DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Pope sparks anger after saying Ukraine should have the ‘courage of the white flag’ and negotiate
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Radina Gigova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Pope Francis has sparked anger after saying Ukraine should have the “courage of the white flag” and negotiate to end the war with Russia. In an interview with Swiss broadcaster Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) published on Saturday, Francis was asked whether he thinks negotiations would “legitimize the stronger party.”“That is one interpretation,” he replied. We shall never raise any other flags,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a post on social media Sunday. People wave Ukrainian flags at St.Peter's square as Pope Francis addresses the crowd on Sunday. “How about, for balance, encouraging Putin to have the courage to withdraw his army from Ukraine,” Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Sunday in a post on X.

Persons: Pope Francis, Francis, ”, Dmytro Kuleba, “, Alberto Pizzoli, Sviatoslav, unconquered, ” Father Sviatoslav, Matteo Bruni, Pope, Francis’s, Putin, Radosław Sikorski, Edgars Rinkēvičs, Alexandra Valkenburg Organizations: CNN, Radio Télévision Suisse, Getty, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Greek Catholic Church, Press, Vatican News, EU Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Swiss, Kyiv, “, AFP, New York, Ukrainian, “ Ukraine

☆ US, Germany and EU embassies begin evacuating staff as violence spirals in gang-plagued Haiti
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Caitlin Stephen Hu | Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Dajabon, Dominican Republic CNN —The United States and other diplomatic missions have begun evacuating personnel from Haiti, as gang violence in the Caribbean nation’s capital Port-au-Prince continues to spiral. US Southern Command said the move was consistent with “standard practice for Embassy security augmentation worldwide.” No Haitians were on board the military aircraft, it added. Another source with knowledge of the operations told CNN there have been at least 12 helicopter evacuation flights into Port-au-Prince over the past three days, all evacuating diplomatic and humanitarian staff. However, shots fired nearby after the last flight’s take off on Sunday have called into question the viability of continuing the evacuation flights, the source said. The World Food Programme suspended its maritime transport services in Port-au-Prince from distributing aid across Haiti due to the instability.

Persons: Dajabon, ”, Joe Biden, Peter Sauer, Stefano Gatto, —, Prince, Gang, Jimmy Cherizier, Ariel Henry, Stephane Dujarric, Henry Organizations: Dominican Republic CNN, CNN, US State Department, US Southern Command, Southern Command, National Security Council, CNN Helicopter, European Union, EU, Caribbean Port Services, Dominican, United Nations, US Department of Treasury, Food, UN, OCHA, Kenya, Kenyan, Caribbean Locations: Dominican Republic, United States, Haiti, Caribbean, Port, Dominican, Haitian, Santo Domingo, Petionville, Haiti’s, Puerto Rico, CARICOM, Kingston

☆ Europe wants China in its corner on Ukraine. But their relations are a tricky balancing act
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —European officials took some small comfort when China attended a summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, last weekend. The only downside is how it makes others think about China.”It’s no secret that China’s relationship with Europe has become tetchy. Multiple officials explained to CNN that the relationship with China is in a sort of stasis that tries to balance what Europe needs versus what Europe wants. Europe still imports vastly more from China than it exports, a reflection of the level of dependency it has on China. In 2023, European officials know that China represents a major security concern and that becoming overly dependent on China is a risk.

Persons: it’s, Vladimir Putin, “, ”, Wang Yi, Sergey Lavrov, Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, It’s, Russia –, Moscow’s, ” Alicja, €, Ursula von der Leyen, Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron, Jacques Witt, they’re, Sam Goodman, Goodman, Charles Parton Organizations: CNN, EU, “, Russia, Saudi Press Agency, Reuters, European Council, Foreign Relations, Europe, Investment, Beijing, European Commission, East, Risks Institute, Putin’s, Huawei Locations: China, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Beijing, Russia, Russian, Alaska, Europe, Washington, Brussels, Eurasia, Taiwan, France, Germany, Spain, Guandong, Guangzhou, Reuters Brussels, West, Putin’s Moscow, America

[1/2] A participant applies rainbow coloured facepaint before a 5.17 km run to mark International Day Against Homophobia in a park in Beijing, China, May 17, 2018. Thirteen diplomats from nine Western and Asian delegations said that the challenges they face when arranging events about gender equality and LGBT issues, or broader cultural activities, showed how China's red lines have shifted. Some recent Chinese actions around foreign missions drew widespread attention, including a warning from authorities aimed at embassies displaying Ukraine flags. Three diplomats told Reuters the incident had made them more careful about meeting with civil society figures. "A case could be made that the intentional disruption of embassy activities violates one or the other of these provisions, if not both," he said.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Xi, Guy Saint, Jacques, Peter Stano, Yaqiu Wang, Wang, Yu Wensheng, Xu Yan, Joseph Klingler, Foley Hoag, Laurie Chen, Yew Lun Tian, Brenda Goh, Engen Tham, David Crawshaw Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, China's Foreign Ministry, Vienna Convention, Diplomatic Relations, of Public Security, Europe, UNESCO, United Nations, Coordinator's, Beijing LGBT Center, Human Rights Watch, Police, European Union, EU, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING, SHANGHAI, Canada, Vienna, Ukraine, Western, Joseph Klingler , Washington, Shanghai

