Slovak Premier Threatens to Block EU Sanctions Against Russia
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened to block the European Union's new sanctions package against the Kremlin unless the bloc comes up with a way to address the potential loss of Russian energy supplies.
In a Facebook post late Tuesday, Fico called for a 'real solution to the crisis situation that Slovakia will find itself in after a complete halt to the supply of gas, oil and nuclear fuel from Russia.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
New York Fails To Adopt Climate Reporting Requirement In 2025 Session
The New York state Assembly Chamber is seen on the opening day of the 2023 legislative session at ... More the state Capitol Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink) When California adopted climate reporting requirements in 2023, it opened the door to a potential wave of state level regulations relating to sustainability and climate change that could build on federal requirements. With Trump winning the 2024 elections and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ending the climate-related risk rule, activists shifted focus to Democrat controlled states. In early 2025, the New York State Senate introduced legislation that mimicked California's requirement. However, when the legislative session closed on June 12, those proposals had failed to make it out of committee, closing the door on mandatory sustainability reporting until 2026. Climate reporting, sustainability reporting, and environmental, social, and governance reporting experienced a surge of interest starting in 2019. These reporting requirements are designed to work in tandem with regular financial reports to provide information to investors on other activities of the company not directly related to finances. Climate reporting, or climate-related risk reporting, is the main driver of new reporting requirements. It stems from the Paris Agreement and the goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 'net zero' by 2050. During the 2019 United Nations Conference of Parties in Glasgow, the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation announced the creation of the International Sustainability Standards Board to create global reporting standards. In March 2022, the SEC announced they would begin the rulemaking process to create a climate-related risk rule requiring publicly traded companies to report GHG emissions and climate risks. In the European Union, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directed was adopted in September 2022, mandating the creation of European Sustainability Reporting Standards. The IFRS Sustainability Reporting Standards were released by the ISSB in June 2023, with a focus on GHG emissions and climate action. The next month, the European Union adopted the ESRS, incorporating the IFRS standards for environmental issues, while adding human rights and governance issues for a broader ESG reporting requirement under the CSRD. After years of delays, in March 2024, the SEC adopted a climate-related risk rule, but it was promptly met with legal challenges and implementation was postponed. Following the election of President Trump to a second term, the SEC began taking steps to rollback the reporting requirement. With the certain death of sustainability reporting at a federal level, advocates shifted focus to states to get them to follow California's lead. Given its international reputation as the business hub of the U.S., New York was a major focus for this changes. As the second largest Democrat controlled state, behind California, it was more likely that they would follow California's lead. New York's proposal were introduced in the Senate in the form of Senate Bill 3456, titled the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, and Senate Bill 3697, titled the Climate-Related Financial Risk Reporting Bill. The proposals mimicked the California legislation, requiring GHG emission reporting for Scope 1 and Scope 2 starting in 2027, for FY 2026, and Scope 3 starting in 2028, for FY 2027. For most state legislatures, they are considered part time. As a result, they only meet for limited periods annually, or in some cases biennially, to conduct business in a 'legislative session.' The New York legislature meets for approximately 60 days every year. The 2025 legislative session started on January 8 and concluded on June 12. Within the respective chamber, bills must work through a committee process that requires approval from committees that are deemed to have an interest in the legislation. Once approved by the committees, the bills are sent to the floor for a vote by all members, then sent to the other chamber for their approval. New York's climate reporting bills were originally sent to the Senate's Environmental Conservation Committee and passed unanimously. That is as far as they got. Both bills were then sent to the Finance Committee, where they never called for a vote. The bills have, for all intents and purposes, died in committee. This is even more surprising when you consider the make up of the Senate. The New York State Senate is composed of 63 members. Currently, 41 are Democrats and 22 are Republicans. The Democrats have a super majority of the Senate, giving them near full autonomy to pass what legislation they deem fit. That climate reporting bills failed to make it out of committee is significant. It should be noted that the New York legislature never officially ends session. Unlike Florida that typically only meets for 60 days, then holds a ceremony signalling the official end of the legislative session, New York does not officially gavel the session closed. Instead, they go into recess. It is a procedural technicality that allows them to re-adjourn without the intervention of the Governor. However, they only meet outside the typical legislative session in exceptional circumstances. What isn't passed by June 12 will not pass. As climate activists are facing major setbacks on sustainability reporting requirements internationally, including a current debate to reduce the reporting requirements in the European Union's CSRD, the failure of New York to consider the proposal is a signal of a broader, bipartisan pushback. A similar failure in Democrat controlled Colorado further highlights the issue. It was assumed that what was lost at the federal level would be gained at the state level, that appears to be a fallacy. The question is shifting from what states will join California, to whether California will continue to stand alone.
Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Business Insider
Russia finally authorizes a nuclear deal with two of its most notable West-African friends
The ECOWAS breakaway states of Burkina Faso and Mali are on the verge of signing a nuclear deal with one of their most prevalent international partners, Russia. Burkina Faso and Mali are finalizing a nuclear energy agreement with Russia, assigning Rosatom to oversee implementation. The agreement entails constructing nuclear power plants and research reactors to boost civilian energy capacities. Russia already has a significant role in Burkina Faso's energy and mining sectors, including recent licensing for gold mining. The move, which was sanctioned by the government, entrusts Russia's state atomic energy firm, Rosatom, with overseeing the agreements on Moscow's behalf. According to the proposed agreements, Russia would assist both Mali and Burkina Faso in the building of nuclear power facilities and research reactors. As per a report by Sputnik, Rosatom will supply crucial services connected to the nuclear fuel cycle, firmly putting Russia at the foundation of the two countries' efforts to utilize nuclear energy for civilian purposes. The initiative builds on Russia's expanding position in Burkina Faso's energy industry. In October 2024, Rosatom and Burkina Faso signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to analyse the establishment of a nuclear power facility. Talks ramped up in March 2025, when both sides stated they were working on a proposal to build the facility, which is anticipated to ease energy constraints and spur industrial growth. In April 2025, Burkina Faso's military-led administration issued an industrial mining license to Nordgold, a Russian gold mining corporation, to commence operations on a new gold mine. The move came at a time when gold prices were skyrocketing and governments were looking for new revenue streams to help their faltering economies. Russia and its AES friends in recent months The growing collaboration coincides with a momentous political transition in West Africa. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, collectively known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), announced their formal exit from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on January 29, 2025. The group levied sanctions and criticized the military coups that installed the present administrations, causing the three to distance themselves from Western institutions. This realignment has resulted in the embrace of Russian backing in vital sectors. In September 2024, the three countries signed agreements with Moscow to buy communications and surveillance satellites.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Russia converts Kerch Airport in Crimea into military base, investigation shows
Kerch Airport in occupied Crimea is being repurposed from civilian to military use, according to a June 12 investigation by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Schemes project, citing satellite imagery and Russian real estate registry data. On March 4, 2025, the Russian-backed authorities officially transferred part of the airport's land to Russia's Defense Ministry for indefinite use, according to the investigation. Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 after a discredited referendum under military occupation. Since then, the peninsula has become a heavily militarized zone. Satellite images from the Planet Labs imaging company show ongoing construction at the site, including the installation of protective and camouflage structures around the runway. The changes suggest the airport is being converted into a military facility capable of supporting drone operations or housing short-range air defense systems such as the Pantsir-S1 or Tor-M2, according to aviation expert Anatoly Khrapchinsky. The new runway will be suitable for drone launches, Khrapchinsky noted. Kerch Airport has not hosted regular commercial flights since 2007 and was previously used as a truck holding area for freight vehicles crossing the nearby ferry. That function was relocated in March 2025, officially as part of a "reorganization." The city of Kerch, situated near the strategic Kerch Strait, lies just across from Russia's Krasnodar Krai and is home to the crucial Crimean Bridge, built after Russia's illegal annexation of the peninsula in 2014. Read also: Germany to supply new Iris-T air defense systems to Ukraine, rules out Taurus missiles We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
