In a recent escalation, Russian drones launched a second wave of airstrikes on Kyiv early in the morning of July 31. Despite the intensity of the assault, Ukraine’s air defence forces successfully intercepted all incoming drones, preventing any from reaching their targets. Over forty enemy drones were shot down during the two waves of attacks…
Photo by Charles Smart on Unsplash In a message sent on the 25th anniversary of Morocco’s Throne Day, the French President Emmanuel Macron has reaffirmed that for France, autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which the regional dispute of Western Sahara shall be resolved. “Our support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco…
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash EU member states have rubberstamped a new round of restrictive measures against four persons and two entities under the European Union’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. The listed individuals and entities are responsible for serious human rights abuses worldwide, including torture and systematic and widespread sexual and gender-based violence. The EU says the new listings include the…
An 18 year-long legal saga finally reached its end this month, with victory for Gabriel (Puiu) Popoviciu. Bucharest’s Court of Appeal stated that Popoviciu had been wrongly accused and fully acquitted him, along with the other ten defendants in the case. Judge Liana Arsenie, the head of the Court of Appeal, gave a 172 page…
MEPs have broadly supported the re-election of Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola as president of the European Parliament. Some 562 deputies backed her and Metsola’s new term will run until 2027. She was one of two candidates and received an absolute majority of votes cast out of 699 by secret paper ballot. The MEP will continue…
Photo by Iman soleimany zadeh on Unsplash Some MEPs are angry that the EU will be represented at the swearing in this week of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. European External Action Service political director, Enrique Mora, is due to attend the event in Tehran on Tuesday. The EEAS insists that the EU is not be represented at…
Photo by Anthony Camp on Unsplash It’s that time of year again: the quest to find the best shrimp croquettes in Belgium. This has become an annual competition for what is called the little superstar of Belgian gastronomy. From now until 20 August culinary establishments wishing to take part in the 5th edition of the competition to find…
Photo by 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič on Unsplash Russia’s war against Ukraine and the need for continuous EU support for Ukraine has again come under the spotlight for MEPs. The topic was debated by the European Parliament. S&D leader Iratxe García reaffirmed the EU’s “full support for Ukraine, denounced Russia’s violation of international law and the UN Charter, and…
Amidst the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, the role of the People’s Republic of China as a potential mediator in peace talks becomes critically important. China, as one of the world’s leading economies and political forces, has the potential to play a decisive role in achieving a stable and just peace in the region, which…
Photo by SnapSaga on Unsplash After the military clashes of 2020 and 2023 and numerous diplomatic meetings in different formats, the longest-running conflict in the post-Soviet space is closing. Azerbaijan and Armenia are ready to sign a peace treaty. Work on the text of the agreement continues, but in the latest, tenth version, Baku explicitly called for the…
