Politics
Venezuela accuses the US of blackmail over the seizure of oil tankers
At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, Caracas accused the United States of blackmail and violation of international law after the seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers and the announcement of a naval blockade
US DOJ finds more than a million new documents in Epstein case, asks for time to review
The US Department of Justice has announced the discovery of more than 1 million additional documents potentially related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Their review and publication may take several more weeks
Secret conversations between Putin and Bush from 2001-2008
The US has released full transcripts of meetings and telephone conversations between Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush. Putin actually asked Bush to admit Russia to NATO and complained about the loss of control over the "artificial" state of Ukraine
Venezuela criminalises seizure of oil tankers after US actions
The Venezuelan parliament has passed a law that provides for up to 20 years in prison for facilitating the hijacking of oil tankers. The decision comes after the US seized two vessels carrying Venezuelan oil and a dispute escalated at the UN
Pentagon: China's rapid military build-up increases US vulnerability
The Pentagon said that China's rapid and large-scale military build-up, including its nuclear arsenal, is making the United States increasingly vulnerable and increasing threats around Taiwan and in the Pacific
China calls on the US to lift restrictions on drone supplies and threatens to retaliate
Beijing opposed the inclusion of foreign drone systems in the US blacklist and called on Washington to immediately lift the bans, calling them protectionism and market distortion
Rutte urges NATO not to weaken support for Ukraine and to speed up rearmament
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that threats from Russia are growing and called on the Allies to implement the decision to increase defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP and to continue to fully support Ukraine
Poland will not use force to evict Russians from closed consulate in Gdansk
Poland has decided not to forcefully expel Russian diplomats from the Russian consulate in Gdansk after it was closed. Control over the facility is to be regained through the courts, a process that could take years.
New head of the State Ecological Inspectorate of the Capital District Yaromiy declared millions in income and family savings
Head of the State Ecological Inspectorate of the Capital District Ivan Yaromiy declared UAH 1.7 million in income to the State Bureau of Investigation, significant monetary assets and business and income of the singer's wife YAROMIYA
Protests erupt in Tirana after deputy prime minister charged with corruption
In the Albanian capital, protesters threw Molotov cocktails at a government building after corruption charges were brought against Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluk. The prosecutor's office is asking the parliament to lift her immunity for arrest.
Beijing accuses the US of using the Chinese missile issue to build up nuclear forces
China said that the United States was using China's ICBM deployment claims as a pretext to modernise its own nuclear arsenal and called on Washington to fulfil its nuclear disarmament commitments.
Estonian Foreign Minister warns Russia of tough response in case of border violation
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tahkna said that if Russian troops without insignia appear on the territory of the country, they will be eliminated. He also warned against trusting the Kremlin and recalled Russia's hybrid attacks in Europe
