Poland might consider banning Russian food imports after “analysing” the outcomes of Latvia’s decision, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing Polish PM Donald Tusk. Furthermore, Tusk told reporters at a meeting with Latvian PM Evika Silina that the problem of oversupply and “unequal” competition is caused by imports of Russian and Belarussian goods, as well as Ukrainian goods. Latvia became the first EU member to ban imports of grain and other products from Russia and Belarus.
Russian President Vladimir Putin must be held accountable for the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the European Parliament said in a resolution adopted on Thursday. According to the resolution, the Russian state, including Putin, bears criminal and political responsibility for Navalny’s death. The European Parliament’s resolution stated that Navalny’s death was “yet another sign of the increasing and systematic repression in Russia” and called for an “independent and transparent investigation into his murder in order to uncover the truth, ensure accountability, and secure justice.”
India and Italy held the 2nd bilateral Consular Dialogue on Thursday. At the dialogue, both sides discussed improving cooperation on a number of topics, including expedited visa processing, professional and student mobility, safe and lawful migration, the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA), protection of vulnerable women and children, and facilitating easy travel for their respective nationals. The Indian delegation was led by Muktesh Kumar Pardeshi, Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Italian delegation was led by Luigi Maria Vignali, Director General for Migratory Policies and Italians Abroad, Italian Foreign Ministry.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal informed on Thursday that around 20 Indians are stuck in the Russian warzone. He said that these people, who were in Russia as “army security helpers,” had reached out to the Embassy of India in Moscow seeking help in returning to India, and the ministry was trying its best for their early discharge. Jaiswal mentioned that the ministry had urged people not to venture into the war zone or get caught into difficult situations amid the ongoing war.
The newly elected government of Tuvalu, led by PM Feleti Teo, has affirmed its commitment to maintain diplomatic relations with Taiwan instead of aligning with China. However, it expressed intentions to revisit a security agreement with Australia due to concerns about China’s increasing influence in the region. Tuvalu “intends to assess options that would strengthen and lift it to a more durable, lasting and mutually beneficial relationship,” the government said.
Due to potential national security concerns, US President Joe Biden has announced an inquiry into Chinese-manufactured “smart cars,” which are capable of collecting sensitive information about American drivers. This investigation may result in the implementation of new regulations to prevent China from utilising advanced technology in electric and other connected vehicles to monitor drivers and their personal data. Officials worry that features like driver assistance technology could be exploited for effective surveillance of Americans.