Europe

Just under 3000-4000 people are required per country in Lithuania, Latvia, Malta and Luxembourg. Come on now... that's a small town and in some places even just a village. Are there really that few gamers in those countries?

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Macron accused Netanyahu's government of "unacceptable" and "shameful" behaviour over its aid blockade on Gaza, which has been in force since March 2.

"What the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is doing is unacceptable ... There is no water, no medicine, the wounded cannot get out, the doctors cannot get in. What he is doing is shameful," Macron told TF1 television Tuesday

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Ukrainian Member of Parliament Mykola Kniazhytskyi stated at the Kyiv Security Forum (KSF) that Poland currently has no historical choice but to support Ukraine and stand with Ukraine.

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"We did not have significant Ukrainophobic risks in Poland after the victory of 'Solidarity' throughout many Polish governments. Until this began to be used for internal political purposes. We remember how Russia tried to fuel the topic of Ukrainian-Polish conflicts: all Russian branches in Ukraine published a whole series of newspapers and magazines about Ukrainian-Polish confrontation, the same was done in Poland. And then came the Polish government that decided to make this a political card for itself. Although in our historical past there was a lot of high-quality and effective cooperation. However, to raise their rating, they began to use the anti-European, anti-German, and anti-Ukrainian card. This was mainly done by the previous Polish government – PiS (political party 'Law and Justice' – ed.). And with the start of the full-scale invasion, they stopped," Mykola Kniazhytskyi noted.

However, according to him, this seed was sown in society, so this card was picked up by the Polish far-right, who initiated both the border blockade with Ukraine, the blocking of transport, and involvement in political history.

"Now these [far right-wing] people are openly playing into the hands of Russia. I have no doubt that Russia's goal is to inflame Polish society. Unfortunately, this anti-Ukrainian card is still being used. But today, the European Union has changed its vision of the future of Europe and its security. Poland, more than anyone, is interested in Ukraine standing firm, because we realize that Poland could most likely be next. And both Medvedev and Putin speak directly about this. Therefore, Poland currently has no historical choice but to support Ukraine and stand with Ukraine. And Russia will today play on the support of far-right Eurosceptic movements," the MP commented.

In his opinion, the current Polish government definitely understands that Ukraine needs to be supported. There are currently no greater allies of Ukraine than the Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Radosław Sikorski, or other Polish politicians who are the first to speak out in defense of Ukraine if something anti-Ukrainian happens.

"I do not see a great threat of anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Poland, apart from those far-right forces that are supported by Russia, just as there is support for the far-right throughout Europe. If there were elections in Ukraine, Russia would bet on both pro-Russian and far-right, anti-Polish, and anti-European forces. Therefore, we need to unite with Poland around a common geopolitical interest – Ukraine's participation in the EU's defense strategy: cooperation in arms production, intelligence, and advocacy of common interests. In addition, we are all historically united by the values of democracy, which are currently under threat in Europe," Kniazhytskyi concluded.

Research suggests that Poland's public opinion of Ukrainians is indeed worsening. According to a March 2025 poll by the respected CBOS Centre, just 50% of Poles are in favour of accepting Ukrainian refugees, a fall of seven percentage points in four months. Two years ago, the figure was 81%.

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US energy officials have found unexplained communication equipment inside some Chinese-made inverter devices.

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Reuters reported the presence of undocumented and “rogue” communication devices in a number of Chinese-made solar inverters. These could potentially introduce unregulated and undocumented remote communication channels to the inverters, by which an actor could remotely bypass the cybersecurity firewalls that utility companies use to prevent direct communication back to China.

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Germany's new Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to deport more migrants, as he found harsh words for the migration policies pursued by his predecessors in his first government statement to parliament

BRUSSELS ― The European Commission was wrong to refuse the release of Ursula von der Leyen’s text messages with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, an EU court has found.

Reporters had asked to see the secret messages between the Commission president and the drug company boss, which they exchanged ahead of a multibillion euro vaccine deal agreed between Pfizer and the EU.

The judgment is likely to have huge repercussions for transparency and accountability in the EU and delivers a massive blow to von der Leyen’s reputation.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/12433603

Since February 2022, Russia has introduced a series of counter sanctions in response to the international sanctions introduced following the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. These measures aimed to counteract external economic pressure while shielding the domestic economy from further destabilization. However, their broad implementation has led to mixed effects across various sectors while simultaneously increasing the administrative burden, an investigation by the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) says.

It argues that Russia’s countersanctions reinforced state control over key industries, worsened market competition and fiscal sustainability, which contributed to a systematic move towards a planned economy.

Key points:

• Presidential decrees have become the main tool of economic control, allowing the Kremlin to bypass the parliament and micromanage industries, from oil and gas to car dealerships, without transparency or accountability.

• Russia’s use of subsidies has exploded since 2022, with sectors like energy, aviation, agriculture, and housing becoming heavily dependent on state support, increasing the burden on public finances and raising long-term fiscal risks.

• New laws compel businesses to accept government contracts, enforce price controls on essential goods, and allow military-related spending to bypass official budgets, all contributing to a dangerous shift toward a centrally planned economy and economic inefficiency.

