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.

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.

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...

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...

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 reform,...

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 that...

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,...

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 Varno,...

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 of...

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...

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.

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 by...

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.

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, images...

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...

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...

Pfizer announced in March its deal with Seagen.

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.

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.

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...

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 the...

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 was sentenced...

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...

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 war-torn...

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 November...

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...

"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.

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 on...

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...

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 at...

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...

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.

Ankara, Turkey - Turkiye and European Union (EU) on Wednesday discussed the resumption of talks to modernize the customs union agreement between Ankara and Brussels.Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat said that his country, alongside the EU, was determined to enhance cooperation in the field of trade and economy.Following his meeting...

"2023 is the year that climate records were not just broken but smashed," said Mark Maslin, a professor of climatology at University College London.

Amman, Jordan--Jordan is urging "companies and institutions" to switch to renewable and sustainable energy to reduce operating costs.In this regard, the kingdom's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh said Tuesday opportunities exist for cooperation to cut energy consumption across various sectors through implementing programs similar to those of...

European regulators in January had dismissed the previous legal basis -- "legitimate interest" -- Meta had used to justify gathering users' personal data for targeted advertising.

Amman, Jordan--Jordan's exports to the European Union (EU) shot up 23.4 per cent during the first five months of 2023 to $192 million compared to $155 million for the same period last year.According to Jordan News Agency (Petra), foreign trade data issued by the Department of Statistics indicated an increase...

The president met with a string of leaders from the Arab world and the European Union and discussed ways to deepen partnerships with these countries. During the meetings, Sheikh Mohamed explored ways with the leaders to support and develop these relations for the benefit of the people of all countries...

Broadcom is seeking to expand into the software market.

The deal between the two countries will include partnership on irregular migration, economic development and renewable energy. Tunisia has been criticized over its treatment of migrants after President Kais Saied accused "hordes" of migrants from sub-Saharan African countries of a "plot" to change the country's demographic makeup.

EU foreign ministers were scrambling to digest the fall-out from the uprising at their regular meeting in Luxembourg. Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said the unrest was an "internal affair" for Russia. He insisted that the "most important thing" was supporting Ukraine so it can win back its territory.

The EU also lauds the exceptional execution of FIFA 2022 in Qatar. It helped refine Qatar's reputation and correct misconceptions. The EU is commitment to strengthening relations with Islamic and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and seeks to combat Islamophobia in Europe, Stano points out.

The EU offered a 900-billion-euro aid package -- contingent on Tunisia reaching an IMF deal. But Tunisian President Kais Saied has repeatedly refused "diktats" from the IMF and the US has led accusations that the birthplace of the Arab Spring is falling to authoritarianism after the dissolution of parliament and...

"Discussions will focus on the bilateral relations between the EU and to Tunisia," Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said. "An agreement on cooperation in the areas of the economy, energy and migration will be at the heart of those discussions."

The eurozone entered into a technical recession at the start of the year, shrinking by 0.1 percent for a second consecutive quarter, figures from the EU's statistic agency showed. Eurostat revised down an earlier forecast that had predicted slight growth, after economic powerhouse Germany said last month it had fallen...

The European Commission announced May 27 that Twitter had decided to leave the code of practice, to which other major online platforms such as Google, Microsoft and TikTok continue to adhere.

Russia has for years been issuing passports to people living in the eastern Donbas areas held by pro-Moscow separatists since 2014 as well as in annexed Crimea.

PARIS, FRANCE -  Russia's oil exports rose in April to the highest level since its invasion of Ukraine, boosting revenues by US$1.7 billion despite Western sanctions, the International Energy Agency said on Tuesday.The Paris-based organization said Russian exports increased by 50,000 barrels per day to 8.3 million bpd last month, estimating that...

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM -  The European Commission boosted its 2023 economic growth outlook for the eurozone on Monday but it also raised the inflation forecast for the single currency area.The EU executive's spring forecast is more optimistic than that issued late last year, despite inflation proving "stickier than expected" in its decline...

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM -  The EU imported US$524 billion (€482 billion) worth of high-tech products from extra-EU countries in 2022 (+22 percent compared with 2021), according to an estimate published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union .Exports to these countries reached US$485 billion (€446 billion) (+16 percent compared...