“For the first time” an agreement on a law guaranteeing media freedom in the European Union

European parliamentarians and the 27 member states of the European Union agreed on Friday on legislation aimed at “protecting media pluralism and independence.” According to the declaration of the European Parliament and Council.

The German representative in the European Parliament, Sabine Verheyen, said, during a press conference at the conclusion of the negotiations, “For the first time at the European level, we have legislation that guaranteesmedia freedomAnd the independence of the media and the protection of journalists.

It is noteworthy that several countries, including France, insisted during the negotiations on including possible exceptions to the ban on monitoring journalists, citing “national security,” which raised concerns among press workers and press freedom advocates.

For her part, Romanian MP Ramona Strogariu confirmed that the consensus text reached on Friday does not include “any references to national security.”

Verheyen indicated that surveillance, such as the useof spyware on devices used by journalists, is only possible if it is authorized by a "judicial decision" In cases of “serious crimes”.

In turn, Vera Jourova, Vice-President of the European Commissionfor values ​​and transparency, said, “This is not a blank check.”

The Czech commissioner added, “We do not regulate the media, we regulate the media space.”

Two Danish and German companies suspend the passage of their ships through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Maersk announced Danish Shipping on Friday suspended the passage of its ships through the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The day after one of them had an "accident" In the Red Sea, in a move that could cause losses to the Suez Canal.

The company said in a statement: “Following the incident targeting the Maersk Gibraltar ship, andthe new attack against a container carrier today, we asked All Maersk ships in the area that must transit the Bab el-Mandab Strait are suspended until further notice.

The German company "Hapag-Lloyd" decided to For shipping, “postponing the sailing of all its ships through the Red Sea in the next three days.”

The official spokesman for the Yemeni armed forces affiliated with the Houthis, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announced earlier that the naval forces carried outwith a drone a military operation against a container ship that was heading to Israel . Explaining that “the Yemeni armed forces confirm that they continue to prevent all ships heading to Israeli ports from navigating the Arab and Red Seas until they bring in the food and medicine that our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip need.”

A US defense official also said that a missile fired from an area controlled by the Houthis in Yemen had misseda container ship that was sailing through the “Bab al-Mandab” Strait Yesterday's bio.

As the war on Gaza enters its seventieth day, Israeli forces continue to target all parts of the Gaza Strip, while the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, warned , that many residents of the Gaza Strip are in dire need of food.