Latest news with #SAFE
Euronews
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Brussels, my love? War in Gaza - what's Netanyahu's endgame?
In the Middle East, we've come to a turning point. Many of Israel's remaining allies have broken publicly with Benjamin Netanyahu's government for its relentless pummelling of Gaza and freezing of desperately needed humanitarian aid. In a highly unusual move, Canada, France and the UK threatened Israel with consequences. And even Donald Trump seems to run out of patience. Will Netanyahu listen? What leverage does the international community have on Israel? And on Hamas? Questions to this week's panel: James Moran, associate senior research fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), Kathleen Van Brempt, member of the European Parliament from the Belgian Social Democrats and Jacob Reynolds, head of policy at Hungarian think tank MCC Brussels. International pressure has been mounting on Israel over the past several days over its strategy in Gaza. The European Union said it will review its wide-ranging trade and cooperation pact with Israel over what Brussels sees as a catastrophic situation in Gaza . And even Germany, usually a staunch Israeli ally, voiced strong criticism, signalling that Berlin is unwilling to become isolated in the EU over Israel. It doesn't look like Netanyahu is willing to change anything. Israel launched a new military offensive into the enclave amid the reports that Israel's military plans to control 75% of Gaza within the next two months. Should Europe push (again) for a two-state solution? Behind the innocent acronym SAFE lies a risky gamble, a continental ambition, and perhaps the beginning of an assertive military divorce from Washington. SAFE stands for 'Security Action for Europe', an unprecedented 150 billion-euro plan to revolutionize the Old Continent's defence capabilities. A kind of Marshall Plan for the 21st century, but with support no longer coming from the United States. The EU Commission proposed SAFE through a legislative instrument that allows it to bypass a vote by the Parliament. And this is the problem. Was this a smart move? The president of the European Parliament threatened to sue the Commission over this plan - are we running into a constitutional crisis here? Finally, participants discussed the latest fight between Brussels and Hungary. The European Commission is setting the stage for an all-out confrontation with Budapest. Brussels has demanded that Budapest withdraw its controversial draft law aimed at limiting foreign funding of media organizations and NGOs. If the law were to come into force, it would give the government far-reaching powers to crack down on the press and critical voices in society. The EU Commission sees this as a serious violation of European principles and laws. Some members of the European Parliament from five different groups are urging the Commission to immediately freeze all EU funding to Hungary. Is this the right reaction and would it even be legally possible? What is the end game here? Can Hungary survive as a member of the European Union? Poland's two presidential candidates held their last election campaigns on Friday ahead of a runoff vote on Sunday. It will follow a first round on May 18, in which Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski won more than 31% of the vote and Karol Nawrocki, a conservative historian, earned nearly 30%. Eleven other candidates were eliminated. In the seaside city of Gdansk, Trzaskowski referenced the city's role in the Solidarity movement while addressing supporters. 'We all remember the shipyard workers who said, 'enough fear, enough lies, enough contempt.' Today, once again, we must stand together,' he said. 'For you, it will be just a few steps to the polling station, but together we can make a milestone towards realising our dreams and aspirations.' In his closing address, Nawrocki presented himself as a candidate who is 'simply one of you.' He described himself as 'a citizen of the Polish state who has come a long way to compete with a man created by a political laboratory.' Under Polish law, all campaigning and political advertising must cease at midnight. No public comment is allowed until polls close on Sunday.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Appalachian Trail challenge: Franklin man's 100-mile run for a cause
Franklin resident James Flannery is preparing for a 100-mile run across part of the Appalachian Trail to raise awareness and support for mental health, according to a community announcement. The run, scheduled for June 20, will cover some of the northernmost leg of the trail, known as the 'Hundred-Mile Wilderness.' It stretches from Monson in Western Massachusetts to Abol Bridge in Maine, and is considered the most remote and rugged part of the trail, with a total elevation gain of 18,000 feet. It typically takes hikers eight to 12 days to complete, but Flannery aims to finish in less than 30 hours, according to the announcement. 'The goal for me is to make it end to end, raise money for SAFE, and have a good day,' he said in a statement. 'We have to respond': How Gov. Healey acknowledged May as Mental Health Awareness Month Flannery, an experienced trail hiker, runner and ultramarathoner, is no stranger to challenging terrains. He has previously 'yo-yo hiked' the 272-mile Long Trail in Vermont, summited 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado and hiked the Hundred-Mile Wilderness route, according to the announcement. 'It's about stepping into the unknown,' Flannery said. 'I like not knowing how my mind and body are going to respond. You get to the second 50 miles, that part you've never done before, and you think, 'This is new, this is fun.'' In addition to completing the run, Flannery hopes to achieve a "fastest known time" for completing the course. It's currently 29.5 hours. 'If I have a remarkable day, an FKT might be a cherry on top,' he said. Flannery said he's planning a rare southbound route, which will take him across the trail's highest elevation gains in the second half of his race. Streets of Lexington: Runner completes self-designed 50-mile ultramarathon 'The first 50 (miles) will be kind of casual,' he said, laughing. 'Then, I'll have enough in the tank to do the mountainous sections. That's more exciting for me.' Beyond the personal challenge, Flannery is committed to raising mental health awareness and increasing access to resources. He chose to fundraise for SAFE Coalition, a Franklin area nonprofit that offers support services like teen programing, support groups and one-on-one counseling at no cost. 'As someone who has struggled with mental health at times myself, I can definitely see why SAFE's work is helpful to folks,' he said. 'I am inspired to help the cause, and I don't have a ton of money to donate. But I can do this adventure run and raise money, and I hope it will be as helpful.' For more information about Flannery's run and to support his cause, visit or text "100run" to 50155. SAFE can be contacted at info@ or 508-488-8105. This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Franklin ultrarunner will take on 100-mile chunk of Appalachian Trail
India.com
2 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Rs 17430000000000000 bunkers built for people in…, the aim is to...
