45 h. ago Europe's race to rearm is pointless if its adversaries are waging war online | Johnny Ryan

Ireland holds the algorithm off-switch. Ursula von der Leyen must force Dublin to use itEurope is scrambling to remilitarise. The European Commission is raising a €150bn (£129bn) defence fund and is calling on EU countries to invest €650bn (£561bn) more. Germany has cast aside its government debt limit to invest hundreds of billions of euros in defence. Poland will train every male of fighting age for battle, and envisages an army 500,000 strong. Latvia’s president has urged the rest of Europe to conscript citizens, as Latvia does. Even neutral Ireland is buying combat jets. No wonder Europe’s defence industry is booming. In just a few months, the share prices of several big weapons manufacturers have nearly doubled and doubled again. But, despite this new martial pulse, the continent is still sleepwalking towards disaster.Europe can harden its shell and sharpen its claws, but it has done little to protect its soft underbelly against political manipulation. The US is capitulating to...

Events

6 d. ago Wall Street opens lower despite hopes that ‘well advanced’ trade talks will yield deals

Ursula von der Leyen says EU “want to give negotiations a chance”, by pausing countermeasures for 90 daysRead the latest full reportUS-China trade war intensifies as Beijing’s tariffs come into effect after Trump pauseChina and the European Union have exchanged views on strengthening their economic and trade cooperation in response to US tariffs, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, according to Reuters news agency.In a video call on Tuesday, China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao discussed with European trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic the restart of talks on trade relief and to immediately carry out negotiations on electric vehicle price commitments, the Chinese ministry statement said. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago The Latest: S&P 500 falls 2% at the open despite Trump’s tariff pause

U.S. stocks are giving back some of their historic gains from the day before as Wall Street weighs a global trade war that has cooled in temperature but is still threatening the economy

Politics

6 d. ago ‘We are stepping up,’ UK defence secretary tells ‘coalition of the willing’ for Ukraine – Europe live

John Healey tells meeting of more than 30 countries that coalition is working on ‘putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position’We’re getting a bit more details from EU spokesperson, Olof Gill, speaking at the commission’s press briefing right now (which, notably, got delayed by almost half an hour as that von der Leyen statement was being put out).He said:We are not going to offer any greater detail at this point about what we are not saying to the Americans beyond what we have already said.We want to negotiate, we want to talk. Continue reading...

Society

6 d. ago Wall Street to fall back despite hopes that ‘well advanced’ trade talks will yield deals

Ursula von der Leyen says EU “want to give negotiations a chance”, by pausing countermeasures for 90 daysRead the latest full reportUS-China trade war intensifies as Beijing’s tariffs come into effect after Trump pauseChina and the European Union have exchanged views on strengthening their economic and trade cooperation in response to US tariffs, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, according to Reuters news agency.In a video call on Tuesday, China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao discussed with European trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic the restart of talks on trade relief and to immediately carry out negotiations on electric vehicle price commitments, the Chinese ministry statement said. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago Irish premier welcomes EU pause on US tariff countermeasures

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said ‘we’re not out of the woods yet’.

Politics

6 d. ago EU pauses tariff retaliation for 90 days to match Trump move, holding out hope for talks

The European Union’s executive commission says it will put on hold for 90 days its retaliation measures against new U.S. tariffs to match President Donald Trump’s pause on his sweeping new tariffs and leave room for a negotiated solution

Politics

6 d. ago Tariffs live: EU pauses retaliation for 90 days but warns Trump over trade deal

Ursula von der Leyen makes announcement to ‘give negotiations a chance’ after US president makes humiliating U-turn on tariffs for most countries

Events

6 d. ago Euro strengthens as EU delays retaliatory tariffs against US by 90 days in response to Trump’s pause – business live

Ursula von der Leyen says EU “want to give negotiations a chance”, by pausing countermeasures for 90 daysRead the latest full reportUS-China trade war intensifies as Beijing’s tariffs come into effect after Trump pauseChina and the European Union have exchanged views on strengthening their economic and trade cooperation in response to US tariffs, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, according to Reuters news agency.In a video call on Tuesday, China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao discussed with European trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic the restart of talks on trade relief and to immediately carry out negotiations on electric vehicle price commitments, the Chinese ministry statement said. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago Ursula von der Leyen says Trump’s tariffs pause is ‘important step towards stabilising global economy’ – Europe live

European Commission president floats idea of zero-for-zero tariff agreement with US, saying she hopes to achieve ‘frictionless trade’Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis put forward a proposal for a “win-win” trade deal with the US last night, saying the EU and the US should push "for “a solution which will be mutually beneficial.”Speaking to Breitbart US, he said there was “still room for negotiations before we consider any major reciprocal response beyond what has been announced today, which, anyhow, was, the expected EU reaction.” Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Europe's pharmaceutical giants warn EU chiefs of 'exodus' to the US over Trump tariffs

Pharma trade lobby EFPIA said it had called on EU President Ursula von der Leyen to push for 'rapid and radical action' to mitigate the 'risk of exodus' to the United States.

