Author: staff

Industry figures suspected something was afoot on Apr. 30, when senior figures — including Bryant Trick, assistant U.S. trade representative, and Graham Floater, the DBT’s director for U.S. trade — failed to show at a dialogue for the two nations’ small and medium-sized businesses in Charlotte, North Carolina. Officially the reason was a transport hiccup, but one person with knowledge of the meeting said: “I thought it was one of the signs that significant progress was being made. It really, really tightened up over the last couple of weeks.” Several people said a key figure in sealing the deal was…

The mayor of Nagasaki has announced the city will invite representatives “of all countries” and regions to the peace memorial marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city.The invitation to the 157 countries and regions that have diplomatic missions in Japan will include Russia, Belarus and Israel, who were excluded last year.Mayor Shiro Suzuki said he wants all representatives to see the brutal consequences of atomic weapons use as a lesson at a time of growing divisions and conflicts.The United States dropped its second atomic bomb on Nagasaki on 9 August 1945, three days after the first bombing of Hiroshima, together…

Moscow and Beijing also said nuclear states must “reject Cold War mentality” and avoid seeking military superiority “at the expense of the security of other States.” According to the Russian press agency, 26 documents were signed during the meeting, including a joint declaration on strengthening cooperation on supporting international law. After nearly four hours of talks, Xi described his meeting with his Russian counterpart as “in-depth, friendly and fruitful.” Putin said the talks were “warm and substantive,” and claimed ties between Russia and China were stronger than ever before. Flights into Moscow were disrupted Wednesday after Ukrainian drone strikes forced…

The US and the UK have announced a trade deal, the first agreement secured with the Trump administration after it announced a raft of tariffs on foreign goods in early April.”The final details are being written up,” US President Donald Trump told reporters. “In the coming weeks, we’ll have it all very conclusive.”The rapidly-negotiated deal is not a wide ranging trade pact but it instead focuses on specific sectors, easing trade barriers on agricultural, automobile, aluminium and steel products.Although Trump is referring to the breakthrough as a “full and comprehensive” deal, experts stress that this exaggerates the scope of the…

Crucially, however, any imported meat must comply with U.K. food standards, meaning British farmers can breathe a sigh of relief that hormone-treated beef won’t be darkening their doors anytime soon. Food standards have been a hot potato since U.K.-U.S. negotiations on a free trade agreement kicked off under the first Trump administration in May 2020.  In a surprise move, the U.S. was also granted a new tariff-free quota for ethanol, applying to the first 1.4 billion liters. Previously, U.S. ethanol imported to the U.K. was subject to a tariff of between 10 and 50 percent depending on its use.  Speaking…

The new pope has not yet been officially revealed, but that should come within the next few minutes. Well-wishers in St. Peter’s Square are waiting expectantly for the new pontiff to appear on a balcony above and greet followers. Tourists and pilgrims sprinted to get a privileged view of the Basilica’s balcony, crowding up against and occasionally tripping over the security perimeter outside the main square as bells chimed and TV camera crews from around the globe rolled into action. Teresa Tice, a safety manager from New Jersey on holiday in Italy with her family said she hoped the new…

Martin has condemned what he described as Israel’s weaponisation of basic life necessities, referring to the country’s restriction on food and aid from entering the strip for almost two months. He told The Europe Conversation that this raises very significant issues for the European Union and the human rights laws which are central to the bloc’s existence. “In my view, this constitutes a war crime,” the Irish Prime Minister, who belongs to the Fianna Fáil party, said. “And I don’t say that easily.” He argued that he is in favour of a resolution, and wants the release of the hostages,…

More than half (59 percent) of Brits opposed the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump last month compared to 15 percent backing them. The opposition included a net 21 percent of Reform UK supporters, a party seen as more closely aligned to the U.S. president, meaning reduced automobile, steel and aluminium tariffs are likely to be well received. Americans were also opposed to Trump’s tariffs by 45 percent to 34 percent, though Trump voters last year backed their introduction by 67 percent to 13 percent. Nonetheless, to reach an agreement, there was a bipartisan consensus on removing the blanket…

With the whole world watching the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, waiting for the white smoke that will signal the election of the new pope, the normally plain tile roof has been enlivened by the arrival of two seagulls.While the assembled cardinals within continued their deliberations, the birds perched right above their heads — in prime view of the cameras.As the conclave doldrums set in, the unexpected avians were immediately met with laughter and affection, with social media lighting up with #gabbiano memes. Then came the inevitable theories about what, if anything, they might symbolise.There are even those who have launched into…

Türkiye’s top court rejected a request on Wednesday to annul a contentious law designed to remove millions of stray dogs from the streets. Critics said the measure could lead to mass killings of the animals.The main opposition party had sought the overturn of the legislation that was enacted last year, arguing that it violated animal rights and the right to life.The Constitutional Court, however, has ruled that the provisions are legally valid and for it to continue to be implemented.Türkiye says it will put stray dogs up for adoptionDozens of animal rights activists had gathered near the Constitutional Court to…