Live with Tinatin Khidasheli on Election Day — BBC World News
Live with Tinatin Khidasheli on Election Day — BBC World News Read More »
“The Wall Street Journal” mentioned the civic idea in its article
“The Wall Street Journal” mentioned the civic idea in its article, which refers to Russia’s obstructive policy in the democratic processes of Georgia and Moldova:
“This month the pro-Western Georgian nonprofit Civic IDEA issued a pair of reports documenting the extensive Russian financial ties of the ruling Georgian Dream party’s top donors.”- mentions the article
Full article: The wall street Journal
“The Wall Street Journal” mentioned the civic idea in its article Read More »
China’s Nuctech launches new appeal against EU inspection of company
Chinese security company Nuctech has filed a new lawsuit against the European Union, challenging the European Court of Justice’s decision to dismiss its previous case regarding company inspections. Nuctech had initially sought to suspend the EU’s inspection of its operations.
“We believe the court “decision lacked sound legal reasoning and failed to provide a convincing justification for the refusal,” Nuctech stated. The company has now appealed the ruling at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
In a statement, a Nuctech Europe representative affirmed that the company would defend its rights and expressed readiness to cooperate with the European Commission. “We believe the appeal process will result in a more fair and reasonable outcome,” the representative added.
Nuctech had initially filed a lawsuit against the European Commission following raids on its Dutch and Polish offices, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to justify the inspections.
In its ruling, the court upheld the European Commission’s authority to investigate and request information from any business operating within the EU, regardless of ownership—whether by member states or non-member countries—to ensure compliance with EU regulations and prevent potential violations of the law.
Nuctech manufactures body and baggage scanners for airports and ports in over 170 countries. It is one of several Chinese companies blacklisted by the U.S. government as a threat to national security.
China’s Nuctech launches new appeal against EU inspection of company Read More »
“Russian Businesses of Georgian Dream Donors” Part II
On October 16 th 2024, Civic IDEA presented evidence regarding the financial ties and connections of the ruling Georgian Dream party to Russian interests. Our report demonstrates that most of the party’s major donors are backed by the Russian market and funds, with their interests closely aligned with Moscow. As a result, they actively support policies deepening Georgia’s economic dependence on Russia in exchange for personal financial gain. We revealed that Georgia’s wine exports heavily rely on the Russian market, that is about 73,5% of the total export volume, a dangerously high level that poses significant risks to the Georgian economy.
This dependency leaves Georgia vulnerable to political manipulation, as Russia could leverage market access to exert pressure at any moment. Instead of diversifying export markets, the Georgian Dream leadership, mainly through actions of Bidzina Ivanishvili’s family members—Alexandre Ivanishvili, Ucha Mamatsashvili, and other business partner donors—has allowed this dependency to grow, heightening economic risks for the country.
Today, we present the second part of our study, revealing even more alarming findings. Based on concrete evidence, we will show that some donors of the Georgian Dream are not only engaged in trade or economic-political ties with Russia but are also listed as ‘international sponsors of war’.
Tap to see the full report:
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China has confirmed an agreement to settle the border dispute with India
China has officially confirmed reaching an agreement with India regarding their long- standing border dispute. However, the specific details of the agreement have not been disclosed to the media, leaving it unclear whether the deal addresses the entire border or focuses on specific areas contested since 2020.
Tensions between China and India have been high since a deadly clash in the Ladakh region of the western Himalayas four years ago, where 20 Indian and 4 Chinese soldiers were killed along the undemarcated border.
On Monday, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar announced that the two nations had agreed on border patrol arrangements, marking progress toward resolving the military standoff. However, China did not immediately confirm this statement.
On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated, “China and India have recently managed to address border-related issues through diplomatic and military channels.”He added that both sides have settled these matters, which China views positively, and that further cooperation will follow to fully implement the agreement.
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Information campaign around the Azerbaijani-speaking villages of Kakheti
The Civic Idea team visited the Azerbaijani-speaking villages of Kakheti as a part of “My vote for EU” information campaign.
