• EU to tell big tech firms to curb election risks or face fines

    BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – The EU will put more pressure on the most popular online platforms, like X and TikTok, to tackle the risk of election disinformation or face fines, an EU official said on Friday. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, is expected to adopt new guidelines, likely on Tuesday,...
  • GCC and EU hold talks to boost economic, political ties

    Brussels, Belgium-- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union have held talks in Brussels in order to enhance relations between the two blocs. In this connection, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), today held a discussion session with members of the European Union (EU)...
  • EU members to discuss Bosnia entry into Union

    Brussels, Belgium - A group of EU countries including Germany on Tuesday pushed for a green light to start membership negotiations with Bosnia, but others such as France seemed reluctant to proceed. The EU's 27 leaders will debate at a summit on Thursday a proposal from the bloc's executive to launch...
  • Spain announces US$21.87m in funding to UN Palestinian refugee agency

    Madrid, Spain--Spain said Thursday it would give an additional $21.87 million to the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, which is facing a cash crunch after several nations suspended their funding. The agency has been at the centre of controversy since Israel accused about a dozen of its employees of involvement in...
  • UNRWA head seeks General Assembly support after backlash

    The head of the UNRWA is set to defend his organization's work at the General Assembly, after crippling backlash over accusations that some employees were involved in Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel. Philippe Lazzarini warned in a letter to the General Assembly's president that his agency is at a...
  • EU queries Meta about ad-free subscriptions, shadow banning

    BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - The EU on Friday used new regulatory powers to query Meta about ad-free subscriptions to Facebook and Instagram as well as claims some voices are suppressed online in a phenomenon known as "shadow banning". The European Commission made a request for information under the mammoth content moderation law known...
  • Europe gives accent to instant payments across the union

    Brussels, Belgium - Bank customers will soon be able to transfer money across Europe within seconds after the EU adopted a law on Monday forcing banks to offer bloc-wide instant payments. Under the new rules, people in Europe will be able to transfer money within 10 seconds at any time of...
  • Price of natural gas in Europe falls to a 3-year low

    LONDON, UK – The price of natural gas in Europe fell again on Friday, taking it to its lowest in almost three years as mild winter weather continues and European stockpiles hold up. Mid-morning on Friday, the benchmark Dutch TTF futures contract was down 3.2 percent at US$24.3 (22.45 euros) a...
  • Broad support among G20 for two-state solution in Middle East: Brazil

    There was "virtual unanimity for the two-state solution as the only possible solution," Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira told journalists at the close of a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the world's biggest economies. "The only reason (Vieira) didn't simply say 'unanimity' is that not every speaker addressed the...
  • West Bank situation an obstacle between Israel-Palestine peace, says EU

    EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the situation in the Israel-occupied West Bank posed a major obstacle to finding a long-term solution for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. "The West Bank is the real obstacle for the two-state solution," Borrell said at the Munich Security Conference.
  • GCC and Sweden look to ramp up cooperation in ‘several areas’

    Munich, Germany-- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Sweden have discussed ways to ramp up cooperation in several areas, besides looking to enhance ties between the GCC and variou European nations. In this regard, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the GCC, and Tobias Billström, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the...
  • EU seeks 90 percent drop in greenhouse emission by 2040

    Strasbourg, France - The EU on Tuesday urged a 90-percent cut to its greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, even as the bloc's transition to a greener future was clouded by a widespread farmers' revolt. "Based on the best available science, and a detailed impact assessment, we are recommending that the 2040 target...
  • EU adopts cavalier approach in its desire for primacy

    For EU leaders, it is their way or the highway as the wealthy, powerful bloc seeks to tame opposition and browbeat defiant countries and individuals into submission.
  • Israel says will seek to stop UN agency’s activities in Gaza after war

    UNRWA said Friday it had sacked several employees accused by Israel of involvement in Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack, prompting the United States to suspend critical funding. The head of the agency, Philippe Lazzarini, vowed to hold "accountable, including through criminal prosecution" any UNRWA employee found to have taken part...
  • ‘Victory for justice’: World reacts to ICJ’s Gaza genocide case ruling

    "Today marks a decisive victory for the international rule of law and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people," said the foreign affairs ministry of South Africa, which brought the case before the ICJ.
  • Apple to make changes to App Store in Europe

    iPhone users can download alternative app stores.
  • Libya requires $1.8bn to rebuild flood-devastated areas, says report

    TRIPOLI, LIBYA - The flood that devastated Libya's eastern port city of Derna last year has impacted up to 1.5 million people and will require $1.8 billion for reconstruction, according to a new report. On September 10, Storm Daniel hit the east coast of Libya, causing floods that collapsed two dams...
  • Israel pounds Gaza as Netanyahu rejects hostage release deal

    Abdelrahman Iyad, wounded in Gaza and now being treated aboard the French helicopter carrier Dixmude, docked in Egypt, said he did not have time to leave his house before it was hit. "I was with my parents, my brother, my sister, my second sister and her husband and their daughter....
  • EU worried Red Sea attacks could spark inflation

