Новости за 02.11.2017

In a letter to commissioner Timmermans, the directors of eight media groups ask the EU executive to use "all powers" to push the investigation into the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Spain should allow Catalonia's deposed political leaders to return freely home and participate in the upcoming December elections, Finnish former president and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Martti Ahtisaari, has advised.

German chancellor Angela Merkel and UK prime minister Theresa May are the two most powerful women in the world, according to the annual ranking of US magazine Forbes. The top ten includes two other Europeans, the International Monetary Fund's chief Christine Lagarde (France), at number 8, and Ana Patricia Botin, the chair of Spanish banking group Santander (number 9). The seven other top ten women are from the US.

The Spanish general prosecutor issued Thursday an international arrest warrant and an EU arrest warrant against ex-Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, who is charged with rebellion, sedition and embezzlement over last week's declaration of independence of the region. Puigdement, who risks 30 years imprisonment, is in Belgium since Monday and refused to comply with a summons on Thursday. The prosecutor demanded earlier that 13 Catalan separatist leaders are put in custody.

Chris Davies admitted that the amendment he wrote to set up a fund to finance carbon capture and storage projects failed because it had design flaws and no one expected the carbon price to plummet.

Spain's general prosecutor demanded on Thursday that 13 Catalan separatist leaders are put in custody. It includes eight former members of the regional government, notably former deputy president Oriol Junqueras, who agreed to meet judges on Thursday, as well as former leader Carles Puigdemont and four other government members who are in Brussels, and rejected the summons. Santi Vila, who resigned the day before the independence declaration, can stay free.

Gavin Williamson was appointed on Thursday as the new UK defence secretary by prime minister Theresa May, replacing Michael Fallon, who resigned over sexual harassment allegations. Williamson, 41, was until now the Conservative Party's chief whip in the House of Commons, and as such a close ally of May.

An internal report finds 'lack of staff' and high 'burnout' levels at the European Central Bank in Frankfurt - the bank trusted with keeping the eurozone stable and secure.

Defence minister Michael Fallon resigned over sexual harassment allegations, amid a growing scandal that could weaken the government in the middle of crucial Brexit talks.

The EU Emissions Trading Scheme is the only feasible instrument at the European level to foster a cost-effective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Like last year, Iceland was the country with the world's smallest gender gap, according to an annual ranking by the World Economic Forum. Norway (2) and Finland (3) traded places compared to last year, while Sweden (5) fell behind Rwanda (4). Other well-performing EU nations were Slovenia (7), Ireland (8), France (11), and Germany (12). By contrast, Hungary was the EU country lowest on the ranking, at spot 103.

The ousted regional president of Catalonia, Carles Puigdemont, said on Wednesday he would not return to Spain, which has summoned him to appear in court. "Those summonses are part of proceedings that lack any legal basis and only seek to punish ideas. This is a political trial," he said in a written statement. Puigdemont was last seen in Belgium after the central government in Madrid took control over Catalonia.

The combined trade and political agreement between the European Union and Cuba entered into force on Wednesday. "The EU and Cuba are truly turning a page, and the new chapter of our partnership begins now – with the provisional application of our new agreement," said EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. The agreement still needs ratification by the EU's 28 member states, which can take several years.

UK prime minister Theresa May and Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar still believe a new Northern Irish government is possible, Ireland's state broadcaster RTE reported on Thursday. Parties from Northern Ireland have been unable to form a government since elections in March. Varadkar said there was "really not a huge gap" between the Democratic Unionist Party and the nationalist Sinn Fein. They have until Monday to close a power-sharing agreement.

Another lurking Brexit issue is that the UK's Investigatory Power Act may fall foul of EU rules on data sharing and surveillance.