9/7/20266.1/10
• As Islamabad negotiates its reapplication for critical trading scheme, EU envoy says GSP+ benefits ‘can’t be taken for granted’ • Country may continue to receive benefits until 2028-end, but this doesn’t mean automatic rollover into new scheme • Islamabad remains engaged with bloc on ‘effective implementation of international conventions’; FO says EU assessment didn’t offer ‘sufficiently balanced picture’ of Pakistan’s performance ISLAMABAD: Amid an ongoing intense engagement between Islamabad and Brussels over a trading scheme and its future, the European Union’s ambassador has cautioned that GSP+ benefits cannot be taken for granted. The cautionary note comes as the current EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences framework is set to expire at the end of this year, and Pakistan is required to seek inclusion in the successor regime, which would carry more stringent requirements. “The government will need to take steps towards improving the situation, which will also be very important in the reapplication process,” EU Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis told Dawn .
📡 Dawn (Pakistan)8/27/20266.1/10
<p>This summer, America played host to one of the biggest international events on the planet, the World Cup, drawing millions of foreigners to our cities and towns, our stadiums and our national parks, where many of them had never been before.</p><p>The consensus was, America is awesome — visitors from Bolivia, Scotland, Uzbekistan and everywhere in between marveled at the sheer size of our great nation, the diversity of our topography, the deliciousness of our foodstuffs and, perhaps most importantly, the kindness of our people. (Not to mention, our eighth wonder of the world — Buc-ee’s.)</p><p>What a difference a month makes.</p><div class="RichTextSidebarModule Enhancement" data-module data-align-center><a class="AnchorLink" id="module-5c0000" name="module-5c0000"></a> <div class="RichTextSidebarModule-title">Columnists bug</div> <div class="RichTextModule-items RichTextBody"><h2>Columnists</h2><br><i>In-depth political coverage, sports analysis, entertainment reviews and cultural commentary.</i><br></div> </div><p>Despite our friends in far-flung places singing our praises, now, to hear our closest neighbors tell it, America is nothing but a “ <a class="Link" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2026/08/24/canadas-doug-ford-calls-trump-a-dictator-as-economic-war-escalates/" target="_blank" >bully</a>” and a “ <a class="Link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/08/24/trumps-trade-war-with-canada-has-carney-facing-his-biggest-test-yet/" target="_blank" >thug</a>.”</p><p>After trade negotiations with Canada collapsed this week, and President Donald Trump announced a whopping 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods — including Canadian whiskey and hockey sticks — it’s no surprise our friends to the north are less than pleased with their downstairs neighbors.</p><p>In our defense, not all of us are responsible for electing the bully and thug in question — and if <a class="Link" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trumps-approval-holds-record-low-us-support-iran-war-falls-reuters-ipsos-poll-2026-08-24/" target="_blank" >polls</a> are any indication, most Americans agree with Canada that Trump is doing a terrible job. But still, it’s hard to hear.</p><p>Especially since we love Canadians, and we very much want them to love us back.</p><p>But after spending years threatening to invade Canada and make it the “51st state,” and mocking its leaders with petty nicknames and schoolyard insults, Trump may have finally put Canadians’ famous politeness to the test.</p><p>“You’re at war when you’re attacked, and we got attacked,” <a class="Link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/08/24/trumps-trade-war-with-canada-has-carney-facing-his-biggest-test-yet/" target="_blank" >said</a> Prime Minister Mark Carney.
📡 Chicago Sun-Times