China lodges complaint with EU over Russia-related sanctions on its firms
BEIJING, May 22 (Reuters) - The Chinese Mission to the EU said on Thursday that it had lodged solemn representation with the EU over its Russia-related sanctions on Chinese firms.
China is "strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed" the EU move, a spokesperson for the mission was quoted as saying in a statement published on its website, urging the bloc to stop applying "double standards" on economic and trade cooperation with Russia.
China will take necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interest, the spokesperson added.
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Reuters
19 minutes ago
- Reuters
Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe rose 10% m/m in May, data shows
MOSCOW, June 2 (Reuters) - Russian energy giant Gazprom's ( opens new tab average daily natural gas supplies to Europe via the TurkStream undersea pipeline increased by 10.3% in May from a month earlier, Reuters calculations showed on Monday. Turkey is the only transit route left for Russian gas to Europe after Ukraine chose not to extend a five-year transit deal with Moscow when it expired on January 1. Calculations based on data from European gas transmission group Entsog showed that Russian gas exports via the TurkStream pipeline rose to 46.0 million cubic metres (mcm) per day in May from 41.7 mcm per day in April. That was down from 47.2 mcm in May 2024. Total Russian gas supplies to Europe via TurkStream stood at around 7.2 billion cubic metres (bcm) in the first five months of this year, compared to 6.6 bcm during the same period a year earlier, according to Reuters calculations. The company, which has not published its own monthly statistics since the start of 2023, did not respond to a request for comment. Russia supplied about 63.8 bcm of gas to Europe by various routes in 2022, Gazprom data and Reuters calculations show. That plummeted by 55.6% to 28.3 bcm in 2024, but increased to around 32 bcm in 2024. At their peak in 2018-2019, annual gas flows to Europe reached between 175 bcm and 180 bcm.
BreakingNews.ie
25 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Boylan accuses Government of 'cop out' on Occupied Territories and Israeli bonds bills
Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan has accused the Government of a "cop out" on the Occupied Territories Bill and her party's Israeli bonds bill. TDs voted 87-75 against a motion brought by Sinn Féin to force the Irish Central Bank to end its role in facilitating the 'Israeli war bonds' in the EU on Wednesday. Advertisement While the Government is proceeding with the Occupied Territories Bill, some opposition politicians have criticised the fact that services will be excluded from it. In an interview with Ms Boylan said: "People are dying, almost 100 people are dying every single day, and children are starving to death and the Irish government has leverage which it is refusing to use. "I do appreciate the fact that Ireland recognised the state of Palestine and that was a very important step. It was good that they wrote and asked for a review of the EU Israel Association Agreement, but again that was February. So over a year ago, and now we're only seeing action on that, and it's not even being suspended. It's pending the review. We need to stop the killing. We need to stop the slaughter. "We need to stop the killing. We need to stop the slaughter. And that means using whatever leverage each member State has. You're not going to get a consensus at an EU level. That's very, very clear after 19 months. It's not going to happen. So take the unilateral measures. You're covered under international law to do that. And and that's where Israel will sit up and listen." Advertisement Sinn Féin's bill would have given the Finance Minister the power to stop the Irish Central Bank from facilitating the sale of Israeli government bonds across the EU. Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe described it as "unworkable". Ms Boylan accused the Government of hiding behind the EU, and compared it to the State going against the EU in the Applex tax case. 'Cynical' "I also find it really cynical of the government to hide behind that as an excuse because we're regularly taken to court by the EU for not being compliant and there's no issue. We were taken to court over the Apple tax, we vigorously defended that. Advertisement "If the genocide happening was important enough for the Irish Government, I think the general public are saying 'well then take on the EU and wait and see if the EU will take this to court,' I don't believe they would because I don't believe the EU has a leg to stand on legally." The Occupied Territories Bill will ban imports originating from the Palestinian Territories that are illegaly occupied by Israel under international law, according to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). However, the bill the Government are considering differs from the initial bill put forward by Senator Frances Black, as it will not ban trade in services with the Occupied Territories. "The ICJ Occupied Territories ruling has decided those territories are occupied illegally. Advertisement "On the ICJ ruling, every state should take measures to prevent the genocide from happening. That means not providing