Europe

BRUSSELS, September 13. /TASS/: The European Union has decided to lift sanctions that had been imposed previously on four Russian nationals due to the alleged "threat to and undermining of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine," the Council of the European Union announced on Wednesday.

"In the context of a review of sanctions, the Council has also decided not to renew the [sanctions] listings of four individuals," the Council’s statement says.

VLADIVOSTOK, September 13. /TASS/: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are scheduled to hold talks in Moscow on September 18, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said during a briefing on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).

"On September 18, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are holding talks in Moscow," the diplomat said. "They are due to exchange views on the Ukrainian settlement, as well as on ensuring stability and security in the Asia Pacific Region."

BUDAPEST, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Hungary has agreed with Romania, Slovakia and Bulgaria to bar Ukrainian grain imports to protect their markets if the European Union does not extend a ban that expires on Sept. 15, the Hungarian farm minister said on Wednesday.

However, Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov told the Bulgarian state news agency before the start of a cabinet meeting that waiving the ban on imports from Ukraine would be desirable as it would reduce prices of basic foods.

HELSINKI, Sept 13 (Reuters) - A luxury cruise ship carrying 206 people remained stuck in a remote Greenland location on Wednesday after running aground earlier this week, the vessel's operator and rescue services said.

The Danish military's Joint Arctic Command (JAC) said Tuesday's tide had failed to lift the 104-metre (341-foot) Ocean Explorer enough to free it.

"The tide that came in during the day, local time, did not provide the desired help to sail on," the JAC said in a statement.

KYIV, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Ukraine said it struck Russian naval targets and port infrastructure early on Wednesday in the Crimean city of Sevastopol, in what appeared to be the biggest attack of the war on the home of the Russian navy's Black Sea Fleet.

A Ukrainian intelligence official said a large vessel and a submarine struck in the attack were so badly damaged as to be likely beyond repair.

PARIS, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Apple (AAPL.O) defended its iPhone 12 model on Wednesday after a French watchdog ordered a halt to its sales citing breaches of European Union radiation exposure limits.

The French move raised the prospect of further bans in Europe. Germany's network regulator BNetzA said it might launch similar proceedings and was in close contact with French authorities, while Spain's OCU consumers' group urged authorities there to halt the sales of the iPhone 12.

PARIS (AP) — French regulators ordered Apple to stop selling the iPhone 12, saying it emits electromagnetic radiation levels that are above European Union standards for exposure. The company disputed the findings and said the device complies with regulations.

The French government agency that manages wireless communications frequencies issued the order after the iPhone 12 recently failed one of two types of tests for electromagnetic waves capable of being absorbed by the body.

LONDON, Sep 12 (APP): Foreign Minister of Rwanda Dr Abdallah Utumatwishima on Tuesday met Interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, on the sidelines of the 10th Commonwealth Youth Ministerial Meeting.

In the meeting, the two foreign ministers exchanged views on bilateral cooperation and exploration of new avenues for the uplift of youth.

The two leaders also agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in multiple spheres.

MOSCOW, September 12. /TASS/: The political instability in some African countries is a consequence of France and Great Britain losing their foothold there, Russian Ambassador at Large and chief of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Secretariat Oleg Ozerov told TASS.

Commenting on Western media allegations that instability in African countries is linked with the recent Russia-Africa summit, he noted, "I think it is predominantly our Western partners who attribute this to us."

BELGRADE, September 11. /TASS/: Serbia is independent in what concerns joining or not the anti-Russian sanctions and no decision on this matter can be imposed on it, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday.