Romaniaโs presidential front-runner is all about farmers
Far-right independent Cฤlin Georgescu is trying to capture rural voters with fascist tropes.
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The Guardian view on Romaniaโs presidential election: a stable Ukrainian ally wobbles | Editorial
The shock first-round victory of a far-right nationalist candidate has far-reaching and alarming implicationsIn a region shadowed by Vladimir Putinโs revanchist ambitions, Romania has been a pillar of proโwestern stability. Possessing a long border wit…
Romaniaโs election extravaganza awakens ghosts of fascist past
A far-right former football hooligan is polling strongly in the presidential race in a mega voting year for Romanians.
UK warns Russian strikes on Black Sea delay grain supplies to Palestinians, global south
The United Nations said on Monday that Russian attacks on Ukrainian Black Sea ports have damaged six civilian vessels as well as grain infrastructure since 1 September.
Putin disrupting food aid for Gaza by attacking Ukraine ports, says Starmer
Russian president โwilling to gamble on food securityโ by stepping up strikes on grain ships, says UK prime ministerKeir Starmer has accused Vladimir Putin of disrupting food supplies to Gaza after British intelligence suggested Russia had stepped up i…
Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy presents โvictory planโ to European allies as long-range strikes discussed
UK says no change to position on Storm Shadow missiles; Ukrainian journalist dies in Russian detention. What we know on day 961See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageVolodymyr Zelenskyy has said a ceasefire with Russia is not under discussion with Euro…
Estonian president: Tear down the wall of restrictions weโve built around Ukraine
As the West, the limits weโve placed on ourselves merely reflect our fear, weakness and indecision โ all feeding the aggressor.
Ukraine says Russia used strategic bombers to hit grain vessel near Romania
Ukraine accused Russia on Thursday (12 September) of using strategic bombers to strike a civilian grain vessel in a missile attack in Black Sea waters near NATO member Romania, escalating tensions between Moscow and the military alliance.
Ukraine war briefing: Russia accused of unprecedented missile attack on grain ship in Black Sea
Attack marks first time a missile has struck a civilian vessel transporting grains in open waters of the Black Sea. What we know on day 933See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverage Continue reading…
David Cameronโs barefoot warrior bids for glory in California
Britain’s disrupter-in-chief and Trump admirer now has his eye on the Golden State’s governor’s mansion.
What Kamala Harris Should Learn From Richard Nixon
Try not to wreck the economy.
Ukraine war briefing: Russian airfields hit with wave of Ukrainian strikes
Ukraine promises humanitarian corridors and access for international aid to Kursk; two medics die in Russian attack in Kharkiv region. What we know on day 904See all our Ukraine war coverageA wave of Ukrainian drone strikes targeted Russiaโs Voronezh, …
Sun-powered beer: Berlin brewery gets creative with no-waste approach
This Berlin brewery’s innovative take on sustainability has seen it use rooftop solar panels to fuel its beermaking, feed spent grain to local cows and sell its beer in tins.
Puppyganda: The fluffy friends doing politiciansโ PR work for them
Rounding up the good boys and girls of the diplomatic scene.
France sees 25% drop in 2024 soft wheat crop after relentless rainfall
(Adds detail throughout) By Sybille de La Hamaide PARIS, Aug 9 (Reuters) – France’s farm ministry on Friday sharply lowered its estimate of the country’s 2024 soft wheat output, now expected 25% below last year’s volume, making it one of the worst harv…
Lawmaker who called Israel โapartheid stateโ faces tough Tuesday primary
AIPAC has spent $8 million to unseat Rep. Cori Bush, who once called Israel an โapartheid state.โ But thatโs not mentioned in the deluge of advertising.
French farmers call for EU aid to mitigate impact of poor grain harvest
French wheat growers are calling for the release of the EU’s crisis funding, known as agricultural reserve, and increased state aid for the sector as persistent rains since last autumn are leading to poor harvests in major European grain-producing coun…
Ukraine war briefing: China denies helping Russiaโs war effort in Ukraine at regional summit
Blinken warns of further actions if China keeps aiding Russian industrial base; Russia claims control of Lozuvatske settlement. What we know on day 886See all our Ukraine war coverageChinaโs foreign minister told his US counterpart that Beijing denies …
Zelenskyy urges partners to show โbraveryโ in helping Ukraine
Ukraine president warns Russian leader Vladimir Putin will work to break up the pro-Ukraine alliance.
Germanyโs doner kebab becomes symbol of angst over rising costs
“I can still remember when doner kebabs were sold for โฌ3.50,” reminisced one teenager amid calls for a price brake to stop rising kebab costs.
