Category: Europe
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EU leaders have agreed to continue supporting Ukraine’s financial needs for the next two years but postponed a decision on using €140bn (£122bn) in frozen Russian assets until December, following objections from Belgium. The plan, which would use profits from assets held at Euroclear as a “reparations loan”, faced legal and financial concerns. Belgian Prime…
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Unrest outside Dublin’s Citywest Hotel, which houses asylum seekers, escalated for a third consecutive night this week, leaving three Gardaí officers injured and 24 people arrested. Demonstrations began after reports of the alleged sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl by an asylum seeker. A 26-year-old man has since been charged in connection with the incident.…
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EU countries approved a 19th package of sanctions against Russia, banning imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and expanding restrictions on banks, cryptocurrency exchanges, and diplomats. Proposed in September, the measures were endorsed as the United States simultaneously imposed sanctions on Russia’s oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil, marking the first such move of President Donald…
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London police have launched a pilot scheme enabling drones to be deployed remotely across London to support officers responding to 999 calls, trace suspects, and gather evidence. Known as Drone as First Responder, the initiative allows aircraft to reach incidents within two minutes, streaming live footage to control rooms for real-time decision-making. • The trial…
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the Western Balkans as Europe’s “crucible” during a London summit aimed at tackling illegal migration and regional security. Leaders from North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo attended, alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, and EU officials. Starmer said discussions would focus…
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Russia carried out a strategic nuclear forces readiness exercise overseen by President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin announced on Wednesday (Oct. 22). The planned drills involved all three elements of the country’s nuclear triad — land, sea, and air. The Kremlin said the exercise tested command-and-control systems and staff readiness, with all objectives met. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s…
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Sweden and Ukraine have signed a defence agreement paving the way for the transfer of up to 150 Saab Gripen fighter jets to bolster Ukraine’s air capabilities amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. Speaking in Linköping, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the deal, with Zelenskyy calling the Gripens a…
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Demonstrations erupted at a hotel housing asylum seekers in Dublin on Tuesday (Oct. 21) after reports that a 10-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted at the Citywest Hotel in Saggart. The unrest began following the arrest of a 26-year-old man, who appeared in court on Tuesday charged in connection with the assault. He requested a…
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Kosovo has become the first country to signal willingness to host the UK’s proposed “return hubs” for asylum seekers whose claims have been refused. Prime Minister Albin Kurti confirmed talks with UK officials, saying Pristina views cooperation as a “friendly and political duty.” • Kurti said Kosovo seeks security support from the UK in return,…
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Ex-French president Nicolas Sarkozy, 70, has begun a five-year prison sentence for criminal conspiracy linked to alleged Libyan financing of his 2007 presidential campaign. He becomes the first former French president to serve time behind bars. Key Points:• Sarkozy and aides were accused of accepting millions from Muammar Gaddafi, though he was cleared of embezzlement…
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