EU set to charge Google over alleged breaches of Big Tech rules
Google is expected to face charges from the European Commission for breaching rules designed to rein in the power of Big Tech, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter.
The European Commission has announced plans to dispatch a technical mission to Georgia in the coming weeks to investigate alleged violations during the October 26 parliamentary elections.
The European Commission has announced plans to dispatch a technical mission to Georgia in the coming weeks to investigate alleged violations during the October 26 parliamentary elections.
Peter Stano, spokesperson for the European Commission on external relations, confirmed the preparations, noting that details would be disclosed later. Stano also highlighted that the head of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission will deliver a report to EU member states, assessing how complaints about electoral irregularities were handled.
On November 18, Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, reiterated the EU’s concerns about the election process, describing it as indicative of a "democratic backslide" by Georgia's government. Following the EU Foreign Ministers’ Council meeting, Borrell announced that a specialized mission would examine the election proceedings.
The election results, which saw the ruling party "Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia" secure 53.93% of the vote and 89 parliamentary seats, have faced mixed reactions from the EU. While Hungary and Slovakia acknowledged the results, other member states, such as Lithuania, questioned the elections’ fairness. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis called for an independent international investigation, urging Georgian authorities to cooperate fully.
Amid the controversy, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze expressed the government’s readiness to assist the EU mission, stating that Georgia is open to scrutiny and willing to provide access to ballots.
The October 26 elections were marked by notable opposition resistance. Key opposition parties, including the “Coalition for Change,” which secured 19 seats, and the “Unity – National Movement,” which won 16 seats, rejected the results. Protests erupted in Tbilisi on November 16, with demonstrators blocking entrances to the Central Election Commission (CEC).
As the EU mission prepares to arrive, questions about the integrity of Georgia’s electoral process remain under scrutiny, reflecting growing tensions between the nation’s ruling party and opposition forces.
A tragic crowd crush at New Delhi Railway Station on Saturday night left 18 dead and 10 injured as thousands of people, many heading to the Kumbh Mela festival, attempted to board delayed trains. The incident highlights the ongoing risks of overcrowding at public transportation hubs in India.
A Delta Air Lines regional jet flipped upside down upon landing at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday, injuring 18 people. Officials are investigating whether strong winds and snow played a role in the incident.
Berlin, February 21, 2025 – German citizens will head to the polls on Sunday, February 23, for a snap general election after the coalition government collapsed late last year.
Hamas has handed over the bodies of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas and her two young children, Ariel and Kfir, deepening national mourning in Israel. Their fate had remained uncertain for months after their abduction during the October 7, 2023 attack.
The Asian Development Bank approved a $125 million loan to support Uzbekistan in modernizing water management, improving water security, and increasing access to safe and reliable water in the country.
Afghanistan’s Taliban leaders dismissed the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) jurisdiction over the country, labeling their predecessors' 2003 decision to join the Hague-based court’s founding treaty as "unlawful."
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