By Layli Foroudi and Paul Carsten STRASBOURG, France, Dec 17 (Reuters) – The European Union’s parliament voted on Wednesday in favour of a scheme that would enable women from nations restricting abortion to terminate pregnancies in another member state free of charge. The “My Voice, My Choice” citizens’ initiative proposes a fund from the EU …
European lawmakers vote for scheme to improve access to abortions Read More »
Dec 17 (Reuters) – The United States is preparing a further round of sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector to increase pressure on Moscow should it reject a peace deal with Ukraine, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. A White House official told Reuters that U.S. President Donald Trump had made …
US readies new Russia sanctions if Putin rejects peace deal, Bloomberg News reports Read More »
SAO PAULO, Dec 17 (Reuters) – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday that if the trade agreement between the European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur is not finalized this month, Brazil will no longer sign off on the deal. Italy and France earlier in the day said they …
Brazil threatens to abandon Mercosur-EU deal as Italy, France seek delay Read More »
MOSCOW, Dec 17 (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday Russia would take more land in Ukraine by force if Kyiv and European politicians whom he cast as “young pigs” did not engage over U.S. proposals for a peace settlement. The United States has held talks with Russia, and separately with Kyiv and European …
Putin says Russia will take more land in Ukraine if Europe sinks peace moves Read More »
By Horaci García and Albert Gea BADALONA, Spain, Dec 17 (Reuters) – Spanish police on Wednesday evicted hundreds of migrants from a former high school in the northeastern city of Badalona, in what a union representing local tenants described as the largest such eviction ever in Spain. The building, long occupied by squatters, was cleared …
Spanish city evicts hundreds of migrants from occupied building Read More »
By Barbara Erling WARSAW, Dec 17 (Reuters) – Poland has decided to start producing anti‑personnel mines for the first time since the Cold War and plans to deploy them along its eastern border and may export them to Ukraine, the deputy defence minister told Reuters. Joining a broader regional shift that has seen almost all …
Exclusive-Poland to start producing anti-personnel mines to lay along eastern border Read More »
BERLIN, Dec 17 (Reuters) – Germany opened its first joint drone defence centre combining state and federal capabilities on Wednesday, part of efforts to close gaps and provide better protection against the growing threat of espionage and sabotage, said the interior ministry. Federal and state authorities are working hand in hand, pooling their expertise and …
Germany opens joint drone defence centre in Berlin Read More »
BERLIN, Dec 17 (Reuters) – Germany’s parliamentary budget committee on Wednesday cleared more than 50 billion euros ($58.60 billion) in defence contracts over the next few years, as Russia’s war in Ukraine puts pressure on the nation to boost its military spending. Speaking to media in Berlin, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the decision put …
German budget committee clears 50 billion euros in defence contracts Read More »
By Scott Murdoch and Alasdair Pal SYDNEY, Dec 17 (Reuters) – A man who allegedly opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s famed Bondi Beach has been charged with 59 offences, including murder and terrorism, police said on Wednesday. The alleged father-and-son perpetrators opened fire on the celebration at Sydney’s famed Bondi Beach …
Alleged Bondi gunman charged with 15 murders as funerals of victims begin Read More »
By Essi Lehto HELSINKI, Dec 17 (Reuters) – Finland’s prime minister apologised to Asian nations on Wednesday as he sought to contain a growing controversy over derogatory images posted by far-right members of the Nordic country’s parliament. Dubbed the “slanted eyes” scandal by Finnish media, the incident is the latest in a series of cases …
Finland’s prime minister apologises to Asian nations over racism scandal Read More »
