Latest news with #ECFR
DW
13-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
Berlin, Paris urge restraint as Israel-Iran crisis escalates – DW – 06/14/2025
As the hostilities between Israel and Iran itensify, European leaders have called for calm, warning of the growing risk of a broader regional war. But Europe's role as a key mediator may be over amid stalled diplomacy. The latest flareup intensified Friday when Israel launched a targeted strike on Iran's Natanz nuclear facility, killing several senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Tehran then retaliated to Israel's large-scale attacks with waves of missile strikes on Friday evening and early on Saturday. The attacks in an already unstable region have caused widespread concern across Europe. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the urgency of avoiding further escalation, calling "for many allies — including the United States — to work ... to de-escalate.' Adding, "this was a unilateral action by Israel.' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed the sentiment in a post on X, urging "all parties to act with maximum restraint and work to de-escalate the situation.' Adding that in a call to Israel's President Isaac Herzog late on Friday she "reiterated Israel's right to defend itself and protect its people." Before writing that "at the same time, perserving regional stability is vital." Further calls for restraint Key European powers also appeared to rally behind Israel following its attack and Iran's counterstrikes. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed strong support for Israel's "right to protect its existence and the security of its citizens.' Adding in a post on X that Iran's nuclear program presents "a serious threat to the entire region, and particularly to the state of Israel." A sentiment echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who similarly urged restraint while reaffirming Israel's right to self-defense. The French leader has previously described Iran's nuclear capabilities as a significant strategic and security challenge for both France and Europe. This alignment has drawn criticism from some analysts, who argue that Europe's support for Israel may undermine its credibility as a neutral mediator. "European capitals such as Berlin and Paris have come out in support of Israel, ignoring this was an unjustified action," Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow with the Middle East and North Africa program at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), told DW. Israel launches strikes on Iran, sparking fears of wider war To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Julien Barnes-Dacey, director of the Middle East program at the ECFR, further warned that Germany and France's alignment with Israel runs the risk of isolating Iran. "If you are an Iranian, you would see this as Europeans siding with Israel in support of military action,' he told DW. Iran, meanwhile, demanded a firmer stance from Europe. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, in a phone call with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani, called on the EU and the broader international community to condemn what Tehran called a "criminal attack.' IAEA report influences Europe European powers — particularly the so-called E3 of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom — position has been influenced in part by a recent resolution from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which found Iran in violation of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations. The resolution, introduced by the E3, has provided political backing for a toucher stance on Iran, reinforcing accusations of non-compliance. As diplomatic efforts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal — formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — continue between the United States and Iran, European powers have found themselves on the sidelines. Talks between the US and Iranian officials have taken place over recent months in Oman and Rome. The sixth round, reportedly scheduled for this weekend, was cancelled on Friday following the latest strikes. "Europe missed an opportunity to use diplomacy before military escalation took over,' Lovatt said. Both he and Barnes-Dacey believe Israel's strike was designed in part to disrupt efforts to revive the US-Iran nuclear talks. Hans Jacob Schindler, senior director at the Counter Extremism Project, told DW that the region is now "in a very dangerous escalation spiral,' with risks of further escalation increasing by the day. "The current assessment is that Israel can only delay Iran's nuclear program,' Lovatt added. With nuclear diplomacy faltering and military confrontation looming, Europe's role as a mediator — once central to the Iran nuclear deal — appears increasingly sidelined.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Escambia County Fire Rescue responds to fifth house fire at same location
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to a house fire Monday, making it the fifth structure fire at that location since April 2024, has learned. Big crowds for 'Sand in My Boots' festival continue this weekend According to an ECFR news release, the home in the 1100 block of North Green Street was fully engulfed in flames when firefighter crews arrived at about 2:48 a.m. Crews put the fire out by 3:50 a.m., with help from the Pensacola Fire Department. According to the release, ECFR has responded to five structure fires and several outside fires at that location, including the one today. In August 2024, the same home was left uninhabitable because of fire, according to a ECFR Facebook Post. Kiyo's owner shares heartbreak after learning Australian Shepherd was abused, found dead in Loxley The post said an investigation was conducted, but firefighters could not find a cause and said the fire was 'considered suspicious.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Fort Walton Beach man accused of recording woman in her bedroom since February
FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (WKRG) — A Fort Walton Beach man is accused of leaving a camera in a woman's bedroom since February. 2 dogs die in Escambia County house fire Tuesday morning: ECFR According to a news release from the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office, Jason Lee Carpenter, 30, was arrested. He is accused of video voyeurism and burglary. OCSO officials said a victim reported she was cleaning the ceiling and wall vents in her home on April 11 when she saw a glare in the air vent. She stood on a small table and spotted a small camera, took it down and turned it off. Investigators conducted a forensic download of the camera's SD card, which revealed the camera had been recording in her bedroom since Feb. 17, 2025. This included times when she was undressed, according to OCSO. Investigators said the video clearly shows Carpenter setting up the camera and adjusting it. They identified him as his face was revealed and a tattoo on his left forearm, the release said. Milton woman wins $1 million in Florida Lottery scratch-off game The OCSO release also said the victim installed a Ring doorbell camera, which spotted Carpenter on April 25 approaching the home and then leaving when he spotted the camera. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Irish Times
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Trump stance on Crimea threatens to cause rifts in EU and Nato
Donald Trump 's offer for the US to recognise Russia 's annexation of Crimea has suddenly confronted European capitals with an agonising choice: stick with Kyiv or side with Washington. Some European officials fear differences over the Trump administration's one-sided draft accord will put bilateral relations with London, Berlin and other capitals to the test, undermine transatlantic security and potentially derail a Nato summit in late June. The Europeans have always been 'in a weak position to stand up to the US', said Jeremy Shapiro, director of the US programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR). 'They've been trying to avoid it for that reason.' European hopes of being included in the US-led talks were dashed on Wednesday when US secretary of state Marco Rubio pulled out of a meeting in London with Ukrainian and European officials and Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff opted instead to make his fourth visit to the Kremlin. READ MORE The Trump administration has presented Kyiv with the outline of a take-it-or-leave-it deal, with terms highly favourable to Moscow – including US recognition of Russia's sovereignty over Crimea 11 years after it annexed the Ukrainian peninsula in contravention of international law. French president Emmanual Macron hosts a meeting between European and US diplomats in Paris last week. Photograph: Ludovic Marin/ AFP via Getty Images President Volodymyr Zelennskiy refused once again on Tuesday to recognise Russia's sovereignty over any of the territory it has seized since 2014. Kyiv, however, is ready to live with de facto Russian control in return for western security guarantees. On Wednesday, Trump lashed out at Zelenskiy's stance, calling it 'very harmful' to his peace efforts and 'inflammatory'. 'He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country,' the US president wrote on Truth Social. Washington's offer to endorse Moscow's control of Crimea, breaking with the agreed policy of Nato, is possibly the biggest concession it has made to Moscow in recent months in its haste to strike a deal. A close ally of German chancellor-to-be Friedrich Merz said late on Wednesday that Europe could not accept the proposal. 'Putin would achieve all his goals and the message that would be sent out would be: 'I can afford such aggression. I will prevail in the end and achieve my goals',' Thorsten Frei, a senior MP with the centre-right Christian Democrats said on a television show. ''And that means ... if you look at the tradition in which Putin sees himself, that he will continue.' The Trump administration has also ruled out Ukraine's membership of Nato – a long-standing Russian objection to a Nato pledge to allow Kyiv into the alliance at a future point. While Moscow has been lavished with inducements, Kyiv has been subjected to pressure and threats. It has been offered little in exchange for giving up its territory. 