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By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden spent months urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to protect Gaza civilians, but the U.S. decision to pause some military aid to Israel was linked directly to a pointed phone call they had a month ago, a U.S. official said. In the April 4 call, soon …

Analysis-Behind Biden’s Israel weapons pause: a defiant Netanyahu, a tense phone call Read More »

TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgian authorities have arrested six people for assaulting police officers and causing damage at protests in recent weeks against a bill on “foreign agents”, the interior ministry said on Thursday. The bill, which would require organisations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as agents of foreign influence, …

Georgia makes six delayed arrests after rallies against foreign agents bill, interior ministry says Read More »

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia is warning its Western adversaries that it feels obliged to boost its nuclear deterrent due to what it sees as their “escalatory” course, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying on Thursday. Ryabkov was cited by state news agency RIA as saying that Russia was not however changing its …

Russia says Western actions compel it to boost its nuclear deterrent Read More »

KYIV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s parliament voted on Thursday to dismiss Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, who has overseen the wartime reconstruction effort and championed efforts to set up a vital Black Sea shipping lane, lawmakers said. Kubrakov also helped ensure key logistical routes for millions of people fleeing the fighting early in the war after …

Ukraine deputy PM in charge of reconstruction ousted amid ministry reform Read More »

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine plans to double electricity imports on Thursday after a powerful Russian attack on Ukraine’s energy system, the energy ministry said. The imports are expected to rise to 16,699 megawatt hours (Mwh) versus 7,600 Mwh on Wednesday, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. “Today, at Ukraine’s request, emergency electricity supplies have …

Ukraine to double power imports on Thursday after Russian attacks, ministry says Read More »

KYIV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s parliament has dismissed Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky who tendered his resignation in late April as he faces an investigation into alleged involvement in illegal acquisition of state-owned land, Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said on Telegram. Solsky, 44, has denied the allegations. He has been at the centre of Ukraine’s effort to …

Ukraine’s parliament dismisses agriculture minister suspected of corruption, lawmaker says Read More »

By Aleksandar Vasovic SKOPJE (Reuters) – North Macedonia’s nationalist opposition began the search for a coalition partner on Thursday after voters frustrated by a lack of progress towards membership of the European Union ended seven years of rule by the Social Democrats. The VMRO-DPMNE party won more than 42% of votes with nearly all ballots …

North Macedonia nationalists seek coalition partner after election win Read More »

MADRID (Reuters) – Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Thursday the European Union needs reforms before taking new members. A bloc with more than 30 member states instead of the 27 at present would not function under the current rules, he told an event held in Madrid. (Reporting by Inti Landauro, edititng by …

Spain’s Foreign Minister: EU reforms needed before enlargement Read More »

By Aleksandar Vasovic SKOPJE (Reuters) -North Macedonia’s right-wing opposition won big in parliamentary and presidential elections on Wednesday, on a night that saw the Balkan country also elect its first female head of state. The head of the ruling Social Democrats (SDSM), Dimitar Kovacevski, conceded defeat after partial results showed the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party way …

North Macedonia opposition wins big on election night Read More »