Europe

SOCHI, June 24. / TASS /: The Indian Delta COVID-19 strain has spread to almost 90 countries across the world, Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing’s Head Anna Popova said on Thursday. 

"According to foreign experts, the new Delta [COVID-19] strain has spread to almost 90 countries," Popova stated at the 3rd International Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Global Threats to Biological Security. Problems and Solutions’.

MOSCOW, June 24. /TASS/: The Kremlin voiced regret over the incident with the British destroyer in the Black Sea, dismissing this as deliberate and prepared provocation, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.

"We consider that the British destroyer has carried out provocation. Moreover, we regret as this was deliberate and prepared provocation," Peskov said, commenting on the June 23 incident in the Black Sea.

24 June 2021; MEMO: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Russia should not use energy as a weapon, Anadolu reports.

On the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, which is set to increase Russian gas supply to Europe, especially Germany, Blinken told reporters he sees the project as a threat to European energy security.

BERLIN, June 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken called for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Libya as part of the Berlin summit on the pacification of the country.

“The October 23 ceasefire agreement must be fully implemented, including the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Libya,” Blinken said during a Wednesday joint press conference with German counterpart Heiko Maas.

LONDON, June 24 (Reuters) - Britain is getting some positive indications from the European Union that they accept the need for a compromise over the import of British sausages to the British province of Northern Ireland, Environment Secretary George Eustice said on Thursday.

"I think we're getting some positive indications and it's always our view that it's better if we can reach agreement with the European Union on these things," Eustice said when asked about the so called "sausage war".

LONDON, June 24 (Reuters) - Britain wants to allow people to have holidays abroad again but the government is wary of the risks, a minister said on Thursday ahead of an announcement on whether a narrow list of quarantine-free travel destinations would be expanded.

Anger is growing at Britain's onerous restrictions on foreign travel: pilots, cabin crew, travel agents and other workers from the travel industry held protests on Wednesday, begging the government to open up more routes. 

STOCKHOLM, June 24 (Reuters) - Social Democrat Prime Minister Stefan Lofven is Swedish voter's most trusted leader, a poll showed on Thursday, despite a crisis that saw parliament pass a vote of no-confidence in him at the start of the week.

The Novus poll showed 38% of Swedes have confidence in Lofven, ahead of his most likely rival for the post of prime minister, centre-right Moderate Party leader Ulf Kristersson, who was backed by 35% of voters.

VATICAN CITY, June 24 (Reuters) - The last time a U.S. secretary of state visited the Vatican, the diplomatic sparks flew and Pope Francis declined to receive Mike Pompeo.

When Antony Blinken meets the pope and top Vatican officials on Monday, the new secretary of state's visit will put relations between Washington and Holy See on a new footing.

It will also set the scene for a visit to the pope by Joe Biden, only the second Catholic U.S. president, expected for October.

BRUSSELS, June 23 (Xinhua) -- United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asked the European Union (EU) to fight for values of "enlightenment" against populism, racism and other intolerant ideas during his visit here on Wednesday.

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that Europe is “on thin ice” in its battle against the coronavirus, as the highly contagious delta variant threatens to undo progress made in reducing infections.

In what may be her last government declaration to the German parliament, Merkel said the further response to the pandemic would be a main topic of discussion among European Union leaders at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

She noted that the number of COVID-19 cases in the 27-nation bloc continue to decline, while vaccination rates climb.