'The worst case would be if [the US] cannot reach a deal between Ukraine and Russia, and this is all pushed on Ukraine. This is when Europe would have to choose [between Ukraine and the US],' said a senior EU diplomat. Ukrainian officials said before Wednesday's talks they were prepared to discuss other terms of Washington's outline deal. 'Ukraine is ready to negotiate – but not to surrender,' said deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko on X. 'There will be no agreement that hands Russia the stronger foundations it needs to regroup and return with greater violence.' Western officials told the Financial Times that European capitals would not endorse any move by the US to recognise Crimea as Russian or pressure Kyiv to agree to it, and they would hold fast to a long-held position that they would not accept anything regarding Ukraine's sovereignty that Zelenskyy opposed. 'Crimea is Ukraine,' EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told French news agency AFP on Tuesday. For Europeans, the idea of recognising Crimea's annexation – the first land-grab by military force in Europe since 1945 – is an anathema since it would eviscerate the rules-based order that has underpinned peace on the Continent for generations. 'Crimea and future Nato membership aspirations are red lines for us,' said a second senior EU diplomat. 'We can't give them up.' Even if the US acted unilaterally, it would reward Russian aggression and encourage Moscow to pursue its claims in Georgia and Moldova and menace other former Soviet countries such as the Baltic States that are Nato and EU members. The Trump administration had already been told that it would be impossible for European capitals to recognise Crimea as Russian, according to a senior European official. Nato's biggest European powers needed to 'discourage' Washington from doing that unilaterally, the official said. The status of Crimea could create a big diplomatic crisis for Nato – whose stated position is never to recognise Russian control over the peninsula. Prior to the US offer, Nato officials were trying to downplay internal rifts over Ukraine, insisting that the alliance's annual leaders' summit in The Hague would focus on defence spending, not the war, according to officials involved in the discussions. But the proposed deal and the possibility that the US could abandon talks, blame Kyiv and normalise relations with Moscow – could lead to a bust-up among Nato leaders. 'The core issue for the summit is where we are on Ukraine,' said a senior western official. Similar rifts are likely to widen also within the EU, in particular over what to do about the bloc's economic sanctions imposed on Russia should Washington decide to go ahead and lift its restrictions. 'Things don't look good at all,' said an EU official. Any move by the US to recognise Crimea as Russia or demand that European capitals ease sanctions on Moscow would 'kill EU unity ... [it's] all looking messy'. The 23 European capitals who are members of the EU and Nato are trying to find compromises with the Trump administration on future US commitments to European security and a trade deal to avoid a full-blown tariff war that could severely affect their economies. Many fear that Washington could use the issue as leverage in those discussions. Shapiro, of the ECFR, was sceptical about the ability of the EU to stay united. 'If the Americans walk away, it is just not going to be possible for the Europeans to be unified on Ukraine. The Americans have been the source of unity on Ukraine.' – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2025
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Escambia County state road resurfacing project to begin soon
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — A resurfacing project on State Road 99, also known as Beulah Road, is set to begin in April, according to a Florida Department of Transportation news release. 2 dogs die in Escambia County house fire Tuesday morning: ECFR The $4.4 million project will span from State Road 10A, known as Mobile Highway, all the way to Issacs Lane. During construction, residents may experience minor traffic shifts, detours, and lane closures. The closures will be limited to within the time frame of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. An 18-day closure with a detour at Beulah Church Road on Beulah Road will occur during the summer months due to drainage construction. Drivers will be detoured to Rebel Road between Nine Mile Road and Mobile Highway. has also learned about other improvements included in the project: Construction of a six-foot sidewalk from Beulah Academy of Science to Nine Mile Road on the west side of Beulah Road. ADA-compliant crosswalk and sidewalk upgrades Utility relocations Stormwater management improvements Improvements on the intersection of Beulah Road and Nine Mile Road Guardrail installation New pavement markings and signing Signal upgrades NIT apologizes for rescinding invite to South Alabama basketball team The project's estimated completion date is in late 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
