Eu: Last News

This week has seen Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announce that a new deal had been agreed with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to help ease post-Brexit trade issues in Northern Ireland.

TikTok.The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s 24 Republicans voted a bill through which could give the President powers to ban the video-sharing app over claims that it is a Chinese espionage tool, or any other app deemed a security risk.However, the 16 Democrats voted against the bill with Ranking Member Gregory Meeks saying he opposed the legislation because it would “damage our allegiances across the globe, bring more companies into China’s sphere, destroy jobs here in the United States and undercut core American values of free speech and free enterprise” [via The Independent]. Members of both parties have called for a ban on TikTok on the basis of its Chinese ownership, which means the company is legally obliged to turn user data over to the Chinese government upon request.The bill still needs to be passed by the full House of Representatives and the Senate before  it goes to Biden and it officially becomes law. Foreign Affairs Committee chair Michael McCaul said he expects the full House to vote on the measure this month.However, Jenna Leventoff, a senior policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, criticised the legislation in a statement.“We’re disappointed that the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted to approve a bill that would effectively ban TikTok in the United States, in violation of Americans’ First Amendment rights.

Carolyn McCall, CEO of U.K. media conglomerate ITV, doesn’t have her own office. Instead, on the open-plan top floor of ITV’s West London headquarters, she shares a desk with her executive assistant and her chief of staff. Right now, she’s sitting in a communal alcove around the corner while employees bustle past. It’s par for the course for a woman who “always wanted to be the visible leader,” as Alan Rusbridger, her former colleague at The Guardian, says. McCall, who is being recognized as Variety’s International Media Woman of the Year in honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, has made a habit of taking on the top job in the toughest of circumstances. She became chief executive at Guardian Media Group in 2006, just as the internet was blowing up the newspaper industry. Four years later, McCall joined budget airline EasyJet as CEO, then steered the multinational company through Britain’s departure from the European Union. In 2018, just as linear television was coming under assault from global streamers and social media companies, she moved to U.K.-based broadcaster and producer ITV.

Many Brits will already be planning their summer getaways, but travel expert Simon Calder has shared a useful tip to know when booking your trip, which could help holidaymakers save up to £1,000 for a family of four. Simon appeared on ITV’s Lorraine where he issued guidance as part of his summer holiday clinic.

The SNP has called for Scotland to be treated the same as Northern Ireland when it comes to the EU single market.

King Charles’ “constitutionally unwise” meeting with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has angered unionists as Rishi Sunak seeks their support over the new post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland. Leading Conservative Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said it was wrong to involve Charles in the “immediate political controversy” on the day the Prime Minister will sign a new agreement with her.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a "decisive breakthrough" in post-Brexit rules for Northern Ireland's trade barriers in the Irish Sea.

UK travellers will not need to pay for a visa waiver to enter the EU until at least 2024 as the scheme has been delayed. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is now expected to launch in 2024.

Rishi Sunak will hold face-to-face talks in the UK with the European Commission president as he looks to finalise a deal to fix issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol. In a joint statement on Sunday from Downing Street and the European Commission, they confirmed the Prime Minister and Ursula von der Leyen would meet to discuss the 'range of complex challenges around' the Brexit treaty.

EXCLUSIVE: Major international arts and entertainment unions, employers, bodies and governments have agreed on their first framework for a decade to improve workers’ rights after a week of tough negotiations in Europe.

More than 1,700 homes and businesses have been hit by a power cut in Stockport.

Scottish food producers have blamed Brexit for supermarket shortages as experts warned of price hikes and rationing "for weeks".

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent Less Is More (LIM), a European development scheme for limited-budget feature films has unveiled its selection of 16 projects, four of which are from Ukrainian writers and filmmakers. The initiative is backed by the MEDIA Programme of the European Union. The French national board (CNC) has come on board to support this year’s special spotlight on Ukrainian projects, alongside the banner Terrarium. The programs, which develops first, second and third feature projects, is organized by the Groupe Ouest, a film org created in 2006 in Brittany, in Northwest France, and headed by Antoine Le Bos and Charlotte Le Vallégant.

My Morning Jacket have announced a UK and European tour for 2023 – find all the details below and buy tickets here.The Kentucky-formed rock quintet will start the tour at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town on May 30, followed by a show at the O2 Ritz Manchester the next day (May 31).The band will then continue on to mainland Europe for shows and festival slots in Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and Portugal.We're thrilled to announce our first tour in the UK/EU since 2015! We're jumping over the big beautiful Atlantic Ocean for a wonderful few UK/European nights in May & June. Sign up for pre-sale access to these shows at https://t.co/J7sbOvo4lq pic.twitter.com/lvZi4wF3Do— my morning jacket (@mymorningjacket) February 16, 2023Frontman Jim James said in a statement: “Hard to believe it’s been eight years since we played a show overseas and all that time passing has built up a lot of energy and is getting us so excited to be back out there playing music in some of our favourite spots around the globe!“We can’t wait to see everyone and begin a new chapter!”Various pre-sales for the UK shows start from this Wednesday (February 22) and Thursday (23), before general sale goes live Friday (24) at 10am GMT.

EXCLUSIVE: Banijay Rights has acquired global distribution rights to 72 Films’ four-part doc series on former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

A senior journalist’s suspension at a leading French TV news channel has brought to light a system of ‘news for hire’ corruption in international media. 

A coin collector has sold a rare Brexit 50p coin for an eye watering £10,000 on eBay. The coin was struck in 2020 to mark the the UK's exit from the EU.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International The U.K.’s British Film Commission and Film in Austria, the national film commission for Austria, have struck a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) paving the way for more film and high-end TV production between the two territories. New film and TV production incentives were introduced in Austria last month, including Europe’s first “green” filming bonus. Meanwhile, in the U.K., statistics released in February revealed that investment into film and high-end television during 2022 reached a record height of £6.27 billion ($7.72 billion). Through the MoU, which will be signed in Berlin on Sunday, the BFC and Film in Austria say they seeks to “encourage greater cultural, commercial and creative exchange between the U.K. and Austria whilst actively working together to foster opportunities to support inward investment film and high-end TV production in both countries.”

Portugal will issue no new licences for Airbnb lets and other holiday rentals in a bid to tackle the shortage of housing for locals, it has been reported.

One lucky coin collector in Scotland has received a fortune after listing a rare 50p coin on eBay and fetching a huge £100,000 for it.

Holidaymakers and tourists returning to the UK from Europe will no longer have their passports stamped later this year when changes are set to be introduced. From November passport holders will no longer have their passports stamped as the process becomes digitised.