EU artificial intelligence regulation takes effect, sparking new Europe-US clash
This applies in particular to the governance component; the 27 member states must inform the European Commission about which national authorities will be responsible for ensuring the proper enforcement of the rules. Service providers will therefore be subject to closer scrutiny – though that remains mostly theoretical in some member states, which have yet to designate the relevant bodies. In France, the Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, the French Data Protection Authority, and the Defender of Rights have been chosen for this role.
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Euronews
2 hours ago
- Euronews
Kilis-Aleppo natural gas pipeline opened: Gas flow to Syria started
The export of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Syria via Turkey began on Saturday with the opening of the Turkey-Syria natural gas pipeline. The inauguration ceremony was held in the Turkish city of Kilis only seven kilometres from the Syrian border. It was attended by Turkish Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bakyraktar, Qatar Development Fund President Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed Al-Bashir and Azberbaijani Economic Minister Mikayıl Jabbarov. In his opening speech, Bayraktar said that the new pipeline means the electricity supply in Syria will be increased from between three and four hours a day to ten hours a day. Electricity will now be exported from Turkey to Syria from eight different points, Bayraktar said, with the export capacity expected to increase in the coming years. "With the new connections, the capacity will reach 860 megawatts," he said. Speaking to Euronews, Bayraktar said that European countries expecting Syrians to return home "need to put concrete projects in place to turn expectations into reality." He said that "Turkey has been an important host" to Syrians who fled their country due to war. While many of these people want to return to their home country, he said the conditions need to be provided for them to do so. "Many countries, especially European countries, refuse our Syrian brothers and sisters and do not accept them, Turkey has been and continues to be a very important host in this sense." "Syria has many needs, infrastructure needs and other needs. Therefore, it is important for the European Union countries, European countries, Western countries to support, embrace and contribute to these projects that are necessary for the normalisation of life there in this sense," he said. The minister had previously announced that Turkey would cooperate with Azerbaijan and Qatar in natural gas exports to Syria. He said that a significant increase in energy production would help with "accelerating the return" of Syrians in Turkey. Bayraktar also announced the signing of an agreement with Azerbaijani state-owned oil and gas company SOCAR for natural gas. Energy cooperation Immediately after the EU and the US lifted sanctions on Syria, it was announced in May that a $7 billion (€6.04 billion) strategic cooperation agreement was signed between Kalyon Holding and Cengiz Holding from Turkey, UCC from Qatar, Power International from the US and the Syrian Ministry of Energy. Within the scope of the agreement, the groups intended to build natural gas cycle power plants across Syria within the next three years. A solar power plant is also expected to be built in around two years. The consortium aims to ensure Syria's energy supply security, environmental sustainability and regional development. Energy supply during the civil war Syrians have been struggling with serious energy shortages since the start of the civil war. The years-long war paralysed more than 50 percent of the country's electricity grid, reducing electricity generation capacity from 8,500 megawatts to 3,500 megawatts. It is stated that the main reason for this is the serious damage to power plants in the regions of Mkharde, Aleppo and Zayzoun. Before the civil war in 2011, Syria was producing and exporting 400 thousand barrels of oil per day. However, now it can only produce 20 thousand barrels and is dependent on imports. The natural gas sector, which was just developing in 2011, is almost non-existent today.
France 24
2 hours ago
- France 24
FRANCE 24 report in Sweida: Tens of thousands displaced since clashes began
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France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Dmitry Medvedev: Russia's hawkish ex-president
The 59-year-old, who served as head of state between 2008 and 2012, sought "friendly" ties with Europe and the United States during his single term but faded into obscurity after handing the post back to President Vladimir Putin. Demoted to prime minister in 2012 and then made deputy head of Russia's security council in 2020 -- a largely advisory role -- Medvedev began espousing hardline views on social media shortly after Moscow launched its Ukraine offensive. In public statements since the conflict began he has described Westerners as "bastards and degenerates", declared that "Ukraine is, of course, Russia" and raised the possibility of using nuclear weapons against Russia's enemies. In June, after the US launched air strikes on nuclear facilities in Moscow-allied Iran, Medvedev suggested that "a number of countries" were willing to provide Tehran with nuclear warheads, prompting an angry Trump to accuse him of "casually" threatening a nuclear strike. On Thursday, Medvedev alluded to Moscow's semi-automatic "Dead Hand" nuclear arms control system in a Telegram post criticising Trump. Medvedev's critics have derided his posts as an attempt to retain political relevance in Russia's crowded elite circles, but Trump has taken the threats seriously. "Based on the highly provocative statements," Trump said Friday, "I have ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that." Tandem rule Medvedev's often incendiary posts contrast sharply with his public image in office, when he declared Russia did not want confrontation with "any country" as part of his foreign policy doctrine. In 2010, he signed a nuclear arms reduction treaty with US President Barack Obama, while in 2011 he brought Russia into the World Trade Organisation after 18 years of negotiations. On his watch, Moscow also abstained in a key UN Security Council vote on Libya in 2011 that paved the way for a NATO-led military intervention, a decision Putin has relentlessly criticised since. But it was always clear who was the senior partner in a pairing dubbed Batman and Robin by a secret US cable. Medvedev's first act after winning a 2008 presidential election on the back of Putin's support was to appoint the Russian strongman as prime minister, giving Putin broad decision-making power. While some in the West greeted Medvedev's arrival, others saw him as simply a placeholder for Putin, who was able to circumvent constitutional term limits and remain in de facto power. In 2008 Russia sent troops into Georgia, fracturing relations with the West, a decision that Medvedev insisted he made but that a top general claimed was planned by Putin before Medvedev was even inaugurated. His trademark modernisation programme was marked by bold statements but was also mercilessly mocked by commentators for being short on actions as Putin held real power. Putin's protege Medvedev, born in Putin's home town of Leningrad, owes his entire political career to the former KGB agent. Putin took his protege to Moscow after being appointed prime minister in 1999 and Medvedev rapidly rose to become chairman of gas giant Gazprom. He also served as chief of staff at the Kremlin and as first deputy prime minister. After taking office, he said Russia's economy had reached a "dead end" and required urgent reform. But cynics pointed out that such words counted for little when Russia was still dominated by Putin, and Medvedev himself played down the idea there was any radical difference in their visions. After championing anti-corruption measures while in office, Medvedev was himself accused of graft in 2017, when late opposition leader Alexei Navalny alleged he had built a luxury property empire using embezzled funds. Navalny was labelled an "extremist" by Russian authorities in 2021. While liberals and the West hoped Medvedev would reverse the increase in state control and erosion of civil liberties during Putin's previous rule, he showed little desire for a radical break with Putin's legacy. "Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin really is modern Russia's most popular, experienced and successful politician," Medvedev said during an attempt to explain why he was standing down in favour of Putin in 2012.
