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Céline Dion zeigte auf Instagram, wie extrem kurios der Inhalt ihrer Handtasche ist. Mikrofon, Fächer und sogar ein Schnurtelefon faszinierten Millionen Fans.

Sie ist eine der grössten Superstars unserer Zeit: Céline Dion. Sie weilt zurzeit in Las Vegas und falls du dich schon immer gewundert hast, was ein solcher Star in seiner Handtasche trägt: Die Antwort gibts im Video.

Longtemps perçues comme de simples relais de coopération culturelle, les Maisons russes s'inscrivent aujourd'hui dans une dynamique plus large, où la culture ne constitue plus une fin en soi mais un moyen. À la faveur des recompositions géopolitiques contemporaines, ces structures apparaissent de plus en plus comme des instruments d'influence politique, au croisement du soft power, de la diplomatie publique et de la guerre des récits.

Une diplomatie culturelle en apparence classique

Dans l'histoire des relations internationales, la diplomatie culturelle a toujours occupé une place singulière. Elle permet aux États de rayonner sans contraindre, de séduire sans imposer, et de tisser des liens là où la diplomatie officielle se heurte parfois à ses propres limites. Les Maisons russes s'inscrivent, en apparence, dans cette tradition. Elles proposent des cours de langue, soutiennent des échanges universitaires et valorisent un patrimoine artistique ancien, dans des formats comparables à ceux d'autres puissances culturelles.Cependant, cette lecture strictement culturelle s'avère aujourd'hui insuffisante. Depuis le milieu des années 2010, plusieurs centres de recherche européens ont observé une évolution des missions assignées aux instruments culturels russes, intégrés à une approche plus globale de diplomatie publique. Dans une étude consacrée aux stratégies d'influence russes, l'European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) souligne que Moscou tend à mobiliser culture, mémoire historique et information comme des leviers politiques indissociables, notamment dans les espaces extra-européens.

Une institution au cœur de l'appareil d'État russe

L'essentiel des Maisons russes relève de l'agence fédérale Rossotrudnichestvo, placée sous l'autorité directe du ministère russe des Affaires étrangères. Selon les données compilées par l'initiative européenne EUvsDisinfo, cette agence supervise plus de 80 centres à travers le monde, dont une part croissante en Afrique, sous des statuts juridiques variables. Ce rattachement institutionnel distingue nettement les Maisons russes de nombreux instituts culturels occidentaux, souvent dotés d'une autonomie de gouvernance. Comme le relève un rapport du German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), cette absence d'autonomie renforce la cohérence stratégique du dispositif russe, tout en brouillant la frontière entre action culturelle et objectif politique.

Le tournant des sanctions et la fin de l'ambiguïté

L'année 2022 marque une rupture. En inscrivant Rossotrudnichestvo sur la liste des entités sanctionnées, l'Union européenne acte un changement de perception majeur. Dans ses conclusions, le Conseil de l'UE estime que l'agence « contribue activement à la diffusion de narratifs alignés sur la politique étrangère russe », y compris dans des contextes culturels et éducatifs.

Ce basculement est corroboré par les travaux du NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, qui montrent que, depuis l'invasion de l'Ukraine, les dispositifs culturels russes participent davantage à une guerre de l'information décentralisée, visant à influencer les opinions publiques étrangères sans recourir à des canaux diplomatiques classiques. Dès lors, la culture change de fonction. Elle demeure un langage, mais devient aussi un vecteur stratégique, intégré à une bataille globale pour la légitimité et la crédibilité internationales.

The start of the 100th Green Week exposed clashes over EU farm policy rules in Germany

Der am britischen Hof in Ungnade gefallene Ex-Prinz und Bruder des Königs wirft jetzt mit Dreck nach Prinzessin Kate. Das regt auch unser «RoyalTea»-Duo mächtig auf.

Nachdem Filipo Lombardi bereits als Präsident von Ambri-Piotta zurückgetreten ist, verlässt er nun auch den Verwaltungsrat. Der Klub will einen Neuanfang.

Gemäss der Untersuchung durch ein Ingenieurbüro haben Mängel am Baugerüst in Prilly im Kanton Waadt zu dessen Einsturz im Sommer 2024 geführt. Beim Unfall kamen drei Arbeiter ums Leben, mehrere wurden teils schwer verletzt. Die strafrechtlichen Ermittlungen dauern an.

