Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili vetoed the draft "foreign influence" or so-called "Russian law" that provoked massive protests for weeks. Watch to know more.

Georgian President vetoes Foreign Agent law, says 'it stalls our pathway to EU membership'

Moldova's Prime Minister Dorin Recean has recognised India as an “important player on the international scene” and has extended an invitation to Indian students, tourists, and investors to visit his country.&nbsp;

In an interview with our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal in Chișinău, the Moldovan capital, he praised India's economic growth, stating, “I would like to congratulate India for becoming one of the fastest-growing large economies. This is great for India and for the world as well.”

He emphasised Moldova's enthusiasm of strengthening ties with India, noting “India, we see, is becoming more and more an important player on the international scene. And we are very glad that we open our relationships with India.”&nbsp;

Prime Minister Recean expressed a desire to attract more Indian students to Moldova. He assured that Moldovan universities are gearing up to welcome additional Indian students, with English-speaking teachers, adequate learning facilities, comfortable living conditions, and affordable prices.

The PM also spoke about his country's desire to join the EU, and how it has been hosting many Ukrainian refugees amid the conflict in Ukraine. He said, "Our objective is to be an equal member of the European Union and together as a large union, to be an example for the world on how to develop and how to bring prosperity to people"

Sidhant Sibal: How do you see Moldova's relationship with the European Union evolving in the next few years, and what steps are you taking to strengthen this relationship? Are you hopeful of becoming an EU member?

Dorin Recean: Since the December decision of the Council to open negotiations of the European Union with Moldova, we are preparing legislation. We are preparing the institutions. We're preparing the society in order to make the necessary reforms to become a democratic, resilient democracy so that we qualify for this membership. In October we will have a referendum that will be about exposing this question to the people of Moldova so that they decide on this very important matter. Most of the people in Moldova, the strong majority, are already on board. We want these decisions to be taken and correspondingly be included in our constitution.

Sidhant Sibal: So, there are reports which say that your country has signed a pact with the European Union, a security pact, which will see more military engagement&nbsp;with Brussels. Can you just talk about it? Do you think that it's a change in your stance, in your neutrality stance?

Dorin Recean: In the current environment, Moldova is strengthening its defence capacity, and we understand this not only is the responsibility of Moldova and for the Moldovan society, but also for the region. This is why we have strong cooperation with the European Union but also with other allies and friends in order to strengthen our defence capabilities. We are very next to the war. Moldova actually has 1200 kilometres of border with Ukraine, where Russia is waging a brutal and unjust war against the Ukrainians. And this is why it is our responsibility to protect this border not only for us, but also for our EU member states.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: So you're confirming the signing of the security pact.

Dorin Recean: Yeah, we do have security arrangements and agreements with various countries, so that we can train, we can develop the capabilities and we can also benefit from the acquisitions of defence needs.

Sidhant Sibal: So now coming to the situation you talked about, it's been two years since the situation in Ukraine has been something that has been worrisome for not only Europe, but for the world as well. What has been the stakes for Moldova? How have you been dealing with that?&nbsp;

Dorin Recean: First of all, we have to define clearly, what is this situation in Ukraine and in Ukraine, what we have is a Russian aggression against Ukraine, against our neighbours and obviously, this affects very much, the Moldovan society, the Moldovan economy. And please know that there are also illegally stationed Russian troops here in Moldova in the Transnistrian region. So we are very much impacted by the Russian aggression in Ukraine, but also in other places. Correspondingly, we are strengthening our capabilities, we're strengthening our defence. Now not only in military terms, but also in terms of Russia waging a hybrid war against Moldova, through propaganda, through paid for protest through war, organised squads, squads to attack our police or our institutions. So, I confirm that this is very much affecting Moldova.

Sidhant Sibal: Do you think the work would spread to your country?

Dorin Recean: At this stage, it is not possible, a military escalation but as I said, Russia is waging a hybrid war against us.

Sidhant Sibal: This has also led to a major refugee crisis. Your country is&nbsp;small, and it has hosted a large number of Ukrainian refugees. If you can talk about how your country has been supporting the Ukrainian refugees for the last two years.

Dorin Recean: First of all, I would like to say that I'm very proud of the people of Moldova, when the Russian aggression started in Ukraine in February 2022. It's not only that the Moldova institutions reacted, but immediately also the Moldovan society, people of Moldova reacted, they were going to the to the borders, receiving the refugees that were running out of the Ukraine because of the war mostly children and women and close to one million refugees crossed Moldova back then. At a certain point in time, about 15% of the population were refugees. Currently, we are still hosting almost 100,000 refugees from Ukraine, half of them women, half of them children, and we take care of them. We are integrating them into our society into the public services so that children can go to the kindergarten, to the school, to the universities, but also for the adults to be part of our social care system, medical assistance system. So this is the effort that we are making for our friends and neighbours, Ukrainians.

Sidhant Sibal: What's your biggest concern or fear with the war at your doorstep? And additionally, do you foresee the war coming to an end anytime soon?

Dorin Recean: The biggest issue is the atrocities that Russia is committing in Ukraine. Killing people, killing men, women, older people, children, that is the biggest humanitarian problem. Obviously, the war next to our border is a problem for Moldova as well, in economic terms, in social terms. So this is a problem, actually, not just for Moldova, but for the whole of Europe. And I would say also for the whole of the world, when International Law is not respected and when a country is allowed to brutally intervene and to kill people in another country.

Sidhant Sibal: Switzerland is going to host the peace summit, any hopes?

Dorin Recean: I think what is important is that more and more countries agree on a solution to support Ukraine so that Ukraine can regain its territory and be able to end this war.

Sidhant Sibal: Now moving to the larger problems perhaps in Europe, how do you see immigration as an issue for the&nbsp;European continent?

Dorin Recean: I think it is important for all the countries to be able to build a system so that migration is an asset actually, and economic and social assets. And correspondingly to build the institutions but also the culture to be able to integrate into the society. We have this experience as I said, already, we're hosting almost 100,000 refugees from Ukraine and you would see that they are very much welcome here in Moldova, and Moldovans feel good about.

Sidhant Sibal: My question is largely related to immigration from outside the larger European region. What's your view? Do you see it as a challenge for Europe?

Dorin Recean: If migration is managed well, then it is an asset.

Sidhant Sibal: Now moving to something that perhaps for the first time a leader is talking about that India-Moldova relationship, how do you see the relationship between the two countries panning out?

Dorin Recean: First of all, I would like to congratulate India for becoming the fastest-growing large economies and I think this is great for India, but this is great for the world as well. India, we see, is becoming more and more an important player on the international scene. And we are very glad that we open our relationships with India. We are very glad that we opened our embassy in Delhi and hope that soon India will also open by reciprocity an embassy here in Chișinău. We see a great potential for exchanges, social exchanges, but also economic exchange. Moldova, you will see, has great potential in agriculture, particularly wines, in IT, in pharmaceuticals, in energy, and correspondingly both countries can benefit from this opportunity. I would like to mention that already. We have a large Indian contractor building our electricity, high voltage line that integrates our grid into the European Union grid. We have a large student community here of Indians, studying particularly pharmaceuticals and medicine. We would like to increase this effort so that more Indians can come here and study and work. We see great potential for the Indian IT and business service providers to open near-shoring operations here in Moldova. So, we see great potential.

Sidhant Sibal: What are you doing to get investment from India? Why should an Indian businessman invest in Moldova, what are the sectors that they should look forward to?

Dorin Recean: Let me let me tell you, the fact that Moldova has great potential as I said in pharmaceuticals, in IT, in energy, in agricultural , industrialisation of agriculture, and Moldova now has open access to the market of the European Union, which is the largest, the largest market in the world, with the most wealthy consumers. So, this is the great potential, and this is the great asset that Moldova has. The other opportunity is for the Indian investments here for equipment manufacturing for electronics, not only for the European market, but also in preparation of the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India's role in terms of global governance? India is a leading voice in the global south, it has taken a leadership role in many senses. So, in those ways, how do you see India taking the mantle of global leadership?&nbsp;

Dorin Recean: I said, we are we are very glad to see India growing and correspondingly this means also more responsibility and we welcome this assuming of responsibility by India to become to become a voice for the Global South, but also a voice that is making sure that the there is an equilibrium in the world. We see now, quite a number of crises and this crisis need to be managed responsibly, and big democracies are playing a very important role in making sure that international law is observed.

Sidhant Sibal: And how do you plan to welcome Indian students, something you are very interested in.

