Latvia is set to receive non-repayable financial support (grants) worth €1 969 million to implement its national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP), including for the REPowerEU chapter. These resources represent 0.3 % of the RRF, equal to 6.4 % of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019. Under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the original plan had an initial value of €1 826 million. In June 2022, Latvia's grant allocation was increased by €9 million. In September 2023, Latvia submitted a request to amend its NRRP, to which it added a REPowerEU chapter endowed with an additional grant allocation of €124 million. It also requested to transfer a portion of its share of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to its plan (€11 million). In December 2023, the Council adopted an amending implementing decision greenlighting the modified plan. In December 2024, Latvia submitted a second modified NRRP. In February 2025, the Council approved the revision of Latvia's plan. In November 2025, Latvia submitted a third modified NRRP. In December 2025, the Council approved the new revision of Latvia's plan. The current plan contains 24 reforms and 69 investment measures to be completed by 31 August 2026. Latvia has so far received 55.6 % of the resources, or €1 094 million, in the form of pre-financing, and three payments of grants (see annex to this briefing). The disbursements are below the current EU average of 69 %. A further two payments for grants will depend on progress made in implementing the plan. The European Parliament participates in discussions on the implementation of the RRF and continues to scrutinise the European Commission's work. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Fifth edition. The 'NGEU delivery' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

This briefing provides a comparative analysis of anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks in five major financial jurisdictions: the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and Singapore. Although these jurisdictions broadly follow international standards developed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), their institutional architectures and supervisory approaches differ significantly. The analysis examines several key dimensions of AML governance framework, including the legal foundations of AML obligations, supervisory structures, beneficial ownership transparency, the scope of obliged entities, the regulation of crypto-assets, and enforcement mechanisms. Particular attention is given to how different institutional designs influence the credibility and effectiveness of AML supervision. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) is intended to mark a fresh start by providing a “safe harbour” for state and non-governmental actors that aim to advance the transition at the national and international level. Co-hosted by the governments of Colombia and the Netherlands, the conference aims to form a «coalition of the willing», establish a science-led coordination process, and produce a consolidated report on concrete transition solutions. International cooperation initiatives that do not require the agreement of all parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Paris Agreement are increasingly important for implementation. With this conference being the first of its kind, the briefing for the ENVI mission to the conference outlines the conference's methodology as well as central dynamics and processes: enablers and barriers, TAFF in the UNFCCC context, parallel initiatives, as well as EU actions in the field. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On 16 December 2025, the European Commission published the automotive omnibus as part of a broader automotive package aimed at supporting the sector in the transition to clean mobility. The automotive omnibus is the ninth set of simplification measures (also known as 'omnibus packages') that have been published by the Commission since 2025. Its purpose is to simplify the rules governing the EU automotive industry and improve coherence and consistency between different regulatory requirements. The two legislative proposals included in the package would amend the EU rules concerning tachograph obligations for electric light commercial vehicles (electric vans) and motor caravans, as well as those applying to speed limitation devices for electric vans. Additionally, the package would introduce a definition of a small electric car in motor vehicle legislation and authorise the Commission to adopt delegated acts to lay down the technical requirements for vehicle interoperability with charging infrastructure and grid. Furthermore, the proposals would simplify the rules for EU type-approval of new motor vehicles in terms of their sound level; remove some low- temperature laboratory tests from the Euro 7 Regulation; simplify Euro 7 rules for heavy-duty vehicles; and empower the Commission to adopt implementing acts on car data management. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The virtual, online world is a significant part of everyday life. As a reflection of modern society, it features a range of criminal behaviour. The internet is a complex system of interconnected computer networks allowing applications to communicate with one another. Through this complexity, it has a simplistic structure with a visible top layer, a deeper content layer and finally, a small but significant dark layer. This dark layer, known as the dark web, is a less explored and understood part of the web. It contains content that is not searchable and is accessed using a process to maintain anonymity. There are legitimate and appropriate reasons for accessing the dark web, such as activists and whistleblowers avoiding identification. However, it has a reputation for illicit content and activity. This notoriety can be justified, as the dark web, while not unlawful in itself, does contain websites providing access to illegal content and services such as drugs, firearms, stolen data and child sexual abuse material. This online space is being progressively scrutinised by law enforcement agencies, who have become increasingly specialised in countering certain aspects of the dark web, with some notable successes in dismantling cybercrime infrastructure and bringing criminals to justice. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Hungary has voted out Viktor Orbán, but Peter Magyar now faces hard choices on EU ties, Russian energy, Ukraine and relations with the US Read Full Article at RT.com

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An aircraft carrier, several guided-missile destroyers, an amphibious assault ship, and other combat units have been deployed to the Middle East

The Russian leader saw his guest off to the car

All the six bridges damaged during the US and Israeli attacks were repaired and put into operation

The Tisza party leader opined that his country should not participate in allocating the loan

The origin of the unmanned vehicle has not been disclosed

In a statement to MPs, Keir Starmer said he would 'never' use the kind of words Donald Trump did about destroying civilian power and water infrastructure because they were 'wrong'.

Conservatives are expressing outrage after Donald Trump posted an image of portraying himself as Jesus Christ, forcing fractures among his evangelical base.

La 27e édition du Festival du film de l'Outaouais qui a lieu de samedi 11 avril 2026 a marqué un tournant historique en mettant, pour la première fois en 27 ans, un pays d'Afrique subsaharienne à l'honneur, le Gabon. Cette reconnaissance a offert une vitrine exceptionnelle au savoir-faire artistique et culturel gabonais. Le film à l'honneur, Afrotopia du réalisateur David Mboussou, a captivé un public venu nombreux. Dans une salle comble de plus de 200 personnes, les spectateurs ont été (...) - ARTS & CULTURE / SUJET_ECRIT_MAISON

Since 2019 the list of countries deemed safe to visit by the Foreign Office (FCDO) has drastically shrunk.

The Fountain Pub - one of only two remaining in Ely, Cambridgeshire - has been pulling pints since it was built as a drinking house in 1830.

[Botswana Daily News] Gaborone -- Acting Minister of Lands and Agriculture Dr Edwin Dikoloti has revealed that the recent Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak at the Ramatlabama Artificial Insemination (AI) Training Centre is suspected to have been spread through human activity.

[GroundUp] A draft environmental scoping report says the Eastern Cape coastal site is the most viable, but a heritage protection order could complicate the process

[Capital FM] NAIROBI, Kenya, April, 13 - Twenty-nine Kenyans have been arrested in India after being found in possession of gold worth over Sh500 million.

The initial optimism about the settlement of the situation in the strait changed to strain because of new US threats

According to Nikolay Patrushev, Russia will respond to Western attempts to block its shipping through political, diplomatic and other means

Mahmoud Qamati, Deputy Chairman of Hezbollah’s political council, believes that the US is running amok in the region

According to Abdulla Aripov, fourteen regions of Uzbekistan established good partnerships with more than 50 subjects of the Russian Federation

Russia’s production was planned at 9.574 mbd of oil in March considering all voluntary cuts