EU external relations, diplomacy, and security
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says a visa ban targeting Russian combatants fighting in Ukraine is legally achievable and has backing from key member states. The proposal would bar military personnel from entering all 27 EU countries, but faces hurdles over enforcement and political unity.
The US-Iran ceasefire announcement has sparked cautious hope in Lebanon, but most Lebanese citizens remain deeply sceptical it will translate into real change. Decades of broken promises and proxy conflict have left a population that’s learned not to celebrate too soon.
Washington and Tehran have struck a landmark memorandum of understanding calling for an immediate halt to all military operations between the two countries. The surprise deal, announced through Pakistani mediators, also sets the stage for nuclear talks and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
A Colombian cargo ship carrying 2,500 tons of food and emergency supplies docked in Havana Thursday as Cuba grapples with devastating power outages. The crisis has intensified dramatically since Trump threatened tariffs on countries supplying oil to the island nation.
Royal Navy forces have intercepted and seized a suspected Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel following a tense six-hour operation. The capture of the Smyrtos marks a significant escalation in Britain’s efforts to crack down on sanctions-evading vessels.
The European Union will resume membership negotiations with Ukraine on Monday after Hungary’s new government lifted a veto that had blocked progress for months. The breakthrough marks a significant step in Ukraine’s journey toward EU integration.
Safe blood saves lives every day, from mothers in childbirth to accident victims. But a new WHO report shows access remains dangerously unequal across the world.
Beijing accuses foreign intelligence agencies of attaching tracking devices to sea turtles and other marine creatures to expose weaknesses in coastal defenses. Chinese authorities claim to have found at least seven surveillance-equipped animals since 2021.
Iceland’s potential EU membership would mark a “big step away from democracy” for the nation of 380,000, critics warn. The debate intensifies as the country weighs reviving accession talks frozen since 2013.
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands want new EU members to face a temporary freeze on voting rights. The controversial proposal is sparking fierce debate as the bloc prepares for its next expansion wave.
