Author: staff

“Russians are scaling up not only the production of drones but also the means of radio electronic warfare,” Andriy said, adding: “At our part of the front, radio frequencies change every two weeks. So, when the state supplies us with drones, only about 20 percent of them are usable. We constantly have to spend additional funds and time to reconfigure those drones.” Russia is producing its long-range drones at its own version of Silicon Valley, a special economic zone in Alabuga, Tatarstan, where it has concentrated production lines for Iran’s Shahed drones, also known as Geran in Russia. The Kupol…

As Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz meets US President Donald Trump for the first time at the White House on Thursday he’ll be aware of how predecessors have tackled the transatlantic relationship.The stars don’t augur well, however. During his first stint in office, Trump regularly made disparaging remarks about Germany and developed a non-relationship with Chancellor Angela Merkel characterised by mutual personal dislike.Trump’s erratic trade policy, which has the EU and Germany specifically in its sights, as well as Trump’s retreat from traditionally solid transatlantic positions on common defence and Russia have, challenged Merz before he even moved into the…

“This item is now cheaper by €0.50! Hurry!”, “Sure to leave? You will lose €200 reward”, or “FREE SHIPPING – don’t miss out!” These are just some of the messages with which clothes retailer Shein bombards its users in an effort to nudge them into buying more, according to consumer rights group BEUC.While such aggressive sales tactics are not necessarily illegal in themselves, they could cross the line when combined with other forms of manipulation, BEUC argued in a formal complaint for unfair practices filed on Thursday with the European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC).They are calling…

Federbett-Botschaft: Die US-Regierung spielt den Merz-Besuch herunter, die Visite sei ein Staatsbesuch wie jeder andere auch, hört unser US-Kollege Eli Stokols. Die deutsche Seite betont, dass Merz – anders als Scholz – im Gästehaus neben dem Weißen Haus übernachten darf.  Immer positiv: „Wir sehen seit Wochen, dass auch die Gespräche zwischen den Mitarbeitern in einem sehr positiven und konstruktiven Ton verlaufen”, betonte Merz-Sprecher Stefan Kornelius. Vor der PK im Oval Office lunchen Merz und Trump, sprechen unter vier Augen und mit Beratern. Sie „werden sehr viel Zeit haben, Unstimmigkeiten oder Stimmigkeiten auszuräumen oder sich zu mögen”, sagte Kornelius. To be…

Der Kanzler ist in Washington und wird dort erstmals in seinem Amt auf Donald Trump treffen. Flüchtig kennen sich die beiden bereits. Was erwartet man in den USA von dem Treffen? Was davon wird in Washington überhaupt wahrgenommen? Bekommt Friedrich Merz die volle Aufmerksamkeit des US-Präsidenten? Diese und weitere Fragen bespricht Gordon Repinski mit Jonathan Martin in Washington, D.C.Mit Rixa Fürsen geht es um das heutige NATO-Verteidigungsministertreffen in Brüssel – sie erklärt, was dort über das 5-Prozent-Ziel hinaus für den Gipfel in Den Haag in wenigen Wochen vorbereitet wird. Im 200-Sekunden-Interview ist der SPD-Außenpolitiker Ralf Stegner zu Gast. Mit ihm…

Britain at a crossroads: Finance, industry and the global adjustment – POLITICO Skip to main content

As even some of Europe’s most Atlanticist, free-market corners grow wary of their addiction to the U.S., a few countries and cities are embarking on their own political efforts to break free. National lawmakers in The Hague have been building pressure on the Dutch government to wean off its dependence on American providers — only for their efforts to be derailed by Geert Wilders’ decision to quit the government coalition.  The Danish cities of Copenhagen and Aarhus decided on Tuesday to look for alternatives to allow them to drop Microsoft productivity products and cloud services, as Denmark prepares to take…

It comes as Europe faces multiple water-related problems, including PFAS and nitrate pollution, leaky infrastructure, more severe droughts and higher intensity rainfall. The Commission will work with EU members to “develop a joint methodology for water efficiency targets” that considers differences between countries, regions and sectors. In a 2027 review of the strategy, the Commission will develop “common benchmarks.” Asked about the rationale behind the non-binding 10 percent target, EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall told reporters: “For me, it’s obvious that we need to have some targets to go to — but also [to be] very aware that the situation…

The EU’s sanctions are expected to include restrictions on companies connected to the two Nord Stream gas pipelines between Russia and Germany, and a lowering of an oil price cap. After meeting with American Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on Monday, von der Leyen said she was pleased about his plans to pile pressure on Russia. A bipartisan bill he is sponsoring would impose tariffs of 500 percent on goods imported from countries that still buy Russian fossil fuels and other products. When asked what she expected from impending sanctions, von der Leyen said: “So if the Americans decide to impose…

However, diplomats said, the deadline to actually reach the objective is still undecided; NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is proposing 2032. “We are currently negotiating within the North Atlantic Council the timelines and what’s included in the 5 percent, both from a core defense standpoint and also defense-related and security-related spending,” the U.S. ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, told reporters on Wednesday.  “But let me be clear on this, we cannot have another Wales pledge style where a lot of allies don’t meet their commitments until year 10 or year 11,” he added, referring to the 2014 decision at a NATO…