Author: staff
Published on 17/11/2025 – 13:05 GMT+1 The German government said on Monday that it is lifting its restrictions on exports of military equipment to Israel, weeks after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza came into force. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in early August that Berlin would not authorise any exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza “until further notice”, in response to a decision by the Israeli cabinet to advance on Gaza City. A spokesperson for Merz, Sebastian Hille, said that the restrictions will be lifted from 24 November. “Since 10 October,…
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday signed a letter of intent to purchase up to 100 Rafale warplanes, drones, air defence systems and other equipment from France over the next 10 years, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s long-term security. Zelenskyy said the document represented “a historic deal” at a joint news conference with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, at the Élysée presidential palace. “Firstly, Ukraine will be able to receive 100 Rafale fighter jets (and) very strong French radars — eight air-defence systems SAMP/T, each with six launching systems,” Zelenskyy said. In turn, Macron praised what he…
Last month, Trump placed new sanctions on two of Russia’s largest oil companies — Rosneft and Lukoil — a move the Finnish president applauded. Stubb said the U.S. is right to move ahead with the bill given Putin’s unwillingness to embrace a ceasefire. “The only person Putin listens to is an oligarch,” Finland’s leader said. “In that sense, if the oligarchs come to the conclusion in Russia that economically this is too complicated, then things might start to happen.” Asked if Europe should try to engage directly with Putin as proposed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Stubb said: “Whenever that moment…
The Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a joint defence project between Germany, France and Spain, is expected to be on the agenda as Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius visits Paris for talks with his French counterpart, Catherine Vautrin. FCAS aims to redefine “air combat of the future” and at the same time maintain independence from non-European partners. The idea, launched in 2017 and costing at least €100 billion, aims to strengthen European defence and will include a sixth-generation fighter aircraft supported by interconnected drones within a combat cloud. But uncertainty is hanging over the project over ownsership disputes. In September,…
The clarification did not come before MPs took to social media to speak out. “Taking jewellery from refugees” is “akin to painting over murals for refugee children,” another backbench MP, Sarah Owen, said, referencing a controversial order under the Conservatives to cover up cartoons at an accommodation centre for unaccompanied child migrants. The first Labour MP quoted above said that while many of his colleagues were seeing voters switch to Reform UK, a “hell of a lot of people” are going to the center-left Liberal Democrats and the Greens. “The tone that we’ve taken on immigration and asylum will hurt us as well,” the MP added. ‘Moral duty’ Government figures strongly disagree with the criticism —…
Updated: 17/11/2025 – 18:00 GMT+1 Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this November 17th, 2025 – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel. … More
Belgium fears that using the assets would leave it exposed to Russian legal action at home and abroad, as the sanctioned cash is held in the Brussels-based financial depository Euroclear. De Wever is demanding financial guarantees from the rest of the bloc to protect itself against the Kremlin’s lawyers, who could convince a court of law to send the money back to Moscow. This is a major concern for Belgium, which has a bilateral investment treaty with Russia, first signed in 1989. “The guarantees would also relate to risks stemming from bilateral investment treaties that are linked to the immobilisation of the…
Heavy rain triggered widespread flooding across northeastern Italy on Monday, affecting several towns in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Aerial footage released by Italian firefighters showed the village of Romans d’Isonzo submerged after the nearby River Torre overflowed. Fire crews carried out dozens of rescue operations, including evacuations by dinghy for residents trapped in their homes. Authorities said search efforts were also underway for two people missing after a mudslide struck a house in Brazzano di Cormons.
Equal pay is still not a reality for working women across the European Union, as men continue to earn on average 12% more per hour. This means that from Monday, women could, in theory, stop working until the end of the year to compensate for the pay difference. Each year, Brussels marks this date as “Equal Pay Day.” “There is no reason why men and women should be paid differently for doing the same job,” European Commissioners Roxana Mînzatu and Hadja Lahbib said. The gap has decreased by 4% over the last decade, but overall progress has been slow across…
Renée Zellweger visited London on Monday to reveal a new bronze statue of Bridget Jones, the beloved character she has portrayed across four films. The statue, inspired by Helen Fielding’s creation, now stands in Leicester Square as part of the Scenes in the Square trail, alongside figures such as Harry Potter, Batman and Mary Poppins. Fielding attended the event with cast members Sally Phillips, Leo Woodall, Chiwetel Ejiofor and director Michael Morris. Zellweger said she hadn’t fully examined the sculpture yet but thought “she looks pretty cute” at first glance.