Belgium

Police smash European cocaine ‘super cartel,’ arrest 49

BRUSSELS (AP) — Law enforcement authorities in six different countries have joined forces to take down a “super cartel” of drugs traffickers controlling about one third of the cocaine trade in Europe, the European Union crime agency said on Monday.

Europol said 49 suspects have been arrested during the investigation, with the latest series of raids across Europe and the United Arab Emirates taking place between Nov. 8-19.

US profiting from war in Ukraine: EU officials

Tehran, IRNA - European officials say Washington is making a fortune from the war in Ukraine by selling more gas and weapons to Europe at exorbitant prices, according to a report in the US political news website Politico.

“The fact is, if you look at it soberly, the country that is most profiting from this war is the US because they are selling more gas and at higher prices, and because they are selling more weapons,” one senior European official was quoted as saying by Politico on Friday.

France-Italy spat triggers EU migration crisis talks

BRUSSELS, Nov 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European interior ministers gathered for crisis talks as an ugly row between France and Italy over how to handle would-be refugees forced EU migration reform back onto their agenda.

New arrival numbers haven’t yet hit the levels of 2015 and 2016, but European capitals are concerned about new pressure on sea routes from North Africa and overland through the western Balkans.

Russia's war on Ukraine latest news: Millions without heat or power

Nov 25 (Reuters) - Millions of Ukrainians were still without heat or power on Friday after the most devastating Russian air strikes on its energy grid so far, with residents warned to brace for further attacks and stock up on water, food and warm clothing.

CONFLICT

* NATO's Stoltenberg said there would be no lasting peace in Ukraine if Russia won the war, adding that the Western military alliance would not back down its support for Kyiv.

EU nations work on rift over gas price cap as cold sets in

BRUSSELS (AP) — On winter’s doorstep, European Union nations have not been able to surmount bitter disagreements as they struggle to effectively shield 450 million citizens from massive increases in their natural gas bills as cold weather sets in.

An emergency meeting of energy ministers Thursday only shows how the energy crisis tied to Russia’s war in Ukraine has divided the 27-nation bloc in almost irreconcilable blocs.

European Parliament declares Russia a state sponsor of terrorism

BRUSSELS, Nov 23 (Reuters) - The European Parliament on Wednesday designated Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, arguing that its military strikes on Ukrainian civilian targets such as energy infrastructure, hospitals, schools and shelters violated international law.

European lawmakers voted in favour of a resolution calling Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.

EU urges bickering states to set aside migration differences

BRUSSELS (AP) — Senior European Union officials on Wednesday appealed to member countries to set aside their deep differences over migration and press ahead with a long-delayed overhaul of the 27-nation bloc’s asylum system as tensions simmer between France and Italy.

In recent weeks, several hundred people hoping to enter Europe have been stranded at sea aboard aid ships while countries bicker over whether and where they should be allowed to disembark. EU interior ministers are holding emergency talks on Friday in an effort to find a permanent solution.

EU sets out Mediterranean migrant plan ahead of emergency meeting

21 Nov 2022; MEMO: The European Commission set out a 20-point action plan on Monday designed to address surging migration in the central Mediterranean, ahead of an emergency meeting of interior ministers, Reuters reports.

Over 90,000 migrants and refugees have arrived in the European Union this year via the central Mediterranean route, such as across the sea from North Africa to Italy or Malta, a 50 per cent increase from 2021. Interior ministers will hold talks on Friday.

EU holds talks with Serbia and Kosovo amid rising tensions

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s top diplomat was holding talks Monday with the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo in Brussels, in a bid to defuse tensions between the Balkan neighbors amid their dispute over vehicle license plates.

The EU’s high representative, Josep Borrell, had separate talks planned with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Albin Kurti, the prime minister of Kosovo, before a joint meeting later in the day.

EU expands sanctions against Iran on drone supply suspicions

UBRUSSELS, November 14. /TASS/. The European Union added two individuals and two legal entities of Iran into the black list due to suspicions of drones’ supplies to Russia, according to the EU’s Official Journal.

"In view of the gravity of the situation, the [EU] Council considers that two individuals and two entities involved in the development and delivery of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Russia should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures," the document reads.

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