By Mark Trevelyan Dec 18 (Reuters) – Belarus is nearing a major deal to restore relations with the United States but will not give up its close ties to Russia, President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday. Speaking five days after freeing a large group of political prisoners in exchange for an easing of U.S. sanctions, …
Belarus prepares ‘big deal’ with US but not at Russia’s expense, Lukashenko says Read More »
By Dominique Vidalon PARIS, Dec 18 (Reuters) – French authorities carried out searches at the Culture Ministry, private homes and the office of the mayor of the 7th district of Paris on Thursday as part of a corruption probe involving Culture Minister Rachida Dati in connection with her years as a European Parliament member, the …
Searches under way in new corruption probe involving French Minister Dati Read More »
BRUSSELS, Dec 18 (Reuters) – Belgian police fired tear gas and water cannon on Thursday as a demonstration by farmers against an EU-Mercosur free trade agreement turned violent, with some protesters hurling rocks and potatoes at police and smashing windows. Police intervened when the violence escalated and sought to arrest some of the protesters. At …
Belgian farmers in anti-trade protest clash with police Read More »
By Nika Khutsieva MOSCOW, Dec 18 (Reuters) – A Russian ban on U.S. gaming platform Roblox has fuelled debate among some children and parents about censorship and the utility of bans in a world where children can bypass limits with a few clicks. Russia’s communications watchdog Roskomnadzor said on December 3 it had blocked access …
Russian ban on Roblox stirs debate about limits of censorship Read More »
BRUSSELS, Dec 18 (Reuters) – European Union countries on Thursday approved a deal to delay the anti-deforestation law by a year following pushback from industry and concerns the digital system to enforce it was not ready, the Council of the EU said, clearing the final legal hurdle for the delay to pass into law. The …
EU countries approve year-long delay to deforestation law Read More »
ZURICH, Dec 18 (Reuters) – The parliament of the western Swiss canton of Fribourg on Thursday voted to ban children from using mobile phones at school until they are about 15 years old. With 67 votes in favour and 35 against, the legislature backed a proposal that would oblige students to turn off and put …
Parliament of Swiss canton Fribourg votes to ban mobile phones at school Read More »
Dec 18 (Reuters) – Israel and Germany signed a contract worth around $3.1 billion to expand the Arrow-3 air and missile defence system manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries, Israel’s defence ministry said on Thursday. Germany first purchased the Arrow system in 2023, as it sees Russia’s intermediate-range missiles as the primary threat to its population …
Israel, Germany sign $3.1 billion contract expansion for Arrow air defence system Read More »
By Essi Lehto HELSINKI, Dec 18 (Reuters) – Finland’s far-right Finns Party said on Thursday it had reprimanded two of its lawmakers who posted derogatory images widely seen as offensive to Asians. The incident is the latest in a series of cases in which members of the Finns Party, a junior partner in the governing …
Finland’s far-right party reprimands two MPs over racism scandal Read More »
STOCKHOLM, Dec 18 (Reuters) – There is no reason to reopen an investigation into the unsolved 1986 murder of Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme, a prosecutor said on Thursday, after finding there was insufficient evidence against a man who had been regarded as the chief suspect. Palme was shot dead as he walked along a …
ROME, Dec 18 (Reuters) – New frescoes with “extraordinary details and colours” and new rooms have been unearthed in a villa on the suburbs of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, the archaeological park said on Thursday. The discoveries were made at the Villa Poppaea in Oplontis, a large residence dating from the mid-first century …
New frescoes unearthed in villa near Pompeii show ‘extraordinary details and colours’ Read More »
