Author: staff
European Union leaders are coming to terms with the idea that an emergency funding solution to keep the Ukrainian economy afloat will have to be deployed after Belgium raised the bar higher to unlock a reparations loan that would bolster Kyiv’s finances. The solution could see the EU raise money on the markets to deliver a non-repayable grant to Kyiv that would cover its most immediate financial and military needs in 2026. This, in turn, would give leaders more time to break the deadlock over the proposed loan, a bold attempt to channel the immobilised assets of the Russian Central…
Updated: 29/11/2025 – 7:00 GMT+1 Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond this November 29th, 2025 – latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel. … More
Published on 29/11/2025 – 7:00 GMT+1 Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has completed a controversial visit to Moscow, where he looked to seal deals on energy and maintain his ties with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin – a move that puts Hungary further outside of the European consensus on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Whereas the EU is maintaining that Russia must pay for the damaged caused to its neighbour and is currently engaged in active diplomatic efforts to sway US President Donald Trump in favour of Kyiv, Orbán accused the Europeans of wanting to extend the war in Ukraine, which he…
But years of industrial disputes — particularly between France’s Dassault Aviation and Germany’s Airbus — have repeatedly held back progress. Spain is also a member of the consortium but its participation has been much less problematic. The target timing would allow Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron to take part in that day’s EU–Western Balkans summit in Brussels with an aligned stance on FCAS. A German chancellery spokesperson declined to comment on the matter. The French Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to POLITICO’s request for comment. While no final decision has been taken, officials and industry figures…
By Gabriele Barbati with Associated Press Published on 28/11/2025 – 22:04 GMT+1 Turkish authorities reported that two oil tankers linked to the notorious Russian “shadow fleet” which are on the international sanctions list, caught fire on Friday in the Black Sea near the Bosporus Strait, triggering an extensive rescue operation. The first ship, the Gambia-flagged Kairos, exploded and caught fire about 28 nautical miles off the Turkish coast of Kocaeli province, while sailing without cargo from Egypt to the Russian port of Novorossiysk, the Turkish Transport Ministry reported. Shortly afterwards, a second tanker, the Virat, was reported to have been ‘struck’ in another…
He was speaking in response to questions over an alleged plot to skim around $100 million from Ukraine’s energy sector, as a probe widens to include senior figures close to Zelenskyy and in his government. “There has to be, in every candidate country, a robust system for dealing with alleged high-level corruption cases,” McGrath said. “You need to have a robust system for investigation and ultimately prosecutions and convictions, and demonstrating a track record of effectiveness in that area is something that we require of all of our own member states, and certainly of those that wish to join the…
Uzbekistan plans to drastically reduce bureaucracy by 2030 and launch a nationwide programme to train millions of young people in artificial intelligence, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced on Friday. The two initiatives, including the new “5 Million AI Prompters” scheme, were unveiled at two back to back forums in Tashkent, attended by senior officials from the United Arab Emirates alongside international partners and government representatives. President Mirziyoyev stressed that the ultimate goal is to transform Uzbekistan into a “zero-bureaucracy” country by 2030: “We pay priority attention to eliminating bureaucracy and other administrative barriers for the population and business” he stressed during…
Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform after a gunman opened fire near the White House on Wednesday, killing a National Guard member and wounding one of her colleagues. Authorities identified the suspected shooter as 29-year-old Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national. CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed to POLITICO that Lakanwal had previous ties to the U.S. — including to the intelligence agency. “In the wake of the disastrous Biden Withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden Administration justified bringing the alleged shooter to the United States in September 2021 due to his prior work with the U.S. Government, including CIA,…
Published on 28/11/2025 – 20:16 GMT+1 •Updated 20:23 Pope Leo XIV, the head of the Catholic Church, met with the leaders of the Eastern and Western churches in Iznik on Friday, one of the most important places in the history of Christianity, and prayed for unity among Christians. At noon, Pope Leo XIV, Patriarch Bartholomew I, the head of the Greek Patriarchate of Constantinople, and other religious leaders met in the area where the first council was held on the shore of Lake Nicaea. The meeting in 325 AD is also known for its “Nicene Creed”, which is accepted by…
For opposition lawmaker Lesia Vasylenko, Yermak’s departure “shows that there’s zero tolerance for corruption and the president listens to the concerns of the people.” Others said his exit comes as a breath of fresh air. But some opposition lawmakers questioned whether Zelenskyy will seize the moment to pursue more inclusive politics. Former Deputy Prime Minister Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze told POLITICO she remains unsure if the drama will change the way Zelenskyy governs. “Exactly that is the question. The way of governing has to go back to the constitution. Parliament has to regain its agency,” she said. “That means the president has…