Dorin Recean: We have a special program, &nbsp;now that we have an embassy in Delhi. We have a special program to advertise and to show the opportunities over for education here in Moldova. We also opened consular services so that it is much easier to apply and receive a visa. Here at home, the universities are preparing themselves to host additional students from India with the places to learn, with the teachers speaking English with all the necessary for comfortable living and at affordable prices. So, we already have quite an important capacity to host additional students, but we are also working hard on increasing capacity. On that matter, I would like to say that the community here is quite vibrant. The city, the capital but also other cities in Moldova, are very good places to live, very good places to entertain yourself. So, this is again also a very important component of a student's experience.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: How do you plan to pitch Moldova as a tourism destination for the Indian travellers who have been pretty much going out? I mean, many countries have even announced visa-free for Indian tourists. So how will you pitch tourism for the Indian tourists?

Dorin Recean: You will see places here that you won't see anywhere in the world. I'll give you just one example. Imagine a kilometre of underground cellars and on the left side of the road and on the right side of the road, you drive by car, you'd see barrels with wine. So, I very much hope and kindly ask you to show this to Indians at home, but also to the global south. We already made virtual tours so that people can virtually travel into these Cellars. But I'm sure that nothing can compare it to actual experience. Apart from that, we have some other natural beauties that are great for tourists. We also have the so-called wine tours where you can go from winery to winery, and there you can taste various types of wines but also taste great, great food.

Sidhant Sibal: Especially when it comes to wine, Moldovan wine, I'm trying to pitch to the Indian consumer as well. I mean, it's quite popular here, I could feel that going on the streets, but Moldovan wine is still not popular in India or maybe the global south.

Dorin Recean: We have to do a bigger effort in advertising, wines and Moldovan wineries and Moldovan wine culture. Okay, what I'd like you to know is that the largest producer of wines in Central and Eastern Europe is from Moldova. The Moldovan wines are very, very good. So, what I would like to say is come to Moldova, taste the wine, and buy Moldovan wines in the local shops. Indian investors would like to invite them to come here and see the opportunities and to invest in various fields including in the agricultural industry.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: Before I wind up, where do you see Moldova's place in the world?

Dorin Recean: &nbsp;Our objective is to be an equal member of the European Union and together as a large union, to be an example for the world on how to develop and how to bring prosperity to people.

Sidhant Sibal: But do you think that the war in Europe, war in Ukraine and the larger European continent could spread to your country after Ukraine it could be you and that could impact the vision you gave?

Dorin Recean: &nbsp;I am sure of&nbsp;that all democracies around the world will make a joint effort to help Ukraine to win the war. To elaborate again, its territories and to end the war.&nbsp;

Sidhant Sibal: When it comes to Ukraine, you've already supported the Ukrainian refugees, but how are you supporting Ukraine politically?

Dorin Recean:&nbsp;We are always advocating with our friends so that they allocate more resources for the Ukrainian military, for Ukrainian restoration and for Ukrainian people.&nbsp;

Moldova's Prime Minister Dorin Recean has recognised India as an “important player on the international scene” and has extended an invitation to Indian students, tourists, and investors to visit his country.

Moldova's Prime Minister Dorin Recean has recognised India as an “important player on the international scene” and has extended an invitation to Indian students, tourists, and investors to visit his country. In an interview with our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal in Chișinău, the Moldovan capital, he praised India's economic growth, stating, “I would like to congratulate India for becoming one of the fastest-growing large economies. This is great for India and for the world as well.” He emphasised Moldova's enthusiasm of strengthening ties with India, noting “India, we see, is becoming more and more an important player on the international scene. And we are very glad that we open our relationships with India.” Prime Minister Recean expressed a desire to attract more Indian students to Moldova. He assured that Moldovan universities are gearing up to welcome additional Indian students, with English-speaking teachers, adequate learning facilities, comfortable living conditions, and affordable prices. The PM also spoke about his country's desire to join the EU, and how it has been hosting many Ukrainian refugees amid the conflict in Ukraine. He said, "Our objective is to be an equal member of the European Union and together as a large union, to be an example for the world on how to develop and how to bring prosperity to people" Sidhant Sibal: How do you see Moldova's relationship with the European Union evolving in the next few years, and what steps are you taking to strengthen this relationship? Are you hopeful of becoming an EU member? Dorin Recean: Since the December decision of the Council to open negotiations of the European Union with Moldova, we are preparing legislation. We are preparing the institutions. We're preparing the society in order to make the necessary reforms to become a democratic, resilient democracy so that we qualify for this membership. In October we will have a referendum that will be about exposing this question to the people of Moldova so that they decide on this very important matter. Most of the people in Moldova, the strong majority, are already on board. We want these decisions to be taken and correspondingly be included in our constitution. Sidhant Sibal: So, there are reports which say that your country has signed a pact with the European Union, a security pact, which will see more military engagement with Brussels. Can you just talk about it? Do you think that it's a change in your stance, in your neutrality stance? Dorin Recean: In the current environment, Moldova is strengthening its defence capacity, and we understand this not only is the responsibility of Moldova and for the Moldovan society, but also for the region. This is why we have strong cooperation with the European Union but also with other allies and friends in order to strengthen our defence capabilities. We are very next to the war. Moldova actually has 1200 kilometres of border with Ukraine, where Russia is waging a brutal and unjust war against the Ukrainians. And this is why it is our responsibility to protect this border not only for us, but also for our EU member states. Sidhant Sibal: So you're confirming the signing of the security pact. Dorin Recean: Yeah, we do have security arrangements and agreements with various countries, so that we can train, we can develop the capabilities and we can also benefit from the acquisitions of defence needs. Sidhant Sibal: So now coming to the situation you talked about, it's been two years since the situation in Ukraine has been something that has been worrisome for not only Europe, but for the world as well. What has been the stakes for Moldova? How have you been dealing with that? Dorin Recean: First of all, we have to define clearly, what is this situation in Ukraine and in Ukraine, what we have is a Russian aggression against Ukraine, against our neighbours and obviously, this affects very much, the Moldovan society, the Moldovan economy. And please know that there are also illegally stationed Russian troops here in Moldova in the Transnistrian region. So we are very much impacted by the Russian aggression in Ukraine, but also in other places. Correspondingly, we are strengthening our capabilities, we're strengthening our defence. Now not only in military terms, but also in terms of Russia waging a hybrid war against Moldova, through propaganda, through paid for protest through war, organised squads, squads to attack our police or our institutions. So, I confirm that this is very much affecting Moldova. Sidhant Sibal: Do you think the work would spread to your country? Dorin Recean: At this stage, it is not possible, a military escalation but as I said, Russia is waging a hybrid war against us. Sidhant Sibal: This has also led to a major refugee crisis. Your country is small, and it has hosted a large number of Ukrainian refugees. If you can talk about how your country has been supporting the Ukrainian refugees for the last two years. Dorin Recean: First of all, I would like to say that I'm very proud of the people of Moldova, when the Russian aggression started in Ukraine in February 2022. It's not only that the Moldova institutions reacted, but immediately also the Moldovan society, people of Moldova reacted, they were going to the to the borders, receiving the refugees that were running out of the Ukraine because of the war mostly children and women and close to one million refugees crossed Moldova back then. At a certain point in time, about 15% of the population were refugees. Currently, we are still hosting almost 100,000 refugees from Ukraine, half of them women, half of them children, and we take care of them. We are integrating them into our society into the public services so that children can go to the kindergarten, to the school, to the universities, but also for the adults to be part of our social care system, medical assistance system. So this is the effort that we are making for our friends and neighbours, Ukrainians. Sidhant Sibal: What's your biggest concern or fear with the war at your doorstep? And additionally, do you foresee the war coming to an end anytime soon? Dorin Recean: The biggest issue is the atrocities that Russia is committing in Ukraine. Killing people, killing men, women, older people, children, that is the biggest humanitarian problem. Obviously, the war next to our border is a problem for Moldova as well, in economic terms, in social terms. So this is a problem, actually, not just for Moldova, but for the whole of Europe. And I would say also for the whole of the world, when International Law is not respected and when a country is allowed to brutally intervene and to kill people in another country. Sidhant Sibal: Switzerland is going to host the peace summit, any hopes? Dorin Recean: I think what is important is that more and more countries agree on a solution to support Ukraine so that Ukraine can regain its territory and be able to end this war. Sidhant Sibal: Now moving to the larger problems perhaps in Europe, how do you see immigration as an issue for the European continent? Dorin Recean: I think it is important for all the countries to be able to build a system so that migration is an asset actually, and economic and social assets. And correspondingly to build the institutions but also the culture to be able to integrate into the society. We have this experience as I said, already, we're hosting almost 100,000 refugees from Ukraine and you would see that they are very much welcome here in Moldova, and Moldovans feel good about. Sidhant Sibal: My question is largely related to immigration from outside the larger European region. What's your view? Do you see it as a challenge for Europe? Dorin Recean: If migration is managed well, then it is an asset. Sidhant Sibal: Now moving to something that perhaps for the first time a leader is talking about that India-Moldova relationship, how do you see the relationship between the two countries panning out? Dorin Recean: First of all, I would like to congratulate India for becoming the fastest-growing large economies and I think this is great for India, but this is great for the world as well. India, we see, is becoming more and more an important player on the international scene. And we are very glad that we open our relationships with India. We are very glad that we opened our embassy in Delhi and hope that soon India will also open by reciprocity an embassy here in Chișinău. We see a great potential for exchanges, social exchanges, but also economic exchange. Moldova, you will see, has great potential in agriculture, particularly wines, in IT, in pharmaceuticals, in energy, and correspondingly both countries can benefit from this opportunity. I would like to mention that already. We have a large Indian contractor building our electricity, high voltage line that integrates our grid into the European Union grid. We have a large student community here of Indians, studying particularly pharmaceuticals and medicine. We would like to increase this effort so that more Indians can come here and study and work. We see great potential for the Indian IT and business service providers to open near-shoring operations here in Moldova. So, we see great potential. Sidhant Sibal: What are you doing to get investment from India? Why should an Indian businessman invest in Moldova, what are the sectors that they should look forward to? Dorin Recean: Let me let me tell you, the fact that Moldova has great potential as I said in pharmaceuticals, in IT, in energy, in agricultural , industrialisation of agriculture, and Moldova now has open access to the market of the European Union, which is the largest, the largest market in the world, with the most wealthy consumers. So, this is the great potential, and this is the great asset that Moldova has. The other opportunity is for the Indian investments here for equipment manufacturing for electronics, not only for the European market, but also in preparation of the reconstruction of Ukraine. Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India's role in terms of global governance? India is a leading voice in the global south, it has taken a leadership role in many senses. So, in those ways, how do you see India taking the mantle of global leadership? Dorin Recean: I said, we are we are very glad to see India growing and correspondingly this means also more responsibility and we welcome this assuming of responsibility by India to become to become a voice for the Global South, but also a voice that is making sure that the there is an equilibrium in the world. We see now, quite a number of crises and this crisis need to be managed responsibly, and big democracies are playing a very important role in making sure that international law is observed. Sidhant Sibal: And how do you plan to welcome Indian students, something you are very interested in. Dorin Recean: We have a special program, now that we have an embassy in Delhi. We have a special program to advertise and to show the opportunities over for education here in Moldova. We also opened consular services so that it is much easier to apply and receive a visa. Here at home, the universities are preparing themselves to host additional students from India with the places to learn, with the teachers speaking English with all the necessary for comfortable living and at affordable prices. So, we already have quite an important capacity to host additional students, but we are also working hard on increasing capacity. On that matter, I would like to say that the community here is quite vibrant. The city, the capital but also other cities in Moldova, are very good places to live, very good places to entertain yourself. So, this is again also a very important component of a student's experience. Sidhant Sibal: How do you plan to pitch Moldova as a tourism destination for the Indian travellers who have been pretty much going out? I mean, many countries have even announced visa-free for Indian tourists. So how will you pitch tourism for the Indian tourists? Dorin Recean: You will see places here that you won't see anywhere in the world. I'll give you just one example. Imagine a kilometre of underground cellars and on the left side of the road and on the right side of the road, you drive by car, you'd see barrels with wine. So, I very much hope and kindly ask you to show this to Indians at home, but also to the global south. We already made virtual tours so that people can virtually travel into these Cellars. But I'm sure that nothing can compare it to actual experience. Apart from that, we have some other natural beauties that are great for tourists. We also have the so-called wine tours where you can go from winery to winery, and there you can taste various types of wines but also taste great, great food. Sidhant Sibal: Especially when it comes to wine, Moldovan wine, I'm trying to pitch to the Indian consumer as well. I mean, it's quite popular here, I could feel that going on the streets, but Moldovan wine is still not popular in India or maybe the global south. Dorin Recean: We have to do a bigger effort in advertising, wines and Moldovan wineries and Moldovan wine culture. Okay, what I'd like you to know is that the largest producer of wines in Central and Eastern Europe is from Moldova. The Moldovan wines are very, very good. So, what I would like to say is come to Moldova, taste the wine, and buy Moldovan wines in the local shops. Indian investors would like to invite them to come here and see the opportunities and to invest in various fields including in the agricultural industry. Sidhant Sibal: Before I wind up, where do you see Moldova's place in the world? Dorin Recean: Our objective is to be an equal member of the European Union and together as a large union, to be an example for the world on how to develop and how to bring prosperity to people. Sidhant Sibal: But do you think that the war in Europe, war in Ukraine and the larger European continent could spread to your country after Ukraine it could be you and that could impact the vision you gave? Dorin Recean: I am sure of that all democracies around the world will make a joint effort to help Ukraine to win the war. To elaborate again, its territories and to end the war. Sidhant Sibal: When it comes to Ukraine, you've already supported the Ukrainian refugees, but how are you supporting Ukraine politically? Dorin Recean: We are always advocating with our friends so that they allocate more resources for the Ukrainian military, for Ukrainian restoration and for Ukrainian people.