Ukraine seizes cargo ship, detains captain for exporting โlootedโ grain
Ukraine seized a foreign cargo ship on the Danube River and detained the captain on suspicion of helping Moscow export Ukrainian grain from Russian-occupied Crimea, officials said on Thursday (11 July).
Ukraine war briefing: Ship carrying โlootedโ grain seized, Zaluzhnyi starts work as ambassador to UK
Azerbaijani captain was accused of violating rules on entering occupied territory and picking up agricultural products; Ukraineโs former armed forces chief begins work as ambassador to Britain. What we know on day 770See all our Ukraine war coverage Co…
Ukraine seizes cargo ship, alleging grain shipments via Crimea
The vessel under flag of Cameroon is suspected of visiting Sevastopol in November 2023 and May of this year.
Will Orbรกn continue to go against the EU grain as Hungary takes over bloc’s presidency?
Prime Minister Viktor Orbรกn has long been accused of dismantling democratic institutions and violating the EU’s standards on the rule of law, leading the bloc’s legislature in May to call for the presidency to be taken out of Hungary’s hands entirely.
EU finalizes up to โฌ1B in aid to Egypt as part of migration deal
Brussels has made similar deals with Tunisia, Mauritania and Turkey to curb irregular migration into the EU.
For Ukrainians, the Biden-Trump debate was a high stakes affair
“At least Trump does not support giving our territories to Putin.”
Russia-Ukraine war live: Volodymyr Zelenskiy orders purge of Ukraine state guard after alleged assassination plots
State security service said last month it had caught two guard service colonels accused of cooperating with Russia to plot Zelenskiyโs assassinationUkraineโs state security service (SBU) said it had detained a โmoleโ spying for Russia who passed on inf…
Kyiv hopes to achieve peace with Russia through intermediaries
Ukraine will not talk to Moscow directly, but hopes Putin’s friends will help to push him toward peace.
Artist Agnes Denes: โWhen I first started talking about ecological concepts, they were laughing at meโ
Her 1982 artwork โWheatfieldโ, where she grew grain by the World Trade Center, is being reprised in Basel this summer
Inside the ill-fitting, occasionally chaotic, decidedly solid Biden-Macron relationship
The two leaders will meet in France, with a number of thorny issues and a potential return of Donald Trump, looming in the air.
Zelenskyy accuses China of helping Russia sabotage peace summit
Moscow’s and Beijing’s diplomats are “threatening” countries to convince them not to attend June 15-16 meeting, Ukraine leader says.
EU hits Russian grain imports with tariff hike, countries call for further restrictions
European Union countries have greenlighted a sharp increase in tariffs on Russian and Belarusian grain in a move aimed at halting imports of these products to the 27-member bloc on Thursday (30 May).
Putin has ditched his paranoid security chief. Here are 5 of the wackiest things Nikolai Patrushev has said.
Ukraine is trafficking in orphans and organs; a secretive global elite is causing multiple crises; and Madeleine Albright wanted to wipe out Russia โ those are just some of the greatest hits of Vladimir Putinโs longtime security adviser.
โAn incredible phallic landmark!โ The grain silo gallery, a gift from the trillion dollar man
Le Corbusier called grain silos โthe magnificent first fruits of the new ageโ. But what can be done with these soaring industrial cathedrals when theyโre redundant? A Norwegian tycoon has the answerIf youโve ever wondered what it would feel like to be …
UKโs David Cameron slams โextremistโ Israeli attacks on Gaza-bound aid
UK’s top diplomat will raise attack on convoys with Israeli government.
Polish farmers lift blockades at all Ukraine crossings
Warsaw, April 29, 2024 (AFP) – Polish farmers have lifted blockades at border crossings with Ukraine, officials said Monday, ending a two-month protest over farm imports from the war-torn neighbouring country.Farmers had blocked border crossings with U…
Russia has nothing to fear from EU in South Caucasus, Armenia insists
The former Soviet republic is seeking closer ties with Brussels amid a break with its historic ally.
How the EU farmers movement plans to gain traction ahead of elections
The group aims to prioritise products produced in Europe and end green policies as well as mport trade agreements such as grain from Ukraine, and dealings with Mercosur.
Life after Ursula von der Leyen? Alternatives for next Commission president.
Brussels is rife with speculation on who might be chosen as the EU executive’s next chief.
Biden admin isnโt fully convinced Ukraine can win, even with new aid
Few Biden administration officials or lawmakers say the $60 billion package means Ukraine walks away from the battlefield with its country fully restored.
Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv claims bomber shot down at 308km range after crash in Russia
US House of Representatives moves closer to passing Ukraine aid; bureaucracy delays ยฃ500m in foreign assistance channelled through UK Ministry of Defence. What we know on day 787See all our Ukraine war coverageRussia came under attack from Ukrainian dr…
Bulgarian farmers to join massive EU-wide protest wave days before bloc elections
Bulgarian farmers will take part in a wave of simultaneous protests in Brussels and EU member states planned for 4 June, just days before the upcoming European Parliament elections, Ilia Prodanov, president of the National Association of Grain Producer…
Farm trade rift puts Ukraineโs EU aspirations in limbo
If Ukraine wants to join the EU, it may have to leave its agricultural sector out in the cold.
Polish farmers dissatisfied after occupying agriculture ministry
Protesting Polish farmers left the Agriculture Ministry building which they had occupied since Tuesday, frustrated that the government had not responded adequately to their demands, including the halting of Ukrainian grain and sugar transit through Pol…
Ukraine war briefing: fresh hope for US House vote on Kyiv aid deal
US House speaker hints a vote could happen after Easter recess, following โimportant innovationsโ to aid package. What we know on day 769See all our Ukraine coverageRussia and Ukraine claimed to have downed each otherโs drones over the Black Sea on Mon…
Ukraine ‘not fully satisfied’ with new EU grain deal but can make it work, says agriculture minister
Ukraine is “not fully satisfied” with the latest grain deal agreed by EU countries but can make it work, says the country’s agriculture minister.
EU countries seal hard-line deal on Ukrainian grain, raising possibility of tariffs
Member states sealed on Wednesday a crucial deal to extend free-trade measures with Ukraine until June 2025.
[Agenda] Environment, Ukraine imports, fish and Easter this WEEK
This week, expect no more than talks on environment, agriculture and fisheries, including discussions between the Polish and Ukrainian governments over angry protests by Polish farmers objecting to cheap grain imports from Ukraine.
EU to impose tariff of up to 50% on Russia grain imports
Proposal aims to stop Kremlin flooding bloc with cheap wheat to destabilise European marketThe EU is set to impose a tariff of up to 50% on Russia grain imports amid fears the Kremlin could flood the bloc with cheap wheat to destabilise the European ma…
Brussels proposes steep EU tariffs on Russian grain, fearing market turmoil
The European Commission has proposed a steep increase in tariffs on Russian grain that comes into the bloc’s common market.
Ukraine slams grain trade restrictions at EU summit
Restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the EU could translate into military losses in their bid to stop Russia’s war, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned EU leaders during their summit in Brussels on Thursday.
Poland and allies seek EU curbs on Russian grain
The EU has a “moral obligation” to curb Russian grain imports, including of possibly stolen Ukrainian grain, five EU countries have said.
Baltics, Poland, Czechia reiterate demand to cap grain imports from Russia
In a letter seen by Euractiv, agriculture ministers from five EU countries called on the Commission to propose draft legislation to limit the import of grains from Russia and Belarus, citing unfair competition and moral obligations.
EU negotiators strike deal on Ukraineโs free trade measures
The agreement narrowly avoids harsher import restrictions on Ukrainian grain, despite a last-minute push from Poland and France.
Czechia seeks EU ban on Russian, Belarusian grain imports
Czechia will propose banning imports of Russian and Belarusian grain from entering the EU at this weekโs European Council, according to Agriculture Minister Marek Vรฝbornรฝ.
EU to introduce measures to tackle surge in Russian grain imports
The European Commission announced today (15 March) that it will unveil measures to address the surge in imports of Russian agricultural products, particularly cereals, into the EU.
Europeโs farmer protests have been fertile ground for Russian propaganda
While starting at the grassroots level, the protests have been keenly exploited by Russia to sow division and undermine popular support for Ukraineโs defense.
Erdogan says ready to host peace summit between Russia and Ukraine
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan hosted Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul on Friday for talks on the course of the Ukraine-Russia war, the defunct Black Sea grain deal, and increased defence industry cooperation, the two sides said. Erdogan sai…
[Opinion] The ‘cheap grain imports’ row โ Ukraine puts its side
It is high time to step back to take a look at a wider picture โthat takes into account a broad array of factors affecting the European agricultural market so that the impact of the Ukrainian imports is not overblown.
