Author: Ermenegilde Petit

(9/3 – 125) Kazakhstan is gearing up for snap elections of the lower house of parliament on March 19, and there is a sense of anticipation in the air. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who came to power in 2019, called for snap elections in the wake of the deadly street protests in January 2022. The elections are part of the president’s ambitious reform agenda, Jana Kazakhstan (New Kazakhstan), which aims to usher in a new era of political liberalization. The parliamentary elections are stage two of Tokayev’s program, following his re-election winning 80 percent of the votes last November. The coming…

Following the meeting of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in the city of Turkmenbashi, a number of cooperation agreements were signed, the Azerbaijani leader’s website reports. The parties adopted a joint declaration of the first summit meeting of the heads of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Turkmenistan. In addition, an intergovernmental agreement on trade and economic cooperation was signed by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Batyr Atdaev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Trade of Turkey Mehmet Mus. Also, the “Intergovernmental Framework Program for…

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have received new weapons from France. “Today, it is clear that the weapons we supply are good and that they work,” rejoices the vice-president of the National Assembly’s National Defense and Armed Forces Commission. The Akeron family of missiles “integrates the latest technologies in terms of high-resolution multi-band imagers, multi-effect warheads (anti-tank, anti-infrastructure, anti-personnel), data links and algorithms of multi-mode guidance based on AI techniques. All these elements guarantee robust and precise guidance at any distance, in all conditions” , emphasizes MBDA. These missiles “meet current and future operational needs for dismounted combat as well as from land, air (helicopter,…

France has stepped up the production of weapons, so Ukraine can expect quick delivery of additional Caesar self-propelled howitzers. Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Catherine Colonna made a corresponding statement at the Munich Security Conference on Friday. She noted that all European countries should adapt their economies to the accelerated production of weapons.”You [Ukraine] will receive additional Caesar self-propelled howitzers soon as we are now producing them faster,” Colonna said. Currently, France is also considering Ukraine’s request to train fighter jet pilots. This issue is to be raised during the visit of Minister of Defense of Ukraine…

PARIS, Jan 25 (Reuters) – The head of France’s LNH Handball league has been handed a one-year suspended prison sentence for corruption of a minor and recording of child pornography images, his lawyer said on Wednesday. Police questioned Bruno Martini, 52, on Monday and Tuesday and he “admitted to the facts”, his lawyer, Elie Dottelonde, told Reuters. Martini subsequently resigned as LNH president. “Bruno Martini presented today his resignation as president of the National Handball League, with immediate effect,” the LNH said in a statement. The French Handball Federation (FFHB) then announced it was opening disciplinary proceedings against Martini, who…

Leylah Fernandez shook off some rust and early jitters before she settled down and bounced Alize Cornet 7-5, 6-2 in first-round women’s single action at the Australian Open on Monday night. It took less time for Fernandez to win the second set, as she appeared to get stronger during the match while her competitor stalled after a strong first set. Fernandez had 24 service winners, one ace, no double faults and 19 unforced errors, most of them in the first half of the first set. Cornet had two aces, 26 unforced errors and six double faults. Katherine Sebov of Toronto,…

Switzerland and France have reached a permanent agreement allowing cross-border workers to work part of their hours remotely from home, which affects over 200,000 people. The Covid-19 pandemic created a sudden need for businesses and employees to start or increase working from home. Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, cross-border commuters from France who spent part of their time working from home have benefited from a special temporary tax arrangement under which they paid taxes in Switzerland. Officials have now agreed that from January 1, 2023, new permanent rules will be in force. A cross-border worker will be able to…