EU, New Zealand strike free trade deal after 4 years' talks

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union and New Zealand say they have concluded a free trade deal after four years of negotiations. According to the EU, trade with New Zealand is expected to increase by 30% as a result of the deal, with removing tariffs alone saving businesses €140...

Germany plans to ease rules for legal changes of gender

BERLIN (AP) — The German government on Thursday presented plans to make it easier for transgender people to legally change their name and gender, ending decades-old rules that require them to get expert assessments and a court's authorization. Under the planned...

Live updates | US to send $800M in military aid to Ukraine

MADRID (AP) — The Latest on the final day of the NATO summit in Madrid: U.S. President Joe Biden says his administration will soon provide another $800 million in security assistance for Ukraine to fight Russia’s invasion. Biden said the new aid would include...

The European Union and New Zealand say they have concluded a free trade deal after four years of negotiations

Germany sees possible Russian 'blockade' of key gas pipeline

BERLIN (AP) — Germany's vice chancellor said Thursday he suspects that Russia may not resume natural gas deliveries to Europe through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline after planned maintenance work in July, complicating the outlook for this winter. Russia reduced gas flows to Germany,...

Russia and China slam NATO after alliance raises alarm

MADRID (AP) — NATO faced rebukes from Moscow and Beijing on Thursday after it declared Russia a “direct threat” and said China posed “serious challenges ” to global stability. During a summit in Madrid, the Western military alliance described a world plunged into a...

Crypto rules to make Europe a global leader as prices plunge

LONDON (AP) — Europe prepared to lead the world in regulating the freewheeling cryptocurrency industry at a time when prices have plunged, wiping out fortunes, fueling skepticism and sparking calls for tighter scrutiny. The European Union took a first step late Wednesday by...

Czech Republic to extend coal mining amid high demand

PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Republic has decided to reverse plans to halt mining in a key black coal region to help the country safeguard its power supply amid high demand and the energy crunch prompted by the Russia's war in Ukraine. Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura said Thursday that...

Poland completes Belarus border wall to keep migrants out

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A year after migrants started crossing into the European Union from Belarus to Poland, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and top security officials visited the border area on Thursday to mark the completion of a new steel wall. On Friday, Polish...

Sweden’s central bank raises interest rate to hit inflation

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Sweden’s central bank raised a key interest rate by half a percentage point Thursday to combat rapidly rising inflation and price increases that are spreading through the economy. Riksbanken said that it decided to raise the policy rate to 0.75% to try...