Latest news bulletin | April 2nd – Midday
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Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.
READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2025/04/02/latest-news-bulletin-april-2nd-midday
Subscribe to our channel. Euronews is available on Dailymotion in 12 languages
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NewsTranscript
00:00European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the European Union is
00:05prepared to push back against Donald Trump's tariffs.
00:10The World Food Programme is closing all its remaining bakeries in Gaza, citing a lack
00:15of humanitarian aid caused by Israel's blockade.
00:21Belgium took the next step in the fight against tobacco products.
00:24There shall be no public display, the new law says.
00:30Tensions between the US and the EU escalate ahead of what Trump calls Liberation Day.
00:35European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned that the European Union is
00:38prepared to push back against Donald Trump's plans to impose sweeping reciprocal tariffs
00:43on all US trading partners.
00:46Speaking before the European Parliament, von der Leyen emphasised Europe's leverage in
00:49negotiations, citing its vast single market and economic strength.
00:54That we have everything we need to protect our people and our prosperity.
01:00We have the largest single market in the world.
01:04We have the strength to negotiate.
01:06We have the power to push back.
01:08Von der Leyen criticised the proposed tariffs, warning they would raise consumer prices,
01:13destroy jobs and harm both US companies and global trade.
01:16She described the measures as counterproductive to Trump's goal of re-industrialising America.
01:22The EU is already preparing countermeasures after delaying retaliation against earlier
01:26US tariffs on steel, aluminium and cars.
01:30Von der Leyen urged unity among EU leaders, stressing that while Europe did not start
01:34this confrontation, it is ready to act decisively.
01:37We think it is wrong.
01:38We do not necessarily want to retaliate, but if it is necessary, we have a strong plan
01:45to retaliate and we will use it.
01:48Last year, the EU recorded a 156 billion euro trade surplus with the US, but a 108 billion
01:54euro deficit in services.
02:02For the first time ever, the leaders of the EU and Central Asia sit down together in the
02:07historic city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to agree on a strategic partnership.
02:13The summit has great geopolitical significance.
02:16Three years into Moscow's war against Ukraine, the two regions are willing to open a new chapter.
02:24A week ago, EU High Representative Kayakallas prepared a summit in Turkmenistan.
02:33Integrated cooperation between Central Asia and the European Union is one of the most
02:39important strategic vectors of development in Eurasia.
02:45Central Asia consists of five former Soviet republics – Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,
02:51Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
02:54Its population and economy are rapidly growing.
03:00It will be an important milestone in our relationship and we attach great importance to the success
03:09of this summit.
03:12According to diplomats, the EU is willing to address the circumvention of sanctions
03:17against Russia, import natural gas and invest in the mining of raw materials in the region.
03:24Rare earth, what you need for electronics, also for defense equipment and Europeans are
03:32looking for other places where they can get those raw materials.
03:39Definitely also a main issue is energy.
03:44We have cut mainly our import from Russia when it comes to oil and gas.
03:49So there's always the idea of well, where can we get gas and oil from other places and
03:54Turkmenistan as an example is one of the big gas providers.
03:59The EU is also willing to help the Central Asian region to decrease its dependence on
04:04Russia and China.
04:06But infrastructure is of the essence and China is doing the Belt and Road initiative in the
04:12area, expanding its grip on Central Asia, while the Europeans are trying also to offer
04:23alternatives to the Chinese Belt and Road initiatives and investing in infrastructure
04:28as well in the area.
04:30The expert says Europe is expected to walk a fine line on human rights in the region
04:36and will raise the migration issue connected to Afghanistan.
04:49The World Food Program is closing all its remaining bakeries in Gaza, saying that due
04:55to the lack of humanitarian aid, its supplies are running out.
04:59After Israel cut off all food, medicine, fuel and humanitarian aid nearly a month ago, the
05:05food shortage is very critical, according to the UN.
05:10Sheer will doesn't get you to survive when we see breach after breach of IHL, breach
05:14after breach of restricting aid, so this can't fall from the world's attention and conscious
05:21because we are seeing unprecedented breaches across international humanitarian law.
05:27Israel said enough food had entered Gaza during the six-week ceasefire to sustain the territory
05:33for a long time, an assertion the UN chief spokesperson called ridiculous.
05:39Aid workers warn of a catastrophic surge in severe hunger and malnutrition.
05:48A powerful storm hit the Greek islands of Paros and Mykonos on Monday, triggering widespread
05:54flooding and prompting authorities to close schools and impose a ban on all traffic except
05:59emergency vehicles.
