Gerardo Fortuna

Although informal, parliamentary intergroups are a mirror of Europe’s ever-changing priorities—part tradition, part reinvention, and occasionally, a little bit of whimsy. #EuropeNews

A reflection group has encouraged the EU executive to explore new rules for the growing market of no and low-alcohol (NoLo) wine products.

Wanted in the first 100 days of the new legislative mandate, doubts linger over whether the European Commission will unveil the Critical Medicines Act on time.

Video. Carter's passing has been met with sorrow across Europe, where leaders have paid tribute to his legacy as an ally and advocate for peace, democracy, and human rights.

Norway's Magnus Carlsen, currently the top ranked chess player in the world. Copyright Artur Lebedev/AP Copyright Artur Lebedev/AP Published on 30/12/2024 - 22:18 GMT+1 Share this article Comments World chess number one Magnus Carlsen announced his return to play in this year's final World Blitz Championship after the International Chess Federation (FIDE) conceded “elegant minor deviations” during tournaments. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share this article Comments File - A Save the Children nutrition counsellor, treats a mother's malnourished child, Sar-e-Pul province of Afghanistan, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Copyright AP/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved. Copyright AP/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved. By Daniel Bellamy with AP Published on 30/12/2024 - 21:10 GMT+1 Share this article Comments The Taliban say they will close all national and foreign non-governmental groups in Afghanistan employing women. ADVERTISEMENT The announcement comes two years after the Islamic extremist group told NGOs to suspend the employment of Afghan women, allegedly because they didn't wear the Islamic headscarf correctly. In a letter published on X Sunday night, the Economy Ministry warned that failure to comply with the latest order would lead to NGOs losing their license to operate in Afghanistan. The ministry said it was responsible for the registration, coordination, leadership and supervision of all activities carried out by national and foreign organisations. The government was once again ordering the stoppage of all female work in institutions not controlled by the Taliban, according to the letter. “In case of lack of cooperation, all activities of that institution will be cancelled and the activity license of that institution, granted by the ministry, will also be cancelled.” It's the Taliban's latest attempt to control or intervene in NGO activity. Earlier this month, the U.N. Security Council heard that an increasing proportion of female Afghan humanitarian workers were prevented from doing their work, even though relief work remains essential. According to Tom Fletcher, a senior U.N. official, the proportion of humanitarian organisations reporting that their female or male staff were stopped by the Taliban's morality police has also increased. The Taliban deny they are stopping aid agencies from carrying out their work or interfering with their activities. They have already barred women from many jobs and most public spaces, and also excluded them from education beyond sixth grade. In another development, the Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has ordered that buildings should not have windows looking into places where a woman might sit or stand. According to a four-clause decree posted on X late Saturday, the order applies to new buildings as well as existing ones. Windows should not overlook or look into areas like yards or kitchens. Where a window looks into such a space then the person responsible for that property must find a way to obscure this view to “remove harm,” by installing a wall, fence or screen. Municipalities and other authorities must supervise the construction of new buildings to avoid installing windows that look into or over residential properties, the decree added. A spokesman for the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing was not immediately available for comment on Akhundzada's instructions. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share this article Comments Afghanistan's Taliban government to shut down NGOs employing women

Fears and uncertainties of 2024 might come to reality in 2025, with re-election of Donald Trump as US president as a major game changer for Brussels.

Among the health policy novelties of 2025, a new tool developed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is set to harmonise monitoring of medicine shortages across Europe.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is recovering from a severe case of pneumonia but will not attend the weekly meeting of Commissioners. #EuropeNews

Findings of a Commission’s investigation revealed China has systematically discriminated against imported medical devices in public procurement, the EU is now weighing countermeasures.

No specific initiatives on AI in healthcare are in sight but the inevitable impact of this technology will guide EU policymaking in the next five years, according to Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi.