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James Van Der Beek, the actor who became a late-1990s television touchstone as earnest dreamer Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek, has died at 48 after a battle with bowel cancer, his family said Wednesday. “He met his final days with courage, faith and grace,” his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, said in a statement. The series, which ran for six seasons from 1998 to 2003, launched him to stardom and helped define a TV era. Heartfelt tributes poured in from co-stars and friends. Katie Holmes, who starred opposite Van Der Beek,…

EU, India seal landmark free trade deal after nearly two decades of talks Pact touted as “mother of all deals” creating a market of two billion people; formal signing to follow legal review The European Union and India have agreed on a sweeping free trade deal, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday, declaring the pact the “mother of all deals” and a “free trade zone of two billion people.” “Europe and India are making history today,” von der Leyen said on X, adding that both sides are set to…

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said “we are at a crossroads” amid a U.S. threat, signaling a pivotal moment for Europe’s economic and security posture as tensions with Washington simmer. Von der Leyen’s remark, delivered during live remarks monitored by Axadle Times, underscored the sensitivities in transatlantic ties as the European Union assesses risks to its strategic industries and broader interests. No further details were immediately available on the specific nature of the U.S. threat or the…

EU and South American leaders signed a landmark EU–Mercosur free trade agreement in Asuncion, Paraguay, establishing what officials called the world’s largest free trade area after 25 years of negotiations. The accord spans more than 700 million consumers and is billed as a decisive turn toward open markets even as it faces a contentious ratification fight in Europe. “This agreement sends a very strong message to the world. It reflects a clear and deliberate choice. We choose fair trade over tariffs. We choose a productive,…

EU leaders face a decisive choice on how to finance Ukraine’s war effort at a crunch summit this week, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urging capitals to agree a plan to tap frozen Russian assets. “There is no more important act of European defense than supporting Ukraine’s defense. The next days will be a crucial step for securing this, it is up to us to choose how we fund Ukraine’s fight,” von der Leyen told lawmakers ahead of the meeting, underscoring the pressure on leaders to unlock long-term…

BRUSSELS — European Union leaders reached an overnight agreement to ban imports of Russian gas by autumn 2027, a landmark step aimed at severing a major revenue stream for Moscow and marking, in the words of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, "the dawn of a new era" of energy independence from Russia. The compromise, struck between EU capitals and the European Parliament, sets a staggered timetable: long-term pipeline contracts will be prohibited from Sept. 30, 2027 — provided EU gas storage levels are…

The famous Senegalese intellectual Iba Der Thiam died on Saturday 31 October evening at the main hospital in Dakar at the age of 83 years. Associate professor of history, trade unionist, parliamentarian and politician, he left his mark on Senegal and Africa through his writings and his contribution to the country's democratic life. President Macky Sall sent his condolences to this "world-famous…