At least four injured as fire and explosions hit Utrecht city centre
At least four people were injured after a large fire and explosions hit a residential building in the Dutch city of Utrecht, authorities said....
The European Union on Tuesday imposed new sanctions targeting individuals and entities in Iran and Russia for human rights violations and hybrid threats, while also listing actors in Moldova and Haiti for destabilising activities.
Under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, eight individuals and one entity were designated for committing serious abuses on behalf of Iranian state bodies outside Iran. Among them are members of the Zindashti Network—labelled a criminal group with ties to Iran’s intelligence ministry—and Mohammed Ansari, a senior figure in the IRGC Quds Force Unit 840.
“These listings highlight the EU’s concern over transnational repression by Iranian agencies using organised crime networks to target dissidents, including within EU borders,” the Council said.
Sanctioned individuals face asset freezes, funding bans, and travel restrictions across the EU.
Separately, the EU added five Russian judges to its sanctions list for their role in jailing Russian opposition figure Alexei Gorinov, who was sentenced to a penal colony for criticising the war in Ukraine. The measures include asset freezes and travel bans.
The EU also sanctioned seven individuals and three entities in Moldova for attempting to destabilise the country ahead of its 2024 presidential election and EU accession referendum. Those listed are linked to pro-Russian politician Ilan Shor and accused of vote buying and illegal party financing.
Sanctioned entities include the Moscow-aligned company A7, the Victory/Pobeda Political Bloc, and the Cultural Educational Centre of Moldova.
In Haiti, three individuals were listed for criminal activities and gang violence, as the EU extended its sanctions framework on the country until July 2026.
In a separate action, the EU imposed sanctions on nine people and six entities over Russia’s global disinformation and interference operations. These include Russia’s state-owned broadcasting network RTRS, accused of replacing Ukrainian transmissions in occupied areas with Kremlin-approved programming.
Others sanctioned include a Russian military electronic warfare centre in Kaliningrad for GNSS signal jamming that disrupted Baltic civil aviation, as well as media fronts like Tigerweb and the Foundation to Battle Injustice.
Pro-Russian influencer Nathalie Yamb was also listed for promoting Kremlin narratives targeting France and the West.
The Trump administration will suspend all visa processing for visitors from 75 countries beginning 21 January 2026, according to a State Department memo reported by media.
Saudi Arabia has informed Iran that it will not allow its territory or airspace to be used for any military action against Tehran, according to two sources close to the kingdom’s government cited by AFP.
Sweden is sending a group of military officers to Greenland at Denmark’s request, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday, as Nordic countries and NATO allies step up coordination around the Arctic territory.
Romania has reiterated its openness to discussions on a potential unification with neighbouring Republic of Moldova, following recent remarks by Moldova’s president.
Boeing booked more aircraft orders than Airbus in 2025 for the first time since 2018, official figures showed, even as the European manufacturer delivered more planes during the year.
At least four people were injured after a large fire and explosions hit a residential building in the Dutch city of Utrecht, authorities said.
The United States has seized a sixth Venezuela-linked tanker in the Caribbean, hours before President Donald Trump’s meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, U.S. officials told Reuters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that the international situation is worsening and that the world is becoming more dangerous, while avoiding public comment on events in Venezuela and Iran.
Military power is again shaping international politics as rivalry intensifies and security assumptions erode, pushing states to place renewed emphasis on readiness, deterrence and visible capability.
The number of Chinese students at Harvard University has risen despite tighter U.S. visa controls and heightened scrutiny under the Trump-led administration.
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