Ukranians face rolling blackouts in the depths of a bitter winter

Visiblement, la Fédération algérienne de football est prête à aller loin dans l’affaire des incidents ayant émaillé la fin du match Algérie-Nigéria (0-2) et l’arbitrage […]

L’article Affaire match Algérie – Nigéria : la FAF répond à la CAF et menace de saisir le TAS est apparu en premier sur .

Österreichs Bundespräsident Alexander Van der Bellen empfängt am Donnerstag den Schweizer Bundespräsidenten Guy Parmelin in Wien. Im Interview verrät einer der grossen Staatsmänner Europas, wie er über die Schweiz denkt und was er Trump sagen würde.

Written by Naja Bentzen.

European Commission proposal

On 12 November 2025, the Commission and the High Representative published a joint communication on the ‘European Democratic Shield: Empowering Strong and Resilient Democracies’ (EDS), in line with the July 2024 political guidelines. The EDS aims to protect democracy against increasingly complex threats, including ‘interference and distortions in the information space’ as well as hybrid threats, aimed at impacting elections and eroding trust in democratic processes.

In parallel and linked to the EDS, the Commission also launched a strategy for civil society. Actions, to be rolled out by 2027, fall under four key pillars:

1. a new European Centre for Democratic Resilience;
2. safeguarding the integrity of the information space;
3. strengthening our institutions, fair and free elections, and free and independent media;
4. boosting societal resilience and citizens’ engagement.

The EDS further builds on the EU’s whole-of-society approach, including its evolving regulatory framework to threats against democracy. A key dimension is digital regulation, including the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Artificial Intelligence Act. The 2023 defence of democracy package, the regulation on transparency and targeting of political advertising (TTPA), the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) are other core pieces of legislation. The framework for restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising actions was broadened in May 2025 to enable the suspension of Kremlin-controlled broadcasters. Other steps include the EU’s hybrid toolbox and FIMI toolbox. In May 2025, the Commission announced €5 million in funding for a European network of fact-checkers, expanding work by the European Digital Media Observatory (EDMO) and the European Fact-Checking Standards Network (EFCSN). As part of the new multiannual financial framework (MFF), the Commission proposes a number of programmes to support the EDS. AgoraEU aims to promote shared values, including democracy, and support the European audiovisual and creative sectors, media freedom and civil society. Other programmes include Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and the Global Europe Instrument, and possibly defence spending.

A new European Centre for Democratic Resilience

The proposed European Centre for Democratic Resilience is the most visible innovation in the EDS. The Centre would bring together expertise and capacities across Member States, EU candidate countries and potential candidates, and EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, including the European External Action Service (EEAS). The Centre would be developed progressively, based on Member States’ voluntary participation, and their input and needs for support and cooperation. In coordination with the EEAS-led Rapid Alert System, the Centre will link existing networks and structures. It will host a stakeholder platform for dialogue with civil society, researchers and academia, media providers, and a new European network of fact-checkers. The Centre would support operational cooperation to counter common threats, particularly FIMI and disinformation, and aim to increase situational awareness and the capacity to detect and anticipate threats, develop a strong early warning system and support rapid response capacity.

Safeguarding the integrity of the information space

Proposed actions to support information integrity complement the existing measures listed above, with implementation and enforcement of the digital legislation as key priorities. Together with the European Board for Digital Services, the Commission will prepare a DSA incidents and crisis protocol in response to large-scale, transnational information operations. The Commission will work with signatories of the Code of Conduct on Disinformation to increase transparency of recommender systems, demonetise disinformation, and explore further measures, including improving the detection and labelling of AI-generated and manipulated content circulating on social media services. Based on the FIMI Toolbox, a Blueprint for countering FIMI and Disinformation will be prepared. The independent European network of fact-checkers will help counter online manipulation, and EDMO’s extended mandate will support situational awareness around elections or crises. A common research support framework will enhance monitoring of information manipulation and disinformation. Moreover, the European Board for Media Services will develop common criteria for media regulators to act against rogue non-EU media operators presenting risks to public security.