financial assistance in any way, including economic trade. So I would say to them put it up to the EU, use it as an excuse to take them on and go 'OK, well, we're not going to be the ones on the wrong side of history'. "I think the the watering down of the Occupied Territories Bill is to make sure that it is more or less a symbolic bill which is deeply disappointing. Seventy per cent of trade is in services. "The ICJ ruling was clear. It's economic trade, they made no distinction between trade and goods and trade and services so it is a cop out on the part of the Government. Not only have they delayed and stalled this bill, they've now made sure it's as ineffective as they possibly can. It has been described as symbolic." In a recent speech in the European Parliament, Ms Boylan made an apology to the people of Gaza for EU "inaction". Advertisement It went viral, and Ms Boylan said she was surprised by the huge response to her words. Lynn Boylan's recent 'apology' speech to Gaza went viral. "I've had messages from across the world and I've never had that on the back of speeches. But I don't mean just messages on social media, people actually taking the time to send you an e-mail or people who know me saying they passed it on to work colleagues. "The thing is that they wanted somebody to say that they're sorry because they're marching, they're doing everything and none of it seems to be having any impact. I think it's sort of tapped into the emotions that people are feeling, that feeling of comple helplessness and despair at what's happening. "It's not having the impact on our politicians. That is why I felt that frustration that I just may want to make an apology because the role I have as chair of of the European Parliament Delegation to Palestine, I'm meeting with Palestinian solidarity groups, I'm meeting with groups that are in Gaza on the ground and I've literally nothing positive to say to them anymore because everything we have tried has just been stonewalled. I was just overwhelmed by the reaction to it, to be honest. "It's just soul destroying, because what is the red line anymore? "The control or the influence that Israel has over the Western world, that they're just allowing international law to be shredded in front of our eyes and war crimes to be committed and to do nothing. You have to question the long-term impacts of this, both for the European Union, for democracy, for people, humanity, it is all being called into question because of what we're seeing."
The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
Strategic defence review live: Starmer warns of Russia threat as he launches plan to ready UK for war
Sir Keir Starmer warned that Britain 'cannot ignore the threat Russia poses,' as he prepares to unveil new measures to put the country on war footing. The prime minister said the world is facing the greatest instability it has for years, ahead of announcing the government's long-awaited strategic defence review. When asked if Britain would go to war with Russia if it invaded a Nato member such as Lithuania, he told BBC Radio 4: 'I very much hope not, and in order to make sure that that isn't the case, we need to prepare. But we cannot ignore the threat that Russia poses.' Later on Monday morning, Sir Keir will unveil new defence measures as a government review concludes that Britain should be ready for war in Europe or the Atlantic. He will pledge to build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines and invest £15 billion in the nation's warhead programme. However, the PM has faced questions as the announcements come without further spending promises. He said he would not 'indulge in the fantasy politics of simply plucking dates from the air' when it came to the commitment to raise defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP. Starmer to unveil defence review shortly Sir Keir Starmer is set to unveil the government's long-awaited strategic defence review shortly. The prime minister will announce new measures and then face questions from members of the media in Scotland. We will bring you the latest updated here. Athena Stavrou2 June 2025 09:39 Listen: Starmer warns of Russia threat as he launches plan to ready UK for war Athena Stavrou2 June 2025 09:36 Recap: Starmer warns of 'changing world' ahead of defence announcement Sir Keir Starmer appeared on BBC Radio 4 on Monday morning to speak about the government's new defence measures. If you're just joining us now, here is a recap of what he said: • He said Britain must 'prepare' for war in Europe. • He warned that the world is facing the greatest instability it has for 'many, many years'. • Sir Keir faced questions on the lack of spending promises alongside the new defence measures, to which he said 'indulge in the fantasy politics of simply plucking dates [for more spending] from the air'. • He warned that Britain 'cannot ignore the threat Russia poses'. Athena Stavrou2 June 2025 09:25 Starmer says he does not regret winter fuel payment cuts Away from defence policy, Sir Keir Starmer has also addressed his government's U-turn on winter fuel cuts. Appearing BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the prime minister suggested ministers do not regret the decision to means-test the winter fuel payment, even as they are planning steps to partially reverse the move. 