Fico says Czechia has โinterestโ in supporting Ukraine war, after Prague burns bridge
In todayโs edition of the Capitals, find out more about German Federal States demanding progress on outsourcing asylum applications to third countries, Kyiv proposing temporary trade restrictions with the EU in exchange for a Russian grain import ban, …
EU commissioner says Russian imports to Poland โnegligibleโ amid grain row
As Poland considers following in Latvia’s footsteps by banning agricultural imports from Russia that it says are destabilising the Polish market, EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski stepped in to deny that Russian grain imports to the East…
Ukraineโs top prosecutor slams UN inaction over Russiaโs child deportations
“I don’t understand what’s going on,” lamented Andriy Kostin.
Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 740
Germany accuses Russia of conducting โinformation warโ; Zelenskiy calls on west to provide military aid or face โone of the most shameful pages of historyโSee all our coverage of the war in UkraineGermanyโs defence minister has accused Russia of conduc…
Russia-Ukraine war: Two babies and toddler among 10 confirmed dead after drone strike in Odesa โ as it happened
Russian drone crashed into nine-storey residential building in Odesa on Saturday. This live blog is now closedSee all our Ukraine war coverageIt is 2.30pm in Ukraine. Here is a summary of eventsThe bodies of a mother and baby found in the rubble of a m…
EU Recovery fund: Commission insists on 2026 deadline as Poland causes headaches
In todayโs edition of the Capitals, find out more about the Slovak court halting criminal code reforms amid EU fund suspension threat, Poland considering an import ban for Russian and Belarusian grain, and so much more.
Following Latvia, Poland considers import bans for Russian, Belarusian grain
Poland will study Latviaโs decision to ban agricultural imports from Russia and Belarus and will look at imposing embargoes for grain to prevent it from destabilising the Polish market, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced at a press conference with hi…
Poland in talks with Ukraine on closing border, PM Tusk says
Tusk says the solution would be โtemporaryโ and โpainfulโ for both sides.
Ukraine vows more self-reliance as war enters third year
‘The situation is so dynamic that at the moment commitment [from partners] does not constitute delivery,’ Ukraine Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.
Cameron and Sikorski: Failing to stand with Ukraine will remake the world as we know it
Britain and the EU have committed more funding to Ukraine, and we believe it is in the interest of America โ and all our allies โ to do the same.
Protesting farmers not backing down as Poland designates Ukraine border as โcritical infrastructureโ
Polish farmers will not cease their grain blockade on the Ukrainian border, despite Warsaw’s designation of border crossings as “critical infrastructure” following concerns that the passage of military and humanitarian aid is being blocked.
Zelenskyy asks Brussels to defuse Polish farmer dispute over tariff-free grain
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the European Commission to step in to avoid what he calls “political manipulation” of a dispute between Ukraine and Poland over agricultural imports.
Zelenskyy calls for urgent talks to end Polish border crisis
Excessive and unfair politicization threatens to squander common achievements, Ukraine president says.
Polish farmers dump Ukrainian grain as dispute with Kyiv deepens โ video
Protesting Polish farmers dumped grain out of a freight train during nationwide protests that have taken on an anti-Ukrainian character.The farmers, who say that cheap agricultural goods have undermined their business, want to stop the import of Ukrain…
Polish farmers dump grain in protest as Ukraine dispute deepens
Volodymyr Zelenskiy accuses Warsaw of โmockeryโ as farmers blockade Ukrainian grain at borderUkraine war โ live updatesPolandโs bitter dispute with Ukraine over farm imports has escalated as Polish farmers dumped grain from a freight train as part of …
Polish farmers block Ukraine border in grain row
President Zelensky has said the protests show solidarity between Poland and Ukraine is waning.
Ukraineโs grain exports back to 2023 levels thanks to Black Sea route
Grain and oilseed exports from Ukraine have returned to the same levels as in March 2023, when the UN initiative was securing food trade through the Black Sea corridor, according to data from the International Grain Council (IGC).
Farmers in Eastern Europe set to protest as EU moves to extend Ukraine trade benefits
Tensions are rising over the renewal of the EU’s trade liberalisation with Ukraine, with the European Commission meeting with neighbouring countries on Tuesday (20 February) and a joint protest in Eastern Europe set to take place on Thursday.
Being Ukrainian in 2024: โPeople look at me as if Iโm terminally illโ
Two years after the assault on Kyiv, itโs getting harder to stay optimistic.
Only connecting with voters can stop Europeโs populist tide
There’s a growing backlash rooted in overall desperation, compounded by many votersโ perception that their grievances are being shrugged off.
