Plenary session, single market and economy in focus this WEEK

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, along with MPs Richard Tice, Lee Anderson, James McMurdock, and chairman Zia Yusuf, are holding a press conference at the Royal Horseguards Hotel in London amidst internal turmoil. The party's popularity has dipped following Farage's suspension of MP Rupert Lowe over alleged threats against Yusuf, with police investigating the claims. Tensions between Lowe and Farage have escalated, with Lowe criticizing Farage's leadership and Elon Musk suggesting Lowe would make a...

A seven-day mourning period has been declared in North Macedonia following a tragic fire in Kočani that claimed the lives of fifty-eight young people and left nearly a hundred injured. The Orthodox Church expressed deep sorrow and offered condolences, with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil reaching out to offer support. The tragedy sparked calls for responsibility and conscience in society to prevent such losses in the future. Full Article

Syria’s foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani will participate in an annual EU conference in Brussels on March 17, 2025, focusing on Syria’s economic recovery and reconstruction post-al-Assad regime. The EU plans to reveal additional funding, potentially involving the European Investment Bank, to support Syria’s transition and address humanitarian needs, amid concerns of a US aid freeze exacerbating the crisis. The EU is expected to increase financial commitments towards Syria’s reconstruction, aiming for a contribution similar to...

Brambles are considered a nuisance by woodland managers, but recent research has revealed that fallow deer surprisingly have a taste for them, as shown by analysis of plant DNA in their feces. This discovery sheds light on deer diets and their impact on woodland ecosystems, particularly as deer populations thrive in human-altered landscapes in the UK. The government's target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 may be at risk due to deer grazing on...

Experts predict a significant drop in slug populations this spring, attributed to cold winter weather and a recent dry spell by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) entomology team. This decline will benefit gardeners growing plants like lettuce, carrots, and broccoli from seed, following a record-breaking year for slugs in 2024 due to mild, wet conditions. The RHS notes that years of high slug activity typically lead to periods of lower activity, with weather playing a...

A study conducted by researchers from the University of Southampton and the University of Vienna found that people in the UK tend to believe that fictional heroes like Harry Potter and Gandalf share their political views, while villains like Darth Vader and Cruella de Vil would support opposing parties, leading to increased political polarisation. The tendency to project personal views onto fictional characters also extended to real-life politicians, with participants associating positive attributes with politicians...