Browsing: EU

Spanish start-up PLD Space is set to fire its small Miura-1 rocket from the Andalusian coast by the end of May – a first in Spain, but only an initial step. It will be the first private reusable rocket manufactured in Europe to compete with the many other such initiatives around the world.

With just a few days to go before King Charles III’s coronation on Saturday May 6, everyone is wondering what exactly will be happening on the big day. Our international affairs editor and royal watcher Philip Turle tells us what to expect, including who is slated to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the coronation ceremony. We also find out what events are planned for the rest of the bank holiday weekend in the UK.

The five astronauts from the 2022 intake of the European Space Agency (ESA) have always dreamed of going to space. They have now completed their first weeks of “basic” training. Extra courses in geology mean they are likely to plan missions to the Moon and perhaps even Mars. But the ESA’s most basic yet ambitious goal is to keep a foot in space and remain a key player. The aim is to ensure that Europe does not depend on other powers for telecommunications, defence and the monitoring of the Earth to manage various hazards, including climate change. FRANCE 24’s Science reporter Shirli Sitbon tells us more.

The package would enable the EU to introduce entry bans and asset freezes for individuals and entities from third countries if they have committed serious corruption offenses.

In a statement to Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, the NGOs warn that such legislation could hurt the EU’s credibility to defend human rights abroad and embolden repressive leaders.

Nicole ‘Coco’ Fox from Ireland committed suicide in 2018 after being bullied online.

Today’s News Headlines from the EU News Today French police fire teargas as clashes erupt at May Day pension protests. Cities across France saw another…

After years of discussions, leaders of Kosovo and Serbia convene to discuss a way forward on critical issues as tensions remain high.

Italy’s far-right government, led by PM Giorgia Meloni, recently made a change to its immigration policy. This involves a crackdown on residence permits for asylum seekers and an increase in deportation centres, in order to discourage illegal immigration. But the government also wants to increase the number of work visas for foreign workers from about 30 countries. The goal is to help alleviate chronic labour shortages, which affect various sectors of the eurozone’s third-largest economy. Our correspondent reports.

The English author, who penned “Homage to Catalonia” and “1984”, fought on the Republican side in the Spanish civil war but was invalidated after being shot in the neck.

Thousands marched across Paris and other French cities in what unions hoped would be one of the biggest May Day demonstrations in years. Galvanised by previous protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform plans, including raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, protesters marched with a sense of determination.

As the UK prepares to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation, we focus on the love affair between the British royal family and Paris, which has been both long and reciprocal. A series of landmarks are dedicated to British monarchs in the capital, such as Avenue Victoria – named after Queen Victoria, who in 1855 made the first state visit to Paris in over 400 years. In 1918, George V Avenue was renamed in honour of the British king for recognition of his role as monarch during World War I.

Germany launches on Monday a new flat-rate public transport ticket valid across the country, but the 49-euro ($54) price point has raised doubts about the pass’s potential impact.

French retailer Auchan said on Sunday it was fully co-operating with the French justice authorities in a probe into business practices at its Russian arm.

Pope Francis thanked Hungarians on Saturday for welcoming Ukrainian refugees and urged them to help anyone in need, as he begged for a culture of charity in a country where the prime minister has justified firm anti-immigration policies with fears that migration threatens Europe’s Christian culture.

A global credit ratings agency downgraded French debt worthiness a notch on Saturday, citing pension reform protests as a cause. Two weeks after the contested reform passed, persistent social movements threaten to erase the financial gains that the French government expected.

An apparent drone strike started a fire at a fuel storage facility in Sevastopol, the main port in Moscow-annexed Crimea, on Saturday, the Moscow-installed governor there said. The strike came as Russia hurled missiles at cities across Ukraine early Friday, killing at least 26 civilians in the first large-scale air strikes in nearly two months. Follow FRANCE 24’s live blog for all the latest developments. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).

Panelists elaborated on the EU Pharma Package and the potential showdown with the pharma sector and called Europe out for being late to the Artificial Intelligence party.

Record breaking temperatures in some Spanish areas, as April sees new highs. #StateOfTheUnion

Talking Europe interviews Jo?o Gomes Cravinho, Portugal’s top diplomat. He discusses whether Portugal’s ally, Brazil, could have a role to play in talks between Ukraine and Russia one day – this after the president of Brazil, which has not imposed sanctions on Russia, nor sent ammunition to Kyiv, called for a negotiated settlement. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva recently visited Portugal as part of a European diplomatic tour. Cravinho also talks about EU and NATO support to Ukraine, as well as Portugal’s relations with China in the light of how Lisbon approaches the questions of both Macau and Taiwan.

The fallout continues from Emmanuel Macron’s remarks about China and the US. On his way back from a state visit to China, the French president said that Europe should not be a “follower” of either Washington or Beijing, or get caught up in any escalation. Despite the resulting backlash on both sides of the Atlantic, he stood by the comments, saying on a later trip to the Netherlands that being a US ally doesn’t mean being a “vassal”.

A report by the New Economics Foundation looks into the challenge of reconciling the European Green Deal with the bloc’s fiscal rules.

As online violence targeting women continues to rise, artificial intelligence is set to take trolling to a whole new level. So will the European Union’s new Digital Services Act make tech platforms a safe place for women? Annette Young talks to Asha Allen from the Centre for Democracy and Technology. Also members of Uganda’s lesbian community bravely speak out as the Ugandan parliament passes sweeping anti-gay legislation that criminalises anybody identifying as LGBTQ+. This as the country’s president urges politicians to reconsider the bill.

Pope Francis, starting a trip to Hungary, on Friday pointedly warned of the dangers of rising nationalism in Europe and told the Budapest government that accepting migrants along with the rest of the continent would be a true sign of Christianity.

An OECD report released on Tuesday described workers as receiving a double blow to their livelihoods.