Russia tightens relations with Taliban
Russia is deepening its engagement with Afghanistan’s Taliban Government and announced a "full-fledged partnership" with the Taliban at the Shanghai Cooperation…
Trade
Latest reporting and analysis on trade.
Xi warns Trump of ‘clashes and conflicts’ over Taiwan as Beijing summit leaves Europe on the sidelines
The two presidents have held a closed-door session lasting roughly two hours and 15 minutes – their longest direct exchange since their October 2025.
Turkey lifts direct trade restrictions with Armenia in latest sign of thaw
Yerevan considers the step "an important move towards the development of full and normal relations between the two countries".
Trump lands in Beijing for two-day summit with Xi shaped by trade, Taiwan and Iran
The US President, whose last trip to the People's Republic took place in November 2017, is due to hold formal talks with Chinese President on Thursday.
EU bans Brazilian meat imports from September over antibiotic abuse
The Brazilian Government said it had received the news "with surprise", with its agriculture ministry pledging to take "all necessary measures" to reverse the decision.
Spain insists on refusing US use of bases for Iran strikes as Trump threatens trade cut-off
The Rota and Morón bases are jointly operated under a bilateral agreement but remain under Spanish command.
Trump sets July 4 deadline for EU to deliver on trade deal or face higher tariffs
The announcement followed what Trump described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on May 7.
Brussels urges Washington to restore 15 per cent tariff cap before summer
European Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič has urged the United States to return swiftly to the terms of the trade pact agreed by both sides in July 2025.
EU ammo supplier accused of profiteering with Soviet-era stockpiles sold at premium price to Ukraine
A major Central European defence contractor at the heart of the European Union’s emergency push to arm Ukraine is facing explosive allegations that it has built…
Ukraine and Israel clash over Russian shipments of ‘stolen’ Ukrainian grain
A sharp diplomatic row has erupted between Ukraine and Israel after Kyiv accused Jerusalem of allowing the import of grain it claims was stolen by Russia from occupied…
China vows countermeasures if EU enacts ‘Made in Europe’ plan
Beijing slammed on today an EU plan aimed to bolster the bloc's industries against fierce competition from China, vowing countermeasures if it is enacted.
Poland to take EU Mercosur trade deal to the ECJ
Poland has announced plans to file a legal challenge at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) against the European Union’s trade agreement with South America.
Trump threatens UK with ‘big tariff’ over digital services tax
US President Donald Trump has warned Britain that he will impose a “big tariff” on the United Kingdom unless it scraps its Digital Services Tax, which he says…
Former Polish PM Morawiecki calls for ‘economic NATO’ to keep US in Europe
Mateusz Morawiecki, who was Polish prime minister in the last Conservative (PiS government between 2017 and 2023, has called for the building of a strong economic…
Russian billionaires see wealth grow by 11 per cent despite war and sanctions
Russian billionaires saw their collective wealth rise by 11 per cent to a record $696.5 billion (€595.31 billion) over the past year, according to Forbes Russia.
Lufthansa cancels 20,000 flights over fuel price hikes and strikes
Germany’s flagship carrier Lufthansa is set to cut 20,000 flights in the coming months to save on jet fuel and deal with additional costs from airline staff strikes.
EC proposes full revival of EU-Syria co-operation agreement
Von der Leyen travelled to Damascus in January, alongside European Council President António Costa.
‘Build Chinese cars in Volkswagen plants,’ says Lower Saxony’s PM
The Minister-President of Lower Saxony has suggested that Volkswagen should consider allowing Chinese manufacturers to produce vehicles in underutilised German plants…
Wizz Air says had problems with jet fuel supply in Italy
Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air has encountered some jet fuel shortages at three airports in Italy, its chief executive said Friday, following warnings about…
Twelve arrests in raid on suspected international drug-trafficking ring
Europol supported police authorities in Montenegro and Germany in an operation targeting an alleged Balkan drugs cartel.
Soft democracy, no vote? Labour setting up UK to align with EU in string of sectors
Ministers in the UK Labour government are set to introduce a bill that would enable the country to align with evolving European Union regulations in selected areas…
‘Expected decline’: Porsche sales plummet again
German carmaker Porsche has seen its sales drop again, with around 60,910 vehicles sold in the first quarter of 2026, a 15 per cent decrease compared with the same…
Polish President Nawrocki demands PM Tusk sues EU over Mercosur
The opposition Conservatives (PiS)-allied President Karol Nawrocki wrote to Prime Minister Donald Tusk demanding the immediate filing of a complaint against the…
Illicit cigarette trade starting to resemble drug trade, with weapons and turf wars
Europe’s booming illicit tobacco trade, with nearly half of all cigarettes sold in several countries now coming from illegal sources, is deeply intertwined with…
German economy minister warns of fuel shortage from end of April
Germany’s Federal Minister for the Economy, Katherina Reiche, has warned of an impending fuel shortage if the Iran war drags on for much longer.
South Korea gets US permission to import oil from Russia to ease fuel crisis
South Korea will likely turn to Russia for oil imports after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has cut the east Asian country off from its main suppliers in the…
Thirteen tonnes of cocaine seized in Dunkirk in two weeks
Customs officials carried out three major cocaine seizures at the port of Dunkirk, intercepting more than 13 tonnes of narcotics.
The Hormuz crisis is about much more than oil
The Western public has been conditioned to think of energy crises in terms of petrol prices and heating bills.
Europol-led global criminal raid unearths €10m cash and 127,000 tonnes of waste
A major international police operation has dealt a significant blow to criminal groups profiting from environmental crime, seizing vast quantities of illegal waste…
Von der Leyen ignores objections by EP and pushes Mercosur deal through
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has confirmed her decision to proceed with provisional application of the Mercosur trade pact.