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European Commission to pitch three-year delay to Brexit electric vehicle tariffs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:41 GMT

LONDON — The European Commission is to propose a three-year delay to new Brexit tariffs on electric vehicles, two people familiar with the plans told POLITICO.The proposal — which will be welcomed in London — is expected to be announced at a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday by Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič.The measure is expected to be approved by EU member state ambassadors in a meeting next week.A package of financial support for the European battery industry is also expected to be announced to head off concerns from some member states that the rule change could increase dependence on Chinese batteries.Without the change, 10 percent tariffs are due to hit EVs traded across the English Channel from January 1 2024 when existing grace periods in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement expire.Though the TCA provides for tariff-free trade between the U.K. and EU, it only applies to goods produced in either of those countries.The rules of origin for electric vehicles mea...

Northern Ireland gangs still cast shadow of terror amid Stormont’s Brexit power vacuum

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:41 GMT

DUBLIN — Outlawed paramilitary groups remain an ever-present danger in Northern Ireland — and the U.K. region’s chronic lack of local government at Stormont is a big part of the reason why, according to an expert panel.The Independent Reporting Commission said repeated breakdowns of Northern Ireland’s power-sharing administration since 1999 have “had the effect of prolonging instability and mitigating against the kind of sustained, cross-party policy interventions, strategic decision-making and approaches that are needed to address the range of factors involved in continued paramilitarism.”The commission was created in 2016 by the British and Irish governments and Northern Ireland’s administration — at a time when the cross-community coalition was still functioning — to analyze the paramilitary threat and identify the best ways to end it.But as its latest 154-page report highlights, the commission said the ongoing Brexit-driven political stalemate at Stormont is “inhibiting efforts ...

Brazil’s anger over EU carbon tax infiltrates COP28

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:41 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Brazil has taken its green trade row with the European Union to this year’s global climate summit. The Brazilian government has been among the most vocal opponents of the EU’s new carbon border tax on imported goods, describing the measure as “discriminatory” and warning it might hinder rather than help global efforts to reduce planet-warming emissions. A fight is now brewing at the COP28 conference in Dubai as Brazil — backed by China — seeks to inject its trade concerns into international talks on how to curb climate change. In the first iteration of a draft negotiating text published Tuesday, some countries are pushing for language that would see the nearly 200 countries represented at this year’s talks criticize measures such as the EU’s carbon border tax — essentially a levy on carbon-intensive products coming into the bloc. The proposal suggests that countries adopt a COP28 declaration that “expresses serious concern&...

Pfizer sues Hungary as pandemic court cases mount

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:41 GMT

BRUSSELS — A court document obtained by POLITICO shows that Pfizer, together with its partner BioNTech, opened legal proceedings against the Hungarian government in January this year over COVID-19 vaccine deliveries. A spokesperson for Pfizer confirmed the case, which is unfolding in a Belgian court. “Discussions with the government in Budapest continue,” they added.The document shows that the case concerns payment for 3 million BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine doses, worth around €60 million. The dispute began when Hungary notified Pfizer in November 2022 that it did not intend to pay the pharmaceutical company, citing the conflict in Ukraine.A judge held a first hearing on the case in March and dismissed Pfizer’s request for a fast-tracked judgment. Since then the case has not progressed.Pfizer’s suit against Hungary parallels one the pharmaceutical company opened against Poland. In both instances, the countries are being sued in civil court over their refusal to take and pay fo...

Germany’s Baerbock chides Orbán and Serbia in fiery remarks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:41 GMT

LJUBLJANA — German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Tuesday urged Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to drop his vetoes on launching EU enlargement talks with Ukraine and approving fresh cash for Kyiv.Baerbock also lashed out at Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić for cozying up to Russia and putting his political opposition at a disadvantage ahead of upcoming elections.Baerbock reacted critically to the latest threat issued by Orbán on Monday. The Hungarian leader wrote to European Council President Charles Michel to urge him to remove talks on opening accession negotiations with Ukraine from the agenda of next week’s EU leaders’ summit.“We have no time for games at this moment,” Baerbock said in Ljubljana. “If we are in a situation where peace in Europe is under attack, then we must do everything we can every day and every hour to protect our people, and even more so the people of Ukraine, in the best possible way.”The EU had planned to a...