Moldova PM Recean invites Indian students and tourists, calls India ‘important player’ globally

Georgia's parliament has passed a controversial 'Foreign Agents' bill despite widespread domestic opposition and warnings from the European Union that its enactment would imperil the country's chances of joining the bloc.

Georgia unrest: Why is Georgia up in arms? | Foreign Agents Bill triggers global outrage

The new Dutch government, which is led by nationalist Geert Wilders' PVV party, intends to opt out of the European Union migration rules.

This move by the incoming government will very likely provoke a conflict between Amsterdam and Brussels even before they take office.

Wilders, who emerged victorious in the elections that were conducted nearly six months ago, on Wednesday agreed to a deal to form a coalition with three right-wing partners.&nbsp;

He previously announced his decision to back out of the PM race, however, has not yet revealed his choice for the prime minister.

The four-party coalition published its plan on Thursday which stated that the government would aim for the "strictest-ever asylum regime" with tougher border controls and stricter rules for the ones who arrive in the Netherlands seeking asylum.

"An opt-out clause for European asylum and migration policies will be submitted as soon as possible to the European Commission," the coalition says in its pact.

Wilders asserted that this would make the Netherlands a place that the asylum seekers are less attracted to, adding that "people in Africa and the Middle East will start thinking they might be better off elsewhere".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-3-killed-several-injured-after-fire-at-a-residential-building-in-dusseldorf-722136">Germany: 3 killed, several injured after fire at a residential building in Düsseldorf</a>

This would make the Netherlands the latest addition to the list of countries that have challenged the European Union's migration policy.

Earlier, Hungary and Poland's previous nationalist governments had announced a similar decision.

Reportedly, Brussels will probably oppose the move as the EU countries have already agreed on their migration agreement and usually the ones opting out of the pact are discussed during the negotiating phase.

"We have a new pact on migration and asylum, which has been voted upon and confirmed and therefore has to be applied," EU Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said at a press briefing in Brussels.

"This legislation will be applied and the commission will play its role in making sure it is."

The Dutch coalition parties said that the entry of foreign students to Dutch universities would become more stringent and that labour migration would also be restrained.

(With inputs from agencies)

The new Dutch government, which is led by nationalist Geert Wilders' PVV party, intends to opt out of the European Union migration rules. This move by the incoming government will very likely provoke a conflict between Amsterdam and Brussels even before they take office.

The new Dutch government, which is led by nationalist Geert Wilders' PVV party, intends to opt out of the European Union migration rules. This move by the incoming government will very likely provoke a conflict between Amsterdam and Brussels even before they take office. Wilders, who emerged victorious in the elections that were conducted nearly six months ago, on Wednesday agreed to a deal to form a coalition with three right-wing partners. He previously announced his decision to back out of the PM race, however, has not yet revealed his choice for the prime minister. The four-party coalition published its plan on Thursday which stated that the government would aim for the "strictest-ever asylum regime" with tougher border controls and stricter rules for the ones who arrive in the Netherlands seeking asylum. "An opt-out clause for European asylum and migration policies will be submitted as soon as possible to the European Commission," the coalition says in its pact. Wilders asserted that this would make the Netherlands a place that the asylum seekers are less attracted to, adding that "people in Africa and the Middle East will start thinking they might be better off elsewhere". Also read: Germany: 3 killed, several injured after fire at a residential building in Düsseldorf This would make the Netherlands the latest addition to the list of countries that have challenged the European Union's migration policy. Earlier, Hungary and Poland's previous nationalist governments had announced a similar decision. Reportedly, Brussels will probably oppose the move as the EU countries have already agreed on their migration agreement and usually the ones opting out of the pact are discussed during the negotiating phase. "We have a new pact on migration and asylum, which has been voted upon and confirmed and therefore has to be applied," EU Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said at a press briefing in Brussels. "This legislation will be applied and the commission will play its role in making sure it is." The Dutch coalition parties said that the entry of foreign students to Dutch universities would become more stringent and that labour migration would also be restrained. (With inputs from agencies)

Incoming Dutch government intends to opt out of EU migration rules

The EU on Tuesday (May 14) gave the final green light to a landmark overhaul of its migration and asylum policies that will see hardened borders and responsibility shared among member states.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/eu-countries-in-favour-of-cutting-trucks-co2-emissions-720998">Also read |&nbsp;EU countries in favour of cutting trucks' CO2 emissions</a>

A majority of European Union countries backed the reform's 10 pieces of legislation, ensuring its passage despite opposition from Hungary and Poland. The new rules come into effect from 2026.

