Author: staff
“Today, ministers decided to, let’s just move on,” South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo told POLITICO. “Don’t wait until everybody agrees on everything. Because time is of the essence.” Han-koo labeled it a “practical approach,” under which “when the time comes more members join … and consensus is formed to integrate this into the WTO.” Meanwhile, however, the deal should be implemented “as soon as possible [where] members can reap the benefit,” he said. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: “By moving forward with the E-commerce Agreement, participating economies are … demonstrating that the multilateral trading system can respond, and is…
By Malek Fouda with AFP Published on 28/03/2026 – 16:07 GMT+1 22 migrants hoping to reach Europe died off the coast of Greece, survivors told the Greek coastguard on Saturday. 26 others survived the ordeal and were rescued by a European border agency vessel near the island of Crete. The survivors included a woman and a minor, officials said, adding that those in need of treatment were transferred to hospitals. 21 of the survivors were Bangladeshi citizens, four were from South Sudan and one was a Chadian national. The boat had been at sea for six days after setting sail from Tobruk, a…
Monaco welcomed Pope Leo XIV on Saturday for the first papal visit to the principality since 1538, with the pontiff using the one-day trip to urge residents to put wealth and influence at the service of the common good. Arriving by helicopter from Rome, he was received by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene before addressing crowds from the Prince’s Palace and later celebrating Mass at Stade Louis II. The visit matters beyond ceremony because Monaco, a state of just 2.08 square kilometres, remains one of the few countries in Europe where Catholicism is the official religion. The visit also…
“I know that all of our U.K. friends would be very much interested in such a cooperation,” Šefčovič said. The U.K. has long pushed for inclusion in a Western steel bloc, in the hopes that it could help Britain dodge the new 50 percent tariffs Brussels plans to impose. Britain has already moved in the same direction — tightening quotas on steel imports and raising tariffs above those quotas to 50 percent. “Because of global overcapacities, we have to adopt different safeguard measures,” said Šefčovič. “Americans did it. Canadians followed. We had to adopt our safeguard measures to simply save…
“Trust in the European Union will be undermined” if it does not prevent Russia’s participation inthe 61st Venice Biennale, and the EU’s top leadership should take “urgent and decisive steps” in this regard. These were the words MEPs addressed to the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the Foreign Ministry of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, the European Commission’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and a number of other high-ranking officials in a letter that has come into the possession of Euronews. In it, the MEPs condemned the decision by the biennale’s organisers…
The statement comes after Ukraine signed a defense cooperation pact with Saudi Arabia on Friday, during Zelenskyy’s two-day visit to Riyadh. That accord, Zelenskyy said, “lays the foundation for future contracts, technological cooperation, and investment. It also strengthens Ukraine’s international role as a security donor.” The outreach reflects Kyiv’s broader push to leverage its battlefield experience following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, positioning itself as a security partner to countries facing rising regional threats, particularly from Iran. Since the start of the Iran war, Kyiv has been pitching its unique experience and interceptors to the Middle Eastern countries, which rely on costly…
There was a “strong push at the dialogue by the EU for a digital trade agreement between CPTPP and the EU,” a CPTPP member nation official confirmed, adding it had “good support around the room.” The meeting between the two largest trading blocs, which together represent nearly a third of the global economy, took place on Friday afternoon, as the World Trade Organization scrambles to advance long-stalled reforms — including efforts to keep digital trade permanently tariff-free. EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič highlighted the bloc’s existing digital trade agreements — or DTAs — with CPTPP member countries Singapore and South…
Updated: 28/03/2026 – 12:00 GMT+1 Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this March 28th, 2026 – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel. … More
The attacks mark one of the most direct escalations against American forces since hostilities erupted late last month, underscoring the growing risk of a broader regional confrontation. Washington is sending additional forces into the region, while European capitals are stepping up efforts to contain the economic and security fallout. At the same time, Israel is confronting a widening threat landscape. The Israeli military said it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen early Saturday, with Iran-backed Houthi forces claiming responsibility shortly afterward. The strike followed days of signaling from the Houthis that they were preparing to enter the conflict, raising renewed…
Published on 28/03/2026 – 11:01 GMT+1 Police in Nepal have arrested former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli early on Saturday over the deaths of dozens of people during violent protests that toppled his government and resulted in new elections. Authorities arrested the powerful communist leader at his residence on the outskirts of the capital Kathmandu. They also arrested Ramesh Lekhak, the former home minister who has been accused of ordering authorities to fire on protesters. Incumbent home minister Sudan Gurung announced the arrests on social media. “No one is above the law. We have taken former Prime Minister KP…