Polish government refuses to punish farmers despite calls from Kyiv
After a group of Polish farmers blocked three Ukrainian grain lorries from crossing the border, spilling some of the grain on the road, Kyiv appealed to Warsaw to investigate the โshameful crimeโ, but Polish Agriculture Minister Czeslaw Siekierski said…
Ukraine seeks action against Polish farmers for grain spillage
Kyiv urged Warsaw on Monday (12 February) to “hold to account” Polish farmers for stopping three trucks at a border crossing between Poland and Ukraine and spilling the Ukrainian grain they were carrying.
Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 718
Russian drone strike in Kharkiv kills seven including children; Natoโs Stoltenberg calls for increase in arms support to UkraineSee all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageA Russian drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukraineโs second largest city, killed seven people…
Western Europe canโt ignore its eastern allies
The security concerns of Central and Eastern Europe need to be addressed โ albeit not in the maximalist manner some hawks seem to advocate.
UK vows to avoid Europeโs โclumsyโ green policies as protests rage
Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho tells POLITICO that Britain wants to swerve ideas ‘public feel are not in their interests’ โ prompting a furious pushback from some in Europe.
Brussels proposes to extend EU-Ukraine free trade. But restrictions on grain will be easier to slap
The European Commission proposed on Wednesday to extend free trade with Ukraine until June 2025, but with a new tweak to enable the type of national restrictions that Kyiv has complained about.
The EUโs Viktor Orbรกn problem: 9 times Hungarian leader has been a thorn in Brusselsโ side
Ahead of a crucial European summit at which the Hungarian PM could wreak havoc, POLITICO looks back at the biggest issues in his relationship with the EU.
Ukrainian grain transits through Romania as export licences effective
Ukrainian grain has successfully transited through Romania since the country introduced export licences under its grain export plan to help protect farmers last autumn, Adrian Pintea, state secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, said on Thursday.
Brussels considers allowing restrictions on Ukrainian grain in case of market ‘disturbances’
The European Commission is working on a new proposal that could allow Eastern member states, like Poland and Hungary, to impose restrictions on imports of Ukrainian grain in case of market “disturbances.”
Bulgaria insists on quota volumes for Ukrainian grain imports
The Bulgarian government is insisting on the introduction of tariffs and quotas on Ukrainian grain imports to the EU, citing the โsignificantโ suffering of local farmers since the EU lifted trade restrictions on Ukrainian produce following the war in U…
Ukraineโs maritime grain exports to fall 20% m/m in Januaryย ย
Reuters exclusively reported that Ukrainian maritime grain exports are expected to fall by around 20% in January from the previous [โฆ]
The post Ukraineโs maritime grain exports to fall 20% m/m in Januaryย ย appeared first on Reuters News Agency.
Romanian farmers, truckers resume protests after government talks fail
Similar protests resume in Germany, with demonstrations also planned in Poland and Bulgaria.
Farmers: EU Commission must set up cap mechanism to tackle Ukrainian import surge
Five EU food producers organisations have urged the EU’s Agriculture Commissioner to adopt a cap mechanism for sensitive commodities for which the bloc liberalised import from Kyiv.
Russia-Ukraine war at a glance: what we know on day 687
Injuries as Russian missiles hit Kharkiv hotel; Russia โtesting nuclear-capable missiles for North Korea in Ukraineโ; Zelenskiy visits Baltic alliesSee all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageTwo Russian missiles hit a hotel in Kharkiv late on Wednesday, in…
Poland reaches deal with farmers to call off blockade of Ukraine border crossing
The agreement meets farmersโ demands for financial compensation but doesnโt include restrictions on Ukrainian imports.
Turkey must stop blocking Ukraine minehunters, ex-NATOย supreme commander warns
Ankara insists it cannot allow the British vessels into the Black Sea under the Montreux Convention.
Polish farmers resume blockade of border crossing with Ukraine
They are rejoining hauliers who have been protesting for months; both groups fear the impact of opening markets to Ukraine.
Macron makes enemies defendingย rape-accusedย star
Actors, writers and celebs have lined up in defense of Gรฉrard Depardieu, alongside the French president.
Explosion hits Greek-owned ship on way to Ukraine
Officials say crew members were injured in Black Sea blast.
Cargo ship damaged by Russian mine in Black Sea, Ukraine says
The Panamanian-flagged vessel was on its way to a Ukrainian port to load grain.
Cargo ship hits naval mine in Black Sea en route to Ukraine
Ukrainian authorities said Thursday that a commercial ship arriving to collect grain hit a Russian naval mine in the Black Sea, injuring two sailors.