World
Russia cashes in as European oil refiners pay for US sanctions
European refiners are paying the price for US oil sanctions on Venezuela and Iran as they scramble to replace the sour crude Washington has blocked from the global market with increasingly expensive Russian oil, trading sources said and data showed.
US issue extradition request as Assange is arrested after seven-year asylum
The US justice department has issued an extradition request for the indictment of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, after he was arrested by British authorities on Thursday (11 April). The arrest followed a decision by the Ecuadorean embassy to revoke his seven-year asylum status.
Erdogan says Russian S-400s delivery may be brought forward
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the delivery of Russian S-400 missile defense systems may be brought forward from July, the Sabah newspaper reported on Wednesday (10 April), sticking to a purchase which has put Turkey at odds with NATO...
Dubrovnik 16+1 summit rolls the red carpet for China
From coal plants to airports and bridges, China is forking out for investments across the Western Balkans, laying groundwork for a new battle for influence on the European Union's fringe.
Spain calls on EU partners to step up diplomacy on Venezuela crisis
EU and Latin American efforts to resolve the Venezuela crisis peacefully are too slow and must be accelerated, Spain's foreign minister Josep Borrell said Monday (8 April).
Battery manufacturers of Europe unite!
As electric vehicles begin to soar in popularity, one of the key members of the European Commission's in-house think-tank, Sami Andoura, asks: does Europe want to take the lead on electro-mobility or not?
In unprecedented move, US names Iran’s Revolutionary Guards a terrorist group
President Donald Trump said on Monday (8 April) he would name Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization, in an unprecedented step that drew Iranian condemnation and raised concerns about retaliatory attacks on US forces.
US threatens EU with new tariffs over Airbus subsidies
The US on Monday (8 April) threatened to impose tariff counter-measures of up to $11.2 billion on a host of European products, including cheese and wine, in response to subsidies received by aircraft maker Airbus.
Chinese Balkans investments disrupt EU objectives, Commission warns
Some Chinese investments entail “macro-economic imbalances and debt-dependency” risk in the Western Balkans and impact EU objectives in the region, an EU spokesperson has said in light of a controversial energy project in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Brunei introduces stoning to death for gay sex, adultery
Brunei on Wednesday (3 April) introduced harsh new sharia laws, including death by stoning for adultery and gay sex, despite a storm of global criticism from politicians, celebrities and rights groups.OpinionPromoted content
NATO at 70: The enduring transatlantic alliance for peace and security
For 70 years, NATO continues to play a crucial role in our defence and security. The emerging threats may vary, but if NATO continues its collaborative, innovative practices then it will remain as relevant today as it was in 1949.
Trump says NATO countries’ burden-sharing improving, wants more
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (2 April) his pressure on NATO nations to pay more for their defence is leading to tens of billions of dollars more in contributions, but the allies may need to boost their budgets even more.
Pompeo snubs G7 ministerial in France, relevance of the format questioned
France this week kicks off meetings under its presidency of the club for the world's seven most developed nations as questions mount over the relevance of the group at a time of tension between Europe and the United States.
US halts F-35 equipment to Turkey, protests its plans to buy from Russia
The United States has halted delivery of equipment related to the stealthy F-35 fighter aircraft to Turkey, marking the first concrete US step to block delivery of the jet to the NATO ally in light of Ankara’s planned purchase of a Russian missile defense system.
INF treaty end would give US, Russia impetus to make more nukes: study
The demise of the only US-Russia arms control pact limiting deployed nuclear weapons would make it harder for each to gauge the other’s intentions, giving both incentives to expand their arsenals, according to a study to be released on Monday (1 April).
EU frowns, US roars as Russian troops start arriving in Venezuela
Russia said on Thursday (28 March) it had sent “specialists” to Venezuela under a military cooperation deal but said they posed no threat to regional stability, brushing aside a call from US President Donald Trump to remove all military personnel from the country.
China makes ‘unprecedented proposals’ to US on technology transfer
China has made unprecedented proposals in talks with the United States on a range of issues including forced technology transfer as the two sides work to overcome remaining obstacles to a deal to end their protracted trade war, US officials told Reuters on Wednesday (27 March).
US expands abortion ‘gag rule,’ cuts funding to the Organization of American States
The Trump administration on Tuesday (26 March) expanded its anti-abortion policies, cutting funding to the Organization of American States (OAS) and prohibiting the use of US tax dollars to lobby for or against abortion rights.
China’s Xi meets top EU leaders to strengthen ties
The leaders of China, France, Germany and the EU were set to meet in Paris on Tuesday (26 March) for "unprecedented" talks on how to improve ties, despite growing jitters over Beijing's massive investments in Europe.
US calls Russia deployment of planes to Venezuela ‘reckless escalation’
The United States on Monday accused Russia of “reckless escalation” of the situation in Venezuela by deploying military planes and personnel to the crisis-stricken South American nation that Washington has hit with crippling sanctions.
Estonians pay homage to victims of Soviet deportations
Thousands of Estonians lit candles across the Baltic state on Monday (25 March) in memory of the victims of Soviet mass deportations launched 70 years ago that saw tens of thousands sent to labour camps in Siberia, where many of them died.
Mueller finds no Trump-Russia conspiracy but some questions left unresolved
Special Counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence of collusion between US President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia in the 2016 election, but left unresolved the issue of whether Trump obstructed justice by undermining the investigations that have dogged his presidency.
Romania to move embassy to Jerusalem, premier Dancila pledges
The Romanian prime minister promised Sunday (25 March) in Washington that her country would move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, breaking with both the European position and apparently with her own country's president.