Germany
The European Council has appointed a new composition of the European Commission for the period from December 2024 to October 2029. Ursula von der Leyen remains president, while Kaya Callas will become supreme representative for Foreign Affairs.
European countries are considering options to compensate for a possible reduction in US aid to Ukraine. The US remains the largest supplier of weapons, and the EU needs 3 340 billion annually to strengthen defense.
The 225-meter ship Yi Peng 3 stretched anchor for 160 km, damaging underwater cables between European countries. Investigators are considering the version of deliberate sabotage with the possible participation of Russian intelligence.
The head of the BND, Bruno Kahl, said that Russia is preparing for war with the West by the end of the decade. According to him, Russia can carry out a limited military operation against NATO countries to undermine the alliance.
Kiev received an inclusive double-decker bus for excursions from Berlin. The transport will be used for social excursions and rehabilitation projects for the military and their families.
Defense Minister Umerov announced a new Ramstein meeting in December. The meeting will discuss military assistance to Ukraine and the budget for 2025.
Donald Tusk suggests creating a "maritime police" to protect the Baltic Sea from Russian threats. The initiative comes after the recent damage to an underwater telecommunications cable between Finland and Germany.
Paul Wesley will star in the six-part miniseries "Unspoken" about a taxi driver rescuing a family from Kiev. Filming of the international project will begin in the winter of 2025-2026 in Eastern Europe.
The Cabinet of ministers has approved the candidacies of four international experts for the positions of independent members of the Supervisory Board of Ukrenergo. Among them are former high-ranking officials from Germany, Italy, Denmark and Nord Pool as.
Iran's foreign minister has announced the activation of thousands of advanced domestic centrifuges. This is a response to the IAEA resolution supported by the United States, Great Britain, France and Germany.
The former foreign minister warned of the threat of the fall of the front line and the advance of Russians to the Dnieper in the event of a stop in the supply of weapons to the United States. Kuleba expressed doubts about Europe's ability to compensate for American aid.
The former Ukrainian Foreign Minister warned of the threat of falling of the front line without US support. According to him, Putin is not ready for a peace agreement, and the Russians may find themselves near the Dnieper and Poltava.
Google plans to change the display of search results in Europe after complaints from competitors about reduced traffic. The company will also remove hotel maps in three countries, although some competitors consider these changes insufficient.
Sweden is asking a Chinese ship to return to investigate damage to underwater cables in the Baltic Sea. The ship Yi Peng 3, which left the Russian port, was in the area where the damage occurred.
The yacht Sea Story with 44 passengers sank near the Egyptian resort of Marsa Alam. 31 people were rescued, 4 died, 9 are missing, and their search continues.
The defense ministers of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the UK met in Berlin to discuss military assistance to Ukraine. They emphasized the importance of coordination and efficient use of defense budgets.
The head of the German planning staff said that a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's defense might be held in December. The option of a meeting at the level of state leaders with the participation of the US President is being considered.
Germany will provide Ukraine with two additional IRIS-T air defense systems by the end of 2024. The first IRIS-T SLM and SLS systems will be delivered to Ukraine by Christmas.
The Ukrainian Defense Minister discussed the key needs of the Armed Forces with his colleagues from Germany, France, Italy, the UK and Poland. Umerov emphasized the need for faster and more effective support from partners.
12 schools in different German cities received emails with bomb threats. Police are checking the premises of the schools.
In Ukraine, about 70% of appeals to the court regarding domestic violence result in a restraining order. However, a third of victims are forced to apply repeatedly due to the lack of effectiveness of protective measures.
The chairman of the NATO Military Committee said that the Russian army has become larger but has lost quality compared to 2022.
The SPD has unanimously nominated Olaf Scholz as its candidate for chancellor in the early elections in 2025. The decision came after the rejection of the more popular Boris Pistorius and the collapse of the “traffic light coalition”.
Gazprombank has reported problems with UnionPay card services in 12 countries following US sanctions. Customers cannot withdraw cash and pay for purchases in Turkey, the UAE, Germany and other countries.
In 9 months of 2024, Ukraine imported 239 thousand passenger cars worth $3. 3 billion. Germany, the US and China became the main suppliers of cars to Ukraine.
The Women's National Association of Finland is organizing a course on survival in the face of the threat from Russia. Participants aged 18 to 70 learn the basics of survival, cybersecurity, and psychological resilience.
Residents of the Swiss city of Basel vote on the allocation of $39. 5 million to host Eurovision 2025. The referendum was initiated after Swiss singer Nemo won the 2024 contest.
Republican Lindsey Graham announced possible sanctions against US allies who will assist the ICC with the arrest of Netanyahu and Gallant. The threats concern Canada, Britain, Germany, and France.
The German Defense Minister said that Russia's war against Ukraine is no longer a regional one, but a threat to the whole of Europe. Putin has switched to a war economy and is waging a hybrid war with disinformation.
The Center for Countering Disinformation denied the fake about the departure of the US, British, French and German embassies from Ukraine. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all foreign diplomats continue to work on the ground.