☆ Mother of slain Palestinian child calls for justice
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Mohamad Torokman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/ Mohammed TorokmanNABI SALEH, West Bank, June 6 (Reuters) - The mother of a Palestinian toddler who died of his wounds after being shot by Israeli soldiers last week called for justice on Tuesday as she attended his funeral in the occupied West Bank. "I want justice for my son, and for every person who shot at my husband and son to be held accountable," she said. "When I went to check on my son, I told (the soldiers) that my son was killed. "Without accountability, Israel's crimes against our people/children will continue unabated," Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh wrote in a tweet on Tuesday. The U.S. Office for Palestinian Affairs urged Israel "to evaluate all use of deadly force that involves civilian casualties".

Persons: Mohammad al, Tamimi, Mohammed Torokman NABI SALEH, Marwa, Mohammad, Haitham, Mohammad Shtayyeh, Israel, Henriette Chacar, James Mackenzie, Christina Fincher Organizations: West Bank, REUTERS, Reuters, Defense, Children International, Palestinian, U.S, Office, Palestinian Affairs, EU, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Ramallah, West, Gaza, Israel

☆ Israel demolishes Palestinian West Bank school
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Emily Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/6] Israeli troops take position during clashes between Palestinians and Israeli troops after Israeli machinery demolish a school near Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank May 7, 2023. REUTERS/Mussa QawasmaJERUSALEM, May 7 (Reuters) - Israeli authorities demolished a Palestinian school in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, drawing harsh condemnation from the European Union. "We got ready to come to school and when we arrived we didn't find the school," student Mohammed Ibrahim told Reuters. Israel has often cited a lack of building permits, which Palestinians and rights groups say are nearly impossible to obtain, in destroying Palestinian structures in the West Bank, an area it captured in the 1967 Middle East war. The Gush Etzion Regional Council, which represents a nearby block of Jewish settlers in the West Bank, welcomed the demolition.

☆ EU, US warn Malaysia of security risk in Huawei's bid for 5G role - FT
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 2 (Reuters) - The European Union and U.S. have warned Malaysia over risks to national security and foreign investment as it finalises a review of its 5G rollout that could allow China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd to bid for a role in its telecoms infrastructure, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. Huawei had long been seen as the frontrunner for the contract, with the government having previously dismissed security concerns raised by the United States. "Allowing untrusted suppliers in any part of the network also subjects Malaysia’s infrastructure to national security risks." Huawei, the U.S. embassy in Kuala Lumpur, the EU delegation to Malaysia and the Malaysian Ministry of Communications and Digital did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. ($1 = 4.4570 ringgit)Reporting by Jyoti Narayan in Bengaluru; editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

"The EU requested to the Chinese authorities their immediate and unconditional release," the spokesperson said. "China's ongoing crackdown on human rights activists and lawyers is a well-known EU concern, which we raise at all levels." Yu Wensheng, 55, is a human rights lawyer who last year completed a four-year prison sentence for "subversion of state power". He was among more than 300 rights lawyers and activists arrested in a 2015 crackdown. The EU delegation in Beijing said on Friday three other human rights lawyers, Wang Quanzhang, Wang Yu and Bao Longjun, had been placed under house arrest.

☆ Fact Check-The EU did not issue statement calling for Nigeria’s president-elect to be disqualified
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A document that questions the integrity of Nigeria’s 2023 general election and recommends disqualifying president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been falsely attributed to the European Union and a U.S. observer mission. The fake statement includes the EU flag and the logos of the U.S. National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI), two non-profits that support and promote democratic processes. The EU delegation to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said in two tweets that the statement was fake (here), (here). Meanwhile, an authentic preliminary statement from the EU Election Observation Mission to Nigeria can be seen (here), while a statement – also preliminary - from the NDI/IRI delegation can be found (here). The EU, NDI and IRI say the statement is fake.

[1/5] A man walks past a model of G20 logo outside the finance ministry in New Delhi, India, March 1, 2023. Germany responded saying it would counter Russian "propaganda" at the G20 meeting. The foreign ministers meeting comes days after a meeting of finance chiefs of G20 countries in Bengaluru that was also overshadowed by Russia's war in Ukraine. An EU source separately said the EU delegation would not support a statement at the G20 meeting if it did not include condemnation of the war. The G20 includes the wealthy G7 nations as well as Russia, China, India, Brazil, Australia and Saudi Arabia, among other nations.

