Italy gives key support to full EU trade deal with South American nations next to Venezuela

Italy gives key support to full EU trade deal with South American nations next to Venezuela

BRUSSELS (AP) — Italy on Friday lent crucial support to European Union plans to seal a massive free trade deal with five South American nations neighboring Venezuela that has been negotiated for more than 25 years. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had long been seen as the key vote in the campaign by European Commission … Read more

EU leaders agree on 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine after plan to use Russian assets emerges

EU leaders agree on 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine after plan to use Russian assets emerges

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders agreed Friday to provide massive interest-free loans to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years, but failed to bridge differences with Belgium that would have allowed them to use frozen Russian assets to raise the funds. After nearly four years of war, the … Read more

Czech President swears in new coalition government of populist billionaire Andrej Babiš

Czech President swears in new coalition government of populist billionaire Andrej Babiš

PRAGUE (AP) — A new Czech coalition government led by populist billionaire Andrej Babiš took office Monday with an agenda to steer the country away from supporting Ukraine and rejecting some key European Union policies. President Petr Pavel swore in the Cabinet at Prague Castle, ending a pro-Western coalition under former Prime Minister Petr Fiala … Read more

Elon Musk and Trump Officials Go to War With the EU

Elon Musk and Trump Officials Go to War With the EU

Elon Musk looks on as US President Donald Trump speaks at the US-Saudi Arabia Investment Forum at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC on November 19, 2025. Credit – Brendan Smialowski—Getty Images Elon Musk called for the European Union (EU) to be removed in response to the exit from … Read more

Belgium rejects EU plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, saying the move is too risky

Belgium rejects EU plan to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, saying the move is too risky

BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium on Wednesday rejected a plan to use frozen Russian assets to help boost Ukraine’s economy and war effort over the next two years, saying the scheme poses huge financial and legal risks. Ukraine’s budget and military needs for 2026 and 2027 are estimated to total around 130 billion euros ($150 billion). … Read more

Britain says talks to join the EU defense fund have failed

Britain says talks to join the EU defense fund have failed

By Alistair Smout and Andrew Gray LONDON/BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Britain said on Friday that talks to join the European Union’s SAFE defense fund had failed, in a blow to a much-lauded reset of post-Brexit relations aimed at strengthening Europe’s defence. Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed a “new era” in Britain’s relationship with the EU in … Read more

Spain reports first case of swine fever in three decades, jeopardizing exports to China

Spain reports first case of swine fever in three decades, jeopardizing exports to China

By Jesus Calero and Gus Trompiz MADRID (Reuters) – African swine fever has returned to Spain for the first time in three decades after two wild boars found dead near Barcelona tested positive for the virus, the Agriculture Ministry said on Friday, putting growing pork exports to China at risk of a ban. The outbreak, … Read more

‘Causes around one in five… deaths’

‘Causes around one in five… deaths’

A new data assessment is helping to quantify the significant impacts of environmental factors on heart disease incidence in Europe. According to an early November update from the European Environment Agency, factors such as air pollution, extreme temperatures, and exposure to harmful chemicals “cause around one in five cardiovascular deaths in the European Union”. What … Read more

Slovenia’s assisted dying law leads to crucial referendum

Slovenia’s assisted dying law leads to crucial referendum

By Borut Zivulovic SVETI TOMAZ, Slovenia (Reuters) – Slovenia will vote on Sunday on a law proposing the legalization of assisted death for some terminally ill adults, following other European countries that have made the change. The parliament of the small European Union member passed the law in July, but a citizens’ initiative led by … Read more