The vessel will not be allowed to leave port until the bail is paid and a re-inspection confirms compliance with maritime regulations.

Belgium’s special forces on Sunday boarded and seized an oil tanker from the “shadow fleet” that Russia uses to circumvent Western sanctions imposed over its war in Ukraine.

Belgium has summoned the U.S. ambassador after he accused the country of antisemitic prosecution over a Jewish circumcision case.

The Russian-owned tanker Ethera, part of Moscow’s shadow fleet, faces a €10 million bail after being seized by Belgian forces on 1 March.

Smugglers have made more attempts to launch small boats into the English Channel from beaches in Belgium, according to police. It comes days after Belgian police told the BBC they were stepping up patrols, after smugglers targeted the Belgian coast, away from the main launch sites in France.

An investigation finds the ‘Spirituali Pietà,’ attributed to an anonymous artist, is actually by the Renaissance master which, if true, boosts to five the number of Michelangelo works on canvas preser

March 1 (Reuters) - Belgium seized an oil tanker belonging to the Russian shadow fleet on Sunday and suspected of sailing with a "false flag and false documents", Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken said.

Defense minister says US‑Israeli military campaign breaches international law, so Brussels will not take part - Anadolu Ajansı