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The EU has removed two Russian oligarchs from its sanctions list as part of a deal extending restrictions on nearly 3,000 individuals and companies.

This comes as the US signs a Greenland defence agreement, and as South Sudan's president dissolves the unity government.

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1️⃣ 🇺🇸🇩🇰🇬🇱 US signs deal for two new Greenland bases: The US, Denmark and Greenland signed a defence agreement allowing two new American military bases while reaffirming Danish sovereignty and Greenland's right to self-determination. The deal still requires approval from the Danish and Greenlandic parliaments, and the bases' technical arrangements must be agreed by all three parties.

2️⃣ 🇺🇸🇮🇷 US and Iran hold indirect talks at the UN: US President Donald Trump said his envoys held about three hours of talks with Iranian officials at the UN, after warning he could "annihilate" Iran if no deal ended the war. Envoy Steve Witkoff said mediators shuttled between the two delegations, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the president was open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

3️⃣ 🇺🇦🇷🇺🇺🇸 Ukraine offers reciprocal energy ceasefire: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow stopped attacking Ukraine's energy system, following talks with US President Donald Trump. He also proposed receiving US Patriot missiles this winter in exchange for later deliveries from Germany, but said the president had not yet agreed.

4️⃣ 🇸🇸 South Sudan dissolves unity government: South Sudanese President Salva Kiir dissolved the transitional unity government and national and state assemblies, appointing a caretaker administration ahead of elections scheduled for 22 December. He will remain president during the election period, following legal changes rejected by the main opposition alliance that removed the need to complete a permanent constitution and census before voting.

5️⃣ 🇨🇳🇺🇸🇲🇽🇨🇦 China expands controls on drug-making chemicals: China added two chemicals used to make illegal drugs to a list requiring export permits for shipments to the US, Mexico and Canada, bringing the total covered to 18. The announcement came ahead of talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, following earlier controls introduced after their previous meetings.

Major Story

🇪🇺🇷🇺 EU removes two oligarchs from sanctions list

The EU has removed two Russian billionaires, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, from its sanctions list while extending restrictions on nearly 3,000 individuals and companies accused of supporting Russia's war in Ukraine.

France sought Usmanov's removal on national security grounds, while Luxembourg requested Fridman's delisting as he pursued a $16bn claim over frozen assets.

Latvia agreed to abstain on the two removals, allowing a compromise that renews the wider sanctions list for three years instead of the usual six months.

Ireland's EU presidency described the outcome as a difficult compromise, saying the longer renewal period would make the sanctions framework more durable and predictable.

Ukraine condemned the decision, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha calling it "shameful and unjustifiable".

Other News

1️⃣ 🇨🇦🇮🇳 Canada and India target December trade agreement: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada and India were making good progress in trade talks and aimed to conclude negotiations by the G20 summit on 14-15 December. He said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to visit Canada around that time, although a precise date had not been finalised, as Ottawa seeks to reduce its reliance on US trade.

2️⃣ 🇪🇺🇵🇭 EU and Philippines reach preliminary trade agreement: The EU and the Philippines reached substantial agreement on a free trade pact, although EU officials clarified that further negotiations were needed before a final deal. EU trade chief Maroš Šefčovič said he expected it to be finalised within one or two years, with parliamentary ratification also required, as both sides seek to expand nearly €30bn in annual trade.

3️⃣ 🇱🇹🇺🇸 Lithuania confirms new US troop rotation: Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said a new rotation of US troops was already heading to Lithuania, confirming a continued American military presence on NATO's eastern flank. Presidential adviser Deividas Matulionis said the incoming deployment would be no smaller than the previous contingent, after Lithuanian media reported around 1,000 US troops began withdrawing in June.

4️⃣ 🇲🇩 Moldova approves energy and water emergency: Moldova's parliament approved a 60-day emergency for its energy and water sectors as drought reduced river levels and international conflicts drove up energy costs. The measures take effect on 26 September and give authorities powers to intervene more quickly to maintain supplies, with officials warning that restrictions on non-essential water use may be needed.

5️⃣ 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka convicts 15 over Easter bombings: Sri Lanka's High Court sentenced 15 men to prison terms of 200 to 260 years for plotting the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings that killed 270 people and injured more than 500. Nine others were acquitted, while those convicted included Naufer Moulavi, whom prosecutors identified as the mastermind, and the court ordered their assets confiscated.

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