'I want to look again at where the threshold is. That's for sure. I'll be clear with you,' he said. 'In relation to that, I do think it was our duty to stabilise the economy and to fill in that £22 billion black hole. And I'm not going to resile from that.' Ministers 'need to be absolutely clear where the money is coming from' before they set out details of a partial U-turn on the winter fuel payment, Sir Keir said. He added: 'But I take your point, which is that if we want to look again at which pensioners are eligible, then the sooner we have clarity on that, the better.' Athena Stavrou2 June 2025 09:17 How many submarines does the Royal Navy currently have? Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce that Britain will build up to 12 new nuclear-powered submarines. Currently, the Royal Navy operates nine submarines, including five Astute-class conventionally armed nuclear-powered attack vessels. The Astute class is Britain's largest and most advanced fleet of submarines. The remaining four are Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), which carry the UK's Trident nuclear missile system. A new group, the Dreadnought class, will be introduced in the early 2030s. These will be both nuclear-powered and ballistic missile-armed. 2 June 2025 09:04 'The sooner the better,' Starmer says on winter fuel U-turn The Independent's Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell reports: Sir Keir Starmer has said 'the sooner… the better' on when his U-turn on winter fuel cuts will take effect. The prime minister has vowed to restore the payments to some pensioners after a furious backlash. And, hinting a decision could come as soon as next week's spending review, he said: 'If we want to look again at which pensioners are eligible, then the sooner we have clarity on that, the better.' But, asked about the cuts, he said they were 'the right thing to do' given Labour's economic inheritance after the general election. 2 June 2025 08:46 'Yes' Britain will hit 3 per cent of GDP on defence spending Sir Keir Starmer has said Britain will hit a target to spend 3 per cent of its GDP on defence by 2034. The prime minister refused to set out an exact date by which the goal will be reached, but that Labour would ensure it is delivered. Sir Keir said he would not be able to say when it will be met until he knew how it would be paid for, adding: 'I don't believe in performative fantasy politics, and certainly not on defense and security.' And he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'It needs to be ramped up, capability ramped up, but there has to be a defense dividend, which is, what do we get back into our economy?' 2 June 2025 08:36 Starmer getting ready to go to war with Russia (if necessary) The Independent's Political Editor David Maddox reports: Keir Starmer is on the Today Programme this morning talking about his defence review and was asked directly by presenter Nick Robinson if the UK would go to war with Russia if it attacked Lithuania. The prime minister's answer was quite clear and can be summed up as yes, if necessary. The strategic defence review catchline is making Britain 'war ready' and with a war raging in Europe started by Vladimir Putin that can only mean one thing. 'The world has changed, we are entering a new era,' Sir Keir said. 'That's a common feeling across Europe and more broadly.' On the question of Russia potentially invading Nato ally Lithuania, he said: 'I very much hope not.' Hoping not, is not saying he would not do it. In fact it means he would do it in those circumstances. The head of the army Sir Mark Rowley has warned that the UK could be fighting a war in two years while others have warned Russia could invade the Baltics in the next decade. The prime minister hopes readiness to fight will be a deterrent in itself.'In order to make sure that isn't the case (war with Russia), we need to prepare.' Athena Stavrou2 June 2025 08:34 Starmer responds to lack of spending promises on new measures Sir Keir Starmer has declined to promise more spending on defence as he unveils new measures to get Britain on war footing. 'We had a commitment for 2.5 per cent for end of parliament we pulled that right forward to 2027,' he told BBC Radio 4. 'When showed that when we say there's a new era in the defence and security of our country as our first priority that we meant it. He added: 'But I'm not going to indulge in the fantasy politics of simply plucking dates from the air until I'm absolutely clear that I can sit here in an interview with you and tell you exactly how that's going to work.' Athena Stavrou2 June 2025 08:32 Starmer: 'We cannot ignore the threat of Russia' The Independent's Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell reports: Sir Keir Starmer has warned that Britain 'cannot ignore the threat Russia poses'. The prime minister said the UK has to prepare itself to fight a war in order to deter Russian aggression and avoid a conflict with Vladimir Putin. He said the world is facing the greatest instability it has for years, and kept the door open to Britain going to war with Russia if it invades a European Nato member such as Lithuania. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'In order to make sure that that isn't the case, we need to prepare. But we cannot ignore the threat that Russia poses.' Athena Stavrou2 June 2025 08:23