6 arrested in Belgium, Netherlands on suspicion of trading with rogue countries

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:41 GMT

BRUSSELS — Six people were arrested for allegedly exporting dual-use goods to countries sanctioned by the European Union, Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office said Tuesday after police raided companies and houses in rural Belgium and the Netherlands.“Some of the technologies traded could fall under embargo rules applicable to certain countries, such as Russia, notably because of armed conflict,” the office said in a press release.Police raided “private homes and company headquarters” in Knokke-Heist and Eeklo in Belgium’s Flanders region, and in Rotterdam and Sluis in the Netherlands, the statement said.“The investigation will have to determine whether these strategic and protected technologies may have been marketed to countries where Belgium and the European Parliament impose legal restrictions.”Four people were detained for questioning in Belgium, and two in the Netherlands. The raids are part of a joint investigation with th...

Biden arriving in Boston on fundraising sprint ahead of expensive campaign year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:41 GMT

Boston (CNN) — President Joe Biden sets off on a fundraising sprint Tuesday as he looks to tap into wealthy donor networks ahead of an expensive campaign year ahead.He’s headlining three fundraisers in the Boston area, the first of seven events between now and Monday, with more scheduled for later this month. Democratic officials are looking ahead to what some believe could be a billion-dollar campaign, as Biden works to sell his reelection to a public that, at least for now, appears skeptical.Singer-songwriter James Taylor will headline an event in Boston’s theater district. Tickets for “You’ve Got a Friend in Joe” ran between $50 and $7,500. Two other events in the area will bring in millions more for Biden’s campaign war chest.The president is making a final push for cash before the end of the month reporting deadline. He’ll be in Los Angeles this weekend for a pair of Hollywood fundraisers, including one with a dose of star power from Stephen Spielberg, Shond...

Air Force identifies all airmen in crashed Osprey and officially declares them deceased

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:41 GMT

(CNN) — The Air Force on Tuesday officially said all eight airmen who were aboard the CV-22 Osprey died after it crashed last week off the coast of Yakushima Island, Japan, as they transition from search and rescue operations to search and recovery.“The recovery operation will now focus on locating and recovering all remains and aircraft debris. Of the eight Airmen, the remains of three Airmen have been recovered, the remains of another three Airmen have been located and are in the process of being recovered, and the remains of two Airmen are still being located,” Air Force Special Operations Command said in a statement on Tuesday.The transition to search and recovery comes after days of “intensive, 24/7 search and rescue operations,” according to the AFSOC, and occurs “when the determination is made that survivors are unlikely.”The Air Force identified one airman who was recovered over the weekend as Staff Sgt. Jake Galliher, a 24-year-old direct support operator from Pit...

Brenda Lee makes history with Christmas classic ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:41 GMT

(CNN) — You will get a sentimental feeling when you hear this classic song is bringing overdue acknowledgement to a beloved artist.Sixty five years after it first released, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” has topped the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time. That makes the hit song’s original performer, Brenda Lee, now 78, one of the oldest artists to ever top the chart.Lee was just 13 when she recorded the song and it debuted to modest acclaim in 1958.Since then, the tune has become a mainstay for the season and is Lee’s signature hit.“I’m happy for everybody here that’s worked so hard to make this happen because in today’s world, everything moves so fast and furious,” Lee told Billboard. “But I’m telling you this: My label has come to bat.”In honor of the song’s anniversary, Lee filmed a new music video with guest appearances by country stars Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood.In keeping with the times, Lee also recently joined TikTok.“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”...

Harvard, Penn and MIT presidents face grilling by Congress over antisemitism

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:41 GMT

Washington (CNN) — The presidents of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Institute of Technology are facing questions from Congress Tuesday about their responses to alleged incidents of antisemitism on their campuses in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.“Today, each of you will have a chance to answer to and atone for the many specific instances of vitriolic, hate-filled antisemitism on your respective campuses that have denied students the safe learning environment they are due,” Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx said.“As you confront our questions in this hearing, remember that you are not speaking to us, but to the students on your campus who have been threatened and assaulted and who look to you to protect them,” she said.As chair of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Foxx invited Harvard president Claudine Gay, Penn president Liz Magill and MIT president Sally Kornbluth to testify.“After the events of the past two mont...