Brussels/Prague - NATO and the European Union on Wednesday welcomed reports that Russia would no longer be deploying missiles next to Poland and Lithuania in response to a shift in US policy on a planned missile-defence shield in the heart of Europe.

"The Russian announcement to deploy Iskander (short-range) missiles was unwelcome. If this proposal has been withdrawn, this would be a good step," said NATO spokeswoman Carmen Romero.

Brussels - The European Commission on Wednesday presented a detailed list of projects for improving energy security and spreading the use of the internet in a fresh bid to convince member states to spend 5 billion euros (6.6 billion dollars) in unused EU funds.

Officials in Brussels say the investments will also provide a much needed shot-in-the-arm to the bloc's economy, which is suffering from one of its worst recessions in decades.

Brussels

Brussels - The European Commission on Wednesday slapped a 131-million-euro (173-million-dollar) fine on five companies that contributed to higher petrol costs by fixing the price of marine hoses used to transfer crude oil to and from ships.

The five companies - Bridgestone, Dunlop Oil & Marine/Continental, Trelleborg, Parker ITR and Manuli, were found guilty of operating a marine hoses cartel between 1986 and 2007.

"For 20 years, this cartel added to the prices consumers paid for their oil deliveries," said EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes.

Brussels - Several thousand supporters of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI) gathered in Brussels' European quarter Tuesday to celebrate the European Union's removal of the group from its list of terrorist organizations.

Campaigners waving yellow balloons also called for the group's formal political recognition in the aftermath of the EU decision.

"Being listed on the terrorism list was a catastrophe. Now we want to be be rehabilitated by the EU and be recognized as an opposition group," Javad Dabiran, an organizer based in Germany, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

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