
-
Hong Kong fans queue for opening of Cristiano Ronaldo exhibition
-
Itoje back as Lions take no chances against ACT Brumbies
-
Stock markets struggle as Trump's tariff deadline looms
-
Nearly 450,000 Afghans left Iran since June 1: IOM
-
North Korea bars Western influencers from trade fair tour
-
Typhoon Danas kills two, injures hundreds in Taiwan
-
Dutch coastal village turns to tech to find lost fishermen
-
Boxer Chavez's appeal against arrest if deported from US rejected: Mexico prosecutor
-
India captain Gill hailed back home after 'brilliant' Test win
-
The making of Australia's mushroom murders
-
Indonesia volcano spews 18-kilometre ash tower
-
Youthful Chelsea ready for Thiago Silva reunion at Club World Cup
-
Australian inquiry cites racism in Indigenous shooting
-
Djokovic wary despite Wimbledon form, dominant Sinner faces Dimitrov
-
Australian woman found guilty of triple murder with toxic mushrooms
-
Indonesia volcano spews 18-kilometre ash tower: agency
-
Trump says to send first tariff letters on Monday
-
The strange case of Evgeniya Mayboroda, Russia's rebel retiree
-
Asian markets drop as Trump's tariff deadline looms
-
Under-strength Brumbies eye 'big opportunity' against Lions
-
Macron to rekindle relationship with Francophile King Charles on UK visit
-
Trump hosts Netanyahu, hopes for Israel-Hamas deal 'this week'
-
Pressed to confess: Japan accused of 'hostage justice'
-
Demna to bow out at Balenciaga in Paris Haute Couture Week
-
Host of internationals in Australia-New Zealand squad to face Lions
-
Egyptian conservators give King Tut's treasures new glow
-
Mexico defeat USA 2-1 to retain CONCACAF Gold Cup
-
Visa's 24/7 war room takes on global cybercriminals
-
BRICS nations slam Trump tariffs, condemn strikes on Iran
-
BioNxt's Sublingual Cladribine Program for MS Ready for Next Phase
-
Guardian Metal Resources PLC Announces Pilot North Tungsten Project Acquired via Staking
-
MLB Nationals fire manager Martinez, GM Rizzo after loss
-
US tariffs to kick in Aug 1, barring trade deals
-
Trump slams former ally Musk's political party as 'ridiculous'
-
Three things we learned from the second England-India Test
-
Norway reach Euro 2025 quarter-finals as Swiss down eliminated Iceland
-
Alcaraz vows to avoid Murray after defeat on golf course
-
Alcaraz finds magic touch at Wimbledon as Sabalenka storms into quarter-finals
-
Run-hungry Gill glad to 'lead by example' as India level England series
-
Rockets confirm arrival of Durant in unprecedented NBA seven-team trade
-
Alcaraz survives Rublev test to stay on course for Wimbledon hat-trick
-
New Zealand's Dixon wins seventh IndyCar Mid-Ohio title
-
US tariffs to kick in Aug 1, barring trade deals: Bessent
-
England consider Archer and Atkinson recall after heavy India defeat
-
Durant deal becomes NBA-record seven-team trade: reports
-
Verstappen laments 'really difficult' Silverstone fifth
-
BRICS nations hit out at Trump tariffs
-
Hansen shoots Norway to brink of Euro 2025 quarter-finals
-
Jennifer Geerlings-Simons becomes Suriname's first woman president
-
Netanyahu says Trump meeting could 'advance' Gaza deal ahead of Doha talks

Lawmakers grill Dutch ex-FM over EU climate post bid
European lawmakers will on Monday grill former Dutch foreign minister Wopke Hoekstra on his bid for a top European Union climate post, in the face of criticism from green activists over his past ties to the oil industry.
The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has proposed the conservative politician, 48, take on the climate portfolio after his compatriot Frans Timmermans returned to domestic Dutch politics.
Timmermans had been a powerful executive vice president on the commission, in charge of overseeing the ambitious climate pact known as the European Green Deal.
That job has passed to Slovakia's commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Brussels now wants Hoesktra to serve under him as the official in charge of "climate action".
But Hoekstra may not face a smooth ride during the confirmation process, given his past working for energy giant Shell and hawkish economic stance when he was Dutch finance minister.
"We believe Mr Hoekstra is not the right person for this crucial position," 50 climate action groups wrote last month.
"Not only does he lack expertise and experience in dealing with climate change issues, he also has a history of aligning very closely with fossil fuel interests."
Hoekstra will face questioning by the European Parliament's environmental committee on Monday evening, before the full plenary votes on his candidacy.
If approved by MEPs and EU country leaders, Hoekstra would serve until at least May next year, when a new commission will be formed after the European Parliament elections.
Despite the short tenure, that would still see Hoekstra spearhead the EU's delegation at the crucial COP 28 climate talks starting in the United Arab Emirates at the end of next month.
"I am deeply convinced that ambitious climate action is an absolute necessity, considering the enormity of the challenge it poses both in the EU and outside," Hoekstra wrote in a written submission before the hearing.
- 'Explain it' -
The powerful left-wing Socialists and Democrats political group within the EU parliament promised Hoekstra would face a "tough" hearing.
But in the horse-trading of European politics they are keen to secure the top job for Sefcovic, who comes from their group, so could wave through Hoekstra's candidacy.
After graduating from university some 20 years ago, Hoekstra worked for Shell for two years before moving on to global consultancy giant McKinsey.
He was appointed as finance minister to serve in Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's third coalition government in 2017 before becoming foreign minister in 2022.
When his name was announced, a petition against his transfer to Brussels quickly garnered tens of thousands of signatures criticising the appointment of a "fossil fuel manager", given his Shell background.
Green groups have pointed to his record in office after he opposed ending exploitation of a major gas field, blocked measures to reduce nitrogen emissions and propped up airline KLM.
As Dutch finance minister he also ruffled many feathers in southern Europe by his tough stance on fiscal discipline, and Portugal was outraged when he suggested that southern countries should have saved more before the Covid-19 pandemic.
MEP Peter Liese, from Hoekstra's centre-right political family, on Monday brushed off the candidate's perceived lack of experience on climate issues and his ties to Shell.
"I don't think that should be an issue in the evaluation if he's capable to do the job," Liese said.
"I think he has to explain it in the hearing, what is his relationship now."
The reshuffle of key EU climate jobs comes as the bloc's green ambitions face a difficult moment.
There has been growing resistance from some EU member states, and some right-wing MEPs have called for a "pause" in environmental legislation.
There are fears that complaints over the impact of the EU's climate push on the daily lives of citizens could help spur a shift to the right at the next European elections.
G.Stevens--AMWN