Events

8 d. ago EU pledges to make a 'good deal' with the US to appease Donald Trump

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday the EU had offered the United States a bilateral tariff exemption for cars and other industrial goods

Politics

8 d. ago Ursula von der Leyen speaks with Chinese premier on trade and ‘avoiding further escalation’ – Europe live

European Commission president meets Li Qiang about Europe and China’s ‘responsibility to support reformed trading system’ and push for negotiationsGermany has temporarily suspended accepting new refugees via a UN resettlement programme, pending the outcome of the coalition negotiations and the new government formation, the German press agency DPA reported.The DPA’s report said that almost all resettlement applications will be suspended until the new government takes office, with only “well advanced” cases expected to be processed. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Donald Trump rejects EU’s proposals for ‘zero for zero’ tariffs deal on cars and industrial goods – Europe live

US president tells reporters offer ‘is not good enough’, putting further dent in European hopes for negotiated solution instead of trade warUS president Donald Trump openly rejected the EU’s proposals for a “zero for zero” tariffs deal on cars and industrial goods, telling reporters in the Oval Office it was not good enough.His comments are not entirely surprising as European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič already indicated there were no signs that the offer, made originally in February, would be taken up. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago US administration’s ‘antipathy’ towards EU ‘misplaced’ – Irish premier

Micheal Martin acknowledged there was undoubtedly ‘an issue’ in respect of the administration’s negative opinion of the bloc.

Politics

1 week ago EU leaders hold their first summit with Central Asian states

The leaders of the European Union and five countries of Central Asia are holding their first summit to discuss ways to boost trade and other ties

Politics

1 week ago EU urged to put human rights centre stage at first central Asia summit

Bloc to discuss trade, security and energy with leaders of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and TurkmenistanThe EU is being urged to put human rights centre stage as it begins its first summit with the leaders of central Asia.The president of the European Council, António Costa, and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, are meeting the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on Friday. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Stocks tumble on Wall Street as Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs send shockwaves through global markets – business live

Ursula von der Leyen says tariffs a ‘major blow’ to world economy, as US dollar falls to six month low after US President Trump’s ‘liberation day’Full report: Trump announces sweeping new tariffsAnalysis: Trump’s tariffs likely to raise prices and cause chaosWhat are tariffs and why do they matter?The new US tariffs “will only create losers” with US consumers particularly hard hit, the German Automotive Industry Association (VDA), has said in a statement, calling on the EU “to act together and with the necessary force, while continuing to signal its willingness to negotiate.”The body, which represents the powerful German auto industry, said the tariffs markedthe United States’ departure from the rules-based global trade order – and thus a departure from the foundation for global value creation and corresponding growth and prosperity in many regions of the world.This is not America first; this is America alone. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago US dollar ‘at risk of confidence crisis’ as Trump tariffs rattle global markets – business live

Ursula von der Leyen says tariffs a ‘major blow’ to world economy, as US dollar falls to six month low after US President Trump’s ‘liberation day’Full report: Trump announces sweeping new tariffsAnalysis: Trump’s tariffs likely to raise prices and cause chaosWhat are tariffs and why do they matter?The new US tariffs “will only create losers” with US consumers particularly hard hit, the German Automotive Industry Association (VDA), has said in a statement, calling on the EU “to act together and with the necessary force, while continuing to signal its willingness to negotiate.”The body, which represents the powerful German auto industry, said the tariffs markedthe United States’ departure from the rules-based global trade order – and thus a departure from the foundation for global value creation and corresponding growth and prosperity in many regions of the world.This is not America first; this is America alone. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Furious EU condemns Trump's 'major blow to the world economy', accuses US of creating 'chaos' and threatens counter

Responding to the sweeping tariffs, including 20 percent on EU exports to the US, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said there will 'will be dire for millions of people around the globe.'

Events