Europe

LONDON, April 23 (Reuters) - Russia said on Saturday it plans to deploy its newly tested Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles, capable of mounting nuclear strikes against the United States, by autumn.

The target stated by Dmitry Rogozin, head of the Roscosmos space agency, is an ambitious one as Russia reported its first test-launch only on Wednesday and Western military experts say more will be needed before the missile can be deployed. 

BRUSSELS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The European Council said Saturday that it has reached a provisional political agreement with the European Parliament on a new legislation to combat hate speech, disinformation and other harmful content online.

The legislation, named the Digital Services Act (DSA), "aims to protect the digital space against the spread of illegal content, and to ensure the protection of users' fundamental rights," the European Council said in a press release.

ROME, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The eastward expansion of the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) toward Russia is a major root cause of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which could take a heavy toll on the European economy, an Italian economist has said.

NATO EXPANSION RED LINE FOR RUSSIA

Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview that the military alliance's moves have created two main problems for Russia.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union reached a landmark deal early Saturday to take aim at hate speech, disinformation and other harmful online content.

The law will force big tech companies to police themselves harder, make it easier for users to flag problems and empower regulators to punish noncompliance with billions in fines.

BERLIN (AP) — Twitter says it will no longer allow advertisers on its site who deny the scientific consensus on climate change, echoing a policy already in place at Google.

“Ads shouldn’t detract from important conversations about the climate crisis,” the company said in a statement outlining its new policy Friday.

There was no indication that the change would affect what users post on the social media site, which along with Facebook has been targeted by groups seeking to promote misleading claims about climate change.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian forces attacked a steel plant in the shattered Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on Saturday, Ukrainian officials said, apparently seeking to eliminate the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the strategic city the Kremlin claims its military has otherwise seized.

23 April 2022; MEMO: The Brussels Short Film Festival has removed Israel from its list of partners in the event on 30 April, a statement issued by the Belgian Palestinian Friendship Association announced on Friday.

ROME, April 22. /TASS/: Europe will continue to provide military aid to Ukraine and will increase it, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said in an interview with the Repubblica newspaper published on Friday, noting that the goal is to "prevent Moscow’s attempts to establish control over Ukraine."

BERLIN, April 22. /TASS/: An abrupt gas embargo would not bring quick peace to Ukraine and it is important for Germany to avoid a serious economic crisis, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview published in Spiegel magazine.

WARSAW, April 22. /TASS/: Poland considers the cancellation of oil supply contracts that were previously concluded with Russia, Polish Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure Piotr Naimski said on Radio Wnet on Friday.

Asked whether Warsaw plans to cancel oil supply contracts with Russia, Naimski said that there are such plans. "There is an intention to cancel oil contracts. This is absolutely realistic. Anyone who produces crude oil may be a source of supplies to Poland," he said.