Brussels, Belgium | XINHUA | The European Union (EU) on Friday unveiled plans to step up its fight against online child sexual abuse, as well as drugs and firearms smuggling across the bloc. Margaritis Schinas, European Commission Vice-President for Promoting European Way of Life, said that unlike many who have …
Read More »EU’s massive recovery package boosts European stock market
Brussels, Belgium | XINHUA | The European Union’s (EU) landmark economic recovery package has largely underpinned the region’s stock market with major shares closing above four-month highs on Tuesday, lifting investor sentiment across the continent amid the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. After five days of intense marathon negotiations, the 27-member bloc …
Read More »French president calls EU deal on recovery fund “historic”
Paris, France | XINHUA | French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday hailed as “historic” a European Union (EU) deal on a post-pandemic recovery fund that would help build a “green and prosperous Europe” and further improve European solidarity. “A historic day for Europe! A massive recovery plan is adopted: a …
Read More »EU deeply concerned over U.S. growing use of sanctions
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said on Friday he was deeply concerned over the growing use of sanctions, or the threat of sanctions, by the United States against European companies and interests. “We have witnessed …
Read More »EU leaders launch talks on huge virus recovery plan
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | EU leaders launch fraught negotiations Friday on a major recovery fund to revive a European economy ravaged by the coronavirus outbreak, deeply divided on the way forward. Europe faces its biggest recession in the bloc’s 63-year history, and states are under pressure to look beyond their …
Read More »EU will have no election observers as Uganda votes in 2021- Envoy
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Uganda, Ambassador Attilio Pacifici has said that the EU will not deploy election observers as Uganda votes in 2021. The EU has been one of the biggest international election monitors in Uganda over the years, …
Read More »EU backs Twitter in Trump fact-check row
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | Brussels waded into the dispute between President Donald Trump and Twitter on Wednesday, backing the US social media giant’s decision to fact-check two tweets by the US leader. The European Commission’s top official on countering disinformation praised Twitter for tagging two claims made by Trump last …
Read More »Bad tempered post-Brexit talks enter crucial phase
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | Britain and the EU will attempt to revive their imperilled trade talks on Tuesday, entering a crucial week of negotiations that could mark the final hope for a deal. Hundreds of officials will hold video talks all week from London and Brussels, the fourth and last …
Read More »World leaders pledge €7.4bn to research Covid-19 vaccine
EU-hosted talks tout cooperation but is not addressed by India, Russia or US PATRICK WINTOUR | World leaders, with the notable exception of Donald Trump, stumped up nearly €7.4bn (£6.5bn) to research Covid-19 vaccines and therapies at a virtual event convened by the EU, pledging the money will also be …
Read More »African economies hard hit by coronavirus pandemic
Abidjan, Ivory Coast | AFP | Sub-Saharan Africa has not been as badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic as some other parts of the world, but the economy is being pummelled. Here’s a look at the main issues. – Perfect storm recession – For the first time in 25 years sub-Saharan …
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