    European Union economy commissioner Paolo Gentiloni warned that violence in the Red Sea sparked by Houthi attacks on shipping could push up energy prices and inflation in the bloc. "We know that we're starting this year with subdued growth, increasing concerns on the downside risks caused by the geopolitical tensions,"...
  • EU court’s adviser says $2.6bn fine on Google be upheld

    Google suffered a legal blow at the European Court of Justice when the body's adviser recommended that a US$2.6 billion fine levied on it for anti-competitive practices be upheld. Although such opinions are not binding, they do carry weight and are often followed by EU judges in their rulings.
  • India’s Russian oil imports fall to 11-month low as price cap rises

    Indian refiners bought 1.45 million barrels per day of Russian oil last month, their lowest amount since last January and down nearly 16 percent from November, according to global energy trade intelligence platform Kpler.
  • EU reaches agreement on reforming bloc’s migration laws

    Spain, which chaired the lengthy negotiations in its role holding the EU presidency, said on X, formerly Twitter: "A political agreement has been reached on the five files of the EU new Pact on Migration and Asylum." European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said: "It's been a long road to...
  • EU clinches ‘historic’ deal on AI law after long negotiations

    The EU's internal market commissioner, Thierry Breton. called the deal as historic, regulating artificial intelligence models such as ChatGPT. Negotiators in Brussels nailed down curbs on how AI can be used in Europe, which they said would not hurt innovation in the sector nor the prospects for future European AI...
  • European Union fails to agree on budget reforms

    Brussels, Belgium - EU finance ministers failed to seal a deal on an overhaul of the bloc's spending rules on Friday, but still hope to reach an agreement before the end of the year. The lack of approval comes despite the ministers meeting for a dinner on Thursday to discuss the...
  • Aid pledged to Ukraine down nearly 90 percent from Aug-Oct: Report

    Paris, France - Ukraine's allies have dramatically scaled back their pledges of new aid to the country, which have fallen to their lowest level since the start of the war, the Kiel Institute's Ukraine aid tracker showed Thursday. "The dynamics of support to Ukraine have slowed," the German-based institute said, adding...
  • Rising global temperatures in focus as COP28 kicks off in Dubai

    Dubai, UAE--Rising sea levels, vanishing Arctic landscapes, fading coral reefs, acidic oceans, and raging forest fires are common occurrences today. Climate change is escalating its aggressive posture before a full scale assault on humanity. A new study found that it costs the world $16.3 million per hour. On November 17,...
  • Bahrain and EU hold discussions to ramp up ties in energy sector

    Manama, Bahrain-- Bahrain and the European Union (EU) have held discussions to boost cooperation in various domains, including the energy sector. In this regard a meeting took place in Manama between Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs and Christophe...
  • WHO says misuse of antibiotics undermining efficacy

    Copenhagen, Denmark - Misuse of antibiotics is denting their efficacy and spawning resistant bacteria which could be responsible for 10 million deaths worldwide by 2050, the World Health Organization warned on Thursday. WHO's European chapter conducted a study which showed that antibiotics were prescribed for things like common cold (24 percent...
  • European banks lack transparency on green finance: NGO

    ShareAction said banks amplify "green credentials to their customers and shareholders" but there is a "structural" lack of transparency on what their green finance activities achieve. It examined the green finance commitments and activities of Europe's top 20 banks. Banks are widely criticised for slow progress on the transition to...
  • Palestinian state best guarantee of Israel security: EU’s Borrell

    The European Union's top diplomat Josep Borrell drew this conclusion from his discussions with a range of leaders on his tour of the Middle East. He maintained that Israel should not occupy Gaza after the current conflict ends and that the Palestinian Authority should control the besieged enclave.
  • EU chief asks Israel not to be consumed by rage in Gaza

    Kibbutz Beeri, Israel - EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Thursday called for Gaza hostages to be immediately freed, but asked Israel "not to be consumed by rage" in its battle with Hamas. "I ask for their immediate and unconditional release," Borrell said on a visit to a kibbutz community targeted...
  • Turkey sidelined as EU prepares to open door to others

    As when the European Union published its annual reports on candidate countries' progress towards EU norms on Wednesday, all eyes will be on Ukraine and Moldova. Turkey, a formal candidate for membership since 1999, will barely be discussed -- but it wasn't always the case.
  • Political and tech leaders tackle AI safety at inaugural summit

    London, United Kingdom – UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday hosts political and tech leaders at the inaugural global AI safety summit, predicting the technology will radically alter society for generations to come. The release of ChatGPT and other generative AI systems, which are capable of quickly producing text,...
  • US supports ‘humanitarian pauses’ to let aid into Gaza

