New Sanctions Against Russia, Moscow Ready for Ukraine Talks, US and UK Spy Agencies Look Into Breaching Anti-Virus Software to Track Users, Attack on Afghan Parliament, Pakistan Heat Wave Claims as Many as 140, Toxic Moonshine Kills 99 in Mumbai,Thousands Protest in Armenia.
- EU extends economic sanctions against Russia for 6 months
The European Union has extended economic sanctions against Russian for a further six months, an EU official said. This follows the EU’s decision Friday to extend sanctions against Crimea for another year. The decision to extend the sanctions against Russia was announced by the EU Council’s press officer for foreign affairs, Susanne Kiefer. The sanctions are being maintained until January 31, 2016 to ensure the Minsk agreement is implemented, she wrote in her Twitter account.
Materials of RT
- Kremlin Ready for Ukraine Talks in Any Format for Reconciliation Progress
Moscow is ready for talks on the Ukraine conflict in any format to ensure progress in reconciliation efforts, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.
Moscow is ready for talks in any format. What about the US?
Materials of Sputnik
- US, UK Spy Agencies Look Into Breaching Anti-Virus Software to Track Users
British and US spy agencies use reverse engineered software products under questionable legal authority to infiltrate networks and track users, media reported on Monday.
The US National Security Agency and the UK Government Communications Headquarters have worked to undermine computer security software, including Kaspersky Lab’s anti-virus programs, to infiltrate networks and track users.
The NSA and GCHQ in particular looked into breaching software produced by the Moscow-based cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab that protects more than 400 million people, according to the report.
Materials of Sputnik
- Two killed and Dozens Wounded in Attack on Afghan Parliament
A woman and a child were killed Monday when Taliban militants staged an attack near the Afghan parliament as lawmakers were about to vote on a new defense minister.
The militants detonated explosives and fired rockets near the parliamentary buildings in Kabul.
A large car bomb exploded near the outer wall of the compound, sending a thick plume of smoke into the sky. Six Taliban fighters then tried to storm inside, said police spokesman Ebadullah Karimi. Twenty-eight people also were injured in the attack.
Materials of CNN
5. Pakistan Heat Wave Claims as Many as 140 Lives in Karachi
A record-breaking heat wave baked Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, over the weekend, killing as many as 140 people.
Saturday’s temperature reached 44.8 degrees Celsius (112.64 degrees Fahrenheit) — the highest-recorded temperature in Pakistan in the last 15 years. Sunday’s temperature dipped slightly to 42.5 Celsius (108.5 F).
Materials of CNN
- Toxic Moonshine Kills 99 in Mumbai Slum
Toxic moonshine has killed 99 people and seriously sickened scores of others of drinkers from a Mumbai slum, Indian police say.
Forty-six others have been hospitalized, with many in a critical condition, after consuming the illegal homebrew, Mumbai police spokesman Dhananjay Kulkarni told CNN.
The incident took place near Laxmi Nagar, a large slum in Mumbai, India’s financial capital.
Materials of CNN
- Thousands Protest Electricity Bills in Armenia’s Capital
Thousands of people have gathered in the center of Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, to demand that the head of the country retracts the authorities’ decision to hike electricity prices for the public.
Armenian police have blocked off one of the central streets of the country’s capital, Yerevan. A several-thousand-strong protest march is heading towards the president’s residence which is situated on the same street. The protesters are demonstrating against an increase in electricity tariffs scheduled for August this year.
Materials of RT
EU extends economic sanctions against Russia for 6 months; Kremlin Ready for Ukraine Talks in Any Format; US and UK Spy Agencies Look Into Breaching Anti-Virus Software to Track Users; Attack on Afghan Parliament; Pakistan Heat Wave Claims as Many as 140; Toxic Moonshine Kills 99 in Mumbai.