The campaign served to inform the population and strengthen electoral activism as well as to lead a dialogue with the villagers, to listen to their local problems and to raise awareness about the European future of Georgia.
Within the campaign, together with volunteers, we visited the following Azerbaijani-speaking villages: Karajala, Kabali, Ganjala, Yormughanlo.
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China’s youth unemployment rate has been declining.
In September, the unemployment rate among young people aged 16 to 24 (excluding students) fell to 17.6%, down from 18.8% in August. Earlier this year, in June, the unemployment rate among young people and recent college graduates was 13.2%, but it surged to 17.1% in July.
This sharp increase was driven by the entry of approximately 12 million students into the labor market. The upward trend continued through August, peaking at 18.8%, marking the highest rate in 2024. In response, the National Bureau of Statistics decided to revise its methodology.
Previously, the National Bureau of Statistics did not factor students into the calculation of the unemployment rate. However, after the rate hit a record 21.3% in June last year, the bureau chose to include the student population in its assessment. Despite these fluctuations, officials remain optimistic that China’s economy, the world’s second-largest, “will maintain a trend of stabilization and recovery”
However, a separate official survey conducted in September on factory owners' confidence showed that many remain hesitant to hire new workers.
China’s youth unemployment rate has been declining. Read More »
Xi Jinping has called on China’s missile forces to enhance their deterrence and combat capabilities
On Saturday, the President of the People’s Republic of China inspected a brigade of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Missile Force, urging restraint while emphasizing the need for heightened military readiness. In his address, Xi called on personnel within the Strategic Missile Forces to “resolutely fulfill the tasks assigned by the Party and the people” according to state news agency Xinhua.
The PLA Missile Force, responsible for overseeing China’s conventional and nuclear missiles, has been directed to modernize its nuclear arsenal in response to evolving global conditions, including U.S. missile defense advancements, improved surveillance systems, and strengthened alliances.
Xi underscored the importance of “adhering to political directives, enhancing mission responsibility” and “advancing the high-quality development of force building” as reported by Chinese media outlet Cailianshe.
Last month, China launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean, drawing heightened international scrutiny on the nation’s expanding nuclear capabilities.
It is also noteworthy that China has been conducting a large-scale anti-corruption campaign within its military since last year, resulting in several missile force generals stepping down from their positions in the national legislature.
“Civic Idea” monitors the 2024 parliamentary elections of Georgia.
“Civic Idea” Monitors the 2024 parliamentary elections of Georgia. Within this initiative, the organization is conducting three-day training in Kakheti Region.
Students, lawyers and civil society representatives will observe the elections in the Kakheti region, including Azerbaijani-speaking villages, in the name of the civil idea.
Our goal is to promote a fair and transparent election process!
“Civic Idea” monitors the 2024 parliamentary elections of Georgia. Read More »
China urges swift implementation of expansive financial policies
China’s central bank, along with financial regulators, recently held meetings with major financial institutions, urging them to take immediate measures to bolster the economy and support capital markets.
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) called on financial institutions to increase credit support to the real economy and ensure a stable growth of monetary supply and credit, according to a statement on the PBOC’s official website. The central bank also encouraged adjustments to interest rates and endorsed two financing schemes aimed at supporting the stock market.
The meeting, co-chaired by China’s banking and securities regulatory bodies, was attended by representatives from banks, brokerages, and stock companies.
In late September, the PBOC implemented aggressive monetary measures to stabilize the property and stock markets in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time in its history, the central bank introduced two monetary policy instruments designed to support the stock market: a swap program for brokers, funds, and insurers, and a loan re-issuance facility to enable these institutions to purchase shares.
The swift implementation of these tools is expected to help China achieve its targeted 5% economic growth for the year.
The PBOC stated it would “enhance inter-departmental coordination, create synergies, and fully leverage these tools to strengthen market confidence, improve public expectations, and promote sustainable economic recovery”
It is noteworthy that recent data shows China’s economy grew by 4.6% in the third quarter of 2023.
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