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- 🌍 The EU snubbed who?
🌍 The EU snubbed who?
and major prisoner swap
Ross Crabtree
August 02, 2024
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Hello - it’s that time again!
Russia and the West have exchanged prisoners in what seems like a Cold War throwback, and the EU has snubbed Hungary and Slovakia over Ukraine oil sanctions.
This and more below ⤵️
Top 5 Stories
1️⃣🇷🇺 Russia: After 2,043 days in a Russian prison, Paul Whelan has been released and is heading home as part of a prisoner swap. Whelan, a former US Marine, was arrested in Moscow on espionage charges, which he always denied. The swap comes after he spent years in harsh conditions, maintaining his innocence and waiting for this moment.
2️⃣🇺🇸 USA: Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, has accepted a plea deal for a life sentence to avoid the death penalty. This deal, involving two accomplices, ends the long-standing conspiracy case without a full trial, sparking disappointment among some 9/11 victims' families. The process was delayed by issues around torture and legal proceedings at Guantánamo Bay.
3️⃣🇪🇺 EU: The European Union has presented eight demands to the UK, urging compliance with post-Brexit agreements on Northern Ireland and the rights of EU citizens. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, prioritizing better ties with Brussels, faces pressure to implement High Court rulings and improve certification of animal and plant products. The EU also seeks a youth mobility deal, access to British fishing waters, and the UK's return to the Erasmus program.
4️⃣🇮🇹 Italy: Italy's plan to establish migrant detention camps in Albania has been delayed again, missing the August 1 inauguration date set by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The project, intended to process 36,000 migrants annually, faces criticism from opposition parties and human rights groups, with Amnesty International calling it "a stain on the Italian government." Delays are partly due to hot weather affecting construction, but the new opening date remains uncertain.
5️⃣🇱🇧 Lebanon: Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, declared a "new phase" in the conflict with Israel after the assassinations of senior commander Fuad Shukur and Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh. Nasrallah vowed revenge, indicating potential escalations amid ongoing tensions. Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, also signaled retaliation, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.
Major Story
EU snubs Hungary and Slovakia over Ukraine oil sanctions
The European Commission has decided not to initiate formal talks with Ukraine after Kyiv imposed a partial ban on Russian oil exports to Hungary and Slovakia. This move comes after Ukraine's sanctions in June blocked the transit of pipeline crude from Moscow's largest private oil firm, Lukoil, to Central Europe, raising concerns about potential supply shortages in Budapest and Bratislava.
Last month, Hungary and Slovakia formally requested the EU to open emergency consultations with Ukraine, claiming that Kyiv's actions violated a 2014 trade agreement with Brussels. However, the EU executive dismissed the urgency of these demands. Commission spokesperson Balazs Ujvari stated that preliminary assessments suggest the sanctions do not pose an immediate threat to the security of supply for either country.
The Commission is currently verifying the facts and has requested more information from both Hungary and Slovakia in response to their complaint. Additionally, after a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis indicated that oil exports to Hungary and Slovakia would not be affected, provided Lukoil is not the owner of the oil. This development follows the EU's 2022 embargo on Russian oil imports, which exempted pipeline supplies to Hungary and Slovakia to allow time for sourcing alternatives.
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Other News
1️⃣🇻🇪 Venezuela: The presidents of Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia have urged Venezuela to release detailed vote tallies after disputed presidential election results declared Nicolás Maduro the winner. The opposition claims their candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, actually won, and protests have erupted, resulting in 20 reported deaths and over 1,200 arrests. The U.S. and other international actors are calling for transparency and impartial verification of the results.
2️⃣🇨🇳 China: The Chinese military has condemned the transit of Canadian warship HMCS Montreal through the Taiwan Strait, stating that People's Liberation Army forces monitored the passage and remained on high alert. Canadian officials emphasized their commitment to a "free, open and inclusive" Indo-Pacific, with Defence Minister Bill Blair reaffirming the move as part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy. The incident comes amid attempts to improve China-Canada relations, strained since the 2018 arrest of a Huawei executive and subsequent Chinese arrests of Canadian citizens.
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