Legislatures

Poland's government said Saturday that it has decided to temporarily prohibit grain and other food imports from Ukraine as it seeks to soothe the rising anger of Polish farmers, who say they are losing huge amounts of money to a glut of Ukrainian grain on the market.

The Chisinau Court of Appeal sentenced fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor to 15 years in prison in absentia for his key role in the so-called "Grand Theft" of one billion US dollars from Moldovan banking between 2012 and 2014.

With around a month to go to the presidential and parliamentary polls, the election watchdog has approved the voting paper to be used in the presidential race on which the names and pictures of four presidential contenders will appear.

Presiding over the first session of the 49th Parliament, Vezhdi Rashidov closed the plenary day without an elected Speaker of the Parliament.

This happened after the end of the break, in which the MPs walked out after they failed to elect a Speaker on the first attempt.

Italy's right-wing government on Tuesday declared a six-month national state of emergency to help it cope with a surge in migrants arriving on the country's southern shores.

State TV said a special commissioner was expected to be named. Initial funding of 5 million euros (nearly $5.5 million) was also approved as part of the measure approved by Premier Giorgia Meloni and her Cabinet.

US President Joe Biden urged political compromise in Northern Ireland on Wednesday, using a brief visit to promote the benefits of enduring peace and investment, but faced heated criticism from pro-UK hardliners.

Moscow has formally charged US journalist Evan Gershkovich with espionage, Russian news agencies reported Friday, adding that he had denied the accusations.

The arrest of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich prompted an outcry from media outlets and rights groups, as well as government officials in Washington.

The Nation Alliance's joint presidential candidate and the Republican People's Party (CHP) leader, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, said on April 5 that his government would meet all the European Union visa liberalization benchmarks in three months and Turks will not need a Schengen visa to enter the EU if the opposition bloc comes to power in the next elections.

VERONA - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday he had thanked Italian PM Giorgia Meloni for the support and attention Italy was giving to Serbia and added that he expected Meloni to visit Serbia by the end of this year.

As a result of a draw by the Supreme Election Board (YSK), the places of four presidential candidates on the ballot paper have been determined over the weekend.