European union

The United States and the European Union have agreed to aim to cut emissions of the planet-warming gas methane by around a third by the end of this decade and are pushing other major economies to join them, according to documents seen by Reuters. Their pact comes as Washington and Brussels seek to galvanize other major economies ahead of a world summit to address climate change in Glasgow, Scotland, in November, and could have a significant impact on the energy, agriculture, and waste industries responsible for the bulk of methane emissions. The greenhouse gas methane, the biggest cause of climate change after carbon dioxide (CO2), is facing more scrutiny as governments seek solutions to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, a goal of the Paris climate agreement. In an attempt to jumpstart the action, the United States and the EU later this week will make a joint pledge to reduce human-caused methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030, compared with 2020 levels, ... » Learn More about US, EU pursuing global deal to slash planet-warming methane – documents

James Pheby (Agence France-Presse) (The Jakarta Post) PREMIUM London   ● Wed, September 15 2021 Britain on Tuesday said it would push back its implementation of full post-Brexit borders checks on goods from the European Union, as the pandemic, red tape and new immigration rules fuel supply problems. Plans to introduce full controls in areas such as the import of food and animal products had been due from next month but would now start from January next year under a "pragmatic new timetable", Downing Street said. Britain will still introduce full customs declarations and controls on Jan. 1, 2022, as planned. Certification and physical checks on food and animal goods designed to protect against diseases, pests and contaminants — due to be introduced on Jan. 1 — will now be introduced in July 2022. Requirements for Safety and Security declarations will be also be pushed back to July. "We want businesses to... to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting ... » Learn More about UK delays full post-Brexit border checks from EU

A record 828 people crossed over from France on a single day in late August LONDON - Britain and France locked horns on Thursday over reported plans by London to turn back boats carrying migrants across the Channel, triggering alarm and anger in Paris. At least 14,100 people have now crossed the Channel to the UK on small boats this year, according to Britain's domestic Press Association news agency -- some 6,000 more than for the whole of 2020. A record 828 people crossed over from France on a single day in late August, as traffickers took advantage of favourable late-summer weather. The growing number of boats is proving increasingly embarrassing for Home Secretary Priti Patel, who has carved out a reputation for being tough on immigration and law and order. "Taking back control" of Britain's border was a key part of the campaign to take the country out of the European Union in the divisive 2016 Brexit referendum. But several newspapers said she has now secured legal ... » Learn More about UK migrant plan stokes tensions with France

EUROPEAN Union (EU) finance ministers will begin discussing today how to change their budget rules to deal with a huge rise in government debt during the coronavirus pandemic and how to encourage spending needed to arrest climate change. Potential options include exempting “green” investments from calculations of deficit and debt limits and temporarily forgetting existing rules that say debt must be cut every year, documents prepared for the ministers’ talks showed. “The challenge in coming years will be to consolidate deficits while increasing green investments to achieve the ambitious targets of the EU to cut emissions or any other investments,” a note prepared by host Slovenia said. Slovenia currently holds the EU’s rotating six-month presidency and will chair the talks. An analysis commissioned by the ministers from the Bruegel think-tank showed additional public investment to meet the EU’s climate goals will have to be 0.5%-1.0% of gross domestic product (GDP) annually ... » Learn More about EU to mull changes to budget rules – debt, green investment in focus

(Reuters) - Manchester United supporters will be able attend their Champions League opener against Young Boys after the Swiss team agreed to a late change of COVID-19 regulations for Tuesday's game, the Times reported. Young Boys had declined to allocate away tickets based on local laws that do not recognise Britain's National Health Service (NHS) pass, saying supporters would only be permitted entry with a Swiss or European Union vaccination certificate. The NHS pass, a requirement for Premier League ticket holders, allows fans to show that they are either fully vaccinated or have returned a negative COVID-19 PCR or lateral flow test result within 48 hours of kickoff. However, United have confirmed 1,800 tickets would now be available for supporters, who will be allowed to attend the game if they return a negative lateral flow test from an approved site next to the stadium, the Times said. On Monday, European soccer governing body UEFA said fans would be able to travel to ... » Learn More about Soccer-Man Utd fans allowed to travel for Champions League game in Bern: the Times

