A 'tsunami of need' feared as US House close to final vote on Trump tax bill
03/07/2025
Trump close to victory on flagship 'Big Beautiful' tax bill
03/07/2025
Israel orders evacuation of West Bank's Tulkarem
03/07/2025
French diplomat visits detainees held in Iran in first 'proof of life' since Israeli strikes
03/07/2025
Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail after prostitution conviction
03/07/2025
Ukraine scrambling for clarity as US downplays halt to arms shipments
03/07/2025
Italy to issue half million non-EU work visas over next three years
03/07/2025
Palestinians mourn director of key Gaza hospital killed in Israeli strike
03/07/2025
French air traffic controllers' strike disrupts early summer season travel
03/07/2025
Dozens still missing after ferry sinks on way to Indonesia's Bali
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AFP
35 minutes ago
- AFP
Old Gaza blast picture falsely linked to Iran-Israel war
"Israel's situation," reads Hindi-language text overlaid to a picture of a giant blast, shared June 24, 2025 on Facebook. Its caption includes a hashtag that says, "iran attack on israel". Image Screenshot of the false post taken June 30, 2025, with a red X sign added by AFP The most intense confrontation between the Middle East adversaries erupted on June 13, when Israel launched a bombing campaign in Iran that killed top military commanders and scientists linked to its nuclear programme (archived link). Tehran responded with ballistic missile attacks on Israeli cities. The United States subsequently joined its ally Israel's military campaign against Iran, bombing three key facilities used for Tehran's atomic program. A ceasefire announced on June 24 ended the war. Similar posts on Facebook and X also shared the picture but a reverse image search on Google traced it to EPA Images (). "Smoke rises from Tuffah neighbourhood after Israeli air strikes in the east of Gaza City, 29 July 2014," reads the photo's caption. Image Screenshot comparison of the false post (L) and photo from EPA Images with corresponding elements highlighted by AFP found similar pictures were also published by AFP and The Washington Post (archived link). At the time, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge, with the stated goal of stopping Palestinian rocket fire and destroying tunnels used by militants to infiltrate Israel. The seven-week conflict killed 2,251 Palestinians and 74 Israelis, including 68 soldiers. Image Screenshot of the AFP photo showing the same explosion AFP has debunked more misinformation related to the Iran-Israel war here.
Euronews
40 minutes ago
- Euronews
Moldova pushes to join the EU with or without Ukraine
As Moldova prepares to host a pivotal bilateral summit with the European Union this Friday in Chișinău, President Maia Sandu and her pro-European government are making a concerted push to accelerate the country's accession to the EU - potentially outpacing neighbouring Ukraine. Despite repeated hybrid attacks from Russia and economic headwinds, Moldova is eager to present its recent progress in aligning with EU standards as grounds for decoupling its enlargement track from Ukraine's. But Brussels remains cautious. A source within the Danish EU rotating presidency told Euronews that 'the decoupling of the enlargement process between Moldova and Ukraine is not for now.' EU leaders are wary that allowing Moldova to pull ahead might send the wrong signal - suggesting strategic acquiescence to Russia's destabilising goals in the region. From the EU's perspective, enlargement is not just a bureaucratic process; it's a geopolitical message. Maintaining a unified approach to Moldova and Ukraine is seen as a way to underscore solidarity and resist external manipulation. Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureșan, head of the EU–Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee, is one of Moldova's most vocal advocates in Brussels. He argues that the small nation is not only progressing quickly but would also require a lighter lift from EU institutions compared to Ukraine. 'Integrating the Republic of Moldova into the EU will be a smaller effort,' Mureșan told Euronews. 'The integration of small countries is easier than the integration of bigger countries. Moldova is a small country, and with our support, it can achieve a lot with sums that are not significant for the EU—but are transformative for Moldova.' Growth plan and economic resilience The EU is expected to unveil a three-year, €1.9 billion growth plan for Moldova - partly funded through loans and grants with the backing of the European Investment Bank. The investment aims to boost Moldova's economy and reduce its vulnerability to external pressures, particularly from Russia. 'We know Russia blackmailed it with high energy prices,' said Mureșan. 'The country suffered under high inflation; we need to strengthen its economy.' Moldova's energy infrastructure has undergone a significant transformation since 2022. It is now connected to the European electricity grid, and the EU has financed major upgrades to its domestic distribution systems. Chişinău has also committed to generating 27% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. Despite setbacks - including a slowdown attributed to the energy shock from the war in Ukraine - the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) considers Moldova's economy resilient. In a landmark shift, over 50% of Moldovan exports went to the EU in 2024 - the highest in the country's history. Hybrid threats and strategic pressure from Russia Brussels remains acutely aware of the internal and external pressures facing Moldova. While public opinion is split between pro-Western and pro-Russian sentiment, the breakaway Transnistrian region - still under de facto Russian control - remains a source of instability. 'The Russian-speaking minority and companies in the so-called Transnistrian region benefit from European integration. More than 70% of their exports go to the European market. So I think Russia will continue to try to destabilise it,' said Mureșan, emphasising the paradox of Russian influence in the region. Security cooperation is already deepening. Under the EU–Moldova Security and Defence Partnership, the EU has allocated €197 million through the European Peace Facility (2021–2025) to modernise Moldova's armed forces. Moldova and Ukraine both applied for EU membership in March 2022 and were granted candidate status in June that year. Formal accession talks began in June 2024 - but how, and when, each country progresses remains politically sensitive. For now, Brussels appears unwilling to split the tracks. But if Moldova can continue demonstrating tangible reform, economic resilience, and geopolitical reliability, the case for accelerated accession may prove harder to ignore.
