EU accuses Russia of 'blackmail' as it cuts gas tap to Poland and Bulgaria
Ursula von der Leyen called Gazprom's decision "yet another attempt by Russia to use gas as an instrument of blackmail" while Charles Michel said it was an "aggressive unilateral move by Russia'.
Following the success of its vaccine passport, the Digital COVID Certificate, the EU is investing more into digital health with the European Health Data Space. EU Commissioner Stella Kyriakides speaks to Smart Health about how it will change our lives.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:13Published
European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said it was "high time we got Brexit done" as he fired the latest salvo against Boris Johnson's government over.. Sky News
US Announces Plan , To Increase Military Presence , Across Europe.
On June 29, President Joe Biden announced that
the U.S. will increase its military presence throughout
Europe in response to Russia's war in Ukraine.
The BBC reports that the U.S. will establish a permanent
Army headquarters in Poland and deploy warships to Spain,
fighter jets to the U.K. and ground forces to Romania.
The BBC reports that the U.S. will establish a permanent
Army headquarters in Poland and deploy warships to Spain,
fighter jets to the U.K. and ground forces to Romania.
According to Biden, the decision comes as NATO is , "needed now more than it has ever been.".
The U.S. announcement occurred as
NATO leaders met at a summit in Madrid.
Biden told fellow NATO leaders that the alliance would be , "strengthened in all directions across
every domain - land, air and sea".
We mean it when we say an attack
against one is an attack against all, Joe Biden, President of the United States, via the BBC.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
announced that member states had agreed to a
"comprehensive assistance package" for Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
announced that member states had agreed to a
"comprehensive assistance package" for Ukraine.
BBC reports that the aid package will
include fuel, medical supplies, body armor,
anti-drone systems and other equipment.
NATO leaders also described Russia as , "the most significant and direct threat
to Allies' security and to peace
and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.".
According to NATO leadership, "we cannot discount the possibility of an attack against allies' sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Here Is What Abortion Rights, Are Like Around the Rest of the World.
The June 24 Supreme Court decision that overturns Roe v. Wade means that dozens of U.S. states could ban abortion.
Legal experts say the decision puts the U.S.
with a small number of nations that have
restricted abortion in recent decades.
[Overturning 'Roe' places] the United States in the company of countries like Poland
and Nicaragua, Supreme Court Brief, via 'The New York Times'.
By contrast, other nations with similar democracies have expanded access to abortion in recent decades.
In countries with legal traditions and democratic values most comparable to the United States, such as Great Britain and Canada, abortion is legal until at
least viability, Supreme Court Brief, via 'The New York Times'.
13 states already have trigger-bans in place. Experts say it may become worth it to consider international options.
If enough states prohibit [abortion], there might be some places where it's cheaper or easier to travel internationally [...] than it is to travel to
another state, Glenn Cohen, Harvard Law School Professor,
via 'USA Today'.
72 countries allow abortion "on request," as the U.S. did for 50 years until the 'Dobbs' decision on June 24.
With close to 601 million women of child-bearing age, some of these nations have friendly relations with the U.S., such as Canada, Puerto Rico, France and Germany.
Other countries on this list include North Korea, China, Cuba, Belarus and the Russian Federation.
Other countries on this list include North Korea, China, Cuba, Belarus and the Russian Federation.
23 percent of women of child-bearing age live in countries in which abortion is legal on
extensive social or economic grounds.
14 percent of women of child-bearing age live in countries that allow abortion for broad reasons pertaining to health.
Five percent of women of childbearing age (close to 90 million women) live in countries where abortion is outlawed.
All of these numbers have yet to be updated in the wake of the June 24 Supreme Court decision
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Ukraine Receives EU Candidate Status , As Putinās War Rages On.
Ukraine Receives EU Candidate Status , As Putinās War Rages On.
'The Guardian' reports that as EU leaders met in Brussels on June 23, they granted
Ukraine candidate status.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky set out to join the bloc nearly four months ago.
Typically, it takes years for a country to go from applicant to candidate, but the EU sped up
the process because of Russia's attack.
European Commission President
Ursula von der Leyen took to Twitter to
address Ukraine's candidate status.
'The Guardian' reports that upon hearing news of the country's expected EU candidate status, Zelensky said, "This is like going into
the light from the darkness.".
Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine's foreign minister, said the development , "would draw a line under decades of ambiguity and set it in stone: Ukraine is Europe, not part of the 'Russian world.'".
Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraine's ambassador to the EU, commended the governing body for moving at "lightning speed.".
We need this clarity [on EU membership] to support the Ukrainian army, Ukrainian society, morally, psychologically, and to get the clear feeling and understanding of the direction of movement for Ukraine, Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraine's ambassador to the EU, via 'The Guardian'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
EU Comes to an
Agreement on Partial Ban, of Russian Oil Imports.
The announcement was made after the
European Council Summit convened in Brussels.
European Council Chief Charles Michel revealed the agreement via Twitter on May 30.
Agreement to ban export of Russian oil to the EU. , Charles Michel, European Council Chief, via CNN.
This immediately covers more than 2/3 of oil imports from Russia, cutting a huge source of financing for its war machine, Charles Michel, European Council Chief, via CNN.
This new sanction is the sixth imposed on Russia
by the EU since the invasion of Ukraine began.
The EU will ban 90 percent of Russian
oil imports by the end of 2022.
We have covered overall
90 percent of Russian oil being
wind down during this time frame. , Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, via CNN.
Leftover is the roundabout 10 or 11 percent that is covered by the southern Druzhba. , Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, via CNN.
We have agreed for the moment being for an exemption, Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, via CNN.
The European Council chief laid out other measures that will be imposed on Russia.
This sanctions package includes other hard-hitting measures: , Charles Michel, European Council Chief, via CNN.