Rs 17430000000000000 bunkers built for people in…, the aim is to... World's richest people always find a way to get ahead of everyone. Well, this is not only in business, but if the world is going to end in the coming days, they have already found a way to safeguard themselves. Secret luxurious bunkers are being made for the world's richest people where they can save themselves if doomsday happens. United States official Catherine Austin Fitts made a sensational claim that has raised the question again. Catherine, who was in the administration of former US President George H. W. Bush, recently claimed that the US government has quietly built about 170 underground and undersea bunkers by spending 21 trillion dollars (about Rs 1,743,00,00,00,00,000) between 1998 and 2015. These bunkers are connected to each other through a secret transit system powered by an unknown technology. Catherine made the claim during a podcast of Fox News' famous anchor Tucker Carlson. She said the super strong bunkers have been built to protect the rich from the world's disasters. However, concreate evidence of the claim has not been found. 21 Trillion Dollars… Where Did This Money Go? Economist Mark Skidmore's 2017 report, cited by Fitts, revealed major irregularities in American federal spending. Millions of dollars in undocumented adjustments, lacking supporting documentation, were identified within the Defence and Housing Departments. Catherine Fiits alleges these funds were used to secretly construct several powerful bunkers. This is not just a theory, bunkers are being built! An American company SAFE (Strategically Armored and Fortified Environments) has recently announced its mega project names- 'Aerie'. This USD 300 million underground fort to be built near Washington by 2026. The fort, equipped with all the necessary things, will keep 625 world's richest people safe in times of natural or human made disaster. The price of the fort's single ticket is Just USD 20 million per person. A luxury survival bunker, offering amenities comparable to a five-star hotel, including AI-powered healthcare, wellness facilities, a bowling alley, indoor pool, and IV therapy, has received thousands of applications from wealthy individuals worldwide. The Billionaires Are Ready… What Will We Do? As per a report by Bloomberg, in 2018, at least seven tech billionaires bought bunkers in New Zealand. Notably, Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg is building a huge private complex on Hawaii island, including an underground bunker. According to reports, the construction workers have been made to sign NDAs (confidentiality agreements). Media thinkers like Douglas Rushkoff believe that this trend of buying entry tickets or building bunkers reflects a deep concern that even the rich people don't believe that the world will last much longer.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Beshear says special session likely to respond to recent natural disasters
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — After back-to-back natural disasters, Gov. Andy Beshear said on Thursday that there is a strong possibility he will call a special session of the General Assembly but added that there is still a conversation that needs to be had with legislative leaders. 'We just need firm numbers. Our budget office is working on those now,' Gov. Beshear said at a Team Kentucky briefing on Thursday, May 29. The decision is not set in stone, but the costs associated with storm cleanup from the deadly tornadoes this month and even possibly April's flooding could require lawmakers to return to Frankfort to create a 'SAFE fund.' Deputies investigating deadly 3-vehicle Scott County crash on I-64 West Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park a refuge for London tornado victims working towards rebuilding Gov. Beshear says special session likely to respond to recent natural disasters 'What the SAFE fund does is help those counties. Help them with the dollars they have to put out until they get the FEMA reimbursement, whichever level it's going to be, because counties hit by major natural disasters simply can't afford it,' Beshear said. The governor said it's still going to be a few weeks before his office has hard numbers to present to lawmakers of the overall ask for a SAFE fund, and he said he's also likely to request access to more money in emergency funding, something the legislature increased to $100 million in the most recent session after Beshear voiced concern. 'Those dollars can't be used to help counties with their fiscal liquidity issues,' Beshear explained. Beshear said he expects to reach that funding cap. Senate President Robert Stivers shared this statement with FOX 56 on the governor's possible request. 'When the executive and legislative branches work together in good faith, state government is better equipped to serve our constituents. During the last session, we doubled the Governor's emergency funding authority to $100 million and made it immediately accessible. If additional funding is needed, the General Assembly stands ready to act when appropriately engaged, whether during the upcoming session on January 6 or sooner through a constitutionally called special session. FDA reports rodent infestation at Louisville food distributor The legislature has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to act quickly when there is a legitimate and urgent need. A targeted relief package could be passed in as little as three days if that need is demonstrated and communicated.' 'I don't have any set date. And certainly, before we would set any date, we'd talk to the General Assembly. I'm not going to call a special session unless leadership is for it. I want to make sure that if we do it, it's successful. And that they feel like they have enough information to be confident in it,' Beshear said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Roads To War: The EU's Security Action For Europe Fund
