EURACTIV.com with Reuters
Commission opens investigation into Amazon’s handling of data
The European Commission decided on Wednesday (17 July) to launch an antitrust investigation into US online retailer Amazon over its use of merchants' data, in a case that could set a precedent.
French environment minister quits over spending criticism, lobsters
France's environment minister resigned on Tuesday (16 July) following a week of reports by an investigative website about his high spending on private lobster dinners and costly renovations of his ministerial residence.
Malta charges three over Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder
Three men will face trial in Malta for their alleged involvement in the murder of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia after the island's attorney general issued a bill of indictment against them, court officials said on Tuesday (16 July).
In systemic breach, hackers steal millions of Bulgarians’ financial data
Bulgaria’s finance minister apologized to the country on Tuesday (16 July) after admitting hackers had stolen millions of taxpayers’ financial data in an attack that one researcher said may have compromised nearly every adult’s personal records.
Mogherini cautions against ‘dangerous adventures’ in the Middle East
The European Union fully backs Iraq's efforts to de-escalate growing tensions between the United States and Iran because conflict will have dire consequences for all sides, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Saturday (13 July).
German Socialists list von der Leyen failures in damning paper to EU peers
Germany's Social Democrats have circulated a damning paper to their European political group in which they call Ursula von der Leyen an "inadequate and inappropriate candidate" to lead the European Commission ahead of a vote on her nomination next week.
UK to order ships with zero emission technology from 2025
The UK government on Thursday (11 July) said all new ships ordered from 2025 and aimed for its waters must be equipped with zero emission technology, as part of a new plan to cut maritime pollution.
Trump rips tech firms at ‘free speech’ summit
President Donald Trump welcomed prominent conservative social media provocateurs to the White House on Thursday (11 July) and said that along with himself, they are being treated unfairly by big tech firms, which he says suppress conservative voices.
EU threatens Turkey with sanctions over Cyprus drilling
The European Union is set to curb contacts and funding for Ankara in retaliation for what it calls Turkey’s “illegal” drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus and stands ready to ramp up sanctions further, according to a draft statement....
Irish parliament calls on government to thwart EU-Mercosur deal
Ireland's parliament voted on Thursday (11 July) to press the government to lead opposition inside the European Union to a draft trade deal that Brussels has struck with the Mercosur bloc of South American countries.
European airline chiefs push back against flight shaming, carbon taxes
The heads of some of Europe’s largest airlines hit back on Wednesday (10 July) against efforts to discourage Europeans from flying, arguing the industry was making huge strides in cutting its carbon footprint and that there was no shame in air travel.
Russia calls tirade against Putin on Georgian TV a ploy to derail ties
Russia on Monday (8 July) condemned an obscenity-laden tirade against President Vladimir Putin on a Georgian TV station, calling it a shameful and unacceptable provocation by radical political forces intended to damage relations.
Russia nuclear sub fire ‘could have caused global catastrophe’
A fire aboard a top-secret Russian nuclear submarine could have led to a “catastrophe of global proportions” if not for the selfless actions of the crew, a senior navy official was cited by a Russian media outlet as saying.
At Kyiv summit, EU pledges more aid for war-torn east Ukraine
European Union leaders Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker pledged support and financial assistance to conflict-riven Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv on Monday while urging Russia to do more to bring peace to the Donbass region.
EU urges Iran to halt further measures undermining nuclear deal
The European Union on Sunday (7 July) strongly urged Iran to stop actions that would undermine a landmark 2015 nuclear deal, saying it was in touch with other parties to the deal and may set up a joint commission to look into the issue.
German conservative boss warns coalition partners on Europe
The woman in pole position to succeed Angela Merkel as chancellor warned her junior coalition partners against blocking the appointment of a German to head the European Commission, saying this would put their coalition under "maximum strain".
Trump administration ‘uniquely dysfunctional’, says UK ambassador to US
Britain’s ambassador to the United States described President Donald Trump’s administration as “dysfunctional”, “clumsy” and “inept”, the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported, citing a series of confidential memos.
Putin, visiting Italy, says wants Rome to help mend Moscow-EU ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (4 July) he hoped Italy would battle to restore fully fledged relations between the European Union and Russia and help persuade the bloc's new leadership that sanctions on Moscow were counter-productive.
Facebook, privacy activist Schrems face off in July 9 court hearing
Facebook will face Austrian privacy activist Max Schrems next week at Europe’s top court in a landmark case that could affect how hundreds of thousands of companies transfer personal data worldwide as well as Europeans’ privacy rights.
At least 40 killed in strike on Tripoli migrant detention centre
An air strike late on Tuesday (2 July) hit a detention centre for mainly African migrants in a suburb of the Libyan capital of Tripoli, killing at least 40 people and wounding 80, a health official said.
Lagarde’s ECB nomination thrusts IMF into early succession race
The nomination of Christine Lagarde as European Central Bank president on Tuesday (2 July) has thrust the International Monetary Fund into an early, unanticipated search for a new leader amid a raging trade war that has darkened the outlook for global growth.
Western intelligence hacked ‘Russia’s Google’ Yandex to spy on accounts
Hackers working for Western intelligence agencies broke into Russian internet search company Yandex in late 2018 deploying a rare type of malware in an attempt to spy on user accounts, four people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
Slovakia’s new parties cry foul as lawmakers tighten financing rules
Slovakia's parliament on Thursday (27 June) rushed through draft legislation tightening campaign financing rules, a move seen by new parties as the ruling coalition's strike against rivals before next year's general elections.