Russia | What a week it was. On 23 August, exactly two months after Wagner’s aborted mutiny, a plane crash killed its chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, as well as several other Wagner top brass. Three days later, Dutch brewer Heineken issued a surprise statement that it had received approval from the Russian authorities to sell its local business for the symbolic price of EUR 1.

Russia | Following the 23 August plane crash, which killed Wagner’s chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin and several other Wagner top brass, a Brauwelt International reader asked if Wagner’s brewery in the Central African Republic (CAR) is up for sale?

Denmark | Carlsberg was “shocked” by Russia’s seizure of its Baltika unit in July and the brewer is no closer to knowing what might happen next, its departing CEO Cees ‘t Hart said on 16 August.

Belgium | After the Abbey of Achel in Belgium was closed, Stift Engelszell in Austria announced its dissolution, and the St. Joseph's Abbey in the US ceased production, beer connoisseurs began to fear for the future of Trappist breweries.

Copenhagen | Carlsberg increased its annual profit forecast after a solid first half, when the Danish brewer raised beer prices to offset rising costs.

Belgium | Bud Light’s parent company confirmed big losses in US sales and profits from this spring’s boycott and backlash, but executives now assert that the drain has been stabilised.

The Netherlands | The first CEO to weigh in on rival Anheuser-Busch’s US marketing fiasco, is Heineken. Its CEO, Dolf van den Brink, said that Heineken has learned lessons from the social media controversy around a Bud Light campaign - but still believes businesses should stand up for their “values.”

Italy | It was not just a rumour after all. As we reported in June, the Danish multi-beverage company, Royal Unibrew Group, was allegedly in talks to buy the San Giorgio di Nogaro plant in the province of Udine, from the Italian brewer Birra Castello.

The Netherlands | Heineken is facing a criminal investigation for not implementing the deposit on cans by the 1 April deadline, Dutch media reported on 27 July. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) in Amsterdam saw sufficient leads to launch an investigation.

Russia | On 16 July, Russia seized control of the local subsidiaries of France’s Danone and Denmark’s Carlsberg under a decree aimed at companies from “unfriendly” countries.