Europe is freezing again, as the ‘Beast from the East 2.0’ hits northern and eastern Europe

A second winter wave dubbed ‘Beast from the East 2.0’ has hit Poland and the UK, with other parts of northern Europe set to be affected this weekend.

Poles endured heavy snowfall in Warsaw on Friday, as low temperature warnings were issued across 10 southeast voivodeships (provinces) in the country. As of Saturday, up to 25cm of snow and 40kph winds have been forecast in the south of Poland.

The cold snap there is expected to continue until March 22.

In the UK, residents across swathes of eastern England and Scotland have been braving the subzero temperatures to take some dramatic pictures of the snow.

Read more: Beast from the East 2.0’ hits northern and eastern Europe | Euronews

Trump - Tariffs: European Union releases 10-page list of potential targets for retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products - by David J. Lynch and Michael Birnbaum

The list offered the most detailed glimpse to date of the likely targets for E.U. action, including products selected for maximum political impact in the United States. Among them: bourbon, a specialty of Kentucky, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s home state; cranberries, which are grown in House Speaker Paul D. Ryan’s native Wisconsin; orange juice from Florida; and tobacco from North Carolina.

 “It’s pretty clear they’re trying to wake up American legislators, who are the only ones in government who can influence the president on this issue,” said Chad Bown, a trade expert at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Still, the European Union said its response to Trump’s tariffs is designed to conform with World Trade Organization

Note EU-Digest: it is high time the EU stops playing footsie with the US and takes their gloves off. There are much tougher ways to deal with the US when it comes to convincing their ego-maniac President

Trump better take note that the adjusted GDP of the 28 EU member nations  is bigger than both China and the US, based on the traditional list of world's economic super powers.

The EU can do a lot of harm to the US economy if Donald Trump continues on this destructive route
  
Read : moreEuropean Union releases 10-page list of potential targets for retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products - The Washington Post

South America: Corporations, Environment and pollution: Coca-Cola And Nestlé To Privatize The Largest Reserve Of Water In South America

Private companies such as Coca-Cola and Nestlé are allegedly in the process of privatizing the largest reserve of water, known as the Guarani Aquifer, in South America. The aquifer is located beneath the surface of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay and is the second largest-known aquifer system in the world. 

Reported by Correiodo Brasil the major transnational conglomerates are “striding forward” with their negotiations to privatize the aquifer system. Meetings have already been reserved with authorities of the current government, such as Michel Temer, to outline procedures required for private companies to exploit the water sources. The concession contracts will last more than 100 years. 

The first public conversation about this dilemma was scheduled on the same day the process of voting for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff was opened. As Central Politico reports, “This coincidence was fatal for the adjournment of the meeting.”

“There must be another list of projects to be granted or privatized in the medium term, with auctions that may occur in up to one year, such as Eletrobras energy distributors and freshwater sources,” adds the news site, translated via Google from Portuguese. 

This issue extends beyond South America, as all humans will be affected by the decision to privatize the second-largest aquifer system in the world. Essentially, the corporations are profiting off a natural resource that should be freely available to all. 

Under the Guarani Aquifer Project’s Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Project, known as ANA’s Guarani Aquifer Project (SAG), the aquifer would be managed and preserved for present and future generations. Following the conservatives’ victory in Argentina and the coup d’état, pressed for by the ultra right in Paraguay and Brazil, only Uruguay was left to vote on the privatization of the aquifer. 

Approximately two-thirds (1.2 million km²) of the reserve is located in Brazilian territory, specifically in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. Future generations will ultimately suffer if this deal goes through, which is why human rights organizations around the world are getting involved.

 Read more: Coca-Cola And Nestlé To Privatize The Largest Reserve Of Water In South America

Britain to expel 23 Russian diplomats over ex-spy poisoning - by William Booth and Matthew Bodner

 British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday ordered the immediate expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats believed to be involved in espionage, in the first reprisals against Moscow for a chemical attack on a former double agent.

May, speaking to Parliament, said the response would include a halt to high-level meetings between British and Russian officials and the cancellation of a planned visit to Britain by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

She also said the royal family and government ministers would boycott this summer’s World Cup soccer tournament in Russia. More countermeasures — some clandestine — are under consideration.

May said Russia’s dismissive response to her demand for an explanation has “demonstrated complete disdain for the gravity of these events.”

Read more: Britain to expel 23 Russian diplomats over ex-spy poisoning - The Washington Post

Britain - Russian Spy Case - Putin is 'tearing up the international rulebook' - EU must show solidarity against Putin's Mafia practises regardless of BREXIT

Britain had hoped for a different scenario but it's now heading into a major showdown with Russia, a senior official at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank told Euronews TV.

