Rule of law in Italy under EU scrutiny

Newswire Rome: A closed-door hearing at the European Parliament could have been an opportunity for the Italian government to engage seriously on European Union concerns over the rule of law in Italy and make clear commitments to uphold core EU values. Instead, the government sent lower-level officials to attend, and a leading MEP of Prime […]

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Portuguese guitar maestro Pedro Jóia performs in Pakistan

Celina Ali Islamabad: Renowned Portuguese classical guitarist and composer Pedro Jóia graced Pakistani stages with his mesmerizing performances from 23rd to 28th May, as part of an exciting cultural initiative led by the Embassy of Portugal in Islamabad, in collaboration with the Camões Institute for Cooperation and Language I.P. and supported by Emirates Airlines. Pedro […]

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World Portuguese Language Day celebrated globally with a renewed call for cultural unity and digital inclusion

Celina Ali Islamabad: The vibrant spirit of Lusophone identity and cultural unity echoed across continents as the world came together to celebrate UNESCO World Day of the Portuguese Language and the Cultures of Portuguese-Speaking Countries. Marked annually on May 5, the day honours not only the linguistic legacy of Portuguese but also the shared heritage […]

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Meet the winners: Turismo de Portugal

Newswire Lisbon: Representatives from Turismo de Portugal this week spoke with Routes in Seville after winning the Destination category at the Routes Awards for the second consecutive year. Turismo de Portugal is the national tourism authority tasked with promoting, enhancing and ensuring the sustainability of tourism activity in Portugal, a sector critical to the country’s […]

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France says ‘non’ to loosening rules for arms exports in Europe

Newswire Paris: Paris this week raised its voice against any revision of the current EU rules on export control for defence gear within the bloc, sources with knowledge of the plans told Euractiv. To reduce administrative burdens and speed up weapons production, the Commission proposed facilitating the movement of defence components across EU countries, regulated […]

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CM assures EU rights standards compliance

Newswire Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif this week invited companies from the European Union states to invest in the education, information technology, green energy and health sectors in the province. Welcoming the EU Parliamentary Delegation for South Asia to discuss matters related to mutual interests, bilateral relations, trade, education and investment, she agreed […]

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World’s largest ECA to stretch from Portugal to Greenland

Newswire London: At this week’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting held at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the world’s biggest emission control area (ECA) has been agreed upon. The new Northeast Atlantic ECA, due by 2027, stretches along coastlines from Portugal to Greenland (see map below), joining existing nearby ECAs in the North Sea, […]

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Germany eliminates Fast-track citizenship program for Immigrants

Berlin: Germany is set to terminate its fast-track citizenship program, a policy that allowed eligible immigrants to obtain citizenship in just three years. The decision, reached in an agreement between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)/Christian Social Union (CSU) alliance and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), marks a shift in the nation’s immigration landscape. The Fast-track […]

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Bulgaria second European NATO nation to receive the modern F-16 block 70

Newswire Sofia: Bulgaria continues its military modernization efforts, now surpassing NATO’s 2% defense spending target by dedicating 3% of its GDP to defense, writes Peter Suciu from the National Interest. The country’s latest acquisition, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, marks a significant step in replacing its outdated Soviet-era MiG-29 jets, which had been in service since […]

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Portugal to process work visas within 20 days for foreign workers

Newswire Lisbon: Portuguese authorities will fast-track agreement for foreign workers. Portuguese employers will need to meet several criteria to bring foreign workers to the country through the fast-track scheme. Under this agreement, Portugal will process work visa applications for foreign workers with job offers within 20 days from the date of application and will make […]

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What is the ETA? European travellers need €12 entry permit to visit the UK starting this week

Newswire Brussels: The UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system has officially expanded to European travellers. Starting 2 April 2025, all European visitors will need ETA approval – or, for some non-EU nationals, a visa – to enter the UK. The system became mandatory for travellers from the US, Canada and Australia on 8 January 2025, […]

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Europe’s quest for ‘strategic autonomy’ needs refocusing

Andrey Kortunov Lately the not-so-fresh idea of a “European strategic autonomy” has got back in circulation in many EU capitals. This should come as no surprise, given the condescending and even arrogant attitude displayed by the Donald Trump administration toward US’ European allies. Politicians and state officials across the European continent can no longer take […]

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EU Ambassador Riina Kionka calls on Commerce Minister, discusses business, trade cooperation

Celina Ali Islamabad: The Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Pakistan, Dr. Riina Kionka, called on Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan this week to discuss strengthening bilateral trade ties and upcoming business engagements between the EU and Pakistan. During the meeting, Dr. Kionka invited the Commerce Minister to deliver closing remarks at […]

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Denmark says it remains open to possible troop deployment in Ukraine

Copenhagen: Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Sunday said her government remains “open-minded” about deploying Danish soldiers to Ukraine as part of a potential peacekeeping force. “As I have said before, we have an open mind as a Danish government,” Frederiksen told TV2 following a high-level meeting in London hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir […]

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Portuguese Author Teresa Nicolau captivated by Pakistan’s cultural heritage

Celina Ali Islamabad: Teresa Nicolau, the esteemed Portuguese author and journalist, has expressed her admiration for Pakistan, calling it a country vibrant with life, youthful energy, and a rich cultural heritage. In an interview at the residence of Portuguese Ambassador Frederico Silva, Nicolau shared her deep appreciation for Pakistan, highlighting the warmth of its people […]

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€20 m allocated to support migration governance: EU delegation envoy

Celina Ali Islamabad: With growing concerns over irregular migration and human smuggling, experts at a high-level dialogue this week underscored the need for structured and legal migration channels so that the root cause of irregular migration might be addressed. The dialogue on ‘Safe Migration Pathways for Aspiring Pakistani Migrants’ was organized by the Sustainable Development […]

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Portuguese journalist & author Teresa Nicolau visits Pakistan

Celina Ali Islamabad: Acclaimed Portuguese journalist and author, Teresa Nicolau, arrived this week in Pakistan at the invitation of the Portuguese Embassy, to participate in events and activities in Islamabad and in Lahore, where she participated in the 2025 LLF-Lahore Literary Festival. Teresa Nicolau, a distinguished journalist and author known for her compelling storytelling and […]

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The EU and Pakistan, stronger together

EU-Pakistan dosti celebrated at EuroVillage 2025 Celina Ali Islamabad: Thousands of participants gathered at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) this week to enjoy the vibrant “EuroVillage” festival, organised by the Delegation of the European Union in collaboration with the EU Member States. The event provided a unique opportunity for the residents of Islamabad […]

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Portugal Ambassador Frederico Silva visits UoG to foster research collaboration

Celina Ali Gujrat: Portuguese Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr Frederico Silva this week visited the Hafiz Hayat Campus of the University of Gujrat (UoG) where he was warmly received by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zahoorul Haq, senior academics, and administration officials. Mian Imran Masood, former education minister of Punjab and vice chancellor of the University of […]

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