The EU on Tuesday (May 14) gave the final green light to a landmark overhaul of its migration and asylum policies that will see hardened borders and responsibility shared among member states.

The EU on Tuesday (May 14) gave the final green light to a landmark overhaul of its migration and asylum policies that will see hardened borders and responsibility shared among member states. Also read | EU countries in favour of cutting trucks' CO2 emissions A majority of European Union countries backed the reform's 10 pieces of legislation, ensuring its passage despite opposition from Hungary and Poland. The new rules come into effect from 2026.

EU signs off on sweeping asylum overhaul ahead of polls

Georgia passes Foreign Agents Legislation | EU leaders, US condemn 'pro-Russia' bill

Malaysia plans to introduce “orangutan diplomacy” for countries that buy its palm oil, including India, as it hopes to ease criticism of deforestation linked to its multibillion-dollar industry and as a part of a diplomatic strategy.&nbsp;

<h2>What is ‘orangutan diplomacy’?</h2>

Malaysia’s Plantations and Commodities Minister Johari Abdul Ghani said that the country hopes to generate the same goodwill as China has with its “panda diplomacy” over the years by offering orangutans as gifts to its major trading partners.&nbsp;

The plan, which has already sparked criticism from conservation groups, comes after the European Union last year approved an import ban on commodities linked to deforestation, which could impact Malaysia.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/have-we-already-lost-the-battle-april-continues-damning-11-month-trend-emerges-as-hottest-since-1940-719261">Have we 'already lost climate battle'?: April continues damning 11-month trend, emerges as hottest since 1940</a>

Notably, Malaysia is the world’s second-largest producer of palm oil which is used in everything from chocolate to lipstick. However, the multibillion-dollar industry has also been attributed as the cause of the shrinking of the natural rainforests where the large apes live.

Ghani said Malaysia would offer orangutans as gifts to trading partners, particularly major importers such as the EU, India and China, as part of a diplomatic strategy.

“This will prove to the global community that Malaysia is committed to biodiversity conservation,” said the minister, in a statement, on X.&nbsp;

He added, “Malaysia cannot take a defensive approach to the issue of palm oil. Instead we need to show the countries of the world that Malaysia is a sustainable palm oil producer and is committed to protecting forests and environmental sustainability.”

<h2>Criticism from conservationists</h2>

While there were no further details about the plan or its implementation, the conservation group World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) told Reuters that orangutans – which means “man of the forest” in Malay – are critically endangered, with a population of less than 105,000 on the island of Borneo.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/natalie-elphicke-second-uk-lawmaker-defects-to-labour-in-fresh-to-conservatives-719387">UK lawmaker Natalie Elphicke defects to Labour in fresh setback to Conservatives</a>

The large apes only live on the island of Borneo, which is shared between Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List had previously estimated that the population of orangutans in Borneo will decline to about 47,000 by next year as a result of human pressures and loss of habitat.&nbsp;

“WWF supports in-situ conservation of wildlife, and would urge that trading partners are brought to Malaysia to support this initiative, as opposed to sending orangutans out of the country,” said the group in a statement to Reuters.

Advocacy group Justice for Wildlife Malaysia, as per the news agency, said that the government should consider alternative diplomatic measures, as its plan for “orangutan diplomacy” would require research about the potential impact and feasibility against other conservation efforts.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Malaysia plans to introduce “orangutan diplomacy” for countries that buy its palm oil, including India, as it hopes to ease criticism of deforestation linked to its multibillion-dollar industry and as a part of a diplomatic strategy.

Malaysia plans to introduce “orangutan diplomacy” for countries that buy its palm oil, including India, as it hopes to ease criticism of deforestation linked to its multibillion-dollar industry and as a part of a diplomatic strategy. What is ‘orangutan diplomacy’? Malaysia’s Plantations and Commodities Minister Johari Abdul Ghani said that the country hopes to generate the same goodwill as China has with its “panda diplomacy” over the years by offering orangutans as gifts to its major trading partners. The plan, which has already sparked criticism from conservation groups, comes after the European Union last year approved an import ban on commodities linked to deforestation, which could impact Malaysia. Also Read | Have we 'already lost climate battle'?: April continues damning 11-month trend, emerges as hottest since 1940 Notably, Malaysia is the world’s second-largest producer of palm oil which is used in everything from chocolate to lipstick. However, the multibillion-dollar industry has also been attributed as the cause of the shrinking of the natural rainforests where the large apes live. Ghani said Malaysia would offer orangutans as gifts to trading partners, particularly major importers such as the EU, India and China, as part of a diplomatic strategy. “This will prove to the global community that Malaysia is committed to biodiversity conservation,” said the minister, in a statement, on X. He added, “Malaysia cannot take a defensive approach to the issue of palm oil. Instead we need to show the countries of the world that Malaysia is a sustainable palm oil producer and is committed to protecting forests and environmental sustainability.” Criticism from conservationists While there were no further details about the plan or its implementation, the conservation group World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) told Reuters that orangutans – which means “man of the forest” in Malay – are critically endangered, with a population of less than 105,000 on the island of Borneo. Also Read | UK lawmaker Natalie Elphicke defects to Labour in fresh setback to Conservatives The large apes only live on the island of Borneo, which is shared between Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List had previously estimated that the population of orangutans in Borneo will decline to about 47,000 by next year as a result of human pressures and loss of habitat. “WWF supports in-situ conservation of wildlife, and would urge that trading partners are brought to Malaysia to support this initiative, as opposed to sending orangutans out of the country,” said the group in a statement to Reuters. Advocacy group Justice for Wildlife Malaysia, as per the news agency, said that the government should consider alternative diplomatic measures, as its plan for “orangutan diplomacy” would require research about the potential impact and feasibility against other conservation efforts. (With inputs from agencies)

Malaysia plans to introduce ‘orangutan diplomacy’ for nations that import palm oil

The European union is considering expanding its sanctions against Russia to target the country's liquefied natural gas industry. This move comes after 13 rounds of previous sanctions, with concerns that Russia's fossil fuel revenue remains a significant financial lifeline.

EU considers sanctions on Russian LNG amid Ukraine conflict

A senior member of the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party and a Berlin senator, Franziska Giffey was injured after a man hit her with a bag containing a hard object in a local library, said the police, on Wednesday (May 8).

<h2>What we know about the attack</h2>

The incident took place on Tuesday (May 7) afternoon when the suspect came up behind Giffey to slug her in the head and neck at a library in Berlin before running away, said the police in a statement.&nbsp;

The former mayor and member of Scholz’s party, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), was slightly injured and taken to hospital for a short time to treat the pain.&nbsp;

The police, on Wednesday, said that they have arrested a 74-year-old suspect, who was previously known to them for hate crime and unspecified incidents against state security. The person was also believed to have mental health issues, according to the police.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/natalie-elphicke-second-uk-lawmaker-defects-to-labour-in-fresh-to-conservatives-719387">Natalie Elphicke, second UK lawmaker defects to Labour in fresh to Conservatives</a>

The Berlin public prosecutors office said that an investigation into the motive of the alleged perpetrator was ongoing and will examine if the man should be placed under psychiatric care.&nbsp;

In a series of posts on X, Giffey said after the “initial shock, I can say that I am fine.”&nbsp;

Giffey, in one of the posts, noted that she is “concerned and shocked about a growing ‘free wild culture’ in which people who are engaging politically in our country are increasingly exposed to attacks that are supposedly justified and acceptable”.&nbsp;

She added, “We live in a free and democratic country, in which everyone can be free to express his or her opinions…but there is a clear line – and that is violence against people.”&nbsp;

<h2>Attacks against German politicians</h2>

The attack on Tuesday came amid a growing concern in Germany about a spate of attacks against politicians ahead of&nbsp;June’s European Parliament election.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, a German politician who was identified as a 47-year-old from the Greens party was threatened and spat upon as she hung up campaign posters for the upcoming EU elections in the German city of Dresden.&nbsp;

The incident was caught on camera by German public international broadcaster DW.&nbsp;

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A man, 34, and a woman, 24 have been arrested and are under investigation for their suspected involvement, said the police. The duo was standing with a group which reportedly begun making the banned Hitler salute as the politician was hanging up the posters.&nbsp;

The attack on Tuesday came days after the attack on another SPD member in Dresden.&nbsp;

On Friday (May 3) evening, Matthias Ecke, 41, a member of the European Parliament for the SPD was hospitalised with serious injuries after he was kicked and beaten to the ground while putting up posters for the EU election.&nbsp;

Four German teenagers, aged between 17 and 18, are being investigated over the attack. According to German media reports, all four belong to a far-right group known as “Elblandrevolte”.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

A senior member of the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party and a Berlin senator, Franziska Giffey was injured after a man hit her with a bag containing a hard object in a local library, said the police, on Wednesday (May 8).

