Global politics

Europe can get by without Russian gas for six months, but beyond that, the economic impact would be severe, a senior IMF official told AFP.

Alfred Kammer, head of the IMF's European Department, urged countries in the region to take a series of steps to ease the blow, including reducing consumption to build up inventory.

According to unnamed U.S. officials, the two countries' membership in the alliance has become a "topic of discussions and numerous meetings" in talks between NATO foreign ministers. Finland is expected to submit the request in June, followed by Sweden.

The EU Council today adopted the fifth package of sanctions against Russia - the most severe so far. They were imposed because of the war against Ukraine.

For the first time, a ban has been imposed on the import of coal from Russia, as well as on the entry of Russian-flagged ships into EU ports. The ban also affects Russia's import of vodka from the EU.

A session is scheduled for tomorrow.
Today, the United Nations Security Council voted to convene a rare emergency special session of the United Nations General Assembly of 193 members on Russia's action in Ukraine.

The delivery is taking place regardless of the sanctions of the European Union, "Welt" writes, referring to the document of the Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection.

The IMF has approved a $1 billion loan disbursement for Pakistan after signaling approval with recent government reforms.

The money comes from an agreement that was approved in July 2019 for a $6 billion loan over a period of more than three years under the Washington-based crisis lender's Extended Fund Facility.

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, said there were two reasons for the slowdown in the global economic recovery.

"The first is because the two big drivers of growth, the United States and China, have slowed," she told CNN International.

A new border checkpoint will be built between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia, the press center of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works announced. The strategic project for the Klepalo border checkpoint between Strumyani and Berovo will provide another link between the two countries and help develop economic co-operation and tourism.

The agenda of talks will include Russia and arms control

Australian officials were racing on Nov. 28 to conduct further tests on passengers arriving from southern Africa who tested positive for COVID-19 to determine if they were carrying the omicron variant as nations around the world tightened controls against the worrying new strain.