The study concludes:

Since February 2022, Russia’s counter-sanctions measures have markedly shifted its economic governance toward greater state control and elements reminiscent of Soviet-era central planning. Large-scale subsidies, administrative pricing, and deep state involvement in production and procurement have suppressed market competition and efficiency. These interventions have distorted incentives and curtailed the role of market signals, contributing to growing inefficiency across key sectors.

Looking ahead, the long-term economic outlook for Russia is increasingly negative. While the counter-sanctions measures may have softened the initial blow of international sanctions, they have entrenched structural vulnerabilities, reduced fiscal flexibility, and amplified systemic risks, particularly in the financial and real estate sectors. Moreover, by undermining innovation and productivity, Russia’s counter sanctions are accelerating its trajectory toward deeper economic isolation and a centrally managed model, with severe implications for sustainable growth.

The Dutch animal feed company De Heus donated medicines and other goods to Russian soldiers at the front in Ukraine in December. The donations happened through a Russian subsidiary, which De Heus, owned by one of the richest families in the Netherlands, has not distanced itself from, the Volkskrant reports.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has criticised Britain’s invitation to Mr Donald Trump for a second state visit, saying it undermined his government’s effort to project a united front against the US President’s talk of annexing Canada.

Mr Starmer, who is trying to improve trading ties with the US after Britain left the European Union, has sought to play to its strengths when dealing with Mr Trump, talking up its security expertise, pledging higher defence spending, and offering the pomp and pageantry that comes with a state visit.

Under the new rules, sectors such as media services, critical raw materials and transport infrastructure will be subject to mandatory screening by member states, in order to identify and address foreign investment-related security or public order risks. The procedures applicable to national screening mechanisms will be harmonised and the Commission will have the power to intervene on its own initiative or where there are disagreements between member states about potential security or public order risks emanating from a specific foreign investment. The new law will also cover transactions within the EU where the direct investor is ultimately owned by individuals or entities from a non-EU country.

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The current foreign direct investment screening framework entered into force on 11 October 2020. It addressed growing concerns about certain foreign investors seeking to acquire control of EU firms that supply critical technologies, infrastructure or inputs, or hold sensitive information, and whose activities are critical for security or public order at EU level. The rules are designed to help identify and address security or public order risks relating to foreign direct investment involving at least two member states or the EU as a whole.

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Now that the report has been adopted in plenary, negotiations with member states on the final shape of the law can begin. Parliament and Council must adopt the final legislative act before it can enter into force.

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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Monday brushed off European Union complaints about treatment by Beijing, instead touting half-a-century's progress in economic ties.

However, recent remarks by the EU's top envoy suggest a thaw may be elusive—even as Beijing courts Brussels in a bid to capitalize on a growing rift with the United States.

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Speaking at a Shanghai event on Friday, EU Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo echoed the long-standing concerns of many European firms about preferential treatment of local competitors in the Chinese market.

"We have not been taken seriously when it comes to trade barriers," Toledo said. "Market access barriers [for European companies in China] are not going down. They're going up."

"We strongly feel that we not only do not have a level playing field for our companies in China, that the situation is not improving … there is something that has to be done," Toledo added.

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The trade dispute between China and the EU escalated last October after Brussels raised tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to as high as 45.3 percent, citing concerns over overcapacity that undercuts local manufacturers.

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The two sides also remain at odds over material support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with European officials saying Chinese authorities haven't done enough to curb dual-use exports that support Moscow's war machine.

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Grzegorz Stec, analyst with the Mercator Institute for China Studies' Brussels office, wrote in February: "Beijing is betting that pressure from Washington will send Europe into the arms of China to counterbalance trans-Atlantic tensions.

"Despite such views from Beijing, the lacking trust and persisting fundamental divergences of interests between China and Europe, even with Trump in the picture, mean there is a limit to any potential rapprochement."

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Climate policy is a central pillar of the European security architecture, especially in times of global crises. A new report by the Kiel Institute quantifies the security benefits of an ambitious EU climate policy. For every euro Europe spends less on oil, Russia’s war chest shrinks by 13 cents, thereby easing pressure on European defense budgets. These could decrease by 37 cents for each euro saved on oil. The calculations make it clear: From a geopolitical perspective as well, a higher CO₂ price is justified – and a speed limit would also have a direct security benefit

Full paper

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/34521810

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Funding parameters

• Project duration: 6 to 12 months
• Funding range: USD 5,000 to 25,000
• Target applicants: Civil society organisations, informal collectives, or Chinese HRD networks based outside China.
• Registration is not required, but applicants must be able to manage funds and activities in accordance with local tax and legal requirements.
• Location: Projects must be implemented outside China, preferably in Europe
• Strategic focus: Activities should contribute to international understanding and documentation of PRC human rights violations in- or outside of China, build community resilience against transnational repression, and/or increase local democratic engagement. Particular attention will be paid to the innovative nature or focus of proposed projects.

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How to apply

Please submit a concept note (maximum 2 pages, Word format) including the following:

• Organizational/Network/Personal background (at this stage, do NOT include any sensitive personal information).
• Proposed program background, problem statement and target audience/location.
• Project goals and intended outcomes.
• Main activities and proposed timeline (max. duration 12 months).
• Estimated budget.
• Risk assessment and mitigation strategies

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cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/22130262

No evidence has been seen that a genocide is occurring in Gaza or that women and children were targeted by the IDF, UK government lawyers have claimed