Author: Stamatios Zurleas

Paris, Dublin, Johannesburg (20/9 – 15) The 2023 Rugby World Cup will contest what will arguably be the grandest game in the Pool Stage this weekend. On Saturday night, 23 September 2023, South Africa and Ireland go head-to-head in Pool B, at Stade de France, Paris: the world number two against world number one. All will witness a reigning world champion versus a team with a winning streak extending from July 2022. Both teams dive in with two wins from their opening games. The Springboks won 18-3 against Scotland – and then obliterated Romania 76-0. Meanwhile, Ireland have been barely…

Geneva, London (29/7 – 50) Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, condemned the arrest and imprisonment of journalists, bloggers and civil society activists in Tajikistan, and questioned the credibility of the evidence presented in court against them. Lawlor was on a two-week official visit to Tajikistan last December. The report prepared by her and members of the delegation on the results of this visit was published in May of this year, but only now became available to the public. The authorities of Tajikistan will have to prepare an official response to the document, which…

Greece has became a European champion in regards of tax-free shopping against the background of the turbulent economic situation in the world. The country has become the favored destination for duty-free purchases by visitors from third countries. Although there has been a decrease in contributions from Asia and Russia, American and Arab buyers have emerged as the main driving forces behind this accomplishment. In a year marked by challenges, Greece’s retail landscape has undergone a notable revival. While average tourist spending might appear cautious, the tax-free market tells a different story. Global Blue, a respected international tax-free transaction clearing group, reports that Greece’s performance exceeds…

Berlin, Warsaw (11/8 – 60) The Russian invasion of Ukraine has yet to see an end. Russia has mobilized everything in its power to overcome Ukraine, including recruiting citizens of Kazakhstan to join its military forces. Russia lures Kazakh citizens through digital recruitment advertisements, recently prominent on a number of the country’s internet user pages. Several pop-up ads have started appearing on the internet pages of Kazakh residents, announcing openings for enlistment in the Russian army, with a joining-up bonus of more than USD 5,000. The advert cleverly targets the patriotic soft side of the Kazakhs, displaying flags of the…

The U.S. and its European allies are importing vast amounts of nuclear fuel and compounds from Russia, providing Moscow with hundreds of millions of dollars in badly needed revenue as it wages war on Ukraine. The sales, which are legal and unsanctioned, have raised alarms from nonproliferation experts and elected officials who say the imports are helping to bankroll the development of Moscow’s nuclear arsenal and are complicating efforts to curtail Russia’s war-making abilities. The dependence on Russian nuclear products — used mostly to fuel civilian reactors — leaves the U.S. and its allies open to energy shortages if Russian President…

Kenes Rakishev, star investor, international entrepreneur, philanthropist and former special envoy of the Kazakhstan government, meets star chef, Gordon Ramsay and star manufacturer, Borealis Foods to change the international food market. When Kenes Rakishev embarked on the establishment of Oxus SPAC, a specialized entity aimed at acquiring and subsequently taking companies public on the American stock market, experts were filled with anticipation and conjecture regarding his targeted investments. Renowned for his diverse interests spanning robotics, battery technologies, communications, and groundbreaking concepts, Kenes Rakishev’s decision left everyone startled, as he delved into an exceedingly unforeseen realm: the food sector. Kenes Rakishev…

Copenhagen, Berlin (11/8 – 42) The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) highlighted severe restrictions imposed by the Tajikistani government on religious freedom during a virtual hearing on July 20, 2023. The commission expressed grave concern over the intensified persecution targeting the Pamiri Ismaili Muslim population of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO). A Pattern of Repression Since 2009, Tajikistan has enacted a complex web of laws to monitor, control, and restrict religious practices. Not only are women and children under 18 prohibited from attending public religious services, but unregistered religious communities are also denied the right to convene legally.…

Greece braces for a prolonged heatwave starting next week with meteorologists warning that temperatures will climb over 40°C (104°F) in several areas of the country. “If our forecast is right we will be faced with a difficult situation,” Kostas Lagouvardos, a meteorologist at meteo.gr told local media. “We already had a three-day period with high temperatures, but it was not a heat wave. At the weekend we will see the temperature drop a bit, but from Tuesday onwards, a strong heatwave will start affecting the country. “The most worrying thing is that it will probably last,” he said. “The data available show that…

Paris, Washington (13/7 – 50) Kenes Rakishev (Keñes Hamitūly Raqyşev) aka Kenges Rakishev is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, former special envoy for Kazakhstan, head of the Kazakh boxing federation, a family man, and most importantly, a man of success. Under Kenges Rakishev’s leadership, the Kazakh female and male boxing squad leaped considerable forward and secured the top ranking in the recent boxing championship putting Kazakhstan boxing squarely in the top ranking in the world. A total of 21 medals were won by the Kazakhstan’s boxers – a tally of six gold, seven silver and eight bronze – and all were honoured…

The Impact of Renewable Energy Adoption on Slovakia’s Economy and Society The socio-economic implications of Slovakia’s energy market transformation are far-reaching and multifaceted. As the country shifts towards renewable energy sources, it is poised to experience significant changes in its economy and society. The adoption of renewable energy technologies, such as solar, wind, and biomass, is expected to have a profound impact on the country’s energy landscape, creating new opportunities for growth and development while also presenting challenges that must be addressed. One of the most notable economic implications of Slovakia’s energy market transformation is the potential for job creation.…