A senior member of the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party and a Berlin senator, Franziska Giffey was injured after a man hit her with a bag containing a hard object in a local library, said the police, on Wednesday (May 8). What we know about the attack The incident took place on Tuesday (May 7) afternoon when the suspect came up behind Giffey to slug her in the head and neck at a library in Berlin before running away, said the police in a statement. The former mayor and member of Scholz’s party, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), was slightly injured and taken to hospital for a short time to treat the pain. The police, on Wednesday, said that they have arrested a 74-year-old suspect, who was previously known to them for hate crime and unspecified incidents against state security. The person was also believed to have mental health issues, according to the police. Also Read | Natalie Elphicke, second UK lawmaker defects to Labour in fresh to Conservatives The Berlin public prosecutors office said that an investigation into the motive of the alleged perpetrator was ongoing and will examine if the man should be placed under psychiatric care. In a series of posts on X, Giffey said after the “initial shock, I can say that I am fine.” Giffey, in one of the posts, noted that she is “concerned and shocked about a growing ‘free wild culture’ in which people who are engaging politically in our country are increasingly exposed to attacks that are supposedly justified and acceptable”. She added, “We live in a free and democratic country, in which everyone can be free to express his or her opinions…but there is a clear line – and that is violence against people.” Attacks against German politicians The attack on Tuesday came amid a growing concern in Germany about a spate of attacks against politicians ahead of June’s European Parliament election. On Tuesday, a German politician who was identified as a 47-year-old from the Greens party was threatened and spat upon as she hung up campaign posters for the upcoming EU elections in the German city of Dresden. The incident was caught on camera by German public international broadcaster DW. Also Read | US halts bomb shipment to Israel amid signs of full-scale Rafah invasion A man, 34, and a woman, 24 have been arrested and are under investigation for their suspected involvement, said the police. The duo was standing with a group which reportedly begun making the banned Hitler salute as the politician was hanging up the posters. The attack on Tuesday came days after the attack on another SPD member in Dresden. On Friday (May 3) evening, Matthias Ecke, 41, a member of the European Parliament for the SPD was hospitalised with serious injuries after he was kicked and beaten to the ground while putting up posters for the EU election. Four German teenagers, aged between 17 and 18, are being investigated over the attack. According to German media reports, all four belong to a far-right group known as “Elblandrevolte”. (With inputs from agencies)

Berlin senator struck on head amid concerns over rise in violence against German politicians

The European Union, on Tuesday (May 7) adopted the first law to tackle violence against women, which includes action against forced marriages, female genital mutilation and online harassment but failed to settle on a common definition of rape.

<h2>What is the legislation about?</h2>

The sweeping legislation aims to protect women in the 27-nation bloc from gender-based violence, forced marriages, and female genital mutilation.&nbsp;

It also criminalises cyber violence against women including online stalking, harassment, incitement to hatred or violence, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

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These crimes, in line with the new law, will be punishable by prison sentences ranging from at least one to five years, depending on the crime.&nbsp;

The legislation also has a provision that if the victim is a child, spouse or ex-spouse, the punishment against the perpetrator can be made more severe. The new law would also make it easier for victims of domestic abuse to report crimes.&nbsp;

The legislation requires countries to introduce measures to protect children. If a child reports a crime committed by someone with parental responsibility, the officials would have to take measures to make sure that the child is safe, before informing the alleged perpetrator.

<h2>‘Groundbreaking moment’</h2>

The European Parliament had already approved the rules last month and with the approval of the bloc’s 27 nations, it became a law on Tuesday. The EU states must transpose the rules into national law within three years.&nbsp;

“Violence against women and domestic violence is a persisting crime. This law will guarantee EU-wide that its perpetrators will be strongly sanctioned and that its victims will receive all the support they need,” said Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister, Paul Van Tigchelt.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bugging-devices-found-in-room-where-top-polish-ministers-were-about-to-hold-meeting-719106">Bugging devices found in room where top Polish ministers were about to hold meeting</a>

“This is a groundbreaking moment in boosting women’s rights,” said Belgium’s Secretary of State for Gender Equality, Marie-Colline Leroy.&nbsp;

“Real equality can only happen when women can live without fear of being harassed, violently attacked or physically harmed. This law is an important step to make this happen.”

<h2>Countries fail to settle on definition of rape</h2>

While the countries unanimously agreed on the importance of the sweeping legislation, the inclusion of an EU-wide definition of rape had become a point of contention during the negotiations.&nbsp;

Countries like Italy and Greece were in favour of including such a definition, but Germany and France opposed it, saying that the EU did not have competence in the matter.

(With inputs from agencies)

The European Union, on Tuesday (May 7) adopted the first law to tackle violence against women, which includes action against forced marriages, female genital mutilation and online harassment but failed to settle on a common definition of rape.

The European Union, on Tuesday (May 7) adopted the first law to tackle violence against women, which includes action against forced marriages, female genital mutilation and online harassment but failed to settle on a common definition of rape. What is the legislation about? The sweeping legislation aims to protect women in the 27-nation bloc from gender-based violence, forced marriages, and female genital mutilation. It also criminalises cyber violence against women including online stalking, harassment, incitement to hatred or violence, and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. Also Read | Humanitarian aid flow impacted as Israeli forces take control of Gaza side of Rafah crossing These crimes, in line with the new law, will be punishable by prison sentences ranging from at least one to five years, depending on the crime. The legislation also has a provision that if the victim is a child, spouse or ex-spouse, the punishment against the perpetrator can be made more severe. The new law would also make it easier for victims of domestic abuse to report crimes. The legislation requires countries to introduce measures to protect children. If a child reports a crime committed by someone with parental responsibility, the officials would have to take measures to make sure that the child is safe, before informing the alleged perpetrator. ‘Groundbreaking moment’ The European Parliament had already approved the rules last month and with the approval of the bloc’s 27 nations, it became a law on Tuesday. The EU states must transpose the rules into national law within three years. “Violence against women and domestic violence is a persisting crime. This law will guarantee EU-wide that its perpetrators will be strongly sanctioned and that its victims will receive all the support they need,” said Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister, Paul Van Tigchelt. Also Read | Bugging devices found in room where top Polish ministers were about to hold meeting “This is a groundbreaking moment in boosting women’s rights,” said Belgium’s Secretary of State for Gender Equality, Marie-Colline Leroy. “Real equality can only happen when women can live without fear of being harassed, violently attacked or physically harmed. This law is an important step to make this happen.” Countries fail to settle on definition of rape While the countries unanimously agreed on the importance of the sweeping legislation, the inclusion of an EU-wide definition of rape had become a point of contention during the negotiations. Countries like Italy and Greece were in favour of including such a definition, but Germany and France opposed it, saying that the EU did not have competence in the matter. (With inputs from agencies)

European Union adopts first law aimed at tackling violence against women

French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission Chief Ursula Von Der Leyen hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping for critical discussions on trade and geopolitical tensions. Despite Chinese and French companies signing deals ranging from energy, finance, & transport on the sidelines, trade tensions persist.

