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Business Insider
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Western Sahara conflict builds up as Morocco gains support from the UK
France, in July 2024, noted that it was siding with Morocco on the matter of its sovereignty over the small country of Western Sahara. This support was to the detriment of Algeria, which also lays claim to the small North African territory. France declared its support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara in July 2024. The United Kingdom joined France in backing Morocco's proposal for limited autonomy for Western Sahara. Morocco's claim to sovereignty over Western Sahara is endorsed by several Western nations, strengthening diplomatic ties with Morocco. Recent reports indicate that other Western powerhouses have also followed in France's footsteps, opting to support the Moroccan side in its quest to seize administrative control of Western Sahara. The United Kingdom is the latest country to throw its weight behind Morocco, whereby it would have authority over the region while providing it with limited autonomy. The UK via its Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, noted that this move was the 'most credible and viable and pragmatic basis' to resolve the half-century dispute over the region between its neighbours, and other players. In the last year alone, given France's support of Morocco's claim to the region, Algeria, which also aims to gain autonomy over Western Sahara, has been at odds with the Western European nation. In July 2024, an open letter from France to Morocco's King Mohammed VI, Emmanuel Macron declared that the "only basis" for resolving the conflict was Morocco's 2007 proposal to provide Western Sahara limited autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. The UK seems to share this sentiment as Lammy stated that 'a resolution is long overdue.' The Foreign Minister, in the same breath, noted that the UK would be strengthening its commercial ties with the monarchy of Morocco, according to a Bloomberg report. The Western Sahara, which is a huge area of desert and coastline, has been the subject of intense conflict since Morocco invaded after Spanish colonial forces left in 1975. Over 16 years, sporadic skirmishes with the Polisario Front, which sought independence, cost almost 9,000 lives. Late in 2020, a three-decade truce broke down. Shortly thereafter, the administration of US President Donald Trump supported Morocco's claim to the region in an agreement that also saw Rabat consent to reestablish diplomatic relations with Israel. France's damaged relationship with Algeria and the Western Sahara dispute As mentioned above, in July 2024, France aligned with Morocco against Algeria over the sovereignty of the small Western Sahara republic. Algeria responded sharply to France's decision by withdrawing its ambassador in August of that year. Since then, a succession of arrests, expulsions, and public pronouncements have strained the relationship between the two countries.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
EU wheat stuck near contract lows
PARIS: Euronext wheat prices edged down on Friday to trade near contract lows as further signs of Russian export competition reinforced a bearish mood fuelled this week by improving global supply prospects. September milling wheat, the most active position on Paris-based Euronext, settled at 200.75 euros a metric ton, down 0.6%. It held close to a contract low of 200.25 euros set on Thursday but again remained above the psychological floor of 200 euros. December futures, also used as a benchmark for the 2025 crop, ended down 0.5% at 212.25 euros, near a contract low of 211.25 euros from early May. Russia needs to act swiftly to maintain its position as the world's top wheat exporter, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev said on Friday, acknowledging a sharp slowdown in wheat exports in the current season. Patrushev, who is responsible for agriculture in the government, said Russia will export 44.5 million metric tons of wheat in the 2024-2025 season. That was down sharply from last season but still above some analyst estimates for this season. On Thursday, agricultural consultancy Sovecon raised its forecast for Russia's wheat exports for the 2025-2026 season, citing improved weather conditions for the harvest. An upturn in Russian export activity could further dim Western European prospects after a slow season. 'With only June remaining in the season, a heavy EU wheat end-stock and a large incoming crop are anticipated,' British merchant Frontier Agriculture said in a note. Rain in parched areas of northern Europe in the past week has eased drought concerns. French wheat crop conditions declined in the week to May 26 but less sharply than in the previous week, data from farm office FranceAgriMer showed on Friday. Uncertainty over international trade relations also hung over the market. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that China had violated an agreement with the US to mutually roll back tariffs and trade restrictions for critical minerals. Volumes on Euronext were light, with some participants taking a long weekend after Thursday's Ascension Day holiday in some European countries.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Brits rushing to snap up £3K homes in one European country
