Fuel Restrictions In Hungary Over Price Cap Worries
Fuel restrictions were introduced in Hungary Friday as concerns mounted over an impending energy crisis linked to a government price cap, executives said.
EU
Russia Threatening Dollar With Alternative Global Currency
Russia says it wants to develop a new global reserve currency with China and “other BRICS nations,” in a significant challenge to the dominance of the U.S. dollar.
‘Ukraine Troops To Withdraw From Strategic City’
Ukraine’s outgunned troops began withdrawing Friday from Severodonetsk, the embattled eastern city that is a focus of Russia’s war effort, a local leader said. Moscow shelled the city heavily and continuously for four months, regional governor Serhiy Haidai confirmed Friday.
Italy experiences worst drought in 70 years
Italy is going through its worst drought since 1952, with record low levels of water in the vast Po river which crosses the country as a vital source of water for several regions, Euronews reports.
Christian massacres in Nigeria a top topic at global religious freedom summit
Protecting religious liberty around the world has become more challenging in the last year, advocates said this week ahead of Tuesday’s convening of the second International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington.
Egypt, Lebanon and Syria sign gas import agreement
Lebanon, Syria and Egypt signed an agreement on Tuesday to transfer 650 million cubic meters of gas per year from Egypt to Lebanon through Syria.
Ukraine bans primary opposition party, seizing all its assets and money
Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice has announced an official ban on the country’s main opposition party and seized all its assets.
IAEA report says Iran stepping up uranium enrichment at underground Fordo site
Iran is stepping up uranium enrichment at its underground Fordo nuclear site, according to a confidential International Atomic Energy Agency report seen by the Reuters news agency on Monday.
Lithuania Halting Russian Goods As War Escalates
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine appeared close to escalating into a broader military conflict Tuesday after nearby Lithuania blocked shipments of Russian goods subject to European Union sanctions.
Hungary Blocks Biden’s Global Tax Plan In European Union
Hungary has blocked the introduction of U.S. President Joe Biden’s proposed global minimum corporate of 15 percent in the European Union. The EU member state says the Biden tax would undermine its competitive edge in the region as Hungary has the bloc’s lowest corporate tax rate of just 9 percent.
Dutch PM Apologizes To Troops Over Srebrenica Massacre
The prime minister of the Netherlands has apologized to soldiers who were sent as United Nations peacekeepers to defend the Bosnian enclave of Srebrenica with what he believes was insufficient firepower and manpower to keep the peace. Mark Rutte made the remarks 27 years after thousands of Muslim men and boys were killed in Europe’s worst single atrocity since World War Two, a tragedy condemned by the Vatican.
Ukraine President Visits Injured As Russia Captures More Territory
Ukraine’s war-time President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited his nation’s southern city of Mykolaiv as concerns rise that his forces may suffer from fatigue while they lose territories due to the ongoing Russian invasion.
Louisiana appeals court dishes up win for restaurant in COVID business-interruption case
A Louisiana appeals court found that an all-risk property policy covered business-income interruption losses caused by COVID-19 shutdown orders and other operational restrictions.
Europe’s Leading Economies Seek Ukraine’s EU Membership
The leaders of the European Union’s three largest economies, Germany, France, and Italy, pledged Thursday to back Ukraine’s “immediate” candidacy to join the 27-member nation European Union.
Report: ‘Iceland World’s Most Peaceful Nation’
Iceland is the most peaceful country in the world, followed by New Zealand and Ireland, according to the latest Global Peace Index (GPI).
EU Signs Gas Deal With Israel To Bypass Russia
Europeans struggling to pay their utilities were hoping for some relief Thursday after the European Union signed a deal with Israel and Egypt to boost natural gas exports to Europe to replace imports from Russia.
In landmark deal signed in Cairo, Israel to export natural gas, via Egypt, to Europe
Israel, Egypt and the European Union signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday in Cairo that will see Israel export its natural gas to the bloc for the first time.
Putin humiliated as Israel turns on ‘ally’ Russia to strike major energy deal with EU
The EU and Israel are set to sign a natural gas export deal today that will help to decrease Europe’s reliance on Russia. The bloc is heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas exports, relying on Moscow for about 40 percent of its energy imports in 2021. According to Israel’s Energy Ministry, a deal with the EU will for the first time allow “significant” exports of Israeli gas to Europe.
China Using COVID Surveillance For Crackdown On Dissent
Chinese authorities are using the country’s massive COVID surveillance infrastructure to prevent a protest against the freezing of bank accounts as part of a broader crackdown, depositors say.
Ukraine Fearful As Russia Pushes For Victory In East
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned late Monday that the battle for Ukraine’s eastern Donbas would go down as one of the most brutal in European history as Russian forces pushed for victory in the region.