Financial Times
The EU is considering classifying ethanol as a hazardous substance, which could lead to a ban on its use in hand sanitizers. An internal ECHA recommendation from October 10 identifies ethanol as a toxic substance that increases carcinogenic risks and pregnancy complications.
EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas commented on the Financial Times article, which states that Donald Trump called on Volodymyr Zelenskyy to accept Putin's terms. Kallas emphasized the resilience of Ukrainians and the negative consequences for the international order if the aggressor achieves its goals.
Donald Trump stated that he never discussed with Volodymyr Zelenskyy the possible transfer of Donbas to Russia. The US President believes that the parties should stop at the current lines and return home.
On October 17, Donald Trump urged Volodymyr Zelenskyy to agree to Moscow's terms to end the war, citing Putin's threats to "destroy" Ukraine. Trump insisted on handing over control of Donbas and reiterated the Kremlin's arguments.
Donald Trump believes that Vladimir Putin will not stop the war without obtaining Ukrainian territories, claiming that he has already gained some land. Putin sees the war as his “historic mission” and may agree to return Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in exchange for full control over Donetsk region.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin does not want to end the war in Ukraine, as he is confident of his victory and views the conflict as a "historic mission. " He believes he has the upper hand on the battlefield and is willing to ignore the destruction of the Russian economy.
Washington and Riyadh are negotiating a strategic defense agreement that could be concluded during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to the White House in November. Saudi Arabia is interested in guarantees similar to the US agreement with Qatar, which considers an attack on Qatar a threat to the US.
The EU has proposed using part of a €140 billion loan, backed by frozen Russian assets, to purchase American weapons for Ukraine. This is on condition that Washington continues to support Kyiv in its defense against Moscow.
During a meeting in Alaska, Russian dictator Putin did not want peace in Ukraine; instead, he began talking about a "single nation" with Ukrainians, which led Donald Trump to almost walk out of the meeting and raise his voice several times.
The United States may provide Ukraine with 20 to 50 Tomahawk missiles, which may not be enough for sustained attacks against Russia. In total, the US has 4,150 such missiles.
Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on October 17. The meeting will follow two phone calls during which military support and ways to end the war with Russia were discussed.
The Dutch government has taken control of the Chinese company Nexperia, a semiconductor manufacturer. This is done to ensure the supply of microchips for automotive and consumer electronics in the Netherlands and Europe.
The Financial Times reports that the US has been helping Ukraine for months to strike Russia's strategic energy facilities. The goal is to weaken the Russian economy and force the Kremlin to negotiate.
NATO allies are discussing more decisive measures in response to Russian provocations, including the deployment of armed drones and easing restrictions for pilots on opening fire. The goal of the negotiations is to raise the cost for Moscow for its "hybrid war" and develop clear countermeasures.
Japan is experiencing the most acute labor crisis in modern history due to an aging population and low birth rates, threatening the stability of all industries. The new leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Sanae Takaichi, recognizes the need to attract foreign workers to solve this problem.
Donald Trump is actively lobbying for his candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize, insisting that he deserves it for his attempts to end the war in Gaza. Experts in Oslo warn that such an aggressive approach could backfire.
The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) called the EU's plans to ban the sale of internal combustion engine cars from 2035 "very tough. " It called for measures that would give manufacturers greater flexibility, warning that current plans are based on outdated assumptions.
Belgium is facing increasing pressure to allow the use of frozen Russian assets for a “reparation loan” to Ukraine. This comes after a shift in position by Berlin and other Western capitals, which now support the idea.
EU governments have agreed to restrict travel for Russian diplomats within the bloc in response to a surge in sabotage, often led by spies operating under diplomatic cover. This is part of a new package of sanctions being developed by Brussels, which requires unanimous support.
The European Union is developing a new "AI Application" strategy to promote its own artificial intelligence tools. This will reduce dependence on China and improve the use of AI in healthcare, defense, and manufacturing.
Yurii Ihnat, head of the Air Force Communications Department, explained that the complexity of shooting down Russian drones and missiles is affected by the enemy's tactical maneuvers and weather conditions. He also noted that the modernization of ballistic missiles complicates the work of Patriot systems.
One of Russia's most mysterious billionaires, Ibrahim Suleymanov, has been detained in Moscow on suspicion of committing several serious murders. He is also being investigated for involvement in the murder of Gennady Borisov, head of the trade union committee of Vnukovo Airlines.
International researchers have discovered a serious flaw in biosafety software designed to block access to dangerous genetic materials. The vulnerability showed that algorithms are not always able to detect artificially modified toxic proteins, which could make the creation of biological weapons cheaper and easier.
The EU plans to unfreeze €2 billion worth of Strabag shares linked to Deripaska to compensate Raiffeisen Bank International. This decision is prompted by a fine the bank was forced to pay in Russia.
The EU is considering lending Ukraine the monetary value of Russian assets immobilized in Euroclear, but some EU countries are expressing concerns about the legal implications. The European Commission needs to further investigate the legal and fiscal consequences.
Beijing is forming new frameworks regarding equipment from Ericsson and Nokia in its telecommunications networks. Contracts of the Swedish company Ericsson and Finnish Nokia must be submitted for review to the Cyberspace Administration of China.
Russia has modified its missiles to bypass Ukrainian air defense, as evidenced by months of devastating airstrikes. Ukrainian forces intercepted 37% of ballistic missiles in July, but this figure dropped to 6% in September.
Parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic will be held on October 3 and 4. Andrej Babiš's ANO party is leading in the polls, ahead of the ruling coalition.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown received £37. 3 million (approximately €43 million) after the team won the Formula 1 Constructors' Championship. This was the first time in 26 years, and the total amount of payments to McLaren's management increased to £75 million.
Dozens of top managers have resigned from Tesla, xAI, and X due to an exhausting work pace, political disagreements with Elon Musk, and mass layoffs. This has led to the cancellation of the affordable electric car program and a reorientation towards robotics and AI.