... de-Swifting the largest Russian bank Sberbank, banning
3 more Russian state-
owned broadcasters, , Charles Michel, European Council Chief, via CNN.
... and sanctioning individuals responsible for war crimes
in Ukraine, Charles Michel, European Council Chief, via CNN.
Russian oil previously accounted for nearly
one-quarter of the oil used by the EU
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
EU Announces , Accelerated Plan to Reduce , Dependency on Russian Energy.
Al Jazeera reports that the European Commission
has revealed a $220 billion plan to end the bloc's
dependence on Russian fossil fuels in the next five years. .
Al Jazeera reports that the European Commission
has revealed a $220 billion plan to end the bloc's
dependence on Russian fossil fuels in the next five years. .
The package, REPowerEU, also
reportedly accelerates the EU's
plan to transition to green energy.
We are taking our ambition to yet another level to make sure that we become independent from Russian fossil fuels as quickly as possible, Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commission President,
via Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera reports that Russia
supplies 40% of the EU's gas
and 27% of its imported oil. .
In August, an EU plan
to ban Russian coal
will take effect. .
The bloc has also pledged to reduce the demand for gas from Moscow by two-thirds by the end of 2022.
The bloc has also pledged to reduce the demand for gas from Moscow by two-thirds by the end of 2022.
Hungary and other landlocked countries have opposed
the EU's proposed oil embargo, citing concerns about
the cost of switching to alternative sources.
Hungary and other landlocked countries have opposed
the EU's proposed oil embargo, citing concerns about
the cost of switching to alternative sources.
RePowerEU will help us to save more energy, to accelerate the phasing out of fossil fuels and, most importantly, to kick-start investments on a new scale, Ursula von der Leyen, EU Commission President,
via Al Jazeera.
New investments reportedly include $90 billion
for renewable energy, $28 billion for hydrogen infrastructure, $30 billion for power grids
and $59 billion for energy savings. .
New investments reportedly include $90 billion
for renewable energy, $28 billion for hydrogen infrastructure, $30 billion for power grids
and $59 billion for energy savings.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Russia to Suspend , Some Gas Exports , to Germany.
CNN reports that Russia plans
to shut off its natural gas supplies
to Shell's German customers.
CNN reports that Russia plans
to shut off its natural gas supplies
to Shell's German customers.
On May 31, Russia's state energy giant, Gazprom,
said that it would suspend natural gas
exports to Shell starting on June 1.
Gazprom claims the decision
came after Shell failed to
make payments in rubles.
Shell Energy Europe Limited has notified
Gazprom Export LLC that it does not intend
to make payments under the contract
for the supply of gas to Germany in rubles, Gazprom statement, via CNN.
Shell Energy Europe Limited has notified
Gazprom Export LLC that it does not intend
to make payments under the contract
for the supply of gas to Germany in rubles, Gazprom statement, via CNN.
As a result, Gazprom said that Shell
would lose up to 1.2 billion cubic
meters worth of gas annually. .
According to Germany's economic ministry,
this is just a fraction of the 95 billion meters
the country consumes each year.
However, CNN reports that the move
is still likely to impact German industry,
which relies upon Moscow for gas.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine,
Germany has already slashed
gas imports from Russia by 20%.
The announcement by Gazprom comes one day after the company said it would halt gas exports to Danish energy company Ćrsted and Dutch gas trading firm GasTerra.
Weeks earlier, Russia cut off
Poland, Bulgaria and Finland.
In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin
threatened to cut off gas supplies to
countries that refused to pay in rubles.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
Ukraine Halts Flow of , Some Russian Gas to Europe.
CNN reports that on May 11, Ukraine stopped some Russian natural gas from making its way to Europe.
Until now, Russian gas had flowed freely through Ukraine's pipelines amid
Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion.
Until now, Russian gas had flowed freely through Ukraine's pipelines amid
Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion.
On May 10, the Ukrainian gas transmission system operator (GTSOU) issued a statement about suspending operations at the Sokhranivka measuring station.
As a result of the Russian Federation's military aggression against Ukraine, several GTS facilities are located in territory temporarily controlled by Russian troops and the
occupation administration, GTSOU, via statement, as reported by CNN.
According to the GTSOU, the occupation
has "endangered the stability and safety"
of the gas transmission system.
The Sokhranivka measuring station is responsible for about a third of Russia's gas
that flows to Europe through Ukraine.
CNN reports Ukraine may be able to shift gas volumes to the Sudzha transit point which is further west.
A similar move was carried out in 2020
when repairs were being conducted.
However, Russia's state gas company,
Gazprom, claims rerouting the gas would be
"technically impossible" and unnecessary. .
Transit through Sokhranivka was provided in full, there were no complaints from counterparties and there are none. Gazprom fully fulfills all its obligations to European consumers, supplies gas for transit in accordance with the contract and operator agreement, transit services are fully paid, Gazprom, via statement, as reported by CNN.
Reuters reports that on May 11, Gazprom said the amount of gas shipped to Europe via Ukraine was down 25% from the previous day.
Also on May 11, Yuriy Vitrenko, chairman of Ukraine's state-owned energy firm, Naftogaz, said legal action against Gazprom is on the table.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Bulgaria could face its fourth election in just over a year after Prime Minister Kiril Petkov's centrist government lost Wednesday's motion by 123 to 116 votes.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:08Published
Visiting Skopje, the German chancellor called for the EU to start membership talks, but seemed to achieve little progress in Sofia which reiterated its objections.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:05Published
Russia's Gazprom Cuts
Off Gas Supply , to Poland and Bulgaria.
The preeminent state-run energy company in Russia
will not supply resources to the nations
āuntil the payments are madeā in..
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
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