Priorities for a More Competitive, Secure, and Free European Union, according to Renew Europe -europeantimes.news-

British firms face a 10 per cent tariff on exports to the US after Donald Trump declared a new era for global trade, vowing to end America being "ripped off". While the UK did not secure an exemption, it has one of the lowest tariffs at 10 per cent, compared to 20 per cent for EU nations and 34 per cent for China. Downing Street is focused on negotiating a sustainable trade deal and lowering...

Working age households are set to be £400 worse off on average next year due to tax hikes, rising bills, and stagnant benefits, according to the Resolution Foundation. Despite Rachel Reeves' claim of Labour's policies leaving families £500 better off, the outlook for living standards is described as "historically bleak" with a one per cent drop in disposable income for a typical household, blamed on tax hikes and frozen thresholds. The only positive note is...

A popular chocolate brand, Tony’s Chocolonely, has issued a warning to customers regarding certain batches of its Dark Almond Sea Salt and Everything Bar, which may contain small stones. Customers are advised to return the affected bars with specific lot codes and best before dates to receive a full refund at the supermarket where they were purchased. The issue was traced back to one of the company's almond suppliers, where insufficient processing resulted in stones...

During a General Assembly briefing, Volker Türk highlighted the alarming rise in disappearances, driven by armed conflict and violations of international humanitarian law. The Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances has handled over 62,000 cases across 115 countries, emphasizing the urgent need for stronger international human rights frameworks and accountability measures to address this crisis. Türk stressed the importance of centering victims in the response, calling for solidarity and action to ensure truth, justice,...

A London grandmother, Beverley Angell, who has battled breast cancer for over a decade, faces the difficult decision of moving to Scotland to access a pioneering drug, Enhurtu, only available on the NHS there. Despite the drug costing £8,000 per session privately, Beverley, with stage 4 breast cancer, is left with no choice but to uproot her life for a chance at survival, even though it means leaving behind her family and grandchildren. The unfair...

The European Union's reputation for sustainability policies to combat climate change has been tarnished in the new legislative term, with delays in key policies like EUDR and a watering down of corporate sustainability reporting rules. This shift, influenced by US political and business interests, has seen major banks and corporations backtrack on sustainability commitments, with some even lobbying to be exempt from deforestation regulations. While some sectors prioritize profits over the planet, others support incentives...