Author: staff

French brandy is at the heart of a commercial dispute between Beijing and Brussels over Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). The wine-growing town of Cognac, in southwestern France, is at the epicentre of a trade war between China and the EU. Since mid-October, Beijing has imposed temporary anti-dumping measures for imports of European brandy. This comes after the EU Commission said it wants to impose heavy tariffs on electric vehicles coming from China. Anxiety and frustration against the French government are brewing among the makers of the eponymous cognac. ‘We’re being completely sacrificed'”We’re being held hostage in a dispute between the…

The DAX index rose during the end of the week as improved German business sentiment and positive private sector data rescued investor confidence. The Ifo Business Climate Index increased for the first time in six months, offering a light at the end of the tunnel. The German DAX index edged 0.2% up on Friday, lifted by growing investor optimism as German business sentiment showed its first signs of improvement in months, coupled with upbeat signals from private sector activity surveys.The Ifo Business Climate Index, a closely watched measure of German economic confidence based on approximately 9,000 business responses, rose to…

A majority of lawmakers supported the proposition from the far-left LFI party, despite warnings from the incumbent government. French lawmakers on Friday voted in favour of a new levy that would tax assets above the €1 billion threshold at 2%.It would apply to anyone who is a tax resident in France or who has assets in France.The amendment, proposed by the far-left LFI party (France Unbowed), comes as France’s National Assembly debates next year’s state budget.A draft proposal created by the incumbent government is debated and amended, before being sent to France’s Senate for another review.The acceptance of the wealth…

“Consultations concluded without reaching such a mutually agreed solution, to which the EU remains open. The establishment of an arbitration tribunal constitutes the next step of the dispute settlement procedure.” The statement adds that measures to manage “shared resources” must be “non-discriminatory, proportionate to the objectives and based on the best available scientific evidence.” The government has been contacted for comment. The issue looks unlikely to go away, as Brussels has made clear that a new settlement on fishing will have to be part of any new Brexit deals struck with Starmer’s government. The European Association of Fish Producers Organisations…

Updated: 25/10/2024 – 16:26 GMT+2 A dust tornado was seen near the city of Sharjah in United Arab Emirates on Wednesday afternoon, with drivers passing by and stopping their cars to watch the event as lightning struck the ground. A dust tornado was seen near the city of Sharjah in United Arab Emirates on Wednesday afternoon, with drivers passing by and stopping their cars to watch the event as lightning struck the ground.

Modi and Scholz held talks to strengthen India-Germany ties, signing agreements on defence, trade, and clean energy. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held wide-ranging discussions on Friday to bolster strategic ties between the two countries. Scholz endorsed a free trade agreement between India and the European Union, saying it would benefit “all sides”.“There is enormous potential to further build and expand trade and investment between both our economies. And as chancellor, I strongly favour an ambitious free trade agreement between India and the European Union,” Scholz said.The bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in…

It comes after Pacific leaders called on both countries to do more to tackle the climate crisis. Australia and the UK have struck a new deal agreeing to collaborate on climate change and energy initiatives. The Climate and Energy Partnership was announced on Thursday after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for the first time on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa. King Charles said in his opening address to the meeting on Friday that “the existential threat of climate change” was an “urgent challenge” which needed to be…

The fee will go up to €10 for last minute bookings. Venice will extend its day-tripper tax next year, increasing the number of days on which tourists have to pay to enter the city and doubling the fee to €10 for last-minute visitors, city officials said on Thursday.Mayor Luigi Brugnaro stressed that the tax aims to help the city and its citizens battle overtourism and avoid huge influxes of visitors during crowded holidays and weekends.The payment system was launched earlier this year for a time-limited pilot program.Venice announced last year it would introduce the long-discussed day-tripper fee after the city…

The iconic and elusive British artist has said in a recent interview that she has “lots of ideas” and is “really looking forward to getting back into that creative space.” Anyone who has a favourite record store may have noticed that the Kate Bush section has been rather stocked of late.The elusive artist’s last release was in 2011 for her tenth record, ‘50 Words for Snow’ – the same year that equally evasive and much-missed-in-the-recording-studio Tom Waits dropped his last album to date, ‘Bad As Me’. However, the British singer-songwriter has gained a whole new generation of followers thanks to…

Guterres’ trip to the BRICS summit in Russia’s Kazan drew criticism from Kyiv after the UN chief refused to participate in the Ukrainian president’s Peace Formula summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the UN secretary general’s visit to the country because of his trip to Russia, AFP news agency reported on Friday, citing a source in Zelenskyy’s office. Antonio Guterres’ trip drew fire from Kyiv because the UN chief refused to participate in Zelenskyy’s Peace Formula summit only to accept the Kremlin’s invitation to Kazan earlier this week to attend BRICS.Following his meeting with Vladimir Putin at the BRICS summit,…