Saudi Arabia announces $6.4 billion in Syria investments
Saudi Arabia announced $6.4 billion of investments in Syria on Thursday, reflecting the kingdom's deepening ties with interim President Ahmed al-Shara...
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged stronger sanctions and defence support for Ukraine as the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia nears approval.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday called for increased pressure on Russia through new sanctions and expanded military aid for Ukraine, as the European Union's 18th sanctions package edges closer to finalisation.
Speaking in Aarhus alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and European Council President Antonio Costa, von der Leyen welcomed Denmark's rotating EU Council presidency. "As a first achievement of your presidency, you can bring the 18th package to the finish line. I'm confident that this will be possible," she said.
"We all know that President Putin does not want peace, so we need to put pressure on him to come to the negotiation table. The 18th sanctions package is biting at the heart of Russia's war economy," von der Leyen added.
She also reiterated the EU's military support for Ukraine, pledging two million artillery shells by the end of 2025 and €2.1 billion in new defence aid, funded through windfall profits from frozen Russian assets. "In practice, Russia is paying for the weapons Ukraine is using," she said.
Addressing potential vetoes on Ukraine's EU accession, von der Leyen stressed that the process remains merit-based. "Ukraine deserves all the merits to move on to open the first cluster. So, therefore, this is now intense talks going on," she said.
European Council President Antonio Costa expressed disappointment over Russia's refusal to engage with peace efforts. "While President Zelenskyy has already agreed on an unconditional ceasefire, Russia not only hasn't agreed but is even increasing the intensity of their aggression to Ukraine," he said.
Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen said the Danish presidency would aim for a "more powerful and decisive Europe," prepared to confront growing security threats. “It has been said that we live in the age of predators. In this age, Europe must not end up being the prey," she warned.
She also voiced hope that the U.S. would continue its support for Ukraine, adding, "But if there are any gaps, then I personally believe that we should be willing to fill in."
Frederiksen emphasised the urgency of accelerating the green transition to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian energy. "Every cent we sent to Russia is a support for Russia's war machine. We cannot continue paying them killing Europeans. We need to work hard to end all import of Russian gas," she said.
Costa reaffirmed the bloc's long-term commitment to Ukraine and expressed confidence in Denmark's leadership to advance accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
From the Nile to the Himalayas, disputes over shared water sources are fuelling geopolitical rivalries and threatening regional stability. Enter water diplomacy, a critical, if underused, tool in the fight to prevent conflict and promote cooperation in a thirsty world.
India’s aviation regulator has warned Air India it could face enforcement action for breaching safety standards related to crew fatigue management and training, according to government notices seen by Reuters.
Iran has called on the E3 to act independently in nuclear negotiations while approving an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) visit that excludes formal inspections.
Greece has invited Libya’s internationally recognised government in Tripoli to begin talks on demarcating exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in the Mediterranean, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said late on Wednesday, in a move aimed at improving strained relations.
A Russian passenger plane carrying 49 people has crashed near the remote town of Tynda in the country’s Far East, with no survivors found so far as rescue teams continue to scour the mountainous crash site.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment