Roberta Metsola is in the news as EU Parliament president, amid debates on media restrictions and sanctions. Maltese politician, born 1979.
The European Parliament awarded the Sakharov Prize to Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut and Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, both imprisoned on charges seen as politically motivated. The award highlights ongoing struggles for press freedom and human rights amid authoritarian regimes in Belarus and Georgia.
The EU has imposed sanctions on Belarus, with a watered-down statement removing direct accusations against Lukashenko's regime to secure Hungary's support. The move follows recent balloon incidents and highlights ongoing tensions over Belarus's role in regional security and disinformation. EU diplomats see the statement as a compromise amid diplomatic negotiations.