Macron & EU leaders push for balanced trade with China

The European Union (EU) has granted approval for Japan's Nippon Steel to acquire US Steel in a deal worth $14.9 billion. <o:p></o:p>

According to Reuters, the decision by the European Commission comes amid political opposition in the US, with concerns raised about national security and possible job losses. <o:p></o:p>

While the approval was anticipated in the EU, the deal faces resistance in the US, with lawmakers expressing apprehension and US Steel's union voicing concerns about employment.<o:p></o:p>

The acquisition, which was finalised by Nippon in December, marks a major moment in the steel industry, with Nippon prevailing over other bidders such as Cleveland-Cliffs, ArcelorMittal, and Nucor. <o:p></o:p>

This development positions Nippon as the world's fourth-largest steelmaker, to expand its global crude steel capacity, aiming for 100 million metric tons.<o:p></o:p>

Despite the ongoing scrutiny, the majority of US Steel shareholders voted in favour of the deal in April.<o:p></o:p>

While opposition continued, Nippon attempted to address the concerns by making plans to relocate its US headquarters to Pittsburgh, where US Steel is headquartered. <o:p></o:p>

Additionally, Nippon has assured to uphold all existing agreements between US Steel and the United Steelworkers. <o:p></o:p>

Despite these efforts, the deal faces resistance from various quarters, including US President Joe Biden, who advocates for US Steel to remain domestically owned. <o:p></o:p>

Conversely, Donald Trump, a leading contender for the presidential race, has said that he will block the deal if elected.<o:p></o:p>

While the Department of Justice has sought additional details on the proposed merger as part of an antitrust review, US Steel remains optimistic about the deal's prospects. <o:p></o:p>

The company expects the acquisition to be finalised in the second half of 2024, compared to the initial timeline of the second to third quarter. <o:p></o:p>

Although there have been challenges, shares of US Steel saw a 2 per cent rise in morning trade following the EU's approval. <o:p></o:p>

However, the company's shares have experienced a decline of 25 per cent since the beginning of the year.<o:p></o:p>

(With inputs from Reuters)<o:p></o:p>

The European Union (EU) has granted approval for Japan's Nippon Steel to acquire US Steel in a deal worth $14.9 billion. According to Reuters, the decision by the European Commission comes amid political opposition in the US, with concerns raised about national security and possible job losses.

The European Union (EU) has granted approval for Japan's Nippon Steel to acquire US Steel in a deal worth $14.9 billion. According to Reuters, the decision by the European Commission comes amid political opposition in the US, with concerns raised about national security and possible job losses. While the approval was anticipated in the EU, the deal faces resistance in the US, with lawmakers expressing apprehension and US Steel's union voicing concerns about employment. The acquisition, which was finalised by Nippon in December, marks a major moment in the steel industry, with Nippon prevailing over other bidders such as Cleveland-Cliffs, ArcelorMittal, and Nucor. This development positions Nippon as the world's fourth-largest steelmaker, to expand its global crude steel capacity, aiming for 100 million metric tons. Despite the ongoing scrutiny, the majority of US Steel shareholders voted in favour of the deal in April. While opposition continued, Nippon attempted to address the concerns by making plans to relocate its US headquarters to Pittsburgh, where US Steel is headquartered. Additionally, Nippon has assured to uphold all existing agreements between US Steel and the United Steelworkers. Despite these efforts, the deal faces resistance from various quarters, including US President Joe Biden, who advocates for US Steel to remain domestically owned. Conversely, Donald Trump, a leading contender for the presidential race, has said that he will block the deal if elected. While the Department of Justice has sought additional details on the proposed merger as part of an antitrust review, US Steel remains optimistic about the deal's prospects. The company expects the acquisition to be finalised in the second half of 2024, compared to the initial timeline of the second to third quarter. Although there have been challenges, shares of US Steel saw a 2 per cent rise in morning trade following the EU's approval. However, the company's shares have experienced a decline of 25 per cent since the beginning of the year. (With inputs from Reuters)

EU approves Nippon Steel’s $14.9 bn acquisition of US Steel despite opposition

The European commission has approved Nippon steel's $14.9 billion bid to acquire US Steel. This move removes a potential hurdle for the deal, which would create a steel giant with a combined capacity pushing Nippon steel closer to its goal of 100 million tons annually.

EU clears Nippon steel's $14.9 billion bid for US Steel

The US and most European Union nations are boycotting the Kremlin ceremony to swear in Vladimir Putin for a new six-year term as president on Tuesday (May 7).

However, some other EU states and France were expected to send an envoy despite a plea by Kyiv.

The unreliable diplomatic reactions by Western powers underline the differences over how to handle Putin more than two years after he launched a complete offensive in Ukraine.

"No, we will not have a representative at Vladimir Putin’s inauguration," Matthew Miller, a US State Department spokesperson, said. "We certainly did not consider that election free and fair but he is the president of Russia and he is going to continue in that capacity."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-prioritises-trade-and-ukraine-talks-as-chinas-xi-jinping-visits-france-718574">Macron prioritises trade and Ukraine talks as China’s Xi Jinping visits France</a>&nbsp;

Britain and Canada said they would not send anyone to attend the ceremony, which comes a day after Russia on Monday (May 6) announced it would hold tactical nuclear weapon&nbsp;drills that it said it hoped would cool down "hotheads" in the West.

Earlier, Putin won a landslide victory in a presidential election in March just weeks after his most prominent opponent, Alexei Navalny, died in jail. Western governments condemned the re-election as unfair and undemocratic.

"Ukraine sees no legal grounds for recognising him as the democratically elected and legitimate president of the Russian Federation," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

An EU spokesperson announced that the bloc's ambassador to Russia would not be attending the inauguration, reflecting the stance of most EU member states.&nbsp;

A European diplomat indicated that 20 EU countries planned to skip the event, while seven others, including France, were likely to send a representative. According to two diplomatic sources, Hungary and Slovakia were also expected to be present.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vladimir-putin-to-take-oath-for-5th-term-as-russian-president-tomorrow-718624">Vladimir Putin to take oath for 5th term as Russian president on Tuesday</a>&nbsp;

Germany's Foreign Ministry said it would not attend the ceremony.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday, "We are not at war with Russia or the Russian people, and we have no desire for regime change in Moscow."

Last week, Macron did not rule out sending troops to Ukraine, saying if Russia broke through Ukrainian front lines, it would be legitimate to consider it if Kyiv requested the support.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US and most European Union nations are boycotting the Kremlin ceremony to swear in Vladimir Putin for a new six-year term as president on Tuesday (May 7). However, some other EU states and France were expected to send an envoy despite a plea by Kyiv.

The US and most European Union nations are boycotting the Kremlin ceremony to swear in Vladimir Putin for a new six-year term as president on Tuesday (May 7). However, some other EU states and France were expected to send an envoy despite a plea by Kyiv. The unreliable diplomatic reactions by Western powers underline the differences over how to handle Putin more than two years after he launched a complete offensive in Ukraine. "No, we will not have a representative at Vladimir Putin’s inauguration," Matthew Miller, a US State Department spokesperson, said. "We certainly did not consider that election free and fair but he is the president of Russia and he is going to continue in that capacity." Also read: Macron prioritises trade and Ukraine talks as China’s Xi Jinping visits France Britain and Canada said they would not send anyone to attend the ceremony, which comes a day after Russia on Monday (May 6) announced it would hold tactical nuclear weapon drills that it said it hoped would cool down "hotheads" in the West. Earlier, Putin won a landslide victory in a presidential election in March just weeks after his most prominent opponent, Alexei Navalny, died in jail. Western governments condemned the re-election as unfair and undemocratic. "Ukraine sees no legal grounds for recognising him as the democratically elected and legitimate president of the Russian Federation," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. An EU spokesperson announced that the bloc's ambassador to Russia would not be attending the inauguration, reflecting the stance of most EU member states. A European diplomat indicated that 20 EU countries planned to skip the event, while seven others, including France, were likely to send a representative. According to two diplomatic sources, Hungary and Slovakia were also expected to be present. Also read: Vladimir Putin to take oath for 5th term as Russian president on Tuesday Germany's Foreign Ministry said it would not attend the ceremony. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday, "We are not at war with Russia or the Russian people, and we have no desire for regime change in Moscow." Last week, Macron did not rule out sending troops to Ukraine, saying if Russia broke through Ukrainian front lines, it would be legitimate to consider it if Kyiv requested the support. (With inputs from agencies)

US and majority of EU nations to skip Putin's inauguration ceremony

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a rare visit to Paris on Sunday. The President lauded the bilateral ties between China and France. This praise comes in the backdrop of ongoing trade disputes with the EU. Not just the EU but several major economies, including the US, have raised concerns over China’s trade practices.

Xi Jinping makes ‘rare’ visit to Paris amid trade disputes

Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a keenly watched trip to Europe for his first stop Xi has arrived in Paris. This is the Chinese President's first visit to the region after the COVID pandemic as Beijing looks for greater trade and strategic ties with the region.

Xi Jinping in Paris on a two-day visit, mark  60 years of China-France diplomatic ties

Let's take a look at all the news coming in from the world of technology on WION World DNA.