House buyers priced out of the UK market are turning to a Balkan country where prices are considerably cheaper. Thousands of Brits who have found themselves priced out of the UK's property market are instead snapping up homes in Bulgaria, sometimes without stepping foot inside. And some are buying homes for less than it costs for a family holiday with properties for sale for as little as £3,000. The lure of bargain basement prices, low living costs and sunshine has seen the number of British nationals living in the country shoot up. In 2011 official census data showed 2,605 UK nationals living in the Balkan country. By 2021 that had risen to 4,484 and the true figure is, in 2025, expected to be higher now. Bulgaria, in eastern Europe, is becoming a draw for Brits who struggle to get a foot on the property ladder here with the national average price for a property sitting at £269,000, according to And estate agents in Bulgaria say business is booming from the UK despite many properties being sold in dilapidated states. Buyers are not put off by renovation costs though as they are far cheaper than here. Estate agent Gemma Stevenson, who moved to Bulgaria in 2007 and set up Bulgarian Property Experts, said demand from Britons is booming, reports the Express. She said: 'Whether you're renting or buying, the prices are significantly lower than in most Western European countries. You also have a much lower crime rate in rural areas and an incredibly welcoming local culture.' Ms Stevenson now lives with her fiance, Georgi, and their children. Her daughter Sky is studying at university in Veliko Tarnovo. She said rural communities are often keen to embrace newcomers. She said: 'The locals take young families under their wing. Even if they don't speak your language, they'll go out of their way to help — bringing you homemade chutneys, preserves or even rakia to try.' One family who are making the move are Maxwell and Leah Jones, Prestatyn, who bought a three-bed house in the town of Popovo for £8,000 without viewing it first. The couple, aged 38 and 29, had been struggling to buy in the UK and decided to change tack. Mr Jones told MailOnline: 'We were due to buy a house in the UK but it became hard to put all this money out and still be paying it off for 25 years. We looked at the price in Bulgaria and it became a no-brainer. Now we're mortgage-free.' They estimate the full renovation of their run down home will cost between £15,000 and £20,000 which is still a fraction of property prices in this country. The couple plan to move in full-time by the end of the year with their children, Lorenzo and Indy. Mum Donna Hardy, from Scunthorpe, bought a large rural home near Veliko Tarnovo for around £22,000 last year. The estate came with outbuildings, a barn and an acre of land. And in 2022, Lewis and Jordan Vye bought a rundown farmhouse for just £7,000, where they're raising children Fae and Leo. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Many say Bulgaria offers an enviable quality of life. Average monthly costs for a family can be as low as £300, with bills a fraction of UK rates. Council tax, for instance, can be as little as £25 a year. The weather is another major draw. Some regions see more than 300 days of sunshine annually, while access to the Black Sea coast and cheap rail links to Turkey and Greece provide plenty of travel options. However, Bulgaria does have its drawbacks. It is the poorest country in the EU by GDP per head, and its political landscape is deeply unstable. Allegations of vote-rigging, voter intimidation and corruption have dogged recent elections. Much of the controversy centres on sanctioned oligarch and MP Delyan Peevski, who is accused of embezzlement and bribery. Despite this, buyers seem undeterred. Listings on sites like eBay and Facebook Marketplace regularly feature properties under £10,000, and many buyers appear more focused on freedom and affordability than politics. Ms Stevenson added: 'If you're willing to roll up your sleeves and adapt to a slower pace of life, you can build something really special here.'
Budapest Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Kocsis: We did not join NATO or the European Union to be a serf
'We did not join NATO or the European Union to be a serf but a member with full rights,' Máté Kocsis, the group leader of ruling Fidesz said. During The Bold Truth About Hungary podcast, Kocsis said the EU leadership was 'so committed to Ukraine's entry' that 'it no longer matters who is an ally or who is an enemy, or a neutral party … we are members of NATO and the EU … we are their allies, peers, their partners … even if we have a different position on some important issues.' 'Then there is Ukraine, which is not a member, nor an ally … no doubt, it has been attacked … but not by Europe,' Kocsis said. He said plans to fast-track Ukraine's European Union membership was 'the best decision in view of their own interests, since nine out of ten agricultural companies in Ukraine are in fact in US, or Western European … ownership.' The EU's direct agricultural subsidies would therefore 'transit Ukraine and land in Western Europe,' Kocsis said. Kocsis also said if Ukraine were to be a member of the EU, the country could send 70-75 deputies to the European Parliament, some 10 percent of the whole assembly. Those MEPs, he added, 'would be grateful to the incumbent, liberal Brussels elite' and 'would not join the Patriots group associated with (Hungarian PM) Viktor Orban.' Ukraine does not like that 'the Hungarian government wants to make a decision over their EU accession based on feedback from Hungarian voters,' Kocsis said. He said it was obvious that Ukraine was 'trying to discredit Hungary's referendum (on Ukraine's entry) and put Hungary in a situation in which we could be accused of making preparations for a military intervention, which could then prove Ukraine's position in the international arena'. 'I am certain it all is behind the games and considerations of the Ukrainian secret services,' Kocsis added. The Ukrainian leadership is trying to 'make Hungarians uncertain in their decision … should they oppose Ukraine's entry, Kocsis said, adding that some of the Hungarian media contributed to Ukraine's 'misinformation campaign'. He singled out news portal which he said had reported that the government's Voks2025 survey had been 'met with the public's total disinterest' whereas 1.2 million had returned the sheets to date. 'Ukraine appears to be manically trying to prove that Hungary is in fact pro-war rather than pro-peace,' Kocsis said, adding that the opposition Tisza Party was working to achieve the same end. He insisted that Ukraine was painting a picture of the people recently arrested on charges of espionage 'so that they could later accuse Hungary of plans to send tanks to Transcarpathia.'
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
US issues sudden warning on Italy travel, cites 'risk of terrorist violence'
Italy placed itself as the fifth most visited country in the world in 2024, welcoming a whopping 65 million international visitors in 2024. However, the US and Canada still keep the country at their 'exercise increased caution' travel advisory rating instead of the 'take normal precautions. ' The US state department issued a new travel advisory on May 23, warning of possible attacks in key public areas, including hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, transport hubs, shopping centres, parks and cultural events. "There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy," The Street quoted the advisory. The warning positioned Italy alongside other Western European nations like France and the UK, where major cities face similar security risks. Rome, home to nearly three million people, is considered more susceptible to such threats than smaller European capitals like Vienna, Bern or Zagreb, which are currently rated at Level 1, "exercise normal precautions". The advisory warned that terrorists may strike with little or no warning, urging travellers to stay vigilant at a variety of common targets. These include popular tourist spots, transportation centres, shopping malls and markets, as well as local government buildings. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Hotels, clubs, restaurants, religious sites, parks, and sporting or cultural events are also considered potential risks. Additionally, schools, airports, and other public areas have been highlighted as places where attacks could occur, underscoring the need for heightened caution throughout the country. The US advisory system comprises four tiers, with Level 1 being the lowest and Level 4 reserved for war zones or countries under authoritarian regimes. While the Level 2 designation for Italy has not changed in recent years, the newly reissued advisory includes a more specific cautionary tone, although no fresh incidents have been cited. The state department said its advisories are regularly reviewed and updated, however, it did not clarify why this particular update was issued now. A similarly vague advisory for Switzerland issued on 20 May, despite its reputation as one of the world's safest countries, sparked ridicule across social media. The Italian government has not commented on the renewed US advisory, which encourages travellers to remain vigilant, follow local news, and register with the US embassy before or during their trip. 'Check local media for breaking news,' the notice advised. It further asked tourists to prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. In a broader diplomatic context, the advisory update came as other nations scrutinised travel to the United States itself. The UK foreign ministry updated its own guidance in March 2025, warning citizens to comply strictly with US entry rules amid reports of travellers being detained at American borders. 'You may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules,' the advice notes. Meanwhile, in a modest gesture toward improving relations, the US downgraded China's travel warning from Level 3 ("reconsider travel") to Level 2 in late 2024, a move that drew backlash from Republican lawmakers but has not been reversed under the Trump administration. As peak travel season begins, tourists headed to Italy in 2025 are advised to remain aware.
