Latest news and stories about international policy in Portugal for expats and residents.
Despite the war in Iran and its economic consequences preoccupying London and Brussels, much work is going on behind the scenes to strike a closer relationship between the U.K. and the European Union. Nearly a decade after Britain voted to leave the bloc, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has tasked his ministers with negotiating a post-Brexit ...
Forty new species will be added to the list of internationally protected animals under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), including the snowy owl, a species made famous by Hedwig the owl from Harry Potter.
The UN Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) approved today the inclusion of 40 new species under international protection during its 15th meeting (COP15) in Brazil.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is expanding its presence in Europe.
The participation of athletes in women's events at the Olympic Games will be conditional on a genetic test starting from Los Angeles 2028, which will exclude transgender women, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced today.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced this Thursday, March 26, that only “biological women” will be eligible to participate in women's events at the upcoming 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. To verify this, athletes will undergo a unique genetic test. With this decision, the IOC seeks to protect women's competitions by establishing a universal rule for competitors following various controversies caused by fragmented regulations. In this regard, the IOC stated that all athletes wishing to participate in the Olympic Games must now undergo a genetic test for the SRY gene to determine their eligibility. “Based on scientific evidence, the IOC considers that the presence of the SRY gene is constant throughout life and represents highly accurate evidence that an athlete has undergone male sexual development,” the organization stated. Previously, the IOC had declined to set rules on transgender participation, having instructed international federations in 2021 to develop their own guidelines. Upon assuming the presidency, Kirsty Coventry stated that the IOC would lead the adoption of a uniform approach. In the statement issued this Thursday, Coventry noted that “at the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can make the difference between victory and defeat,” adding that “it would not be fair for biological men to compete in the women's category,” and emphasizing that “in some sports, it would not even be safe.”
The decision was made by the International Olympic Committee
On the second day of the European Council, Socialist MEP Ana Catarina Mendes states she believes federalism is the answer to giving Europe a stronger voice in the face of a fragile international order.
The European Union wants to urgently resume talks on a “reset” of relations with the United Kingdom. The bloc of 27 states says work is needed to “overcome complexities.”
The Council of the EU also removed seven people from the list, five of whom have already passed away.
