Author: staff
A leaked draft of a keenly awaited Action Plan for Affordable Energy suggests cutting green levies and VAT could ease costs for European consumers – but tax reforms have been deadlocked since 2021. The European Commission “stands ready” to help EU governments reach an agreement on reforms to the Energy Taxation Directive proposed back in 2021, according to a leaked draft of an action plan to cut energy costs that put Europe at a disadvantage with competitors China and the US.But with tax matters one of a handful of EU policy areas where legislation requires the unanimous backing of all…
Earlier on Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met in Saudi Arabia for bilateral talks on the U.S.-Russia relationship and the future of Ukraine. Kyiv was not present for the discussions. The negotiations lasted about 4.5 hours and, according to Putin’s top aide Yuri Ushakov, “went well,” though Ushakov said there’s still “intensive work” to be done before a summit between the two presidents. Washington and Moscow agreed to establish a consultation mechanism to address “irritants” in bilateral relations “with the goal of taking the necessary steps to normalize the operation of the respective…
European countries are insisting there can be no discussions about peace in Ukraine without the direct involvement of Ukraine and Europe as talks between Washington and Moscow have started. European leaders clamouring for a seat at the negotiation table with Ukraine, Russia and the US have not started to discuss who could represent them, diplomatic sources have told Euronews.An EU source has however confirmed to Euronews that European Council President Antonio Costa “has begun a process of bilateral consultations” with the leaders of the 27 member states to work out what they are willing to do in terms of aid…
Together with UNHCR, we already use satellite links to connect schools in refugee camps across Africa where mobile networks are notoriously inadequate. In Ukraine itself, our Vodafone partner used Starlink to quickly restore some form of connectivity after Russian attacks on civil infrastructure. These technology solutions have been around for years and are being used with great success, especially to help citizens in times of emergencies and natural disasters. They have two practical limitations, however. Firstly, they all rely on dedicated devices, special dishes, terminals or expensive satellite phones to leverage space for connectivity. And secondly, they work far better…
After rejecting a plea deal that could have put him behind bars for six months, A$AP Rocky was found not guilty of two felony assault charges. A$AP Rocky leaped into the arms of his partner Rihanna on Tuesday, as a clerk read out the not guilty verdict in his trial on two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm.After a three-week trial, the jury needed just three hours to clear Rocky – real name Rakim Mayers – of charges that could have put him behind bars for more than 20 years.”Thank y’all for saving my life,” the three-time Grammy…
It’s a quirk of German politics: Even though he’s the strong odds-on favorite to become chancellor, Friedrich Merz is in for a nervous election night. If he’s to have a strong grip on power after the Feb. 23 vote, he needs to be able to form a coalition he can work with. This requires Germany’s smaller parties to suffer, and for some to suffer so much they won’t even be represented in parliament. Merz has been pretty candid about the ideal scenario: His center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) must do “so well in the election” that “only one coalition partner…
Despite last-minute concerns expressed by Greece, EU countries agreed to stop imports of Russian aluminum. Downstream Russian products of the metal have already been blocked, and the European Commission proposed in this package to also ban primary aluminum. A certain threshold of imports would still be allowed for some time, before a full ban kicks in later. Notably absent from the package is a full ban on Russian liquified natural gas (LNG). A group of countries had been pressing the EU executive to prohibit the energy source, worried about a recent uptick in EU purchases. But the issue has been caught…
US President Donald Trump has signalled plans to impose a 25% tariff on car imports, along with similar or higher levies on pharmaceutical products and semiconductor chips. US President Donald Trump said he may impose a 25% tariff on auto, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor imports as soon as 2 April. He indicated that companies would be given time to relocate their manufacturing plants to the US before new levies are announced.Trump’s widening tariff threatsThe announcement marks the latest escalation in Trump’s tariff plans, further heightening the risk of a trade war between the US and its global trading partners. Last week,…
Gustafsson was unveiled only three days before the event, and there are now questions about whether full due diligence could have realistically been carried during this sped-up process. HOLAC, which vets Lords appointments, raised concerns in 2023 that it needed to guard against any suggestion of “rubber stamping” appointments “without sufficient scrutiny” following the separate move to bring in ex-Prime Minister David Cameron to the House of Lords to serve as Rishi Sunak’s foreign secretary. Its CEOs accompanied Tory prime ministers David Cameron and Theresa May on trade missions, and in 2021. | Sean Gallup/Getty Images A House of Lords…
Britain’s main opposition Conservatives are the Republicans’ sister party, with figures including former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss out in force at Trump’s inauguration. New leader Kemi Badenoch has spoken warmly about Trump appointee Elon Musk’s government efficiency drive, and rails against many of the same “woke” targets. Despite a thumping election defeat last year, the Tories could also realistically reenter government before Trump’s second term ends — and so must keep America on side. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage’s small but significant band of Reform UK MPs backs the president more openly, with Farage pitching himself as a key…