Author: staff
Juhansone, a former Latvian ambassador, who is currently the top EU official at the Commission, is a close ally of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her chief of staff Bjoern Seibert. Should Juhansone clinch the top job at the EEAS it could be seen as a power grab by von der Leyen, who has a highly centralized, top-down management style as Commission boss. But it would also mean that with Kallas, a second person from a Baltic country would play a key role in foreign policy, a prospect that doesn’t sit well with some governments. Tense relations Kallas’…
Updated: 06/12/2024 – 16:31 GMT+1 The 7th Atlas Workshops, part of the Marrakech International Film Festival, celebrated emerging African and Arab filmmaking talent, awarding top honours to projects like ‘Princesse Téné’, ‘Lucky Girl’
“Sharks and rays are important predators, and their decline disrupts food webs throughout the ocean”, said one of the study’s authors. More than half of all sharks and rays have disappeared since 1970, but a new study shows a clear path to preventing their numbers from dwindling even further. Research reveals that overfishing has caused chondrichthyan fishes – sharks, rays, and chimeras (closely related to sharks) – to decline by over 50 per cent in the last 50 years. This ancient and ecologically diverse group is made up of more than 1,199 species that are increasingly threatened. Though we now know more…
Reynders was previously investigated in 2019 on allegations of corruption and money laundering but maintained his innocence and prosecutors dropped the charges. He enjoyed a form of diplomatic immunity during his five-year term as a commissioner. A spokesperson for the European Commission confirmed they were aware of the investigation and said they would collaborate with the Belgian authorities. “We have, of course, seen the media reports about a case involving former Commissioner and former minister, Didier Reynders. We do not have any further information on this matter,” the spokesperson said. “If the Belgian authorities were to contact us, we are…
BUCHAREST — Romania’s top constitutional court has annulled the country’s presidential election, after security services warned the vote had been distorted by a mass Russian influence campaign to favor a far-right candidate. Ultranationalist independent presidential contender Călin Georgescu came from nowhere two weeks ago to win the first round of the election. But he benefited from a TikTok campaign that was similar to influence operations run by the Kremlin in Ukraine and Moldova, according to declassified Romanian intelligence documents. On Friday, after receiving multiple requests, the court said in a statement that it “annuls the entire electoral process regarding the election…
The report added that it is common practice by Hungary’s spy agency to search the hotel rooms of visiting EU delegations and download information from their laptops. Contacted by POLITICO, Bertalan Havasi, press chief of Orbán’s office, said: “We are not dealing with fake news reports.” Budapest has long been accused of hacking the phones of journalists, activists and opposition figures, with a Hungarian lawmaker acknowledging in 2021 that the government had purchased Israeli spyware. Earlier this year, an MEP critical of Hungary was also targeted by a cyberattack. A spokesperson for OLAF did not immediately respond to POLITICO’s request…
Civil society organisations said the government’s plan to add 1500MW of new coal-fired power was expensive, unnecessary, and a limitation of children’s right to a healthy environment. South Africa’s High Court has overturned government plans to add 1,500MW of new coal-fired power to the nation’s electricity grid. In a landmark climate case, Judge Cornelius van der Westhuizen said that the plan was unlawful and invalid because the government failed to consider the potential impact on children’s rights. The ‘Cancel Coal’ case was brought by three youth civil society organisations: the African Climate Alliance (ACA), the Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in…
Vibe: A hip yet cozy and unpretentious Italian joint with a rustic-trendy twist. Who’s picking up the check? It’s around €40 for a glass of wine and a plate of pasta each for two people. Spotted: The chef, effortlessly tossing pasta in sauce at the stovetop. He is the first person you see when you walk in because his cooking station is open to the entire restaurant, making it almost feel like someone is preparing a meal for you in their home. Insider tip: Sit upstairs for a more intimate dining experience, complete with candles and funk music to set…
Seven of the world’s top 10 relaxing holiday destinations are in Europe, new research shows. As several of Europe’s once-peaceful destinations, including France, Spain, Italy, and Turkey, struggle with overtourism, visitors are seeking peace and quiet away from the crowds. New research released this week reveals the top countries where you can find that tranquillity. While Australia took the number one spot, many northern European countries pipped warmer Mediterranean destinations to the post, thanks to their historical wellness culture and safer, quieter spaces.How do you judge how relaxing a destination is?Over 76 destinations were analysed and then ranked by The Global Relaxation…
France was plunged into political crisis this week when the government was toppled barely three months after being formed, raising fears that the instability could trigger financial instability across the eurozone. Outgoing Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who was supported by the centrists and the conservatives, was ousted over his attempts to push through an austere budget for 2025, with the aim of reducing France’s eye-watering deficits. Faure is expected to join other opposition leaders in heading to the Elysée Palace on Friday for talks with Macron. The president said on Thursday that he would appoint a new prime minister “in…