US, G7 Ban Russian Gold Despite Sanctions Fatigue
U.S. President Joe Biden says the United States and other Group of Seven (G7) countries will ban imports of gold from Russia to undercut its financing of Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Europe
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Ukraine Forces Battle In ‘Dead Cities’
Between massive death and destruction, Ukrainian forces were still holding out in the eastern city of Severodonetsk despite being outnumbered by Russian forces, Ukraine’s president said.
Russia’s UN Envoy Clashes With EU Over Food
Russia’s United Nations ambassador angrily left a U.N. Security Council meeting as a European Union president blamed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for worldwide food shortages.
Russian Foreign Minister Banned From Europe Airspace
Russia’s foreign minister said late Monday he had invited his Serbian counterpart to Moscow after three eastern European countries blocked his plane from traveling to Serbia.
Ukraine’s President: ‘Churches Burning, Cities Destroyed’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Russia to “stop burning churches” and end attacks on his nation after a famed Orthodox Church was destroyed while explosions rocked the capital Kyiv, overshadowing Pentecost celebrations. Heavy street battles also raged in a strategic city in Ukraine’s east that Russian forces want to capture as part of an ongoing invasion.
EU Cancels Sanctions Against Russian Patriarch
The European Union canceled plans to impose sanctions against Russian Orthodox Church leader Patriarch Kirill after Hungary threatened to veto the bloc’s latest round of measures against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
Germany Train Crash Kills 4, Injures Dozens
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed shock after at least four people were killed and 30 more were injured Friday when a regional passenger train derailed in Bavaria’s alpine southern German state. He said his “sympathy was with families of the victims.”