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The top European Union court backed French champagne makers on Thursday who had argued that their protection under EU law should extend far beyond banning rival sparkling wine producers from putting the word "champagne" on their bottles. The champagne makers' association (CIVC) is seeking to prohibit a chain of tapas bars in Spain from using "champanillo", Spanish for "little champagne", on signs and on social media. The commercial court of Barcelona rejected the CIVC's claims since the Champanillo sign was not intended to designate an alcoholic beverage, but rather catering premises where champagne is not sold, and so products other than those protected and targeting a different market. The CIVC appealed to Barcelona's provincial court. That court sought guidance from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on whether protected designations of origin (PDO), such as champagne, covered services as well as products. The CJEU said they did cover ... » Learn More about Top EU court gives broad protection to term ‘champagne’

The country of Denmark has lifted the latest of its national covid pandemic restrictions and stated that the coronavirus is no longer a “critical threat to society” due to vaccinations. Denmark appears to be the first member of the European Union to have made such a statement. This could provide a glimpse into the future of the EU’s recovery. Health officials believe they have enough evidence that the move is warranted. The European country’s leaders have pointed to its high vaccination rates, which are among the best in the world. Nearly 75 percent of Denmark’s residents are fully vaccinated despite not claiming any Herd immunity has been achieved. Denmark also has one of the lowest new covid infections reported in Europe. A senior Danish health official hailed Friday’s move as the beginning of “an entirely new era. Health Minister Magnus Heunicke said in a statement: “This can only be done because we have come a long way with the introduction of covid vaccinations. We are ... » Learn More about Denmark Returns to Normal Life Lifting all Covid Restrictions

Twenty years have passed since the 9/11 attacks by Al-Qaeda in the United States, but the fallout remains painful for Americans PARIS - World leaders sent messages of solidarity Saturday on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, saying the attackers had failed to destroy Western values. Here are leading reactions: - Britain - "We can now say with the perspective of 20 years that they (the jihadists) failed to shake our belief in freedom and democracy," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. "They failed to drive our nations apart, or cause us to abandon our values, or to live in permanent fear." Queen Elizabeth II, in a separate message, said: "My thoughts and prayers - and those of my family and the entire nation -- remain with the victims, survivors and families affected." - NATO - Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, said: "Within 24 hours of the attack, NATO Allies invoked Article 5 for the first time, our mutual defence clause ... » Learn More about World leaders remember 9/11 victims and survivors

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko holds a news conference in Minsk, Belarus August 9, 2021. Pavel Orlovsky/BelTA/Handout via REUTERS KYIV — A defiant President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday a Belarusian sprinter defected at the Olympic Games only because she had been “manipulated” by outside forces and shrugged off a coordinated barrage of new Western sanctions. At an hours-long news conference on the anniversary of an election which opponents said was rigged so that he could win, Lukashenko denied being a dictator and said he had defended Belarus against opponents plotting a coup. As he spoke in his presidential palace in Minsk, Britain, Canada and the United States announced coordinated sanctions targeting the Belarusian economy and its financial sector, including exports of oil products and potash, which is used in fertilisers and is Belarus’ main foreign currency earner. Lukashenko said Britain would “choke” on its measures and he was ready for talks with the ... » Learn More about Defiant Belarus leader shrugs off sanctions, says athlete was ‘manipulated’

PARIS (Reuters) -Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said on Sunday she would run for president in 2022 on a Socialist ticket, though polls indicate she has little chance of mounting a serious challenge unless she can unite the fragmented left. Hidalgo, who became the first woman to run the French capital in 2014 and is among the few senior left-wing politicians to emerge from President Emmanuel Macron's 2017 redrawing of the political landscape relatively unscathed, is polling at about 8% voter support in April's first round. Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen are currently polling at between 20% and 24%. "Knowing the seriousness of our times and to give hope to our lives, I have decided to be candidate for the French presidency," the 62-year-old said when she announced her bid in the Normandy city of Rouen. She promises a greener economy, the re-industrialisation in old manufacturing heartlands, putting citizens front and centre of the European Union and to improve education - ... » Learn More about Socialist Paris mayor enters race for French presidency