☆ China’s Xi Tells EU Delegation That Protests Reflect Covid Frustration
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( James T. Areddy | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

China’s leader, Xi Jinping , told a visiting European Union delegation that recent protests in the country reflected frustration about Covid controls and suggested the pandemic has entered a less deadly stage, according to European officials familiar with the situation. The comments by Mr. Xi, during a three-hour meeting in Beijing on Thursday with European Council President Charles Michel , are the first known responses by China’s leader to last weekend’s demonstrations on college campuses and streets around the country.

☆ China's Xi told EU less lethal Omicron opens way for fewer COVID restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The senior EU officials, who asked not to be named, recounted the main points of a visit to Beijing by European Council President Charles Michel, who met Xi along with other senior EU officials on Thursday. The handling of the COVID pandemic and the protests against pandemic restrictions in recent days across more than 20 Chinese cities were among the topics raised by the EU. "I think that as a way out ... President Xi said that now COVID in China was mainly Omicron. EU officials said Michel told Xi that in Europe the focus of the first phase of the pandemic was very much on isolation, quarantine and testing, but it later shifted to vaccination. He added that Xi told the EU delegation that vaccination rates in China were high except for among the elderly, which was a challenge that caused the COVID restrictions.

☆ EU's top diplomat denies 'jungle' comments were racist
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The United Arab Emirates on Monday summoned the acting head of the mission at the EU delegation to the UAE, asking for explanation of what it said were racist comments made by Borrell. "The growth of this lawless world and disorder is what I meant when talking about the 'jungle'. My reference to 'jungle' has no racist, cultural or geographical connotation. Indeed and unfortunately, the 'jungle' is everywhere, including in Ukraine. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Kate Abnett; editing by Richard PullinOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ UAE summons EU mission head to explain Borrell comments it says were racist
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 17 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates on Monday summoned the acting head of the mission at the EU delegation to the UAE, asking for explanation of what it said were racist comments made by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell last week. The UAE foreign ministry said the remarks were "inappropriate and discriminatory" and "contribute to a worsening climate of intolerance and discrimination worldwide" UAE state news agency (WAM) reported. Because the jungle has a strong growth capacity, and the wall will never be high enough," said Borrell, a Spanish politician. At a press conference on Monday, Borrell denied that his message was racist or colonialist, news agency EFE reported. The comments were intended to reject the idea of 'fortress Europe' and to encourage students to engage with the world, he said.

☆ Project Officer/Communication and Media - European Union - Confidence Building Measures Programme - UNDP Moldova (EU funded)
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-09 | by ( Alte Articole | ) www.civic.md time to read: +3 min

The Communication and Media Officer in close cooperation with the project team, under the direct guidance and supervision of the Programme Manager, will ensure the provision of development services and products (commensurate with the scope of the Programme) of the highest quality and standards to national counterparts and clients through applying HRBA and GE approaches. More specifically: Develop a media and awareness raising strategy and take the lead on its implementation in close partnership with UNDP and EU Delegation media specialists;Identify and cultivate key contacts in both the print and the broadcast media on both banks of the Nistru/Dniestr River;Develop a professional media package to provide background information about the project, and establish processes for: (i) regular communication with media contacts; (ii) regular production of press releases; (iii) advising and assisting EU CBM Programme partners in managing local media interest at the community level;Undertake continuous monitoring of the impacts of the media strategy through both a media log and a log of enquiries arising from media exposure;Elaborate, implement and continuously monitor a communication and visibility plan in promotion of the visibility of project results including appropriate feedback mechanisms and monitoring tools;Deliver concrete visibility promotion activities as identified in the plan;Identify appropriate suppliers for the provision of goods and services for EU CBM Programme activities under the communication plan;Write TORs for short-term experts to be hired in implementing activities related to communication and visibility;Lead, coordinate work of, and evaluate project consultants working on EU CBM Programme activities related to communication and visibility;Develop concepts of various communication products such as TV programmes, publications and other promotional and information materials;Write stories, press releases, blog posts and news about the projects’ most important achievements to be placed in the national media as well as in the local and regional websites;Ensure compliance with all corporate rules and regulations of EU and UNDP in the field of communication and visibility promotion and reporting, specifically the Joint Visibility Guidelines for EC-UN Actions in the field; produce relevant reports according to the rules and procedures of EU and UNDP;Respond to queries from the Government, UNDP and EU with respect to communication and visibility aspects of the project;Prepare periodical reports on communication/media activities and expenses;Provide technical assistance to project beneficiaries and when necessary, travel for control and monitoring purposes to EU CBM field projects;Undertake any other related tasks requested on an ad hoc basis. Key Results:The key results have a direct impact on the overall successful achievement of the Support to Confidence Building Measures Programme. Accurate analysis and presentation of information enhances UNDP’s position as a strong development partner. The information provided facilitates decision-making of the Project Board, the Beneficiary and UNDP management.

Organizations: Media, GE, UNDP, EU Delegation, EU, EU CBM, EC, UN, Government, CBM, Project Board

Search resuls for: "EU Delegation"

15 mentions found