Stronger democratic institutions, free and fair elections and free and independent media

In the face of internal and external challenges and attacks on European democracies and electoral processes, a series of proposed measures include stronger cooperation with Member States under the European Cooperation Network on Elections (ECNE) to enhance electoral integrity; guidance on the use of AI in electoral processes; updating of the Digital Services Act Elections Toolkit; and setting up a voluntary EU network of influencers. A proposed new pan-European platform is to make real- time news and information from professional media outlets available to wider audiences in multiple languages. Actions to support and revitalise free, plural and independent media and journalism include reviewing the AVMSD; increasing transparency of online advertising; assessing the fitness of State aid rules for public service broadcasting in the evaluation of the 2009 broadcasting communication; reinforcing measures for the safety of journalists and combating abusive litigation (SLAPPs); and supporting quality independent media and journalism beyond EU borders. Moreover, the Commission will support common work with the Member States on the transparency and integrity of funding in politics, looking at issues of common interest such as anonymous donations and cryptocurrency.

Boosting societal resilience and citizens’ engagement

Actions to empower citizens and boost societal resilience include the 2026 basic skills support scheme for schools, including citizenship and digital skills; and a media resilience programme for all age groups across rural and urban areas. In addition, the communication envisages an EU democracy guide for citizens, to promote citizens’ awareness of their democratic rights, and a European Citizens’ Panel on democratic resilience. Other whole-of-society actions include a high-level event on democracy and an annual award for democratic innovation, and support for voluntary commitments by the private sector to build a business coalition for democracy. To safeguard evidence-based decision-making, the Commission will issue a recommendation on supporting scientific evidence and its use in public policymaking; enshrine the freedom of scientific research in EU law under the European Research Area Act; and assess options for setting up a European Centre of Expertise on Research Security. In addition, the Commission will explore future pathways for the EU’s tech environment, with an initial focus on future social networking/social media platforms, supporting EU digital sovereignty.

Role of the European Parliament

Over the past two legislatures, Parliament has used a mix of tools – non-legislative resolutions, hearings, and its budgetary power – to address challenges to democracies, including from information manipulation and interference. On 18 December 2024, Parliament voted to set up a special committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS), which was constituted on 3 February 2025. EUDS further builds on work by two previous special committees on foreign interference (INGE and ING2). In resolutions adopted in March 2022 and June 2023 respectively, Members called for the creation of a European centre for information integrity to facilitate exchange between Member States and EU institutions and agencies. This idea was further developed in the April 2025 EUDS working document. The EUDS is set to propose further solutions to protect democracy in a forthcoming own-initiative report.

Read this ‘At a Glance note’ on ‘The European Democracy Shield: An overview‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Der Coiffeur-Besuch der EU-Kommissionschefin in Solothurn sorgte letztes Jahr für Diskussionen. Doch jetzt ist klar: Trotz Sonntagsarbeitsverbot bleibt der Fall für den Coiffeur ohne Konsequenzen. Nächste Woche reist von der Leyen erneut ans WEF nach Davos.

For Macron, Europeans (read: the French), must now present a 'credible offer' to meet both Ukrainian and national needs

Logistical problems lead to queues and some disgruntled voters as Ugandans elect their next president.

Wladimir Putin klagt über das schlechte Verhältnis zu Europa und macht die EU dafür verantwortlich. Im Kreml begrüsste er neue Botschafter, darunter Vertreter aus der Schweiz, Frankreich und Italien. Der Ukraine-Krieg bleibt ungeachtet seiner Forderungen zentral.

A quick turnaround could allow the Commission to claim it 'set the record', moving SAFE from proposal to disbursement of money within a single year

BERICHT über Drohnen und neue Systeme der Kriegsführung sowie über die notwendige Anpassung der EU an die heutigen sicherheitspolitischen Herausforderungen
Ausschuss für Sicherheit und Verteidigung
Reinis Pozņaks

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2025 - EP

“We know that Cyprus will need to ration its resources", a lobbyist said

Le 13 janvier, au moins dix membres du comité exécutif de la Fédération malienne de football (FEMAFOOT) ont présenté leur démission. Une pétition lancée par les supporters, exigeant le départ du bureau exécutif après l’élimination des Aigles du Mali en quart de finale de la CAN au Maroc, ainsi que d’autres sources de mécontentement, auraient précipité ces départs. Cette crise ouvre une période d’incertitude pour la gouvernance et l’avenir du football malien.

Ein Brand an der Langendorfstrasse in Bellach SO sorgte am Donnerstagnachmittag für einen Grossalarm. Feuerwehr und Polizei rückten aus. Ein unbewohnter Schopf stand in Flammen. Das Feuer ist unter Kontrolle, Verletzte gab es keine.