(Reuters) – European Union member states on Friday broadened their sanctions against Venezuela to include 15 additional members of the National Electoral Council of Venezuela, the judiciary, and the security forces. A total of 69 individuals in Venezuela are now targeted by EU sanctions, including an asset freeze and a ban on travel to the …
EU countries broaden sanctions against Venezuela Read More »
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain imposed new sanctions on Russian oil majors Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz <SNGS.MM> on Friday, in a move co-ordinated with the United States. “Oil revenues are the lifeblood of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s war economy,” foreign minister David Lammy said in a statement. “Taking on Russian oil companies will drain Russia’s war …
Britain sanctions Russia’s Gazprom Neft, Surgutneftegaz Read More »
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s Socialist-led government said it had proposed legislation to stop religious groups seeking to prosecute people for blasphemy, amid a debate about how to balance freedom of speech against religious rights. Patxi Lopez, the Socialist party’s parliamentary spokesperson, said on Friday that the bill would repeal a law that imposes fines on …
Spain eyes repeal of blasphemy law amid debate over free expression Read More »
By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States announced on Friday it was admitting Romania into its visa waiver program, allowing visa-free travel by Romanian citizens for up to 90 days starting around March 31. Romania had met the stringent security requirements to join the program, including entering into partnerships with U.S. law enforcement …
United States adds Romania to visa waiver travel program Read More »
WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland has identified a Russian group tasked with influencing Polish elections through disinformation and stoking instability, Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said on Friday. Poland will hold a presidential election in mid-May and authorities fear that Russian intelligence services may try to influence them in reprisal for Poland’s involvement in helping neighbouring Ukraine. …
Poland identifies Russian group that aims to sway elections, deputy PM says Read More »
WARSAW (Reuters) – Four Polish soldiers face charges of neglect of duty, prosecutors said on Friday, after the army lost track of 240 anti-tank mines in July, which were later found in a train wagon near a warehouse belonging to Swedish furniture retailer IKEA. “The suspects are four soldiers, the case concerns neglect of duty …
Dozens of misplaced Polish anti-tank mines recovered near IKEA warehouse Read More »
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Emergency workers toiling to clean up an oil spill in the Black Sea have detected seven new slicks, a Russian official told the TASS state news agency on Friday, as authorities struggle to mitigate the effects of the nearly month-old disaster. Approximately 2,400 metric tons of oil products have spilled into the …
Black Sea oil spill widens, Russian authorities say Read More »
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati will meet Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Saturday, two Lebanese sources said, becoming the first head of government to visit Syria’s capital since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. The visit will also be the first by a Lebanese premier to neighbouring Syria …
Lebanon’s Mikati to meet Syrian leader Sharaa in Damascus, Lebanese sources say Read More »
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden granted the lowest number of residence permits to asylum seekers and their relatives on record in 2024, a boost for the right-wing government which pledged on Friday to keep bringing the number down further. Sweden’s minority government and its backers, the far-right and anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, won the 2022 election on …
Sweden grants lowest ever number of residence permits to asylum seekers in 2024 Read More »
By Jan Lopatka (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin promised Slovakia that Russia’s Gazprom would find alternative ways to deliver contracted gas to Slovakia after the end of transit through Ukraine, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Friday. Fico met Putin in Moscow on Dec. 22 to discuss gas and the war in Ukraine …
Putin promised to keep supplying Slovakia with gas, Fico says Read More »
