EU trade chief says China investment deal should remain frozen
Outgoing European Commission trade official Sabine Weyand has said the EU's 2020 investment agreement with China is obsolete and should remain in the "deep freezer".Weyand made the remarks as Brussels weighs possible action on what she described as "macroeconomic imbalances" linked to the impact of China's economic model on the rest of the world.She said the agreement should not be revived, and quoted former competition chief Margrethe Vestager as saying that if something has been in the deep freezer for a long time, it should not be taken out and served again.The comments matter because they point to a firmer... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 07 May 2026 08:01 LONDON
North Korea-Russia road bridge nears completion, satellite images show
The first road bridge linking North Korea and Russia is nearing completion, according to satellite imagery analysed on 7 May.The crossing spans the Tumen River and sits a few hundred metres from the existing rail link between the two countries.The latest images show the kilometre-long bridge alongside new access roads, a border checkpoint, support infrastructure and parking facilities.The bridge is known as the Khasan-Tumangang Bridge.Russia's transport ministry has said the crossing is designed to handle up to 300 vehicles and 2,850 people a day.Russian state media has estimated the cost at more than 9bn roubles.The development matters because it would... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 07 May 2026 01:31 LONDON
Giuliani seeks health care coverage through 9/11 program
Rudy Giuliani is seeking to have his health care covered through the 9/11 program while he recovers from a serious case of pneumonia.A spokesman for the former New York City mayor said he is improving after the illness.The spokesman also said Giuliani suffers from a respiratory condition linked to toxin exposure at ground zero.The request places renewed attention on the long-running health consequences associated with the World Trade Center site.It also raises questions about how his current medical care may be covered.The available information does not say when the request was filed or whether it has been approved.It also does... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 07 May 2026 00:31 LONDON
G7 trade ministers pledge cooperation on critical minerals supply chains
Trade ministers from the Group of 7 industrialised nations have pledged to cooperate on securing supply chains of critical minerals after meeting amid geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainty.The ministers said they were seeking common ground on the issue, according to the supplied report.The pledge was described as a clear swipe at China.The meeting matters because critical minerals are central to supply chains for a range of industries, and the G7 is trying to present a coordinated response to growing trade pressure.The row did not provide details of any binding agreement or timetable.The G7 is made up of major advanced economies... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 May 2026 22:30 LONDON
Iran foreign minister in Beijing as China urges reopening of Strait of Hormuz
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said his country has "attained an elevated international standing" during the war with the US and Israel, after meeting China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing.The meeting took place on 6 May, according to the supplied report.Wang urged Iran and the US to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route.The comments come amid wider tensions over regional shipping security and Iran's relations with Washington and Gulf states.The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most sensitive maritime chokepoints, so any disruption there can affect international trade and energy flows.Araghchi's remarks suggest... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 May 2026 21:01 LONDON
Council agrees new EU rules to tighten cooperation on VAT fraud probes
The Council of the EU provisionally agreed new rules to strengthen cooperation against value added tax fraud across the European Union. The measure increases coordination between member states, the European Public Prosecutor's Office and the European Anti-Fraud Office. The new framework gives EPPO and OLAF more direct access to key VAT data on cross-border business transactions in the EU. That access includes information held by Eurofisc, described as the EU's anti-VAT fraud network. The Council said the change is intended to give EU investigative bodies the targeted information they need to pursue suspected criminal activity more quickly. According to the... [Continue Reading]
Breaking-360LiveNews | 06 May 2026 19:30 LONDON
Trump warns Iran deal could end blockade, or bombing of Iran intensify
President Donald Trump made multiple posts on Truth Social in the last hour: - "Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran. If they don't agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" - "The White House Ballroom is going up rapidly on the East... [Continue Reading]
Breaking-360LiveNews | 06 May 2026 13:00 LONDON
Australia says DFAT had no contact with Syria over return of IS-linked women and children
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it has not had any contact with Syrian officials about the return of a group of Australian women and children linked to Islamic State.Thirteen women and children are expected to arrive in Australia today after spending almost seven years in a Syrian detention camp.The group had also been in limbo in Damascus for almost two weeks before travelling.A DFAT spokesperson said officials were not involved in discussions about the return and said the Australian government was not repatriating people from Syria.The department's denial came after a Syrian government official said Australia had... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 May 2026 03:01 LONDON
US says offensive operations against Iran are over as Strait of Hormuz tensions rise
The United States says its offensive operations against Iran have ended, even as fresh warnings and reported attacks in the Strait of Hormuz raised concern that the ceasefire could unravel.Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the initial US-Israeli offensive in Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury, had reached its objectives.He said Washington preferred a path of peace, while also warning of a strong response to any new threat to shipping.The immediate concern is the waterway itself.Late on Tuesday, UK Maritime Trade Operations said a verified source had reported a cargo vessel struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 06 May 2026 00:00 LONDON
Russian strikes kill at least five in Ukraine ahead of rival ceasefires
Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine's power grid overnight killed at least five people and wounded 39 others, according to Ukrainian authorities.The attacks were reported on Tuesday, less than a day before Kyiv said it would enact a ceasefire and three days before Moscow promised its own pause in hostilities.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of "utter cynicism" for launching deadly strikes while also seeking a truce to stage its Victory Day parade in Moscow.The timing has sharpened attention on the competing ceasefire announcements, which were made on different dates this week.The strikes also underline the continuing vulnerability of... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 05 May 2026 16:30 LONDON
Ukraine reports deadly strikes as Russia and Kyiv trade ceasefire claims
Ukraine has reported deadly overnight missile and drone strikes as Russia and Kyiv continued to announce competing ceasefire plans linked to Victory Day commemorations.President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned what he called Russia's "utter cynicism" for carrying out attacks while seeking a pause in hostilities for the Moscow parade period.He said five people were killed and dozens injured in combined strikes across Ukraine overnight.The most serious confirmed casualties were reported in the Poltava region, where a gas facility was hit.Three employees of the state energy firm Naftogaz were killed in the first strike, and two emergency service workers died in a follow-on... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 04 May 2026 23:00 LONDON
Iran says US has responded to latest peace proposal via Pakistan
Iran says it has received a US response to its latest peace proposal, with the reply delivered via Pakistan and now under review, according to Iranian state-linked media.The reported exchange comes amid continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington, and follows comments by US President Donald Trump that he would soon review the plan but could not imagine it being acceptable.Iranian state media said the 14-point proposal calls for an agreement within 30 days and for hostilities to end, including fighting beyond Iran.It also reportedly seeks the withdrawal of US forces from near Iran's borders and an end to the naval... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 03 May 2026 08:30 LONDON
US President Donald Trump announces increase of tariffs on EU cars to 25%
US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that tariffs on cars and trucks imported from the European Union will be increased to 25% starting next week.This decision marks a significant escalation in trade tensions between the United States and the EU.The current tariff rate on EU vehicles is 15%, established under a trade deal negotiated last July.Trump accused the EU of "not complying with our fully agreed to trade deal" but did not provide specific details on the alleged non-compliance.The tariff hike affects a key European industry, with countries like Germany and France likely to be impacted due to their... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 01 May 2026 18:00 LONDON
US removes whisky tariffs, sparking political debate in Scotland
The United States has removed tariffs on whisky imports as part of a zero-for-zero tariff deal, coinciding with King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit to the US.This change affects Scotch and Irish whiskey exports to America as well as US bourbon imports to the UK.The Scotch Whisky Association estimated that the previous US tariffs were costing the industry about £4 million a week.The trade body worked closely with US counterparts to advocate for this policy shift, which is not a unilateral concession but a mutual tariff removal.The announcement has triggered political debate in Scotland ahead of the upcoming Scottish... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 01 May 2026 17:03 LONDON
USDA Crop Acreage Estimates Undercounted by Millions of Acres
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has acknowledged a significant discrepancy in its crop acreage data for the previous year.Corn acreage estimates were undercounted by approximately 4.5 million acres.The USDA attributed the undercount to a lack of survey responses from farmers rather than reductions in department staffing.This admission clarifies that the data gap was not caused by internal resource constraints.No immediate reports of disruptions or direct consequences have been announced, but the undercount raises concerns about the accuracy of agricultural data used for market and policy decisions.Accurate agricultural statistics are essential for stakeholders including farmers, traders, and policymakers.The revelation... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 30 Apr 2026 17:06 LONDON
