TOP NEWS

The future of the EU
The relationship at the grassroots level – Hungary is not invited

Hungary's ambassador to Poland is not invited to a ceremony marking the country's takeover of the rotating presidency of the EU. This is reported by Politico, which writes that the relationship between the countries has ended up in the "freezer".

The background to the Polish anger towards Hungary is that Poland's former deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski, who is suspected of corruption, was granted political asylum in Hungary.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has also not been invited, says Poland's deputy EU minister Magdalena Sobkowiak.

The Syrian war New government
European foreign ministers on site in Damascus: "There is a possibility for a new relationship"

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock are on site in the Syrian capital Damascus to meet the country's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, writes Reuters.

The foreign ministers meet Ahmed al-Sharaa, who led the overthrow of dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime in December, on behalf of the EU. And Barrot expresses hope for a "sovereign, stable and peaceful" Syria.

- But it is a fragile hope, he says.

At the same time, Baerbock is confident that the visit is a "clear signal" to Damascus about the possibility of a new relationship between Syria, Germany and Europe at large.

Global public health
American health chief wants to see cancer warnings on alcohol

US public health chief Vivek Murthy wants all alcoholic beverages to be provided with a warning text about the links between alcohol and cancer, writes AP.

There has already been a warning text on wine, beer and spirits about the risk of fetal damage if pregnant women consume the drinks, but Murthy wants to see more than that. He says that alcohol has been behind about a million cancer cases that could have been prevented in the past ten years.

Alcohol increases the risk of seven different types of cancer, including breast cancer, the news agency writes.