Page 50 - European Union

Apple set to face near $539 million penalty from EU over Spotify row

In a closed-door meeting between EU officials and Apple in June last year, the tech firm told regulators it had already addressed any possible competition concerns arising from Spotify's complaint

Greek parliament passes landmark law legalising same sex marriage

The Greek parliament passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage making it the first majority Orthodox Christian country to establish marriage equality for all, CNN reported

Google to initiate anti-misinformation campaign ahead of EU elections

Viewers watching the ads on YouTube will be asked to fill in a short multiple-choice questionnaire, designed to gauge what they have learned about misinformation

EU emissions tariff system must be fair to developing world: CEA

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) aims to set a fair price on the carbon emitted during the production of energy-intensive products, like iron, steel, cement, and fertilizers, entering EU

Govt rejects EU FTA's data exclusivity demand to protect drug cos' interest

India on Thursday said it has rejected the demand of the four European nations EFTA bloc for inclusion of a 'data exclusivity' provision in proposed free trade agreements, stating that it always protects the interests of the domestic generic drugs industry. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said there is no Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in which India will go against the generic drug industry. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The bloc is negotiating a trade agreement with India. "They want that there should be data exclusivity, we rejected their demand. We are with our generic industry. "There is no fear for Indian generic industry (from this agreement). In fact, it is our very important objective to see that generic drug industry flourishes," he told reporters here. The secretary said the industry is contributing significantly to India's exports, which are also growing. "So we are there to protect the interest o

TikTok ramps up fight against fake news, covert influence ahead of EU polls

The company worked with news checkers to produce educational videos about the electoral process and misinformation via the election centres during national elections in previous years

EU's new technology law exempts Apple's iMessage, Microsoft's Bing

European Union's new Digital Markets Act takes effect in three weeks' time

EU lawmakers ratify political deal on artificial intelligence guardrails

EU countries gave their backing earlier this month after France secured concessions to lighten the administrative burden on high risk AI systems and offer better protection for business secrets

Russia warns West: We will be very tough if you 'steal' our assets

Russia has said that if its property is seized then it will seize U.S., European and other assets in responses

Digital competition law committee asked to consider MCA's draft bill

Proposes digital entities to ensure interoperability, data sharing, portability

TikTok, Meta attack at European Union's content moderation laws in court

ByteDance Ltd.'s TikTok took the European Commission to court on Feb. 6 and Meta filed its challenge a day earlier, filings show

Govt eyes deal with EU countries that could draw $100 billion investment

If finalised, it would mark the first time an investment commitment of this nature is secured by India as part of a free trade agreement

India plans to protest EU's proposed carbon tax at WTO meeting: Report

New Delhi has also opposed EU regulations banning the import of products based on deforestation in the country of origin, likely to hit billions of dollars worth of exports from India

WhatsApp plans separate inbox for third-party chats to comply with EU's DMA

In an interview with Wired, WhatsApp said that users will get the option to choose if they want other to contact them using other platforms

EU worried Israel might extend Gaza war to unstable town near Egypt

The European Union on Saturday expressed deep concern over reports that the Israeli military intends to take its battle against Hamas to the town of Rafah at Gaza's border with Egypt where more than a million people have escaped the fighting. The EU's top diplomat warned that conflict is likely to spread throughout the region unless a cease-fire is agreed between Israel and Hamas, after U.S. airstrikes hit dozens of sites in Iraq and Syria used by Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that around 1 million Palestinians have been displaced progressively against the Egyptian border. They claimed they were safe zones, but in fact what we see is that the bombing affecting the civilian population continues and it is creating a very dire situation. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Thursday that after Israeli troops seize the southern city of Khan Younis, from where tens of thousands of people have fled, they will

Farmers create chaos outside EU summit, wrest some promises of relief

Farmers burned bales of hay, threw eggs and firecrackers at police and wrested some promises of relief from European leaders on Thursday, the culmination of weeks of protests across the continent over excessive red tape and competition from cheap imports. Eager to reassure a key part of the electorate and end disruptions in several cities, leaders at a European Union summit in Brussels showered the farmers with compliments and compassion if few concrete proposals. In France, the government did make significant concessions enough that two major farmers' union promised to suspend the chokehold their tractors have placed on Paris for days. For weeks, farmers have complained that it's becoming harder than ever to make a decent living as energy and fertiliser costs surge because of Russia's war in Ukraine, more and cheaper farm imports enter the bloc, and climate change-fuelled droughts, floods or fires destroy crops. Their protests have snarled traffic in cities, preventing millions

EU approves $54 bn aid package for Ukraine despite Hungary's threats

All 27 European Union countries have reached consensus on an additional 50 billion euros (USD 54 billion) aid package for Ukraine, overcoming potential vetoes, notably from Hungary

European Union agrees on new 50 billion-euro aid package for Ukraine

European Council President Charles Michel says the 27 EU countries have sealed a deal on aid to Ukraine just over an hour into a summit of the bloc's leaders and despite threats from Hungary to veto the move. We have a deal, Michel said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He wrote that all 27 leaders agreed on an additional 50-billion-euro (USD 54 billion) support package for Ukraine within the EU budget. The announcement came despite staunch objections from Hungary in December and in the days leading up to Thursday's summit in Brussels. Michel said that the move locks in steadfast, long-term, predictable funding for Ukraine, and demonstrates that the EU is taking leadership and responsibility in support for Ukraine; we know what is at stake.

EU approves new rules aimed at reducing cost of listing companies

A post-Brexit Britain is also reforming its listing rules in similar ways, as it too faces companies opting to list in New York rather than on a local exchange

French farmers' union call for end of blockades as anger spreads in Europe

Farmers' complaints across Europe include being choked by green rules, taxes, rising costs and unfair competition from abroad