Israel rejects Russian grain ship amid EU sanctions warning
Israel has barred a Russian grain ship carrying wheat from occupied Ukrainian territory following threats of sanctions from the European Union.The vessel, named Panormitis, was carrying approximately 6,000 tonnes of grain valued at around $7 million destined for the Israeli port of Haifa.The Israeli Grain Importers Association stated it was compelled to refuse the ship and advised the Russian supplier to find an alternative port to unload the cargo.This action comes amid wider Russian operations accused of stealing an estimated 850,000 tonnes of Ukrainian grain.The Ukrainian foreign ministry has actively sought to halt this black market trade, while the EU... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 30 Apr 2026 15:32 LONDON
US President Trump Maintains Naval Blockade on Iran as Rial Hits Record Low
The United States has intensified its naval blockade of Iran, with President Donald Trump confirming no plans to lift the siege amid ongoing economic turmoil.The blockade, in place since late February, aims to exert maximum economic pressure on the Iranian regime.On April 30, the Iranian rial plummeted to a historic low of 1.8 million rials per US dollar, marking a significant depreciation since the conflict began.The euro also traded at 2.1 million rials, reflecting the accelerated collapse of the currency.This currency freefall has exacerbated Iran's inflation crisis, with annual inflation reaching 53.7% in the first month of the Iranian calendar... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 30 Apr 2026 15:31 LONDON
Trash piles up in Bali as landfill ban triggers waste crisis
Bali's largest landfill has been closed to organic waste since early April as Indonesia enforces its ban on open dumping sites.This sudden restriction has led to rubbish accumulating in streets across the island.Local authorities are struggling to manage the waste buildup, with few immediate alternatives available.Some residents have resorted to burning waste, causing smoke and raising health concerns.The waste crisis is disrupting daily life and impacting small traders who are paying private collectors to remove refuse, increasing their costs.Indonesia banned open landfills in 2013, but enforcement has been inconsistent until now.Bali's population of 4.4 million, combined with around seven million... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews | 30 Apr 2026 10:31 LONDON
The Great Uncoupling: Abu Dhabi’s Sovereign Gambit
The UAE’s decision to cut ties with OPEC is far more than a mere adjustment of energy policy, for it functions as a political telegram written in barrels and sent directly to the heart of the global order. For nearly six decades, Abu Dhabi operated within the rigid architecture of producer discipline, where it accepted the rituals of quotas, the formality of communiqués, and the heavy burden of collective restraint. It played the long game of oil diplomacy with a patient hand, balancing its own massive national ambitions against the gravity of cartel discipline and the delicate logic of Gulf... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 30 Apr 2026 09:50 LONDON
The Glass Elevator to Nowhere: A World Trapped in a Chocolate Factory
As a journalist in my mid-fifties, I thought my skin had thickened to the point of being impenetrable. I have covered the rise and fall of regimes, the grinding gears of the Cold War's leftovers, and the digital revolutions that promised to unite us. I thought I had seen every trick in the political playbook. Then came Donald Trump’s 2026 foreign policy, and I realized I was not watching a statesman; I was watching a child play with a chemistry set he does not understand. The Willy Wonka of the West: Rule by Whim Walking into a press briefing lately... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 02 Apr 2026 09:44 LONDON
The Madness of Power, From Balfour to the Edge of World War Three
A Voice in the Wilderness of War: Who Still Dares to Speak Truth While Empires March There are moments in history when the world suddenly accelerates toward disaster, moments when anyone who has studied history can feel the temperature rising even before the explosions reach their peak. The current escalation in the Middle East is one of those moments. According to the facts we now see unfolding, the United States and Israel made the unilateral decision to attack Iran without the approval of the United Nations, without a global coalition mandate, and without the support of most of the international... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 06 Mar 2026 17:20 LONDON
The Proving Ground, When “Decent” Reporting Meets High-Tech Warfare
For two decades I have watched wars unfold not only on battlefields, but on screens. Today’s incident over Kuwait, involving the downing of a U.S. F-15 Strike Eagle, is not just another headline in the Iran conflict. It may be a signal that something larger is unfolding behind the noise. Iranian state outlets rapidly circulated imagery of an ejected pilot. Washington responded cautiously. But beneath the spectacle lies a deeper question, whose technology was truly being tested? The Gulf as a live-fire laboratory For years, China has refined export-ready variants of its air defense systems, particularly the HQ-9 family and... [Continue Reading]
360LiveNews-Opinion | 02 Mar 2026 09:36 LONDON