Telegram unblocks chatbots used by Ukraine's services | EU to probe Meta's handling of disinfomation

The European Union on Tuesday launched an investigation into Meta's Facebook and Instagram over concerns the platforms are failing to counter disinformation ahead of EU elections in June. Watch in for more details!

EU probe Meta over election-related content

The European Union has launched a probe against US tech giant Meta over allegations that it has not done enough to rein in disinformation and foreign interference&nbsp;ahead of&nbsp;upcoming EU elections. The European Commission said Monday (Apr 29) the investigation was focussed on Meta’s policy towards foreign advertisers&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;the closure of a tool widely used by journalists and civil groups to monitor trends on the social media site.

<h2>Is Meta violating EU’s Digital Services Act?</h2>

With the latest action, the regulators are flexing the Digital Services Act,&nbsp;the&nbsp;EU’s prime law governing online platforms.&nbsp;

Meta is drawing flak for lowering the visibility of political content in the users’&nbsp;feed&nbsp;as EU regulators say this could be violating DSA’s transparency rules. Additionally, they claim Meta is not providing users with tools to report illegal content on the platform, another violation of the DSA.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiHkqaK8ueFAxWYjK8BHeAvBF4QxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/metas-whatsapp-and-threads-removed-from-apple-app-store-in-china-712897" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/technology/metas-whatsapp-and-threads-removed-from-apple-app-store-in-china-712897&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiHkqaK8ueFAxWYjK8BHeAvBF4QxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE">Meta`s WhatsApp and Threads removed from Apple app store in China</a>

Meta also discontinued CrowdTangle, a widely-used tool&nbsp;used by civil society groups&nbsp;to track trending conversations on Facebook and Instagram.&nbsp;The tool will go offline after&nbsp;August 14.

EU says Meta’s decision to discontinue the tool without providing an efficient alternative “could result in damage to civic discourse and electoral processes in relation to the mis- and disinformation tracking capabilities, identification of voter interference and suppression, and the overall real-time transparency provided to fact-checkers, journalists&nbsp;and&nbsp;other relevant&nbsp; electoral&nbsp;stakeholders.”

<h2>How can&nbsp;EU punish Meta?</h2>

As per DSA, if allegations against Meta are confirmed, the&nbsp;EU can impose fines of up to 6&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of the company’s total global revenue.

Meta has said the company will cooperate with the EU authorities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiHkqaK8ueFAxWYjK8BHeAvBF4QxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/metas-stock-falls-as-higher-ai-spending-modest-revenue-forecast-disappoints-investors-714742" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/metas-stock-falls-as-higher-ai-spending-modest-revenue-forecast-disappoints-investors-714742&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiHkqaK8ueFAxWYjK8BHeAvBF4QxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE">Meta`s stock falls as higher AI spending, modest revenue forecast disappoint investors</a>

“We have a well-established process for identifying and mitigating risks on our platforms,” a spokesperson for the company said. “We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the European Commission and providing them with further details of this work,” the statement added.

Last fall, Meta submitted&nbsp;required documents to the EU in which it highlighted how it plans to tackle risks associated with its online tools. However, the concerns are that Meta has failed to do its job diligently.

(With inputs from agencies)

The European Union has launched a probe against US tech giant Meta over allegations that it has not done enough to rein in disinformation and foreign interference ahead of upcoming EU elections.

The European Union has launched a probe against US tech giant Meta over allegations that it has not done enough to rein in disinformation and foreign interference ahead of upcoming EU elections. The European Commission said Monday (Apr 29) the investigation was focussed on Meta’s policy towards foreign advertisers as well as the closure of a tool widely used by journalists and civil groups to monitor trends on the social media site. Is Meta violating EU’s Digital Services Act? With the latest action, the regulators are flexing the Digital Services Act, the EU’s prime law governing online platforms. Meta is drawing flak for lowering the visibility of political content in the users’ feed as EU regulators say this could be violating DSA’s transparency rules. Additionally, they claim Meta is not providing users with tools to report illegal content on the platform, another violation of the DSA. Also read: Meta`s WhatsApp and Threads removed from Apple app store in China Meta also discontinued CrowdTangle, a widely-used tool used by civil society groups to track trending conversations on Facebook and Instagram. The tool will go offline after August 14. EU says Meta’s decision to discontinue the tool without providing an efficient alternative “could result in damage to civic discourse and electoral processes in relation to the mis- and disinformation tracking capabilities, identification of voter interference and suppression, and the overall real-time transparency provided to fact-checkers, journalists and other relevant electoral stakeholders.” How can EU punish Meta? As per DSA, if allegations against Meta are confirmed, the EU can impose fines of up to 6 per cent of the company’s total global revenue. Meta has said the company will cooperate with the EU authorities. Also read: Meta`s stock falls as higher AI spending, modest revenue forecast disappoint investors “We have a well-established process for identifying and mitigating risks on our platforms,” a spokesperson for the company said. “We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the European Commission and providing them with further details of this work,” the statement added. Last fall, Meta submitted required documents to the EU in which it highlighted how it plans to tackle risks associated with its online tools. However, the concerns are that Meta has failed to do its job diligently. (With inputs from agencies)

EU flexes arms as it launches probe against Meta over disinformation concerns

A recent survey in the United States paints a concerning picture. The P-Fin index, a key barometer of personal finance knowledge, indicates that financial literacy in the US has stagnated for eight consecutive years, hovering around just 50%. This means half of American adults lack a strong grasp of core financial concepts.

Financial literacy: A growing concern in the US & EU

The European union has criticised Russia for putting subsidiaries of one Italian and one German company under the "temporary external management" of a Gazprom entity. The multilateral organisation said the move underscored Moscow's disregard for international norms.

Two firms put under 'temporary external management' of Gazprom

WhatsApp, the popular messaging service, which over the years has become an integral part of everyone's phone and online presence, on Thursday (Apr 25) threatened to quit India. In a submission before the Delhi High Court, WhatsApp said that if it is compelled to break message encryption on its platform, it "goes".

Why has WhatsApp threatened to exit India? | WhatsApp challenges Indian IT rules,2021

TikTok on Wednesday announced that it was shelving one of its features in France and Spain in its spinoff TikTok Lite app that rewarded users for watching and liking videos, after the European Union launched an investigation.

The popular short-form video hosting service owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance released a statement saying that the suspension would stay in place "while we address the concerns that they have raised".

The European Commission's top tech enforcer, Thierry Breton, said the EU probe would continue, claiming, "Our children are not guinea pigs for social media."

TikTok Lite made its way to France and Spain in the month of March. Notably, these are the only EU countries where the application is available. It provided users above the age of 18 with a platform where they could earn points in exchange for vouchers or gift cards.

The app was designed to operate over slower internet speed connections and takes up less space in a smartphone.

<h2>'Risk to users' mental health'</h2>

The European Commission had announced its decision to launch a probe into TikTok Lite on Monday (Apr 22), further threatening to suspend its rewards programme over concerns that it posed a risk to users' mental health.

The commission gave the platform a deadline of Wednesday demanding TikTok to provide more information along with any defence against the threatened suspension.

Breton released a statement saying that "our cases against TikTok on the risk of addictiveness of the platform continue".

"We suspect that this (rewards) feature could generate addiction and that TikTok did not do a diligent risk assessment and take effective mitigation measures prior to its launch," he said.

The investigation is the European Union's second against the short-form video platform under a new law, the Digital Services Act (DSA), which makes it mandatory for digital firms operating in the 27 EU member countries to police online content effectively.

In February, the commission launched a formal investigation into TikTok over apparent violations of its commitments towards safeguarding minors online.

(With inputs from agencies)

TikTok on Wednesday announced that it was shelving one of its features in France and Spain in its spinoff TikTok Lite app that rewarded users for watching and liking videos, after the European Union launched an investigation.

