News in Brief
Russia slams EU’s 10th package of sanctions
ANADOLU AGENCY – Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Tuesday called the EU’s 10th package of sanctions against Russia, adopted on Feb. 25, “a slow-acting poison” killing the bloc’s economic sovereignty.
In a statement, Zakharova said by targeting Russia the EU is imposing sanctions on itself and may do it as long as it wants, because it will only lead to its dependence on “direct competitors.”
“It is difficult to disagree with the head of the European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, who said in the European Parliament on Feb. 15 this year that sanctions are ‘a slow-acting poison.’ But it ‘kills’, first of all, the economic sovereignty of the European Union,” Zakharova stressed.
Russia closes airspace after alleged drone attack
NEWSWEEK – Russia temporarily closed airspace over St. Petersburg, and the city’s Pulkovo Airport temporarily suspended all flights, the city government said on Tuesday.
The announcement was made on the city government’s official Telegram channel amid unconfirmed reports that an unidentified object or a drone was spotted above St. Petersburg.
‘Smugglers’ identified in Italian migrant boat
IRISH EXAMINER – Rescue teams have pulled another body from the sea, bringing the death toll from Italy’s latest migration tragedy to 64, as prosecutors identified smugglers who allegedly charged €8,000 each for the “voyage of death” from Turkey.
Premier Giorgia Meloni sent a letter to European leaders demanding quick action to respond to the migration crisis, insisting the only way to deal with it seriously and humanely is to stop migrants from risking their lives on dangerous sea crossings.