Author: staff

Since taking the helm in 2021, the WTO chief has raised the organization’s profile — meeting with world leaders, engaging with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, and spearheading initiatives that some members say stray away from trade and towards development aid.  “They’ve always been strict on [budget], so it’s not new,” said one Geneva-based diplomat about the U.S. position, granted anonymity to speak freely. “I don’t want to read into if it’s more tough now than it was before. I’m not sure, but they’re asking questions.”  Washington has now called for a backward and forward-looking review of WTO…

At least 14 immigrant families have fled their homes, mostly from Ballymena, and received emergency accommodation elsewhere, according to Northern Ireland’s public housing agency. More than 60 police officers have suffered injuries in street skirmishes with rioters. Such racism-fueled intimidation and violence has become a recurring problem in Northern Ireland, the least ethnically diverse corner of the United Kingdom, where a three-decade conflict between British unionists and Irish nationalists known as “The Troubles” came to a negotiated end a quarter-century ago. Since then, immigration from outside Britain or Ireland has grown from virtually nothing to represent around 6.5 percent of…

If that happens, it will have been a long time coming. The negotiating process started 20 years ago and the treaty was adopted in 2023, but countries have been slow to ratify and at least 60 must do so for the treaty to come into force. With marine and coastal ecosystems facing multiple threats from climate change, fishing, and pollution, the treaty’s main aim is to establish marine protected areas in international waters, which make up around two thirds of the ocean. But if getting 60 countries to ratify a treaty they already endorsed was hard, deciding which parts of…

Israel’s strikes against the Iranian capital of Tehran and targets around the country on sites claimed to be linked to its nuclear programme reportedly killed several top military officials as well as nuclear scientists. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned in a televised address on Friday that a “strong” response to Israel would be coming, in addition to the 100 drones already launched. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will give a severe, wise, and strong answer to the occupier regime,” he said, referring to Israel.Euronews Next takes a look at what options Iran could use to strike back against Israel in light of…

“Clear procedures are crucial, as is the rapid exchange of information,” said Lithuania’s Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič in a press release, adding that this would ensure a quick roll out of measures and ensure there is no panic before and during a crisis. “It is important for the Baltic countries to maintain a unified approach and coordinate actions when threats arise in order to ensure the safety of our people — especially in the event of large-scale evacuation,” he said.   The move comes ahead of Zapad 2025 — the joint military exercise between Moscow and Minsk — set to take place…

“Despite clear recommendations … not to travel to Russia or Belarus, either in the interests of the state or for reasons of personal safety, the number of people going there continues to grow,” said Ainars Latkovskis, chairman of the National Security Commission at the parliament.  Russian and Belarusian intelligence services actively spy on and attempt to recruit Latvians on the territory of those countries, Latkovskis added. He also noted that Latvia has limited capacity to assist its citizens who encounter trouble while there. The new law also prohibits Russian and Belarusian citizens from owning critical infrastructure in Latvia. To work…

Foraging; middle-class pastime or a cost-of-living godsend?In recent years, in an effort to get out of the house and back to nature many people have taken up foraging – the practice of looking for edible items in the wild.It can make a fun day out and even be a good way of decorating your home. However, over foraging can also be a concern with recent pleas from wildlife organisations in the UK for the public not to pick nature clean.But what if foraging could actually benefit biodiversity? Euronews Culture has met one chef who thinks so.Foraging and biodiversityPippa Lovell is…

The controls, launched on April 12, are “critical to limit the risk of foot-and-mouth disease incursion,” according to the U.K.’s deputy chief veterinary officer for international and trade affairs, Dr. Jorge Martin-Almagro. The shop, which sold items including a 40-pack of cured sausages, is five meters from a U.K. Border Force post where British border officials are permanently stationed checking passports. A U.K. government spokesperson said: “This government will do whatever it takes to protect British farmers from foot-and-mouth disease. We are working closely with Border Force, ports, airports and international travel operators, to increase awareness of the new restrictions…

While two European officials said the conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, would almost certainly be postponed, all four officials POLITICO spoke with said a final decision had not yet been taken. The United States was reportedly urging allies not to take part, arguing it would reward Hamas for spearheading the Oct. 7 terror attack that sparked the current crisis in Gaza, Reuters reported, citing a leaked diplomatic cable. Neither Macron’s office nor the U.S. Embassy in Paris immediately responded to a request for comment. French President Emmanuel Macron’s team had hoped that the event would see European states…

This year’s Global Tech Ecosystem Index has crowned Paris as the top tech hub on the continent.The report analysed tech talent, innovation and investment in 288 cities and 69 countries.The French capital also placed fourth in the global ranking, while London ranked 6th.Cambridge, Munich, Stockholm and Grenoble were the only other European cities to make it to the global top 20.Cambridge shows best talent concentration in EuropeAnalysts say the UK has been attracting fewer funds in recent years. Its startups raised just slightly more than €19 billion in 2024, reportedly the lowest amount since 2020. Nonetheless, the UK remains a…