Euronews
an hour ago
- Euronews
Fact check: The EU hasn't banned carry-on luggage fees (yet)
Misleading claims that the European Union has moved to prohibit airlines from charging passengers to carry on hand luggage have made headlines worldwide, triggering widespread misinformation on social media. Euroverify identified several reputable media outlets making these claims, which have then been amplified in several languages on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X. But the 27-country bloc has not outlawed cabin bag fees. It is an option on the table, but there are plenty of obstacles before the proposal could become law. Rule proposed by parliament, but not yet confirmed On 24 June, the European Parliament's transport committee voted in favour of a proposal to allow air passengers to travel with two items of carry-on luggage at no extra cost. If approved, this would oblige airlines to let passengers travel with one personal item – such as a handbag — as well as a bigger carry-on bag weighing up to 7 kg, and measuring up to 100 cm in combined width, length and height, free of charge. The 100 cm dimension is slightly smaller than the current maximum cabin bag dimensions permitted by most airlines. The proposal is part of an overhaul of a 2004 EU bill on passenger rights, which has been stalled for years. Poland, which presided over the Council of the EU for the first six months of this year, had made it a priority to make progress on the reform. Also on the table are changes to EU rules triggering mandatory compensation for flight delays. But the 24 July vote does not change anything. It simply means that the parliament's transport committee wants to see cabin bag fees scrapped. If the European Parliament's plenary approves, the parliament will push for this change in negotiations with the European Commission and the Council of the EU, which represents EU governments. Only when these negotiations — known as interinstitutional negotiations — have concluded with a compromise can any changes come into law. The compromise text must then be submitted to a vote by both the European Parliament and the Council before it can become law. EU governments mostly oppose change The ban on cabin bag fees is likely to be a point of contention between the parliament and EU governments represented by the Council. In a joint negotiating position adopted in early June, the EU's transport ministers do not call for the ban, despite a handful of countries, notably Spain, supporting it. Instead, they say that passengers should be allowed to take personal items 'essential for the duration of the journey' free of charge, such as travel documents, medicines, personal devices, books and 'food and beverage appropriate to the duration of the flight'. Last year, Spain handed out €179 million in fines to low-cost airlines Ryanair, Vueling, easyJet, Norwegian and Volotea for 'abusive practices' including extra charges for hand luggage, forcing the companies to stop those practices. Ryanair and Norwegian Air appealed, and a Spanish court temporarily halted the fines last Thursday while the legal challenge plays out. Airlines say move would limit consumer choice The position of EU transport ministers reflects that of airlines and their powerful lobby groups. Lobby group Airlines for Europe (A4E) has gone as far as to 'condemn' the parliament's position, saying it would 'remove consumer choice and impose a mandatory trolley cabin bag on all passengers." Citing a Spanish airline association, A4E claims that over 50 million passengers in Spain alone didn't need an additional piece of cabin baggage last year and had 'the choice not to have this included as part of their airfare'. There are also fears that low-cost carriers could hike ticket prices to compensate for lost revenue from add-on fees. Ryanair's financial results for the year up to March 2025 reveal that their ancillary revenues — meaning fees for add-ons including hand baggage — accounted for a third of their total revenues (€4.7 billion out of a total €13.95 billion).