As the world was readying for the Second World War, the insightful humane Austrian author Stefan Zweig made the following glum observation: 'Openly and flagrantly, certain countries express their will to expand and make preparations for war. The politics of rearmament is pursued in broad daylight and at breakneck speed; every day you read in the papers arguments in favour of armaments expansion, the idea that it reduces unemployment and provides a boost to the stock exchange.' This is not so different from the approval by European Union countries on May 27 of a €150 billion loan program known as the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) borrowing scheme. A press release from the European Council stated that the scheme 'will finance urgent and large-scale investments in the European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB)' with the intention of boosting 'production capacity, making sure defence equipment is available when needed, and to address existing capability gaps – ultimately strengthening the EU's overall defence readiness.' The statement also makes a central rationale clear: that SAFE will enable continued European support for Ukraine, linking its defence industry to the program. Despite not being an EU member, Kyiv will be able to participate in the scheme. Interestingly enough, the United Kingdom, despite leaving the EU, will also be able to participate via a separate agreement. Disbursements to interested member states upon demand, considered along national plans 'will take the form of competitively priced long-maturity loans, to be repaid by the beneficiary member states.' The scheme further anticipates the types of weaponry, euphemistically titled 'defence products', that will feature. As outlined by the European Council on March 6, these will comprise two categories: the first covering, amongst others, such products as ammunition and missiles, artillery systems, ground combat capabilities with support systems; the second, air and missile defence systems, maritime surface and underwater capabilities, drones and anti-drone systems and 'strategic enablers' including air-to-air refuelling, artificial intelligence and electronic warfare. The broader militarisation agenda is confirmed by linking SAFE with broader transatlantic engagement and 'complementarity with NATO.' It will 'strive to enhance interoperability, continue industrial cooperation, and ensure reciprocal access to state-of-the-art technologies with trusted partners.' Significantly, the emphasis is on collaboration: a minimum of three countries must combine when requesting funding for SAFE defence projects. There seems to be something for everyone: the militarist, the war monger and the merchants of death. Global Finance, a publication dedicated to informing 'corporate financial professionals', was already praising the SAFE proposal in April. 'The initiative has the potential to transform the business models of many top European defense groups – like Saab, which has traditionally relied on contracts from the Swedish state to grow its sales.' What a delight it will be for such defence companies to move beyond the constraints on sales imposed by their limiting governments. A veritable European market of death machinery is in the offing. The fund is intended for one, unambiguous purpose: war. The weasel word 'defence' is merely the code, the cipher. Break it, and it spells out aggression and conflict, a hankering for the next great military confrontation. The reason is traditional, historic and irrational: the Oriental despotic eminence arising from the Asian steppes, people supposedly untutored in the niceties of European good manners and democracy. Not that European manners and democracy is in splendid health. A mere glance at some of the candidates suggests decline in institutional credibility and scepticism. But we can always blame the Russians for that, deviously sowing doubt with their disinformation schemes. The initiative, and its tightening of ties with arming Ukraine, has made such critics as Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán sound modestly sensible. 'We need to invest in our own armies, but they expect us to fund Ukraine's - with billions, for years to come,' he declared in a post on X. 'We've made it clear: Hungary will not pay. Our duty is to protect our own people.' The approval of the fund by the European Commission has also angered some members of the European Parliament, an institution which has been treated with near contempt by the European Commission. European Parliament Presidente Roberta Metsola warned Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier in May to reconsider the use of Article 122 of the EU Treaty, which should be used sparingly in emergencies in speeding up approvals with minimal parliamentary scrutiny. Bypassing Europe's invigilating lawmakers risked 'undermining democratic legitimacy by weakening Parliament's legislative and scrutiny functions'. The Council's resort to Article 122 potentially enlivened a process that could see a legal case taken to the European Court of Justice. The European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee (JURI) has also supported a legal opinion repudiating the Commission's cavalier approach in approving the fund. According to that tartly reasoned view, Article 122 was an inappropriate justification, as the threshold for evoking emergency powers had simply not been met. Ironically, the rearmament surge is taking place on both sides of the Atlantic, at both the behest of the Trump administration, ever aggrieved by Europe not pulling its military weight, and Moscow, characterised and caricatured as a potential invader, the catalyst for decorating a continent with bristling weaponry. The former continues to play hide and seek with Brussels while still being very much in Europe, be it in terms of permanent garrisons and military assets; the latter remains a convenient excuse to cross the palms of the military industrial establishment with silver. How Zweig would have hated it.
