WORLD

Brussels, Belgium | Xinhua | The European Union (EU) will phase out Russian crude oil within six months and refined products by the end of the year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday, announcing the sixth package of sanctions against Russia. “We now propose a ban on Russian …

Kiev, Ukraine | Xinhua | Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country may put the issue of neutral status on a nationwide referendum, the Ukrinform news agency reported Tuesday. If Russia’s desire for Ukraine’s neutral status is one of the provisions of the agreements on ending the conflict, “we are …

Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Tuesday on retaliatory sanctions against individuals and entities in response to their “unfriendly actions” over the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The measures will be taken in retaliation to “the unfriendly actions of the United States, foreign states and international organizations …

Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | Russian President Vladimir Putin urged Western countries to stop supplying Ukraine with weapons during a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday. Putin told Macron about Russia’s efforts in the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol, the Kremlin said in a statement. The Russian president …

Rome, Italy | Xinhua | Italy’s government on Monday adopted a decree that eliminates excise taxes on some forms of natural gas and methane to help tackle surging energy prices due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to a statement from the office of Prime Minister Mario Draghi, excise taxes on gasoline, …

Madrid, Spain | Xinhua | The mobile phones of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Defense Minister Margarita Robles were tapped by the Pegasus system, a Spanish official said on Monday. Their phones were subjected to “illegal and external listening” using Pegasus, according to two technical reports from the Spanish National …

Brussels, Belgium | Xinhua | Apple may be fined and forced to open its mobile payment system to competitors after the European Commission has charged the company of abusing its dominant position by limiting access to technologies allowing contactless payment. “Apple has built a closed ecosystem around its devices and its …

Moscow, Russia | Xinhua | The Russian military will not artificially adjust its actions during the special operation in Ukraine to any date, including Victory Day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday. “We will solemnly celebrate May 9, as we always do,” Lavrov said in an interview with Italy’s Mediaset …

Washington, US | Xinhua | The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) annual dinner returned on Saturday after two years of cancellations due to COVID-19. U.S. President Joe Biden attended the event and made remarks and jokes, with which he took a swipe at his predecessor Donald Trump, the Republican Party, …

The euro is within reach of five-year lows and seems increasingly will approach dollar-euro parity Rome, Italy | Xinhua | The euro has continued to weaken against the U.S. dollar, approaching its lowest level in five years, due mainly to the crisis in Ukraine and the sluggish economic growth in Europe. …