Early bird: Spring has come to the European economy. EU is investigating Facebook and Instagram
The overall economic situation in EU countries has begun to turn into a positive trend. Meta, the company that operates Facebook and Instagram, is facing an investigation by the European Commission. In the UK, two men are facing criminal sanctions for cutting down a well-known tree. China is escalating the conflict in the South China Sea by launching an aggressive attack by Chinese coast guard ships on Filipino civilian vessels.
EU economy is growing again
The European economy emerged from a mild recession in the first quarter of 2024, ending a year of effective stagnation. The expansion across the bloc is spread across individual states and all the largest national economies have achieved slightly better results than expected. Falling inflation has increased consumer purchasing power and the much-feared increase in unemployment has not materialized.
According to data released by Eurostat on Tuesday, the gross domestic product throughout the euro zone increased by 0.3% in the three months to March. It decreased by 0.1% in the previous two quarters and only grew by 0.1% in the previous quarter. Year-on-year, production increased by 0.4 percent, reported Politico.
Facebook is being investigated by the European Commission, suspicion goes to Russian disinformation
A formal investigation of Meta by the European Commission has been launched due to its handling of political content, including suspicions of a Russian influence campaign. In view of the upcoming elections in the EU and elsewhere, officials stated that they will be assessing whether the company's approach to moderating disinformation on Facebook and Instagram violated EU law.
The Commission has, among other things, concerns about how Meta oversees its advertising tools and whether they were misused by "malicious actors". The investigation will also examine whether Meta company is transparent enough when it comes to moderating its political content and accounts, stated BBC web.
Accusation of cutting down a tree that featured in a movie with Kevin Costner
Two men were accused of cutting down the popular 150-year-old Sycamore Gap tree, which toppled last year at Hadrian's Wall in Northern England. Thirty-eight-year-old Daniel Graham and thirty-one-year-old Adam Carruthers were accused of causing damage and damaging the wall, which was erected in 122 AD by Emperor Hadrian to protect the northwest border of the Roman Empire.
They were ordered to appear before the magistrates' court in Newcastle on May 15th. The felled tree, thanks to its majestic sycamore crown nestled between two hills, became a favorite subject of landscape photographers. After appearing in Kevin Costner's 1991 film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves", it became a destination along the walls, which are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, the AP agency reported.
China attacks Philippine ships in disputed area
The Philippines on Tuesday accused the Chinese coast guard of harassing and damaging two of its ships in the disputed South China Sea area and rejected Beijing's position that these vessels were driven out of the closely watched shallows.
The Philippine Working Group on South China Sea issues stated that a coastguard ship and a fishing vessel were damaged by water cannons used by the Chinese coast guard ships when heading to the disputed Scarborough Shoal, opening a new chapter in assisting Filipino fishermen in the area. In addition, the fishing boat was damaged by the collision with a Chinese coast guard ship. The area is a source of international conflicts, which are now escalating, said Reuters agency.
Sources: apnews.com, rwuters.com, bbc.com, politico.eu
