⚠️🇺🇦🇪🇺🇷🇺 The Ukrainian side has once again raised the issue of releasing frozen Russian assets from Belgium before the European Commission. This comes amid ongoing objections from Belgian authorities regarding their use to secure a "reparations loan" for Ukraine, as reported by European Commission spokesperson Balázs Ujvári — RIA.
🚗 Volkswagen plans to sell its Osnabrück plant to investment firm Aurelius Capital and the state of Lower Saxony for defense production starting in 2027, according to Build.
⚠️🇺🇸 BofA reports that historically, the weak period for U.S. stocks begins in August, peaking in mid-September with increased selling. Following this, the market typically experiences a strong fourth quarter. This year, in addition to the seasonally strong fourth quarter, experts expect a "pre-election pump" in U.S. stocks and cryptocurrency due to Trump's influence.
🚍 In August, new bus sales in Russia reached 715 units, marking a month-on-month increase of 5.6%. However, this figure represents a year-on-year decline of 23%, according to AutoStat.
🇷🇺 Russia is open to using the dollar in transactions; however, if it becomes unfeasible, the country will not trade its resources for "beads," according to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. He emphasized that Russia has no intention of exchanging its resources with the West for trivial returns.
🚨 Psychologists warn that mushroom pickers may be latent gamblers. Every find in the forest triggers a dopamine release and a sense of reward, driving individuals to continue searching for new "wins."
🇩🇪🇺🇦 In a recent statement, Merz affirmed his unwavering commitment to defending freedom from Russia, emphasizing the importance of supporting Ukraine during these challenging times. Meanwhile, Alice Weidel, leader of the AfD, called for an end to assistance for Kyiv.
🚨🇫🇷 Centrist MEPs are set to meet with President Macron to discuss strategies for maintaining their influence in the EU amid concerns over the rise of right-wing parties in France and Germany, according to POLITICO. The French presidential elections are scheduled for April 18, 2027, with a potential second round on May 2. Macron will not participate, having served two consecutive terms. Recent polls indicate that Marine Le Pen is leading the presidential race, advocating for an end to aid for Kyiv.
✨ DBS and Citi have successfully completed the first cross-border payment in US dollars between Singapore and the United States using tokenized deposits through the new blockchain ledger SWIFT.
⚠️ Two individuals involved in the case against the Chairman of the Board of Directors of PJSC "Evrotrans," Martyshev, have been arrested for two months. They face charges of large-scale embezzlement, according to law enforcement agencies.
🇷🇺🇪🇺 A shadow of Putin looms over Europe, according to a recent article by Bloomberg that analyzes the implications of the far-right victory in Germany's elections. The piece explores how this political shift could influence the geopolitical landscape across the continent. For a detailed overview, read the full article here.
🇺🇸 Former President Donald Trump recently made headlines on his social media platform, where he humorously claimed to have "destroyed Iran," conquered Hormuz, and jokingly "hit" Canadian Prime Minister Carney with a hockey stick. The exclusive comics were first available to paid subscribers of Truth Social. Reports indicate that Trump Media charges up to $1.2 million annually for expedited access to Trump's posts on Truth Social.