World
Analysis: EU-UK relations ‘not likely to improve’ despite Tory contest
Former UK finance minister Rishi Sunak is the very best hope for any negotiated answer to the Northern Eire Protocol, a number of EU sources have instructed Euronews.
The expectation amongst diplomats is that he’s the least probably candidate amongst these vying to switch Boris Johnson as prime minister to danger a commerce conflict with the UK’s nearest neighbours and most profitable buying and selling bloc, given his expertise as finance minister. The diplomats and officers Euronews spoke with wished to talk anonymously in order to not create extra stress with Britain.
EU member states have been clear that if the Northern Eire Protocol invoice is handed via the Home of Commons and is ultimately enacted, there can be commerce sanctions in opposition to Britain.
Some in Brussels hope this is sufficient to beat back radical motion by Sunak ought to he take the highest job.
A latest June report by the Centre for European Reform (CER) confirmed that the UK financial system is 5 per cent smaller than if Britain had stayed within the EU.
The identical report estimated that funding is 13.7 per cent decrease, and items commerce, is 13.6 per cent decrease within the remaining quarter of 2021.
They’re optimistic that Sunak argued in opposition to the triggering of Article 16 a number of months in the past, declaring the peril of risking the suspension of the EU-UK Commerce and Cooperation settlement.
However there isn’t a actual, discernable religion that relations are certain to enhance any time quickly, whatever the positions of the leaders.
“I discover it laborious to see the place it will probably go by way of a extra structured method, after Liz Truss got here in we had hope, however look how that has turned out,” a senior diplomat instructed Euronews.
“She was imagined to be extra pragmatic and stated she needed to resolve the difficulty, however simply take a look at her now – she’s taking a way more excessive method.”
“To be sincere, now it’s laborious to see electoral house within the UK for a greater approach,” stated the senior diplomat.
The resignation of Boris Johnson isn’t seen as a harbinger that the UK will quickly search a extra mutually helpful method to EU-UK relations, a lot to the frustration of these in Brussels who’ve grown bored with the fixed confrontation over the previous couple of years.
“Certainly there was a little bit of glee, perhaps schadenfreude to see Johnson go, however in the long run, we’re all very properly versed in politics in Britain at this stage and perceive we received’t probably get an affordable voice,” stated a diplomat.
“Let’s face it, the needle has barely moved with regard to understanding the EU amongst politicians and journalists in Britain for the reason that referendum, regardless of us being totally constant about our place. It’s an space that all the time finds unanimity; we’ll all the time shield the only market, as that’s the place our pursuits lie.”
The UK’s Northern Eire Protocol invoice is a breach of the legally binding worldwide settlement signed by the EU and UK, Brussels says.
“The EU can not countenance a scenario the place the UK by some means units its personal circumstances concerning its use and entry into our Single Market – it’s merely unacceptable,” stated a Fee supply.
“We have now tried for months to resolve this subject; we have now supplied a calendar of proposed discussions primarily based on our choices to provide particular derogations for Northern Eire, however the UK has merely refused to return to the desk – it’s totally political,” stated the supply.
One other diplomat stated they nonetheless remorse the UK’s resolution to go away the EU, however will all the time again the EU.
“We profit from a powerful EU, that’s what we’d like for our financial system, we’d choose to see the UK again as a companion of some kind, but when the UK forces us to decide on then we’ll select the EU each time.”
World
US military conducts successful airstrikes on Houthi rebel forces in Yemen
The U.S. military confirmed it conducted airstrikes in Yemen, saying it targeted a missile storage site and a command-and-control center operated by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the successful strikes in a release Saturday, saying they were meant to “disrupt and degrade” Houthi operations.
“CENTCOM forces conducted the deliberate strikes to disrupt and degrade Houthi operations, such as attacks against U.S. Navy warships and merchant vessels in the Southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden,” CENTCOM said in a news release.
DISAPPROVAL MOUNTS BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD AS US AVOIDS DIRECT ACTION AGAINST HOUTHI REBELS
Footage from CENTCOM showed F/A-18’s taking off. The agency said it also used assets from the Navy and the Air Force.
US NAVY SHIPS REPEL ATTACK FROM HOUTHIS IN GULF OF ADEN
“The strike reflects CENTCOM’s ongoing commitment to protect U.S. and coalition personnel, regional partners and international shipping,” it said.
The attacks against shipping are ongoing, and Houthi militants have vowed to continue until Israel ends its campaign in Gaza.
The terrorist group has targeted more than 100 merchant vessels since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023.
World
Fact check: How deadly was 2024 for journalists?
An estimated 104 journalists lost their lives in 2024, with Palestine the most dangerous territory.
An estimated 104 journalists were killed worldwide over the past year, according to data shared earlier this month by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
Another report by NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) puts the figure at 54, but its methodology means it only includes killings that are considered “directly related” to journalists’ professional activity.
Both organisations say that Palestine is the deadliest place on earth for journalists. More than half (55) of the 104 killings reported by IFJ were Palestinian media professionals in Gaza, while a further six were killed in Lebanon.
At least 138 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out on 7 October 2023, making the country one of the “most dangerous in the history of modern journalism, behind Iraq, the Philippines and Mexico,” according to the IFJ.
Reporters without Borders has described the number of killings in Gaza as “an unprecedented bloodbath”.
Israel firmly denies it has intentionally targeted any journalists, but has recognised some that have been killed in its airstrikes on Gaza.
The 104 total killings reported by the IFJ is a slight decrease on the 129 they reported on in 2023, which is considered the bloodiest year for journalists since 1990.
How do other world regions fare?
Asia Pacific is the world’s second most dangerous region for journalists, after the Middle East, according to the IFJ.
It recorded 20 deaths in the region in 2024, of which 70% happened in the southern Asian countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and India.
The region has seen an “upsurge” in violence, according to the IFJ, with deaths increasing sharply from the 12 recorded in 2023.
Africa was the third most dangerous region for journalists at eight deaths, five of them in war-torn Sudan.
The number of journalists killed in south, central and north America has dropped sharply over the past two years, from 30 in 2022 to six in 2023, and another six in 2024. Mexico, considered to be one of the deadliest places in the world to do journalism, continues to see “threats, intimidation, kidnappings and murders” against journalists, particularly due to reporting on drug trafficking.
Number of journalists behind bars on the rise
According to IFJ estimates on 10 December, there were 520 journalists in prison across the world, considerably more than in 2023 (427) and 2022 (375).
China, including Hong Kong, accounts for most of journalists behind bars, followed by Israel and Myanmar.
The IFJ says the figures show how “fragile” the independent press is and how “risky and dangerous” the profession of journalism has become.
World
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