Author: staff
Dozens of young storks are being weighed, measured, and tagged with two rings — metal and plastic — each bearing a unique code. Cristian, known for its high stork population, is home to at least 60 nests included in the project.The data will inform local population studies and highlight ecological risks faced by the species, which migrates to Africa each winter.Researchers are also collecting biological samples to assess health and environmental conditions. Students and scientists from the Faculty of Sciences of the “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu are leading the effort, supported by conservation agencies and local utilities.
The newly passed law forbids Russian and Belarusian citizens, as well as companies that are at least 25 percent owned by them, from acquiring property in Latvia — but provides exceptions for EU and Latvian permanent residence holders from Russia and Belarus, Belarusian refugees and repatriates. “This is a step to limit the influence and presence in Latvia of persons and companies that are adverse to the country,” said Agnese Krasta, a lawmaker who coauthored the bill. On Thursday, Latvia also joined a coalition of seven Nordic and Baltic countries that want a Schengen ban on Russian citizens who fought…
Published on 20/06/2025 – 15:53 GMT+2The European Commission intends to withdraw a proposal aimed at combating so-called “greenwashing” by ensuring companies’ environmental claims are accurate, substantiated and independently verified, an EU executive spokesperson told reporters today.The proposal on Green Claims was initially presented in March 2023 as part of the broader European Green Deal legislative framework. This move marks the latest in a series of rollbacks of major Green Deal initiatives, after so-called “Omnibus” papers intended to simplify EU legislation effectively narrowed the scope of measures such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.The announcement on the Green Claims Directive came ahead…
The attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting building in central Tehran killed at least three people and left the media centre in ruins. Offices were incinerated, and parts of the structure collapsed.Iran has condemned the strike as a “war crime”, accusing Israel of targeting civilian infrastructure.Israel claimed the attack was aimed at the “communications centre of the Iranian regime,” as part of ongoing cross-border strikes that have escalated since 13 June, leaving hundreds dead across both nations.
Amirshahi told POLITICO on Wednesday that he had said on his visa application his trip was part of an effort to “build a progressive alliance and understand life in the United States under the Trump presidency” — a framing that, he said, led him to believe the initial refusal was politically motivated. Amirshahi said he had been in direct contact with French President Emmanuel Macron about the matter and received a formal note from France’s foreign ministry confirming that he was traveling in his capacity as a parliamentarian. During a press conference Thursday, Amirshahi said he was scheduled to attend…
“The idea of lowering the price cap is probably not going to fly because of the international situation in the Middle East and the volatility,” said one diplomat, granted anonymity to speak frankly about the market-sensitive policy. “At the G7 meeting this week, it was agreed by all the countries they would prefer not to take the decision right now,” the diplomat added. “The prices were quite close to the cap; but now the prices are going up and down, the situation is too volatile for the moment.” At the G7 summit in Canada, European Commission President Ursula von der…
Published on 20/06/2025 – 13:53 GMT+2•Updated 14:19Despite recent efforts to boost European defence production, the bloc remains “highly vulnerable” and heavily reliant on the United States—particularly for major, high-end defence equipment—according to a new analysis by the Brussels-based economic think tank Bruegel. Trade statistics show that the value of weapons imported to Europe increased from approximately $3.4 billion for the period 2019–2021 to $8.5 billion for 2022–2024 across the 27 member states, with the US leading this increase despite concerns over its capabilities. “Europe has the industrial production capacities to increase production of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles,” said Guntramm Wolff, Bruegel’s…
The decision — announced just one working day before the final round of negotiations with EU countries and MEPs to reach a deal was due to take place — means the EU will not be asking companies to provide verified information to back up the green claims they make. “The European Commission has the right of initiative to make but also withdraw [a] proposal after its own assessment of the legislative process,” Stefan de Keersmaecker, another spokesperson for the Commission. On Wednesday, POLITICO reported that the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) had sent a letter to the environment Commissioner Jessika…
China has approved a number of rare earth export licences, a move that could provide modest relief to global manufacturers struggling with supply disruptions. But with export volumes still sharply down and no transparency on which firms benefit, Europe’s automotive industry remains vulnerable to further disruption.At a press conference on Thursday, China’s commerce ministry confirmed it had approved “a certain number” of export licence applications for rare earths and magnets. These minerals are used in an array of high-tech products such as smartphones and jet engines.Rare earths such as neodymium, dysprosium and terbium are indispensable for producing lightweight, high-efficiency motors…
By Euronews Travel with AP Published on 20/06/2025 – 12:31 GMT+2A Spanish court rejected an appeal by Airbnb yesterday, leaving in place an order to block almost 66,000 rental listings that the government said violated local rules.The government has said the platform’s short-term rentals in city centres and tourism hot spots are contributing to Spain’s housing crunch while the country welcomes record numbers of visitors.Last month, Spain’s government ordered Airbnb to block 65,935 listings in the country after the Consumer Rights Ministry flagged them for violations. It said Airbnb had to immediately take down 5,800 of them.The ministry has said the listings it…