Khankendi to host 17th ECO summit
Azerbaijan is an active member of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), and hosting the 17th ECO Summit in the country highlights its growing r...
The European Commission is taking France to the EU Court of Justice after the country ignored repeated warnings to ban bird hunting with nets, violating the EU Birds Directive.
The European Commission announced on Wednesday that it is referring France to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to ban the use of nets to catch wild birds, despite multiple warnings.
France continues to authorise horizontal and vertical nets for capturing certain bird species in five departments in Southwest France, a method prohibited under the EU Birds Directive, which bans large-scale, non-selective hunting practices.
“The use of nets to capture birds is prohibited unless member states meet the strict criteria for derogation allowed under the directive, but France has failed to demonstrate that the disputed nets meet those criteria,” the Commission said in a statement.
The Commission has sent repeated warnings to France in 2019, 2020, and 2023, but said efforts by French authorities remain insufficient. The French environment and agriculture ministries have not responded to requests for comment.
The EU Birds Directive protects wild bird species across the bloc and bans deliberate killing, nest destruction, and illegal trade in wild birds. Conservation groups have long criticised France for circumventing EU wildlife protection laws.
Yves Verhilhac, director of the French Bird Protection League, condemned France’s inaction:
"What is happening in France is catastrophic. Lawmakers cave in to hunters’ and farmers’ lobbies instead of enforcing protections. The EU is our only hope."
This is not the first time France has faced legal action over bird hunting. In 2021, the EU Court of Justice ruled that trapping songbirds with glue—a traditional French practice—was illegal and could not be authorised by the state.
The latest case marks another escalation in the EU’s crackdown on France’s failure to comply with wildlife protection laws.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
The European Commission is set to propose allowing carbon credits from other countries to count towards the EU’s 2040 climate target, according to a leaked internal document.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
At least seven people remain missing following a massive explosion at a fireworks warehouse in the town of Esparto, Northern California, according to a report by NBC News citing local officials.
A delegation from Azerbaijan, led by MP Qaya Məmmədov, took part in the annual session of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), held from 28 June to 3 July in Porto, Portugal.
Chinese scientists have unveiled PlantGPT, the first large language model-based artificial intelligence designed specifically for plant functional genomics.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has reached a critical level and called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. He emphasised that vital infrastructure is on the verge of collapse due to a severe fuel shortage.
The US House of Representatives approved a significant tax-cut and spending bill on Thursday, passing it by a narrow margin of 218 to 214. The legislation has now been sent to President Donald Trump for his signature.
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