Author: staff
“If our answer is ‘no,’ [the] USA would not be stronger, then — what are we waiting for?” Kubilius said Europe’s defense readiness depends on three pillars: more investment in production capacity; institutions that are prepared and organization; and the political will to deter and, if needed, fight. Merely increasing funding for Europe’s existing defense setup won’t meet these requirements, he said, in part because of a lack of unity. Andrius Kubilius said Europe’s defense readiness depends on more investment in production, institutions that are prepared and the political will to deter and, if needed, fight. | Antonio Pedro Santos/EPA “We…
Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok, who heads the country’s police force, condemned violence in general but added “it must be noted that the public space [in Slovakia] has long faced polarizing and dehumanizing statements, which increase tensions in society. Not even an alleged attack on a commentator can diminish his responsibility for words that helped inflame emotions and divide the public.” Environment Minister Tomáš Taraba, meanwhile, wrote on social media that “Commentator Schutz” is known for his “extremely aggressive statements toward people.” Taraba, who was elected to the Slovak parliament in 2020 for the far-right Our Slovakia People’s Party, said…
The video includes a montage of senior figures filmed apparently describing ways to bypass campaign spending caps with cash donations, and seemingly discussing a scheme allowing businesspeople to access the president and first lady. One segment made reference to helping Russians avoid EU sanctions. It alleges that social contributions made by companies through the AFKS fund that the first lady runs are being misused to win preferential treatment. The government denies the allegations made in the video and has called it “hybrid activity” aimed at harming “the image of the government and the country.” Cyprus has requested assistance from specialized…
BRUSSELS — The EU and Mercosur will sign their long-awaited trade agreement on Saturday, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen traveling to Paraguay on Jan. 17 for the signing ceremony. Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier confirmed von der Leyen’s travel plans to POLITICO. She will be joined by European Council President António Costa, his cabinet confirmed. The trip comes after a majority of EU member countries on Friday voted in favor of signing the deal. The EU-Mercosur deal is set to create the world’s largest free-trade area, covering some 700 million people. From Brussels’ perspective, the agreement is a…
Published on 11/01/2026 – 17:32 GMT+1 US President Donald Trump suggested that Cuba should strike an oil deal with Washington as he warned that the Caribbean nation would no longer receive oil or money from Venezuela – Havana’s decades-long supplier and close partner. Trump, in a post on his ‘Truth Social’ social media platform accused the island nation of providing Venezuela with “security services” in exchange for large amounts of oil and money, which they “lived on”. But following last week’s stunning US military intervention in Venezuela, which toppled longtime President Nicolas Maduro and secured his capture and removal to…
Trump has claimed that Greenland is “covered with Russian and Chinese ships” and argued that the U.S. must take control of the island for national security reasons — rhetoric that has intensified in recent weeks. Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide also told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that there was “very little” Russian or Chinese activity near Greenland, despite ongoing Russian submarine movements closer to Norway itself. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, meanwhile, said at an annual security conference in northern Sweden that Stockholm was “highly critical” of what the Trump administration was doing and had done in Venezuela, in regards…
“Anyone who did not wish to offer vaccines for medical, ethical or personal reasons were not criminally liable and did not have to fear penalties,” she said. Warken added that “criminal prosecution took place only in cases of fraud and forgery of documents, such as the issuing of false vaccine certificates” or exemption certificates for masks. “Doctors [in Germany] decide independently and autonomously on the treatment of patients,” the minister stressed, adding that “patients are also free to decide which treatment they wish to receive.” Kennedy said in a video post on Saturday that he had written to Warken after receiving…
Published on 11/01/2026 – 14:33 GMT+1 Russia fired more than 150 drones overnight into Sunday targeting close to two dozen locations across Ukraine, killing at least four people and injuring 20 more. Ukraine’s Air Forces say they intercepted 125 drones aerially but confirmed that at least 25 strike drones struck their targets. They added that Moscow’s latest barrage mainly targeted Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk, all of which were targeted in Saturday’s overnight strikes as well. Local officials in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia say the strikes targeted residential areas and energy infrastructure. More than 385,000 homes were affected by…
Protests across Iran escalated dramatically this week, largely fuelled by a call issued by Reza Pahlavi, which was rebroadcast by Farsi-language satellite news channels and websites abroad, urging protestors nationwide to take to the streets. He has been in exile in the United States for nearly 50 years. His father, Iran’s shah, was so widely hated that millions protested in 1979, forcing him from power. From exiled crown prince to leading opposition figure, who exactly is the 65-year-old Reza Pahlavi? Early beginnings Born in 1960, Reza Pahlavi’s birth was a moment of national significance, with reports of crowds lining the…
“I want to apologise for a system that refused to hear their voices and did not give them the protection they were entitled to expect,” Mandelson said. “That system gave him protection and not them.” In the interview, Mandelson also said he never witnessed inappropriate behavior while spending time with Epstein and claimed he was “kept separate” from Epstein’s sexual activities because he is gay. U.K. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said Mandelson’s refusal to apologize directly to victims was a missed opportunity. “It would have gone a long way for Peter to have apologized to the victims,” she said, adding…