TOP NEWS

The climate threat The global challenges
The climate debt of rich countries is to be investigated in The Hague

A handful of major emitters, including the US, China, the UK and Russia, should be held legally responsible for the climate crisis. This is the opinion of several vulnerable small nations, with Vanuatu at the forefront, The Guardian reports.

After years of campaigning by Pacific law students, a unique court hearing has begun at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. In the next two weeks, 98 countries will make statements before the court.

- We are on the front line of a crisis that we did not create, a crisis that threatens our very existence, says Vanuatu's climate envoy Ralph Regenvanu, according to Reuters.

New European Commission
Séjourné wants to introduce a new "Europe first" strategy

Stéphane Séjourné, the European Commission's vice-president responsible for industrial affairs, says Europe must go on the offensive and prevent the Union from suffering a potential trade war. In an interview with the Financial Times, Séjourné warns that both China and Donald Trump can do it for European interests.

- When China says 'Made in China' or the USA says 'America First', we have to say 'Made in Europe' or 'Europe first', he says.

The EU's head of industry emphasizes that the Union does not pursue a protectionist agenda. However, he wants to see investments in important sectors such as the car industry and the steel industry.

- We have a strategic and technological interest in developing our own industries, creating employment and creating growth, says Séjourné.

Security around the Baltic Sea
Lithuania kicks out three Chinese diplomats

Three of China's diplomats in Lithuania must leave the country, TT writes. The announcement comes in a situation where the Chinese vessel Yi Peng 3 is suspected of involvement in sabotage against two underwater cables in the Baltic Sea - one of which runs between Sweden and Lithuania.

Neither Lithuania nor China mentions the cable breaches in the decision that the diplomats must leave. On the website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is stated that the diplomats have been declared persona non grata "for no reason".

According to Lithuania, more Chinese diplomats may have to leave the country.