Month: July 2024

copenhagen, denmark — Sweden launched a groundbreaking new law Monday, allowing grandparents to step in and get paid parental leave while taking care of their grandchildren for up to three months of a child’s first year. The development comes after the Swedish parliament, the 349-seat Riksdag, approved last December the government’s proposal on transfer of parental …

Read more “Sweden’s new parental leave law pays grandparents to care for grandkids”

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Paris — France’s far-right has never been closer to power after winning the first round of snap legislative elections Sunday. It’s a stunning result that could see the far-right taking control of the government — and a far-right prime minister ahead of the Paris Olympics — if it wins big in the second round runoff July …

Read more “France’s left and center urge alliance against far-right ahead of legislative runoff “

Athens — Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Monday the country faced a dangerous summer for wildfires, with a prolonged drought and unusually strong winds contributing to tinderbox conditions. Wildfires are common in the Mediterranean country, but hotter, drier and windier weather that scientists link to the effects of climate change has increased their frequency …

Read more “Greek prime minister warns of dangerous summer for wildfires”

Paris — France’s political forces were on Friday making final bids for votes in crunch legislative elections that could see the far right take control of the government in a historic first. Official campaigning will end at midnight followed by a day off on Saturday, during which time political activity is forbidden ahead of voting on …

Read more “French parties in final push for votes ahead of crunch poll”

Brussels, Belgium — The EU accused Facebook owner Meta on Monday of breaching the bloc’s digital rules, paving the way for potential fines worth billions of euros. The charges against the US tech titan follow a finding last week against Apple that marked the first time Brussels had levelled formal accusations under the EU’s Digital Markets …

Read more “Meta risks fines over ‘pay for privacy’ model breaking EU rules”

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Budapest, Hungary — Hungary takes over the EU’s rotating presidency on Monday, promising to be an “honest broker” despite widespread concerns over what critics see as an authoritarian, Russia-friendly government. Nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has run the central European country since 2010 aiming to transform it into an “illiberal democracy,” frequently clashes with Brussels …

Read more “Hungary takes on EU presidency amid concerns”

Sofia, Bulgaria — Bulgaria’s Orthodox Church elected Daniil, a 52-year-old metropolitan considered to be pro-Russian, as its new leader Sunday in a vote that reflected the divisions in the church and wider society since Russia invaded Ukraine more than two years ago. Growing divisions between pro-Russian and anti-Russian factions within the senior clergy began after some …

Read more “Bulgaria’s Orthodox Church elects new patriarch with pro-Russian views”