Latest News from Euronews
Euronews
27 minutes ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Russia proposes second round of peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul
Russia is proposing to hold a second round of talks aimed at finding a way to bring their invasion of Ukraine to an end. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that the Kremlin is prepared to engage in further negotiations with Kyiv in Istanbul on 2 June. The Russian top diplomat also stated that Moscow has come up with a list of issues it deems integral to the war. Lavrov says that Russia has come up with ways to overcome what he called 'root causes of the crisis' in a corresponding memorandum. 'The Russian side, as agreed, promptly developed a corresponding memorandum, which sets out our position on all aspects of reliably overcoming the root causes of the crisis (with Ukraine),' said Lavrov. 'Our delegation, headed by (Russian presidential aide) Vladimir Medinsky, is ready to present this memorandum to the Ukrainian delegation and provide the necessary explanations during the second round of resumed direct negotiations in Istanbul next Monday, June 2,' he added. The announcement comes after Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held meetings with Lavrov and Russian President Vladimir Putin on a two-day visit to Moscow, to explore ways his country can further advance the peace process. Lavrov expressed his gratitude to Fidan and Turkey, thanking them for providing a platform for the negotiations. 'I would like to once again express my gratitude to our Turkish partners for providing a hospitable Turkish platform.' Lavrov also took the opportunity to snap back at the countries who've been accusing Russia of not being serious about peace. 'We hope that all those who are sincerely, and not just in words, interested in the success of the peace process will support holding a new round of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations in Istanbul,' he added. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is sending mixed signals on the ongoing peace efforts. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said that he was "very disappointed" in Russian President Vladmir Putin's decision to escalate attacks on Ukraine as the two sides are negotiating an end to the war. "I can say this that I'm very disappointed at what happened a couple of nights now where people were killed in the middle of what you would call a negotiation. I'm disappointed by that, very, very disappointed," Trump said. He however noted that he's holding off on new sanctions on Russia because he doesn't want to interfere with his attempts to negotiate peace. 'If I think I'm close to getting a deal, I don't want to screw it up by doing that,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. 'Let me tell you, I'm a lot tougher than the people you're talking about. But you have to know when to use that. If I think it's going to hurt a deal.' The US president also added that in around two weeks, it'll become clear to him whether or not Russia is 'tapping' him along. Trump warned that if he believes Russia are not sincere in their desire to end the war, a shift in Washinton's approach to Moscow is imminent.
Euronews
6 hours ago
- Euronews
Tate brothers charged with rape and trafficking in UK, prosecutors say
Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate have been charged in the United Kingdom with rape and other crimes, prosecutors have said. The charges were authorised in January last year and news media at the time reported on arrest warrants issued against the brothers, dual US and British citizens who moved to Romania in 2016. But the Crown Prosecution Service said this was the first time it confirmed the two had been criminally charged in Britain. Andrew Tate, 38, faces 10 charges related to three women that include rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain. Tristan Tate, 36, faces 11 charges related to one woman that include rape, human trafficking and actual bodily harm. A spokesperson for the two had no immediate comment when reached by The Associated Press. The brothers are both former professional kickboxers who have millions of followers on social media. Andrew is more well-known, having drawn a larger following with his unapologetic misogyny that has drawn boys and young men to the luxurious lifestyle he projects. The Tates were arrested in Romania in late 2022 and formally indicted last year on charges that they participated in a criminal ring that lured women there, where they were allegedly sexually exploited. Andrew Tate was also charged with rape. They have denied all the allegations in Romania. Romanian courts have issued an order to extradite the two to the UK once their court case is concluded in there, British prosecutors said. The warrant issued by Bedfordshire Police for the siblings dates back to between 2012 and 2015. The whereabouts of the brothers is not immediately clear. They were photographed a week ago outside a police station in Voluntari, Romania, where they have to report regularly while facing charges there. Morocco's economy and investment capacity benefited from its proximity to the European Union, which is by far the country's most important trading partner, said Zidane. The country also has a well-educated diaspora that knows its way around both Morocco and Europe. These people acted as bridge builders. Zidane himself worked in Germany for more than 20 years, primarily in the automotive industry. In addition, the reforms implemented by King Mohammed VI and the more than 50 free trade agreements with global partners have made Morocco an open and competitive country, said Zidane. The policy is based on sustainability and assesses the consequences of political measures and their cross-effects. Economically, Morocco has not concentrated on one sector but has expanded on a large scale. Today, the automotive, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries, as well as aircraft construction, are outstanding. Today, every airplane that flies around the world has components from Morocco. Then there is Morocco's classic industry: tourism. Last year, the country became number one on the African continent with 17.4 million visitors.
