Europe focus

Roundup

EUROPE

EU hits back after new Trump tariffs

The European Union believes United States President Donald Trump's new 15 percent global trade tariff may break the terms of the trade deal they agreed in Turnberry, Scotland last year. The bloc's Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic met with G7 trade ministers on Monday to discuss the situation and the European Parliament suspended legislative work on approving the EU-US trade deal while the bloc sought more information.

SWITZERLAND

WEF chief resigns over Epstein ties

The president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, Borge Brende, said on Thursday he was stepping down, a few weeks after the Geneva-based nongovernmental organization launched an investigation into his relationship with convicted sex of fender Jeffrey Epstein. Brende, who became president of the WEF in 2017, announced his decision following disclosures from the United States Department of Justice that showed the former Norwegian foreign minister had three business dinners with Epstein and had also communicated with the now-deceased financier via email and text message. Brende made no mention of Epstein in his resignation statement.

FRANCE

Louvre museum head quits post after crisis

The president of the Louvre Museum in Paris has stepped down, four months after a high-profile break-in saw jewels worth 88 million euros ($103.6 million)stolen and huge security flaws revealed at the world's biggest museum. Laurence des Cars, who offered to quit straight after the robbery, told newspaper Le Figaro: "The minister of culture asked me to stay the course during the storm, which I did. I got through this period, I believe, with a cool head. I am calm and proud of the work I have accomplished. But staying the course is not enough."