Author: staff
By contrast, he noted, business sentiment suggested very strongly that the economy is “on the brink of a recession.” Putin pointed to statistics showing that gross domestic product is still growing — by 1.5 percent in the first four months of the year. However, analysts have pointed out that that is due entirely to ever-higher volumes of output from the defense sector to fight the war in Ukraine. Civil sectors of the economy have slowed sharply, as the government has ended various subsidy programs over the past year, notably for residential mortgages. The government is being squeezed harder than at…
The EU-Israel Association Agreement establishes close relations between the bloc and the Middle Eastern nation, governing cooperation in key industries and bilateral trade. While tearing up the pact entirely would require unanimous support from all 27 EU member countries, four officials confirmed to POLITICO that interim measures, such as paring back trade ties, are being considered and could be passed by a qualified majority of countries. “In response to the terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023, Israel launched an intense military campaign, involving the use of weapons with wide are effects in densely-populated areas, and severe restrictions on the entry…
But sanctioned entities remained part of Facebook’s revenue redistribution program, meaning they could potentially share in the platform’s ad revenue, says nonprofit WHAT TO FIX, which focuses on the accountability of internet platforms. The campaign group said it could not ascertain whether funds were exchanged between Meta and the sanctioned entities as part of the program, but said that its findings “raise important questions regarding Meta’s compliance with EU sanctions.” A Meta spokesperson responded: “Being listed on our Partner-Publisher list is not itself evidence that an account has received payouts, and any party on that list is still subject to…
Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip indicate a breach of the human rights provisions contained in its Association Agreement with the European Union, a highly anticipated review from the bloc’s diplomatic service has found, citing a collection of findings by independent international organisations. The breach stems from Israel’s war on Gaza and the stringent conditions applied to the deliveries of humanitarian aid, which have stoked fears of widespread famine among Palestinians living in the densely populated enclave. It also covers Israel’s decades-long occupation of the West Bank, where settlers have engaged in violent acts.Europeans have reacted with shock and fury…
Still, Democratic Bulgaria is itself also fully alive to public fears over prices and has proposed a bill that would improve price transparency, effectively compelling big retail business to publish the price of their products on a daily basis. To avoid a spike in inflation, EU economy commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis also supported closely monitoring prices, calling for the “nam[ing] and sham[ing]” of businesses that use euro accession as an excuse to raise prices. More broadly, the EU is disputing the claims that eurozone accession will lead to substantially higher prices in the medium-term. “In recent cases [of eurozone accession], inflation has been minor,…
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…