The opposition right-wing “People’s Party” and the far-right “Voice” outpaced the left in the general elections in Spain, but did not get enough votes to control the parliament.
According to the results after more than 98% of ballots were counted, the Popular Party wins 136 seats (47 more than in the previous parliament) and Voice wins 33 seats (19 fewer than previously).
176 seats are needed for a majority in the parliament. Thus, without attracting other parties, the right-wing parties will not be able to get a parliamentary majority. Nevertheless, the leader of the People’s Party Alberto Feihoo, according to the newspaper A-Be-Se, will call for a mandate to form the government, as it was his party that finished first.
At the same time, the newspaper notes that it is possible that the leftists currently in power will be able to form a government again by agreeing on a coalition with a number of parties that differ from them in ideology. Spanish media call this type of coalition a “Frankenstein government.”
In the election, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Socialist Party wins 122 seats. The leftist Sumar coalition can count on 31 seats.
Spaniards on Sunday voted in general elections held early after parliament was dissolved in May.
The new parliament will convene in August. Then, if no one can form a governing coalition in two months, Spain will face repeat elections.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has said that a feasibility study (feasibility study) of the project of laying a power transmission line along the bottom of the Black Sea, which envisages supplying “green” energy from Azerbaijan to Europe via Georgia, will be submitted by November.
“In December last year, an agreement was signed between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary and Romania, certified by the European Commission, on the construction of an integrated “green” power transmission line from Azerbaijan to Europe along the bottom of the Black Sea. The work on the feasibility study has already started. We expect it to be presented probably in September-October,” Aliyev said in Shusha.
On December 17, 2022, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary signed a strategic partnership agreement in Bucharest on the construction of Black Sea Energy submarine electric cable with a capacity of 1,000 MW and a length of 1,195 km. The cable will be designed to supply “green” electricity generated in Azerbaijan through Georgia and the Black Sea to Romania for subsequent transportation to Hungary and the rest of Europe.
In June, it was decided that Bulgaria would join the project.
The laying of the cable will take 3-4 years.
The European Commission plans to provide 2.3 billion euros for laying the cable, which will be the longest in the world.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba starts his third tour of African countries, on July 23-24 the foreign minister will visit Equatorial Guinea for the first time, the ministry’s press service reports.
“Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba will visit the African continent for the third time amid the worsening global food crisis following Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. On July 23-24, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister will start his tour with a visit to Equatorial Guinea. The visit will be the first in the history of diplomatic relations,” the statement said, published on Sunday morning.
It is noted that in Malabo, the Foreign Minister will hold talks with the leadership of Equatorial Guinea on the development of bilateral relations, increasing trade, as well as on ensuring food security in Africa and support for the “Formula of Peace” of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The press service reminds that in January 2022, the African Strategy of Ukraine was approved. Within the framework of this strategy, contacts with African countries were significantly intensified through the Ukrainian President, the Foreign Ministry and parliamentary diplomacy.
Kuleba made his first African tour in October 2022, where he visited Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Kenya, and his second tour in May 2023, visiting Morocco, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Mozambique and Nigeria.
“Developing relations with African countries strengthens the global coalition in support of Ukraine against the backdrop of Russian aggression and creates new opportunities for Ukrainian businesses and citizens. The third African tour of Dmitry Kuleba is a continuation of the African strategy and the renaissance of Ukrainian-African relations”, – emphasized in the message.
From July 24 in Kiev will resume payment for parking, free parking in the capital will be possible only on weekends, reported on the portal of the Kiev city Council.
“From July 24 resumes payment for parking through the mobile application Kiev Digital. Pay for parking will be necessary only on weekdays from 8:00 to 22:00. On weekends – parking remains free,” – stated in the message.
Some nuances of payment are also indicated, in particular, payment will be charged while parking in the application, regardless of the location of the car.
The write-off is carried out automatically when the total amount for hourly parking reaches 100 hryvnias. If the amount is less, the payment is deducted on the 1st of the next month.
Kyiv authorities inform that the user of “Kyiv Digital” can add several license plates to the application. Before parking, it is necessary to select the necessary one in the hourly parking menu.
It will be possible to pay only with a bank card. Municipal parking lots do not accept cash.
“If someone demands to pay for the service in this way – call the police,” – recommend the city authorities.
In addition, they note that during the air alert, parking inspectors will not fine drivers or evacuate cars.
Source: https://kyivcity.gov.ua/news/iz_ponedilka_24_lipnya_parkuvannya_v_stolitsi_znovu_stane_platnim/?utm_source=eSputnik-promo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=%D0%86z_poned%D1%96lka%2C_24_lipnja%2C_parkuvannja_v_stolic%D1%96_znovu_stane_platnim%E2%80%8B&utm_content=1801994765&fbclid=IwAR1h6CFaCZlPpt6ETQtN0Lg6FmxzwSK0ghA30PHn8BBic4ePAqgh2q2xyi8
The National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption will check the financial situation of heads of military commissions and their deputies in all regions, their close relatives will also be monitored. This was announced by the head of the National Agency for counteraction to corruption Alexander Novikov on air of the national telethon.
“These are hundreds of heads of military enlistment offices. We have now requested information from the Ministry of Defense, because these are structures that are subordinate to the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the AFU. After receiving the list, each of them will be checked,” he emphasized.
Novikov noted that the abuse of a serviceman of the Manning Center is “not just a corruption offense, but treason from the point of view of ethics.”
The Swedish government has presented the Strategy for the reconstruction of Ukraine for 2023-2027, and 6 billion Swedish kronor (€522.6m – Ministry of Economy) will be allocated for its implementation. This was announced by the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell during an online meeting with the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Economy Yulia Sviridenko, according to the website of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine on Saturday.
“The Swedish government has presented the Strategy for Cooperation on Recovery and Reforms in Ukraine for 2023-2027, which provides for the channeling of 6 billion Swedish kronor for projects to rebuild Ukraine. This is the largest bilateral aid program in Swedish history in terms of funding and it was Ukraine that became its recipient,” the report said.
“The funds will be used for infrastructure rehabilitation, green development, entrepreneurship, trade, demining, and media. We also welcome in the fact that the Swedish government will encourage large companies to enter and develop in Ukraine,” – said Yulia Sviridenko.
It is noted that the budget of the Strategy is distributed between the organizations responsible for the implementation of projects: the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) – 5.7 billion SWK, the Swedish Institute (SI) – 225 million SWK and Folke Bernadotte Academy (Folke Bernadotte Academy) – 75 million SWK.
Separately they discussed issues of war risk insurance, cooperation with MIGA, DFC.
“The Swedish side noted that it is working on solving the issue of insurance of Swedish companies and ensuring trade operations, because the Ukrainian market is promising for the development of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries,” – emphasized in the message of the Department.
