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Women’s Day events highlight gaps in gender equality

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:27 GMT

By CIARÁN GILES and MARI YAMAGUCHI (Associated Press)MADRID (AP) — Demonstrations, conferences and artistic events around the world Wednesday marked International Women’s Day, an annual observance established to recognize women and to demand equality for half of the planet’s population.While activists in some parts of the planet noted advances, repression in countries such as Afghanistan and Iran — and the large numbers of women and girls who experience sexual assaults and domestic violence worldwide — highlighted the ongoing struggle to secure women’s rights.United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted this week that women’s rights were “abused, threatened and violated” around the world and gender equality won’t be achieved for 300 years given the current pace of change. Progress won over decades is vanishing because “the patriarchy is fighting back,” Guterres said.Even in countries that have pi...

Germany cautious over Nord Stream pipeline attack reports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:27 GMT

By FRANK JORDANS (Associated Press)BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s defense minister voiced caution Wednesday over media reports that a pro-Ukraine group was involved in blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea last year.German daily newspaper Die Zeit and public broadcasters ARD and SWR reported Tuesday that investigators were able to largely reconstruct how the pipelines from Russia to Germany were sabotaged on the night of Sept. 26, 2022.Citing multiple unnamed officials, the news outlets reported that five men and a woman used a yacht hired by a Ukrainian-owned company in Poland to carry out the attack. German federal prosecutors confirmed that a boat was searched in January.The New York Times also reported Tuesday that U.S. officials reviewed intelligence that suggested a pro-Ukrainian group was behind the blasts. The Ukrainian government has denied involvement.German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said he read the news reports “with great interest&...

DPS recommends closing 3 Denver schools this year as enrollment falls

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:27 GMT

Superintendent Alex Marrero is recommending Denver Public Schools close three schools this year because of declining enrollment, according to a presentation he is scheduled to give to the Board of Education on Thursday.In potentially closing schools, Marrero is seeking to address persisting declining enrollment and a possible $9 million budget deficit the state’s largest district is facing as fewer students enroll in its schools. He has identified 12 other schools that also have low enrollment but isn’t expected to make a final recommendation on their fate until September.For now, Marrero is proposing three schools — Denver Discovery, Mathematics and Science Leadership Academy, and Fairview Elementary — close at the end of this academic year, with students moving to other schools, according to the presentation.It’s the second time in about five months the schools have faced the possibility of closing; they were among the 10 schools Marrero recommended shutting down...

Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia ready to fully participate in the Schengen area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:27 GMT

The European Commission has called upon the European Council to take the necessary decisions without any further delay to allow Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia to fully participate in the Schengen area. In a Communication adopted on November 16th, the Commission took stock of the three Member States' strong record of achievements in the application of the Schengen rules.The Commission said that "for years, these Member States have significantly contributed to the well-functioning of the Scheng... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Selection of EU special representative to the Gulf: Risky business for the EU’s High Representative

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:27 GMT

The EU’s High Representative, Josep Borrell is set to finalize the appointment of a Special Representative to the Gulf region in the coming days. The role of the EU Special Representatives is to promote the EU’s policies and interests in their designated regions. They are key to European efforts to consolidate peace, stability and the rule of law.The four candidates being considered at the EEAS Are Luigi Di Maio, Dimitris Avramopoulos, Markos Kyprianou, and Jan Kubis – with Di Maio being the frontrunner after intense pressure by specific quarters led to him landing on Borrell’s desk as the preferred nomination of the EEAS services.Di Maio, is the former Foreign Minister of Italy who was the leader of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement.  Most problematically, Di Maio enacted an embargo of arms sales to Saudia Arabia and the UAE while he was foreign minister, which all but makes him a persona non grata in the region. But his candidacy is not without problems at home as we...

Indonesia Shows Why the EU Needs More Focus on G20

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:27 GMT

The G20, on the face of it, is a slightly odd institution. Founded recently – in 1999 – in response to the then-emerging markets debt crisis, its goal was to usher developing democracies such as Indonesia, Brazil and South Africa into a global leadership role. Ironically, since that time most of the economic crises the world has faced have started in the rich world of G7 nations – the 2008 financial crash; the US-China trade war; the COVID pandemic. There was a concern that the G20 could fade into irrelevance.This year’s Presidency under Indonesia has shown why the institution still matters – and should give a wake-up call to EU leaders. We must move away from our G8-centric worldview, where all foreign and trade relations are seen through the prism of America, Russia and China. The G20’s emerging powers – especially Indonesia, India and Brazil – will be major economic players and Brussels needs to prepare for this new reality.Under President Joko Widodo, Indonesia has supercharged ...

G20: European Commission announces €210 million in food assistance for most vulnerable worldwide

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:27 GMT

Ahead of the G20 Summit in Bali, the Commission is stepping up support to help those most affected by the devastating effects of rising food insecurity globally. A new humanitarian aid package of €210 million will be provided in 15 countries to meet their growing needs. This brings the EU's overall support for global food security to up to €8 billion between 2020-2024. In 2022, food insecurity reached unprecedented levels, both in scale and severity with at least 205 million people currently acu... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

FIFA World Cup 2022: MEPs to discuss workers’ rights with Qatari Labour Minister

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:27 GMT

On Monday, 14 November in the afternoon, the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights will assess conditions for foreign workers in Qatar ahead of the FIFA World Cup.The world football body FIFA’s decision to grant Qatar the right to host the 2022 World Cup in men’s football has sparked controversy among human rights organisations and football fans alike. Data cross-checked by several human rights organisations with diplomatic missions in Doha indicate that thousand... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Fit for 55: Deal on carbon sinks goal will increase EU 2030 climate target

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:27 GMT

On Thursday night, Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional agreement on the third file of the Fit for 55 package. The revision of the Regulation on the land use, land use change and forestry sector (LULUCF) seeks to improve natural carbon sinks to make the EU the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and improve biodiversity in line with the European Green Deal.Boosting EU carbon sinks by 2030The EU 2030 target for net greenhouse gas (GHG) removals in... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑ 

Commission proposes new Euro 7 standards to reduce pollutant emissions from vehicles and improve air quality

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:27 GMT

On Thursday, 10 November, the Commission presented a proposal to reduce air pollution from new motor vehicles sold in the EU to meet the European Green Deal's zero-pollution ambition, while keeping vehicles affordable for consumers and promoting Europe's competitiveness.Road transport is the largest source of air pollution in cities. The new Euro 7 standards will ensure cleaner vehicles on our roads and improved air quality, protecting the health of our citizens and the environment. Euro 7 s... This story is part of New Europe's Premium content.To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Sign In from the ↑ Top of the Page ↑