EU

The Right Livelihood Award has honoured this year four women and women-led organisations for confronting authoritarianism, patriarchal violence, and unregulated AI development. Among them are Jalila Haider from Pakistan and Timnit Gebru, an Ethiopian-born computer scientist, with the awards ceremony scheduled for 1 December in Stockholm.

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European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius emphasised that the European response to Russian hybrid attacks must be proportionate and severe. He warned that Russia aims to influence European populations and called for a robust hybrid defence strategy, rejecting diplomatic engagement as a viable solution to the ongoing conflict.

European Union Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen reported that while the EU is not facing an imminent energy-supply crisis, high energy prices are already impacting nearly 50 million Europeans struggling to heat their homes. He emphasised the need for flexible rules and increasing renewable energy investments.

EU leaders have reached a preliminary agreement on a €2 trillion long-term budget for 2028–2034, targeting completion by October. The bloc is navigating complex negotiations to balance funding demands from various member states, particularly concerning agriculture and defence expenditures, ahead of a new text proposal by Ireland.

Former French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire advocates for a coalition of six core European nations—France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and the Netherlands—to enhance decision-making and address urgent issues, including defence and foreign policy, during the G7 summit in Évian.

The Global Green Bond Initiative aims to mobilise €15 to €20 billion for sustainable projects, but EU officials warn such investments may inadvertently benefit Chinese companies. This undermines efforts to reduce reliance on Beijing amid rising cybersecurity concerns linked to risky technology in energy supply chains.

VivaTech, one of Europe’s largest technology events, is highlighting artificial intelligence as a key focus. The Paris event attracts around 200,000 visitors, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and French President Emmanuel Macron, as discussions centre on AI’s potential benefits and risks amid a vibrant showcase of innovations.

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