Tag: EU

US to strike EU with $7.5 bn in tariffs over Airbus subsidies

by Heather SCOTT and Ben SIMON in Geneva WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Hours after getting the green light from the World Trade Organization, Washington moved Wednesday to retaliate against the EU over illegal subsidies for Airbus, announcing tariffs on $7.5 billion (6.8 billion euros) worth of European goods starting October 18. The ruling is the largest arbitration award in WTO history and a landmark moment in the longstanding Airbus-Boeing battle, which threatens to intensify […]

Eurozone unemployment falls to 11-year low

  BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — Unemployment in the eurozone fell in August to 7.4 percent, its lowest level since May 2008, according to official data released Monday. The figure, which brought the number of unemployed in the single currency bloc to 12.17 million, was lower than a forecast by financial data provider Factset, which predicted unchanged unemployment at 7.5 percent. Unemployment in the eurozone thus fell below the rate just prior to the world financial […]

UK’s Johnson defiant after bombshell court ruling

by Alice RITCHIE / Robin MILLARD LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday challenged opposition MPs to call a confidence vote in his government, in a defiant response to the Supreme Court decision to strike down his suspension of parliament. Britain’s highest court on Tuesday found the Conservative leader acted illegally in suspending or proroguing, parliament for five weeks in the run-up to Brexit. But Johnson showed no contrition as […]

Thousands of dead fish wash up on drought-stricken Greek lake

https://youtu.be/RN8bYpnBgtg THESSALONIKI, Greece (AFP) — Thousands of fish washed up dead on the shores of Lake Koroneia in northern Greece on Thursday as a result of high temperatures and declining water levels, authorities said. A long period of drought and high temperatures left the fish high and dry, Dimitra Bobori, responsible for lakes in the Macedonia region, told AFP. The lake, 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the city of Thessaloniki, has experienced the phenomenon repeatedly […]

UK’s Johnson faces new Brexit vote after stinging defeat

  by Dario Thuburn  LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson braced for another showdown in parliament on Wednesday after a humiliating defeat over his Brexit strategy, with MPs set to vote on a law aimed at blocking a no-deal departure. Johnson has said he will seek an early general election if MPs vote against him again, intensifying a dramatic political crisis ahead of his October 31 Brexit deadline. Johnson has vowed […]

PM Johnson faces parliament showdown over fate of Brexit

  by Alice RITCHIE and Dmitry ZAKS Agence France Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The fate of Brexit hung in the balance on Tuesday as parliament prepared for an explosive showdown with Prime Minister Boris Johnson that could end in a snap election. Members of Johnson’s own Conservative party are preparing to join opposition lawmakers in a vote to try to force a delay to Britain’s exit from the European Union if he cannot […]

UK’s Johnson sparks outrage after forcing suspension of parliament

by Robin MILLARD LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sparked fury Wednesday among pro-Europeans and MPs opposed to a no-deal Brexit by forcing the suspension of parliament weeks before Britain’s EU departure date. The pound slid on the surprise news, which opponents branded a “coup” and a “declaration of war” but Johnson claimed was necessary to allow him to pursue a “bold and ambitious” new domestic agenda. It came a day […]

EU countries at UN condemn North Korean missile tests

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — European Union members of the UN Security Council condemned North Korea Thursday over its recent spate of missiles tests that have fueled fears Pyongyang is developing more advanced weapons. Britain, France and Germany urged North Korea to “take concrete steps towards its complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation and to engage in meaningful negotiations with the US as agreed between President Trump and Kim Jong Un on 30 June.” UN […]

Trains slowed down as temperatures in Europe hit new record high

  by Adam PLOWRIGHT Agence France Presse PARIS, France (AFP) — Trains were slowed down and holidaymakers flocked to swimming pools, beaches and lakes in western Europe on Wednesday as another heatwave set new temperature records. A host of French cities saw their highest levels since records began on Tuesday, with wine capital Bordeaux recording 41.2 degrees Celsius (106.16 Fahrenheit), beating the previous high of 40.7C registered in August 2003, weather service Meteo-France said. Forecasters […]

Paris clashes tarnish Macron’s military parade

by Daphné BENOIT and Stuart WILLIAMS PARIS, France (AFP) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday showcased European military cooperation in a Bastille Day parade but the aftermath of the glittering event was tarnished by violent clashes between police and protesters. Key EU leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, joined Macron in Paris to watch the annual parade that included representatives of nine other European armies in a show […]

European Parliament chooses new president, completing top EU jobs

  by Cédric SIMON Agence France Presse STRASBOURG, France (AFP) — The European Parliament on Wednesday elected an Italian social democrat as its new president, filling the final top EU job a day after Brussels named two women to key posts for the first time. Italy’s David Sassoli, a 63-year-old former journalist, won the absolute majority of ballots he needed at the second round of voting, seeing off German Green Ska Keller, far-left Spaniard Sira […]

French consumer group launches class action against Google for violating EU’s data privacy laws

  PARIS, France (AFP) — A French consumer rights group said Wednesday that it has launched a class action lawsuit against US tech giant Google for violating the EU’s strict data privacy laws. The UFC-Que Choisir group said in a statement that the goal of its class action is to “end the insidious exploitation of users’ personal data, particularly those using Android devices with a Google account, and compensate them for up to 1,000 euros […]