By VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has nominated Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya for the Nobel Peace Prize, two sources with knowledge of the matter said on Saturday.Nauseda nominated the activist, who has been living in Lithuania since fleeing her homeland in the wake of a disputed Aug. 9 presidential election, to show his support for the Belarusian democratic movement and its demand for free elections, said one of the sources.Months of mass protests erupted in Belarus after President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory over Tsikhanouskaya in...…By VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has nominated Belarus opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya for the Nobel Peace Prize, two sources with knowledge of the matter said on Saturday.Nauseda nominated the activist, who has been living in Lithuania since fleeing her homeland in the wake of a disputed Aug. 9 presidential election, to show his support for the Belarusian democratic movement and its demand for free elections, said one of the sources.Months of mass protests erupted in Belarus after President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory over Tsikhanouskaya in...WW…

By , BRUSSELS (Reuters) - AstraZeneca has offered to bring forward some deliveries of its COVID-19 vaccine to the European Union while the bloc has asked the British drugmaker if it can divert doses from the UK to make up for a shortfall in supplies, European officials told Reuters.The Anglo-Swedish company unexpectedly announced on Friday it would cut supplies to the EU of its vaccine candidate in the first quarter of this year, a move that a senior EU official told Reuters meant a 60% reduction to 31 million doses for the bloc.That complicated the EU’s vaccination plans, after Pfizer had...…By , BRUSSELS (Reuters) - AstraZeneca has offered to bring forward some deliveries of its COVID-19 vaccine to the European Union while the bloc has asked the British drugmaker if it can divert doses from the UK to make up for a shortfall in supplies, European officials told Reuters.The Anglo-Swedish company unexpectedly announced on Friday it would cut supplies to the EU of its vaccine candidate in the first quarter of this year, a move that a senior EU official told Reuters meant a 60% reduction to 31 million doses for the bloc.That complicated the EU’s vaccination plans, after Pfizer had...WW…

By VILNIUS (Reuters) - Six European Union governments asked the executive EU Commission in a letter on Friday to pressure Pfizer-BioNTech, “to ensure stability and transparency of timely deliveries” of vaccines agianst COVID-19.The letter, signed by the health ministers of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, said Pfizer/BionTech had told them that agreed vaccine deliveries in the coming weeks would be substantially reduced.“This situation is unacceptable”, said the letter, which was seen by Reuters. “Not only does it impact the planned vaccination schedules, it also...…By VILNIUS (Reuters) - Six European Union governments asked the executive EU Commission in a letter on Friday to pressure Pfizer-BioNTech, “to ensure stability and transparency of timely deliveries” of vaccines agianst COVID-19.The letter, signed by the health ministers of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, said Pfizer/BionTech had told them that agreed vaccine deliveries in the coming weeks would be substantially reduced.“This situation is unacceptable”, said the letter, which was seen by Reuters. “Not only does it impact the planned vaccination schedules, it also...WW…

By VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania’s new centre-right government assumed office on Friday, led by Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte who has appointed the most gender-balanced cabinet in the eastern European Union.Slideshow Simonyte, the only woman currently serving as prime minister in the bloc’s eastern states, named seven women and eight men as ministers.Bulgaria is the eastern EU state with the next highest proportion of women in its cabinet, with seven women among its 19 ministers. Poland has the worst gender parity record, with only one woman in its cabinet of 20.Both junior partners of...…By VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania’s new centre-right government assumed office on Friday, led by Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte who has appointed the most gender-balanced cabinet in the eastern European Union.Slideshow Simonyte, the only woman currently serving as prime minister in the bloc’s eastern states, named seven women and eight men as ministers.Bulgaria is the eastern EU state with the next highest proportion of women in its cabinet, with seven women among its 19 ministers. Poland has the worst gender parity record, with only one woman in its cabinet of 20.Both junior partners of...WW…

By VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania’s new ruling coalition agreed on Monday to commit the incoming government to support “those fighting for freedom” in Taiwan, threatening to hurt the small EU member’s relations with China, a potential investor in its main port.European Union member states, and the bloc itself, have no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan due to the objections of Beijing, which considers the island part of China.The Lithuanian coalition agreement, signed by leaders of the Homeland Union, Liberal Movement and Freedom parties, which together won 74 seats in the 141-seat...…By VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania’s new ruling coalition agreed on Monday to commit the incoming government to support “those fighting for freedom” in Taiwan, threatening to hurt the small EU member’s relations with China, a potential investor in its main port.European Union member states, and the bloc itself, have no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan due to the objections of Beijing, which considers the island part of China.The Lithuanian coalition agreement, signed by leaders of the Homeland Union, Liberal Movement and Freedom parties, which together won 74 seats in the 141-seat...WW…

By VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania has blocked 5.8 million euros ($6.83 million) in payments to Belarus for an EU-funded cross-border development programme, fearing the money could be misused, the Lithuanian government said on Wednesday.Slideshow The European Union has condemned police crackdowns on protesters in Belarus since a disputed Aug. 9 election, and last week imposed travel bans and asset freezes on dozens of Belarusian officials.Neighbouring Lithuania has been one of the strongest backers of a strong EU stance against President Alexander Lukashenko’s attempts to stifle opposition...…By VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania has blocked 5.8 million euros ($6.83 million) in payments to Belarus for an EU-funded cross-border development programme, fearing the money could be misused, the Lithuanian government said on Wednesday.Slideshow The European Union has condemned police crackdowns on protesters in Belarus since a disputed Aug. 9 election, and last week imposed travel bans and asset freezes on dozens of Belarusian officials.Neighbouring Lithuania has been one of the strongest backers of a strong EU stance against President Alexander Lukashenko’s attempts to stifle opposition...WW…