World

Brussels, my love? Fossil fuel phase-out absent from EU 2040 climate

Published

2 years ago

February 10, 2024

Brussels, my love? Fossil fuel phase-out absent from EU 2040 climate

In this edition, we look at the EU plan to cut carbon emissions by 2040 and a deal to protect women across Europe.

This week, we are joined by Heather Grabbe from Bruegel, Silvia Pastorelli from Greenpeace and Tomi Huhtanen from the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.

Panelists discussed the European Commission’s recommendation, presented this week in Strasbourg, to cut carbon emissions 90% by 2040. A proper legislative proposal will be penned by the next commission, after the European elections.

For Greenpeace, the documents make no sense unless they address one of the main drivers of climate change.

“The big elephant in the room still is the absence of a fossil fuel phase-out date”, said Silvia Pastorelli. “Until the commission is willing to put pen to paper and say that, there’s not going to be any certainty for people, or for investors and businesses”, she added.

Heather Grabbe told the panel that a target without a real plan was just a “wish”.

“If you have a 2050 target, you then need a 2040 target to show how far you need to get by 2040, in order to reach net zero by 2050,” she said.

But with a backlash against environmental rules across Europe and some leaders even calling for a pause, the commission has found itself stuck between a rock and a hard place. This week, a number of EU countries including France and Germany wrote to Brussels to say all targets must be fair, and not abandon the most vulnerable.

Tomi Huhtanen said the major challenge for Europe will be to reach the targets while keeping people and industry happy.

“I would say the commission recommendation is quite ambitious, especially for 2030. We don’t know exactly if we are going to achieve those goals,” said Huhtanen.

The panel also reacted to a deal struck in Strasbourg on a law to protect women in Europe against gender-based violence, forced marriages, female genital mutilation and online harassment. But the deal did not manage to find a common European definition of rape.

“The debate, I have to say, was a little bit depressing and frustrating because, looking at what should be something so obvious, that sex without consent is rape, and that should be part of the law”, said Silvia Pastorelli.

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World

Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship arrives at Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands

Published

7 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship arrives at Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands

TENERIFE, Spain (AP) — A hantavirus-stricken cruise ship with more than 140 people on board has arrived at Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, off the coast of West Africa, where the passengers and some of the crew are to disembark.

The World Health Organization, Spanish authorities and cruise company Oceanwide Expeditions have said that nobody on board the MV Hondius is currently showing symptoms of the virus. Three people have died since the outbreak, and five passengers who left the ship are infected with hantavirus, which can cause life-threatening illness.

As a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship is set to arrive at Granadilla port in Tenerife, Spain on Sunday morning, the WHO, Spanish authorities and cruise company Oceanwide Expedition are coordinating the disembarkation of passengers and some crew on ground.

The ship will not dock but will remain at anchor, with people ferried off in small boats. Everyone disembarking will be checked for symptoms, and will only be taken off the ship once evacuation flights are ready to fly them to their destinations.

There are currently people of more than 20 different nationalities on board.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, along with Spain’s health and interior ministers, were to be supervising the evacuation of the ship. Authorities have said the passengers and crew members who will disembark will have no contact with the local population.

Hantavirus usually spreads when people inhale contaminated residue of rodent droppings and isn’t easily transmitted between people. But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases. Symptoms usually show between one and eight weeks after exposure.

World

North Korea updates constitution to require automatic nuclear strike if Kim Jong Un is assassinated: report

Published

8 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

North Korea updates constitution to require automatic nuclear strike if Kim Jong Un is assassinated: report

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North Korea has updated its constitution to require a retaliatory nuclear strike if leader Kim Jong Un is assassinated, according to a report.

The Telegraph reported the change comes amid heightened global tensions following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other officials during a recent conflict.

Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike in Tehran as part of a coordinated U.S.-Israeli military operation earlier this year, Fox News Digital previously reported.

The constitutional revision was approved during a session of North Korea’s Supreme People’s Assembly, which opened March 22 in Pyongyang, the outlet said.

ISRAEL TARGETS IRAN’S SUPREME LEADER IN SWEEPING STRIKES AS US JOINS ‘OPERATION EPIC FURY’

North Korea launched two cruise missiles and three anti-ship missiles from the destroyer Choe Hyon on Sunday, April 12, 2026, according to North Korean state media. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP)

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) briefed senior government officials this week on the update, according to the report.

The revised policy outlines procedures for retaliatory action if North Korea’s leadership is incapacitated or killed.

“If the command-and-control system over the state’s nuclear forces is placed in danger by hostile forces’ attacks … a nuclear strike shall be launched automatically and immediately,” the updated provision states.

KIM JONG UN CALLS SOUTH KOREA ‘MOST HOSTILE ENEMY,’ SAYS NORTH COULD ‘COMPLETELY DESTROY’ IT

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech at the inauguration ceremony of Saeppyol Street in Pyongyang on Feb. 15, 2026. (KCNA via KNS/AFP)

Reuters previously reported that North Korea revised its constitution to define its territory as bordering South Korea and remove references to reunification, reflecting Kim’s push to formally treat the two Koreas as separate states.

That marked the first time North Korea included a territorial clause in its constitution.

Last month, Kim pledged to further strengthen the country’s nuclear capabilities while maintaining a hard-line stance toward South Korea, which he has called the “most hostile” state.

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Kim Jong Un reportedly observed missile test launches in North Korea on Sunday, April 12, 2026. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service)

Kim has also accused the United States of “state terrorism and aggression,” and signaled North Korea could take a more active role in opposition to Washington amid rising global tensions.

Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg and The Associated Press contributed to this report.