    White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the US supports pauses in Israel's war against Hamas in order to let aid to flow into the Gaza Strip. He said the aid can include fuel needed for the restoration of electrical power, medical care, water purification and "so many...
  • EU to debate Gaza truce call as top diplomat urges more aid

    Describing the entry of a few dozens trucks of humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypt as "not enough", EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that it was important to send in the basic things that make water and electricity supply being restored. He made the comments ahead of a...
  • EU okays takeover of Seagen

    Pfizer announced in March its deal with Seagen.
  • EU launches enquiry on Meta and TikTok over disinformation

    The European Union has built a powerful armory to challenge the power of big tech with its landmark Digital Services Act (DSA) and a sister law, the Digital Markets Act, that hits internet giants with tough new curbs on how they do business.
  • EU asks X and Meta to regulate fake news, disinformation

    Thierry Breton, EU commissioner and self-styled "digital enforcer", raised the alarm in letters sent to Elon Musk, owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, and Mark Zuckerberg, whose Meta group includes Facebook and Instagram.
  • World economy resilient, says IMF; keeps growth forecast unchanged

    The IMF kept its 2023 global growth forecast unchanged but warned that the economy is "limping along" as inflation remains high and the outlooks for China and Germany were downgraded. The IMF's updated World Economic Outlook still sees growth of 3.0 percent for this year but it cut its forecast...
  • In a world first, EU gives nod to green bond standards

    Brussels, Belgium - European Parliament has adopted a new voluntary standard for the use of a “European Green Bond” label, the first of its kind in the world. The regulation, adopted by 418 votes in favour, 79 against and 72 abstentions, lays down uniform standards for issuers who wish to use...
  • Egypt court upholds jail sentence for prominent dissident

    Cairo, Egypt--An Egyptian court on Saturday denied an appeal by prominent dissident Hisham Kassem against his jail sentence, his lawyer said, after lawmakers rejected a European Parliament resolution urging his release. "The court has decided to uphold the judgement that was under appeal," Kassem's lawyer Nasser Amin said on Facebook. Kassem...
  • EU foreign policy chief to visit China next week

    China while also maintaining ties with the world's second-largest economy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has defined the position as "de-risking rather than decoupling" from China. The approach will likely be at the heart of Borrell's discussions with Chinese officials after the EU has taken a series of...
  • Libya resumes flights to Italy after nearly 10 years of EU ban

    Tripoli, Libya - A Rome-bound aircraft departed on Saturday from Libya's capital, restarting flights to Italy after a nearly decade-long suspension due to an EU ban, authorities in Tripoli said. The European Union in 2014 halted flights operated by Libyan airlines and banned them from entering member states' airspace, as the...
  • European Union okays lighter pact on curbing car emissions

    Brussels, Belgium - EU member countries on Monday adopted a watered-down deal on curbing car emissions, after auto manufacturers complained stricter measures could undermine electric vehicle investments. Led by France and Italy, the 27 nations voted for a less ambitious plan than the one put forward by the European Commission in...
  • EU readies to pay Tunisia for stopping irregular migration

    The EU is to start releasing money to Tunisia under a pact aimed at stemming irregular migration from the country, the European Commission said. EU lawmakers, the bloc's ombudsman and migrant assistance charities have questioned whether the deal with Tunisia meets European rights standards. Tunisia is struggling with high debt...
  • King Charles urges joint French-English effort on climate change

    "Just as we stand together against military aggression, so must we strive together to protect the world from our most existential challenge of all -- that of global warming, climate change and the catastrophic destruction of nature," said the king, known for campaigning on environmental issues for the past decades.
  • EU wants to renew herbicide glyphosate for next 10 years

    BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - The European Commission is proposing to renew the use of the controversial and widely used herbicide glyphosate in the EU for 10 years in a text published on Wednesday, after a report saw no reason to block it. The European Union's 27 member states will discuss the proposal...
  • Iran denounces new Western sanctions on Amini death anniversary

    Slamming the new sanctions imposed by the Western countries on the Islamic republic, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani termed them as "illegal and undiplomatic actions." The US, Britain and the EU announced new sanctions against many entities on the eve of the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in...
  • 70% of jet fuels at EU airports will have to be green by 2050

    Brussels, Belgium--On Wednesday, Members of European Parliament (MEPs) approved a new law to increase the uptake of sustainable fuels, such as advanced biofuels or hydrogen, in the aviation sector. The RefuelEU aviation rules are part of the “Fit for 55 package”, the EU’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by...
  • EU chief wants global experts panel to confront AI challenges

    Von der Leyen said the proposed AI group should be similar to the UN's IPCC panel, whose reports establish scientific consensus on climate change. "I believe we need a similar body for AI –- on the risks and its benefits for humanity. Yes, with scientists, but also tech companies and...
  • ‘Historic’ EU-Middle East-India trade plan launched

    At the G20 Summit in New Delhi, the US, EU, Saudi Arabia, and UAE have launched an ambitious trade initiative to connect railways, ports, and energy networks globally.