Euronews
6 hours ago
- Euronews
Stability is the key to investment, says Moroccan Minister Zidane
Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate have been charged in the United Kingdom with rape and other crimes, prosecutors have said. The charges were authorised in January last year and news media at the time reported on arrest warrants issued against the brothers, dual US and British citizens who moved to Romania in 2016. But the Crown Prosecution Service said this was the first time it confirmed the two had been criminally charged in Britain. Andrew Tate, 38, faces 10 charges related to three women that include rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain. Tristan Tate, 36, faces 11 charges related to one woman that include rape, human trafficking and actual bodily harm. A spokesperson for the two had no immediate comment when reached by The Associated Press. The brothers are both former professional kickboxers who have millions of followers on social media. Andrew is more well-known, having drawn a larger following with his unapologetic misogyny that has drawn boys and young men to the luxurious lifestyle he projects. The Tates were arrested in Romania in late 2022 and formally indicted last year on charges that they participated in a criminal ring that lured women there, where they were allegedly sexually exploited. Andrew Tate was also charged with rape. They have denied all the allegations in Romania. Romanian courts have issued an order to extradite the two to the UK once their court case is concluded in there, British prosecutors said. The warrant issued by Bedfordshire Police for the siblings dates back to between 2012 and 2015. The whereabouts of the brothers is not immediately clear. They were photographed a week ago outside a police station in Voluntari, Romania, where they have to report regularly while facing charges there. Morocco's economy and investment capacity benefited from its proximity to the European Union, which is by far the country's most important trading partner, said Zidane. The country also has a well-educated diaspora that knows its way around both Morocco and Europe. These people acted as bridge builders. Zidane himself worked in Germany for more than 20 years, primarily in the automotive industry. In addition, the reforms implemented by King Mohammed VI and the more than 50 free trade agreements with global partners have made Morocco an open and competitive country, said Zidane. The policy is based on sustainability and assesses the consequences of political measures and their cross-effects. Economically, Morocco has not concentrated on one sector but has expanded on a large scale. Today, the automotive, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries, as well as aircraft construction, are outstanding. Today, every airplane that flies around the world has components from Morocco. Then there is Morocco's classic industry: tourism. Last year, the country became number one on the African continent with 17.4 million visitors. Representatives of civil society groups in Kosovo have protested the ongoing blockade of parliament by staging a symbolic demonstration in front of the building in Pristina. The demonstration took place an hour before the 22nd failed attempt for the newly elected Parliament to convene. Symbolic clocks were erected at the protest, which, according to the organisers, symbolise the time lost since 9 February, the day of the elections and the start of the institutional formation talks. According to Eugen Cakoli, from the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI), protesting against the "normalisation of the institutional crisis" was the goal of the demonstration. "Most MPs choose to ignore the alarm that has been ringing for months. Every political party is equally accountable for the Assembly's dysfunction," Cakoli stated. After the parliamentary elections of 9 February, Kosovo still does not have an assembly, something political analysts say raises questions of legality over the activities of the acting government, which is functioning under a technical mandate. Prime Minister Albin Kurti and a dozen of his ministers, in addition to having already taken the parliamentary oath, have been carrying out their functions in government. At the protest on Tuesday, alarms were sent off simultaneously to highlight how urgent it is to resolve the institutional problem. "Every delay has a price!" and "Circus of Democracy" were among the slogans displayed on 120 empty chairs that were set in front of the parliament in the order that they would be seated in the Assembly. "We filed 17 criminal charges against Prime Minister Albin Kurti and former ministers of his cabinet," said opposition politician Hikmete Bajrami, from the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo. "All of them are elected MPs and their mandates were certified by the Central Election Commission according to the official results. So, we consider and believe that since 27 March, they have been violating Article 26 of the government law," explained Bajrami. Although Prime Minister Albin Kurti and members of his cabinet resigned from their executive positions ahead of the swearing-in of deputies, many argue that, according to the law, members of the government could not remain under a technical mandate. In April, Kosovo's legislature swore in the 120 lawmakers in Parliament, after procedural disputes between the political parties, but failed twice to elect a new speaker, a process that's now taking the country into a prolonged legislative crisis All parties that won seats in the 9 February election voted unanimously in favour of taking up their mandates, opening the way to the election of the new speaker and deputy speakers. Albin Kurti's Self-Determination Movement continues to govern, with Kurti as acting prime minister. "Kosovo has a government, and I am acting as prime minister. What is missing in Kosovo is a new Assembly of the Republic," he told local media in an interview earlier this month. However, under the technical mandate in which the current MPs sit, the government continues to make strategic decisions. "The normal situation would be that they did not take the oath of parliament at all, but that they continued to perform their duties in the executive branch and that later, depending on whether they would form a government or not, they would change seats in the parliament," says Serbian academic Aleksandar Rapajić, from the Centre for Advocacy of Democratic Culture. His position was also shared by Bljerina Istrefi from the Group for Legal and Political Studies, who believes the current parliament impasse has brought about an illegal situation at the executive level. "A total of 17 decisions were made by the prime minister and ministers at government meetings, in violation of Article 72 of the Constitution, and were presented and were part of the decision-making process," says Istrefi. "This means that each of these decisions is illegal because it was made by a working executive in violation of the highest legal act," she said. Apart from the fact that all decisions made by the current government in Pristina must be annulled, this way of working is an abuse of official position and authority and is punishable under Article 414 of the Criminal Code of Kosovo, concluded the Group for Legal and Political Studies. Civil society organisations in the country have vowed to continue to protest against this until the ninth legislature is convened. Kurti's Vetevendosje! party won 48 out of 120 seats, falling short of the majority needed to form a cabinet on its own. A new cabinet would be required to manage the nation's economy and deal with lingering diplomatic issues, which include continuing the 14-year-old normalisation talks with Serbia, which have not advanced as tensions between the two countries increase. Kurti and the three major opposition parties, however, have all rejected forming a partnership.
