Europe

MOSCOW, October 24./TASS/. The US has not offered evidence of Russia’s violations of the INF treaty, but has already violated the treaty itself, President Vladimir Putin told a news conference after talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Wednesday.

"What is a formal pretext for a possible withdrawal of our partners from the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty? Accusing us of its violation. However, no evidence is offered as usual. Meanwhile, the US has already violated it," by deploying in Romania the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System, Putin said.

MOSCOW, October 24. /TASS/. Thirteen agreements were signed on sidelines of talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of Italy Giuseppe Conte.

The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources signed a memorandum of understanding in the environment protection and sustainable development sphere with its Italian counterpart. The Government of Moscow Region inked an agreement with the Italian food company Barilla. The Kaluga Region signed an agreement with Techint.

MOSCOW, October 24. /TASS/. Moscow sees threats to Russian security in Washington's actions, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Wednesday.

VERONA, October 25. /TASS/. European companies refusing to work with Iran, as well as a possible ban on imports of Iranian oil, could have serious consequences for the European economy, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin said at the Eurasian Economic Forum.

PARIS, October 25. /TASS/. The European Parliament has awarded the 2018 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Oleg Sentsov, convicted of terrorism in Crimea, whom Kiev considers to be a Ukrainian national.

The European Parliament's President Antonio Tajani announced the winner.

The Sakharov Prize honors individuals and organizations for achievements in the field of human rights. Sentsov was nominated by the European People's Party. The award ceremony is scheduled to be held in Strasbourg on December 12.

MOSCOW, October 25. /TASS/. Meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was fruitful marking the beginning of friendship, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in an interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman.

"I am very pleased with the visit," he said. "I was received with wonderful hospitality, that was a very warm welcome. I would say that friendly relations have emerged as well. At the end, before saying good-bye, we told each other about that."

MOSCOW, October 25. /TASS/. A New York Times article claiming that Russian intelligence agencies are allegedly eavesdropping on US President Donald Trump’s cellphone calls amuses the Kremlin, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"Nowadays, we tend to get amused at such publications," he noted.

MADRID, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The former president of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Rodrigo Rato entered prison on Thursday to start serving his 4.5-year jail term for the fraudulent use of a "black" credit card during his term as the chairman of the Spanish bank Bankia, the Spanish media informs.

Rato, who was also Spanish deputy prime minister and economy minister in the People's Party (PP) government of Jose Maria Aznar, handed himself in at the Soto del Real Prison north of Madrid shortly after midday.

MADRID, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The latest opinion poll published by the Spanish Center for Sociological Investigation (CIS) on Thursday shows a continued rise in the popularity of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialist (PSOE) Party.

The polls also shows that center-right party Ciudadanos has overtaken the right-wing People's Party (PP) in voting intention and would be the second most voted party if a general election were to be held now in Spain.

PARIS, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron told Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that France would take action against Riyadh if an investigation proves it was behind the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

In a press release late Wednesday, the president's office said the two leaders discussed the investigation into Khashoggi's death during a phone conversation.

"Macron expressed his profound indignation and asked that all light be shed on the circumstances that led to this tragedy," the Elysee added.