As tensions mount between the UK and Russia over the poisoning of a former double agent on British soil, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears ready to "tear up completely the rulebook of international behaviour," a senior official at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank has told Euronews.

Prime Minister Theresa May gave Russia until midnight on Tuesday to explain how former spy Serguei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in the southern English city of Salisbury with a nerve agent developed by the Soviet Union.

Moscow has fiercely denied any connection to the poisoning and says the UK is whipping up anti-Russian hysteria. RUSI International Director Jonathan Eyal said in a Skype interview that May's move had not intended – at least initially – to be an ultimatum.

"As the British prime minister sees it, she was basically trying to give the Russians at least a possibility of getting out of a difficult situation. She hinted at the possibility that they may suggest that these are chemical compounds that have escaped from government control," Eyal said.

"But it is already clear that there is nobody in Moscow in any mood whatsoever at the moment to take that elegant way out and to prevent a much bigger showdown."

Eyal says the UK could cripple the Russian embassy in London by expelling a raft of diplomats, including the Russian ambassador. But any diplomatic retaliation would be more effective if the UK could show it has the support of its European allies.

"I think what will be watched very carefully in Moscow is if Britain is out on a limb on this one, or if the British government manages to carry its allies with it," Eyal said

 May, who said on Monday (March 12) it was "highly likely" that Russia was behind the Skripal poisoning, has already won support from the European Union, which denounced the attack as "shocking."

"As things currently stand, it appears that President Putin in Moscow believes that there is no hope for any good relations with the West, and therefore it’s his turn to tear up completely the rulebook of international behaviour."

Note EU-Digest: Now is the time for the EU to stand firm together with Britain and provide complete support against these Mafia practices of President Vladimir Putin's Government. This is also the time for the EU to put Brexit on the back burner and take up the fight against these totally unacceptable crimes committed on the territory of Britain (EU) by a foreign power.

As to the lip service provided by the US President Trump to Theresa May, one should consider these assurances of support "dubious", given that the US Trump Administrations relationship with the Russian government is still under investigation by the FBI.

EU-Digest

Brexit: Anti-EU and Trump admirer Nigel Farage criticised for saying he will keep EU pension-by Hannah Summers

The Guardian reported that Nigel Farage has sparked outrage by refusing to give up his taxpayer-funded EU pension after Brexit, asking: “Why should my family suffer?”

It is understood the 53-year-old former Ukip leader will be entitled to an annual pension of £73,000 when he reaches the age of 63.

The pension could be part-funded by Britain’s estimated £50bn Brexit “divorce bill”, which Farage has criticised as too large, leading to accusations that the MEP for South East England was a “shameless hypocrite”.

Farage defended the arrangement when challenged on BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show. Asked if he would accept the EU pension money, he replied: “Of course I would take it. I have said that right from day one. Why should my family and others suffer even more?”

Note EU-Digest: What a hypocrite !

Ireland - Artificial Intelligence: Ireland committed to digitisation of EU economy, says minister

Ireland’s commitment to the digitisation of the EU economy is to be raised during a high-level meeting in Brussels on Monday.

Minister for Trade Pat Breen will also discuss issues relating to EU competitiveness, including the 25th anniversary of the single market and EU industrial policy when he meets European commissioner for digital economy and society, Mariya Gabriel later.

The Clare TD said: “Digitisation is increasing on a vast scale and Ireland continues to be regarded as one of the EU’s digital front runners.

“We fully support the overall DSM (digital single market) agenda and the Government sees obvious synergies between digital policy initiatives at EU level and national policy.

“In particular, we want to underline the benefits to small and medium enterprises that the DSM will bring in terms of market access and opportunities for growth.

“In helping to progress the DSM, Ireland will continue to strive for outcomes which are pro-trade, pro-enterprise and pro-innovation.”

The DSM is one in which the free movement of people, services and capital is ensured, and where the individuals and businesses can seamlessly access and exercise online activities under conditions of fair competition, and a high level of consumer and personal data protection, irrespective of their nationality or place of residence.

The strategy was endorsed by the European Council in June 2015.
Meanwhile, artificial intelligence will be the central theme when Europe’s nine digital front runner countries meet in Dublin in May.

Mr Breen added: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an exciting development that is shaping a new reality for Irish businesses and creating significant new opportunities for innovation across all industries.
“The meeting in May will be an opportunity for both the international AI dimension and the Irish AI ecosystem to be showcased.”

Read more:Ireland committed to digitisation of EU economy, says minister - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk