Eurotopics.net

With minimal growth of just 0.1 percent in the third quarter of 2024, the German economy has only narrowly avoided a recession. The ECB's new Financial Stability Review predicts a fragile environment for Europe as a whole, marked by geopolitical uncertainty and tensions in global trade. Europe's press sounds the alarm.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel and the United States, which do not officially recognise the ICC, have harshly criticised the move. Europe's press is divided.

Russia says it has fired a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. President Putin explained in a video address that the Oreshnik missile was launched from the Russian region of Astrakhan on the Caspian Sea in response to attacks against Russia with Western missiles. It was not carrying nuclear warheads although these missiles are nuclear-capable, he added. Commentators take stock.

Latvia's rising food prices are currently around four percent above the EU average even though the country has one of the lowest income levels in the EU. Economics Minister Viktors Valainis has now announced plans to bring down prices, including an upper limit on retailers' profit margins, the introduction of a digital price comparison tool, a ban on destroying unsold food and measures against price dumping.