Euronews
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Kosovo's Albin Kurti faces questions of legality over assembly impasse
Representatives of civil society groups in Kosovo have protested the ongoing blockade of parliament by staging a symbolic demonstration in front of the building in Pristina. The demonstration took place an hour before the 22nd failed attempt for the newly elected Parliament to convene. Symbolic clocks were erected at the protest, which, according to the organisers, symbolise the time lost since 9 February, the day of the elections and the start of the institutional formation talks. According to Eugen Cakoli, from the Kosovo Democratic Institute (KDI), protesting against the "normalisation of the institutional crisis" was the goal of the demonstration. "Most MPs choose to ignore the alarm that has been ringing for months. Every political party is equally accountable for the Assembly's dysfunction," Cakoli stated. After the parliamentary elections of 9 February, Kosovo still does not have an assembly, something political analysts say raises questions of legality over the activities of the acting government, which is functioning under a technical mandate. Prime Minister Albin Kurti and a dozen of his ministers, in addition to having already taken the parliamentary oath, have been carrying out their functions in government. At the protest on Tuesday, alarms were sent off simultaneously to highlight how urgent it is to resolve the institutional problem. "Every delay has a price!" and "Circus of Democracy" were among the slogans displayed on 120 empty chairs that were set in front of the parliament in the order that they would be seated in the Assembly. "We filed 17 criminal charges against Prime Minister Albin Kurti and former ministers of his cabinet," said opposition politician Hikmete Bajrami, from the Democratic Alliance of Kosovo. "All of them are elected MPs and their mandates were certified by the Central Election Commission according to the official results. So, we consider and believe that since 27 March, they have been violating Article 26 of the government law," explained Bajrami. Although Prime Minister Albin Kurti and members of his cabinet resigned from their executive positions ahead of the swearing-in of deputies, many argue that, according to the law, members of the government could not remain under a technical mandate. In April, Kosovo's legislature swore in the 120 lawmakers in Parliament, after procedural disputes between the political parties, but failed twice to elect a new speaker, a process that's now taking the country into a prolonged legislative crisis All parties that won seats in the 9 February election voted unanimously in favour of taking up their mandates, opening the way to the election of the new speaker and deputy speakers. Albin Kurti's Self-Determination Movement continues to govern, with Kurti as acting prime minister. "Kosovo has a government, and I am acting as prime minister. What is missing in Kosovo is a new Assembly of the Republic," he told local media in an interview earlier this month. However, under the technical mandate in which the current MPs sit, the government continues to make strategic decisions. "The normal situation would be that they did not take the oath of parliament at all, but that they continued to perform their duties in the executive branch and that later, depending on whether they would form a government or not, they would change seats in the parliament," says Serbian academic Aleksandar Rapajić, from the Centre for Advocacy of Democratic Culture. His position was also shared by Bljerina Istrefi from the Group for Legal and Political Studies, who believes the current parliament impasse has brought about an illegal situation at the executive level. "A total of 17 decisions were made by the prime minister and ministers at government meetings, in violation of Article 72 of the Constitution, and were presented and were part of the decision-making process," says Istrefi. "This means that each of these decisions is illegal because it was made by a working executive in violation of the highest legal act," she said. Apart from the fact that all decisions made by the current government in Pristina must be annulled, this way of working is an abuse of official position and authority and is punishable under Article 414 of the Criminal Code of Kosovo, concluded the Group for Legal and Political Studies. Civil society organisations in the country have vowed to continue to protest against this until the ninth legislature is convened. Kurti's Vetevendosje! party won 48 out of 120 seats, falling short of the majority needed to form a cabinet on its own. A new cabinet would be required to manage the nation's economy and deal with lingering diplomatic issues, which include continuing the 14-year-old normalisation talks with Serbia, which have not advanced as tensions between the two countries increase. Kurti and the three major opposition parties, however, have all rejected forming a partnership.
Euronews
7 hours ago
- General
- Euronews
Weather Europe today 29/05/2025
Water Matters Europe's water is under increasing pressure. Pollution, droughts, floods are taking their toll on our drinking water, lakes, rivers and coastlines. Join us on a journey around Europe to see why protecting ecosystems matters, how our wastewater can be better managed, and to discover some of the best water solutions. Video reports, an animated explainer series and live debate - find out why Water Matters, from Euronews.
