with the French president and his furniture. While the cameras were turning to record the…
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