TikTok on Wednesday announced that it was shelving one of its features in France and Spain in its spinoff TikTok Lite app that rewarded users for watching and liking videos, after the European Union launched an investigation. The popular short-form video hosting service owned by Chinese internet company ByteDance released a statement saying that the suspension would stay in place "while we address the concerns that they have raised". The European Commission's top tech enforcer, Thierry Breton, said the EU probe would continue, claiming, "Our children are not guinea pigs for social media." TikTok Lite made its way to France and Spain in the month of March. Notably, these are the only EU countries where the application is available. It provided users above the age of 18 with a platform where they could earn points in exchange for vouchers or gift cards. The app was designed to operate over slower internet speed connections and takes up less space in a smartphone. 'Risk to users' mental health' The European Commission had announced its decision to launch a probe into TikTok Lite on Monday (Apr 22), further threatening to suspend its rewards programme over concerns that it posed a risk to users' mental health. The commission gave the platform a deadline of Wednesday demanding TikTok to provide more information along with any defence against the threatened suspension. Breton released a statement saying that "our cases against TikTok on the risk of addictiveness of the platform continue". "We suspect that this (rewards) feature could generate addiction and that TikTok did not do a diligent risk assessment and take effective mitigation measures prior to its launch," he said. The investigation is the European Union's second against the short-form video platform under a new law, the Digital Services Act (DSA), which makes it mandatory for digital firms operating in the 27 EU member countries to police online content effectively. In February, the commission launched a formal investigation into TikTok over apparent violations of its commitments towards safeguarding minors online. (With inputs from agencies)

TikTok announces suspension of new app's rewards programme amid EU probe

The European Parliament has given a nod to easier green requirements for farmers linked to subsidies with this the lawmakers hope to placate the protesting farmers across Europe. If the member countries vote in favour of the policy in May then the changes will become into Force by June.

EU parliament nod to relax green norms

Telegram CEO: App downloads unaffected by delisting in China's app store

Watch the top headlines of the hour: - Israel pummels Gaza - EU calls for full probe on Gaza mass graves - Ukraine targets Russia energy sites - US: Biden pledges swift arms delivery - Russia to expand buffer zone - Boeing reports $343 mn loss

US: Biden pledges swift arms delivery | Russia to expand buffer zone

Lawmakers of the European Union will vote today to ban products that are manufactured by employing forced labour. The lawmakers hope that the new law will be used to block imports from China and that the upcoming law against products involving forced labour spark tensions in China.

EU's new law against forced labour worries China

European Union lawmakers are set to vote to ban products made using forced labour under a new law that has China in its sights, risking tensions with Beijing. Watch in for more details!

EU's latest law seeks to eradicate forced labour from markets

Indian nationals can now get long-term, multi-entry Schengen visa. The European Union will now offer multiple-entry Schengen VISAs with longer validity.

Indian nationals can now apply for multiple-entry, long-term Schengen visas.

The leader of Moldova's leftist opposition urged voters on Thursday to boycott a referendum on backing the country's drive to join the European Union. Watch in for more details!

Moldovan opposition leader urges boycott of EU referendum

Georgia's parliament on Wednesday approved the first reading of a bill on "foreign agents" that the European Union said risked stifling freedoms and blocking the country's path to membership.

The fate of the bill is widely seen as a test of whether Georgia, 33 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, intends to pursue a path of integration with the West or move closer towards Russia.

Eighty-three of 150 deputies voted in favour while opposition MPs boycotted the vote. The bill, which has provoked days of protests, must pass two more readings before becoming law.

WATCH |&nbsp;Protests rocks Georgia: What is Georgia's 'Foreign Agents' bill?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/protests-rocks-georgia-what-is-georgias-foreign-agents-bill-712000/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

It would require organisations receiving more than 20 per cent&nbsp;of their funding from abroad to register as agents of foreign influence, and has been compared by critics to a law that Russia has used extensively to crack down on dissent.

Soon after the vote, the EU said in a statement: "This is a very concerning development and the final adoption of this legislation would negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path. This law is not in line with EU core norms and values."

It said the proposed legislation "would limit the capacity of civil society and media organisations to operate freely, could limit freedom of expression and unfairly stigmatise organisations that deliver benefits to the citizens of Georgia".

The EU urged Georgia to "refrain from adopting legislation that can compromise Georgia's EU path". The United States and Britain have also urged Georgia not to pass the bill.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-plans-new-sanctions-against-iran-hopes-allies-will-follow-footsteps-712071">US plans new sanctions against Iran, hopes allies will follow in its footsteps</a>

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, in comments quoted by Interpress news agency, said Western politicians had not produced a single valid argument against the bill, and their statements would not prompt the government to change its mind.

President Salome Zourabichvili, whose role is mostly ceremonial, said she would veto the law if it was passed. But parliament has the power to override her veto.

<h2>'RUSSIAN LAW'</h2>

Several hundred opponents of the bill gathered outside parliament on Wednesday. Riot police used pepper spray on Tuesday to clear the area of thousands of protesters who shouted slogans against what they call "the Russian law". Eleven people were arrested and one police officer was injured.

In a rowdy session of parliament, four opposition lawmakers were removed from the chamber amid shouts of "No to the Russian law" and "Traitors".

Russia is widely disliked in the South Caucasus country of 3.7 million people, which in 2008 lost a brief war with Moscow over the Moscow-backed breakaway territory of South Ossetia.

Russia said on Wednesday it had nothing to do with the law, which it defended as a "normal practice". Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was being used by outside actors to stoke anti-Russian sentiment.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-hush-money-trial-case-first-7-jurors-selected-judge-warns-against-intimidation-of-jurors-712069">&nbsp;Trump's hush money trial case: First 7 jurors selected, judge warns against 'intimidation' of jurors</a>

The ruling Georgian Dream party, which has faced accusations of authoritarianism and excessive closeness to Russia, says the bill is necessary to promote transparency and combat "pseudo-liberal values" imposed by foreigners.

The bill, which was initially introduced in March 2023 but shelved after two nights of violent protests, has increased divisions in a deeply polarised Georgia.

A coalition of opposition groups, civil society, celebrities and the president have rallied against the ruling party to oppose it.

On Wednesday, the captain of Georgia's national soccer team, which is riding high after qualifying for Euro 2024, its first major tournament, posted a picture on Instagram of two protesters staring down riot police, adding the message "Fuck Russia".

Georgia's parliament on Wednesday approved the first reading of a bill on "foreign agents" that the European Union said risked stifling freedoms and blocking the country's path to membership.

Georgia's parliament on Wednesday approved the first reading of a bill on "foreign agents" that the European Union said risked stifling freedoms and blocking the country's path to membership. The fate of the bill is widely seen as a test of whether Georgia, 33 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, intends to pursue a path of integration with the West or move closer towards Russia. Eighty-three of 150 deputies voted in favour while opposition MPs boycotted the vote. The bill, which has provoked days of protests, must pass two more readings before becoming law. WATCH | Protests rocks Georgia: What is Georgia's 'Foreign Agents' bill? It would require organisations receiving more than 20 per cent of their funding from abroad to register as agents of foreign influence, and has been compared by critics to a law that Russia has used extensively to crack down on dissent. Soon after the vote, the EU said in a statement: "This is a very concerning development and the final adoption of this legislation would negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path. This law is not in line with EU core norms and values." It said the proposed legislation "would limit the capacity of civil society and media organisations to operate freely, could limit freedom of expression and unfairly stigmatise organisations that deliver benefits to the citizens of Georgia". The EU urged Georgia to "refrain from adopting legislation that can compromise Georgia's EU path". The United States and Britain have also urged Georgia not to pass the bill. Also Read | US plans new sanctions against Iran, hopes allies will follow in its footsteps Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, in comments quoted by Interpress news agency, said Western politicians had not produced a single valid argument against the bill, and their statements would not prompt the government to change its mind. President Salome Zourabichvili, whose role is mostly ceremonial, said she would veto the law if it was passed. But parliament has the power to override her veto. 'RUSSIAN LAW' Several hundred opponents of the bill gathered outside parliament on Wednesday. Riot police used pepper spray on Tuesday to clear the area of thousands of protesters who shouted slogans against what they call "the Russian law". Eleven people were arrested and one police officer was injured. In a rowdy session of parliament, four opposition lawmakers were removed from the chamber amid shouts of "No to the Russian law" and "Traitors". Russia is widely disliked in the South Caucasus country of 3.7 million people, which in 2008 lost a brief war with Moscow over the Moscow-backed breakaway territory of South Ossetia. Russia said on Wednesday it had nothing to do with the law, which it defended as a "normal practice". Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was being used by outside actors to stoke anti-Russian sentiment. Also Read | Trump's hush money trial case: First 7 jurors selected, judge warns against 'intimidation' of jurors The ruling Georgian Dream party, which has faced accusations of authoritarianism and excessive closeness to Russia, says the bill is necessary to promote transparency and combat "pseudo-liberal values" imposed by foreigners. The bill, which was initially introduced in March 2023 but shelved after two nights of violent protests, has increased divisions in a deeply polarised Georgia. A coalition of opposition groups, civil society, celebrities and the president have rallied against the ruling party to oppose it. On Wednesday, the captain of Georgia's national soccer team, which is riding high after qualifying for Euro 2024, its first major tournament, posted a picture on Instagram of two protesters staring down riot police, adding the message "Fuck Russia".

Georgia presses on with controversial ‘foreign agents’ bill, putting its EU bid at risk

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