06:02Heavy rainfall in Paros' main towns of Perikia and Naoussa caused floodwaters that surged
06:08through streets, carrying cars and debris past whitewashed buildings.
06:14Authorities on Paros said 13 people stranded in the storm were taken by firefighters to
06:18their homes, adding that no one was reported injured or missing.
06:24On Mykonos, where the flooding was less intense, excavators were used to clear a path for floodwater
06:29and it gushed past seafront cafes and restaurants.
06:33Several islands near Paros in the Cyclades group, which is southeast of the mainland
06:38in the Aegean Sea, remain under severe weather warnings through Tuesday.
06:46Military personnel from 12 NATO countries began an annual naval exercise led by Romania
06:54in the Black Sea and Danube River Delta this week.
06:59Over 2,300 troops are taking part in the so-called Seashield Drill, aimed at strengthening collaboration
07:05among allied naval, air and land forces.
07:091,600 Romanian troops are participating alongside 11 partner states from across Europe and North
07:15America.
07:17The exercise was conducted for the second time last year, with the first organised in
07:222015.
07:29Tourists and residents have been evacuated after a volcano began erupting near Iceland's
07:33famous Blue Lagoon.
07:36Flames and smoke shot through the air as the volcanic fissure opened near the town of Grindevik,
07:41where dozens of homes were evacuated.
07:45As sirens sounded, the nearby Blue Lagoon geothermal spa was also emptied.
07:51Local officials confirmed significant tectonic activity in the area, as the magma flow was
07:56accompanied by an earthquake swarm.
08:01Belgium has implemented a new regulation this week banning the display of cigarettes and
08:06other tobacco products in shops.
08:08The measure aims to reduce the visibility of addictive products, hoping to curb impulsive
08:13purchases.
08:15Under the new rules, supermarkets and stores larger than 400-metre squares are prohibited
08:19from selling cigarettes altogether.
08:22This initiative is overseen by Health Minister Frank Vandenbrouck.
08:36The campaign already began on January 1st, with a ban on disposable e-cigarettes.
08:43Shop owners were left to find their own solutions to comply with the law.
08:48Some opted for makeshift plastic curtains, while others installed sophisticated shelves
08:52that light up when opened.
08:57Jennifer Ferenberg, a press and tobacco shop owner, expressed frustration over the lack
09:02of government support.
09:03It's annoying because they could have provided us with the necessary and correct equipment,
09:10because we are the only elements that will sell tobacco, and we respect the rules of
09:15selling to someone who is of legal age.
09:18So I think they could have made an effort, even if they don't have any money.
09:22But I don't have any either.
09:23Public reactions have been mixed.
09:25Smokers like Malak Shatani, a Brussels student, remain sceptical, arguing that hiding products
09:30won't break the cycle of addiction.
09:32I don't think it's necessarily a good idea, because it's an addiction.
09:37In any case, people won't find out overnight, because it won't be seen in shops anymore.
09:42The next phase of Belgium's anti-smoking strategy, a proposed ban on smoking in public terraces,
09:48is still awaiting legislative approval.
09:50While opinions differ, the government remains committed to its long-term goal of reducing
09:55tobacco consumption and fostering healthier lifestyles.
10:03The European Union is sticking to its plans to enforce new laws on social media platforms
10:08like X, TikTok and Facebook, despite pressure from the US.
10:12In an interview with Euronews, European Commission Executive Vice President Hanna Varkunen,
10:17who oversees security and technology, explains that these laws are vital to protecting democracy
10:23from disinformation and market abuses.
10:27Our rules are very fair, because they are the same rules for everybody who is operating
10:31and doing business in the European Union.
10:33So we have the same rules for the European companies, for American companies,
10:36for the Chinese companies.
10:38The Digital Services Act, which addresses disinformation, and the Digital Markets Act,
10:43aimed at ensuring a fair digital economy, have come under significant scrutiny
10:47from Donald Trump's prominent advisor, Elon Musk.
10:50The EU will not resile from implementing the DSA and DMA where and when needed,
10:58despite the confrontation with the United States.
11:01It's super important for us that we are fully enforcing DMA and DSA,
11:06because when it comes to DMA, there we want to make sure that the big players,
11:11that they are not the dominant players, they are not misusing their market power,
11:17that also new innovations can enter to the markets in the European Union.
11:21And DSA is very much for making sure that illegal content and products are taken down
11:27and we have safe and democratic, fair environment.
11:31You can hear the full interview of the Europe Conversation on Thursday.