EU Today

In a tale that seems plucked straight from the pages of a political thriller, a 2008 meeting of high profile figures involved two British politicians, one of whom, Lord Peter Mandelson, a former member of the Young Communist League, is the newly appointed UK Ambassador to the United States. Also present were senior Conservative Party figure George Osborne, and a Russian oligarch. The meeting, which took place on a $150 million yacht, owned by the Russian oligarch, in the Mediterranean ignited a major scandal. #EUToday #PeterMandleson

In a tale that seems plucked straight from the pages of a political thriller, a 2008 meeting of high profile figures involved two British politicians, one of whom, Lord Peter Mandelson, is the newly appointed UK Ambassador to the United States. Also present were senior Conservative Party figure George Osborne, and a Russian oligarch. The meeting, which took place on a $150 million yacht, owned by the Russian oligarch, in the Mediterranean ignited a major scandal. #EUToday

Russia’s new propaganda piece, a video titled “Kill Santa,” has once again demonstrated the Kremlin’s flair for blending geopolitical messaging with absurdity. In the video, Santa Claus—a Western cultural icon—flies his sleigh over the Kremlin only to be shot down by Russian air defences. Santa’s crime? Hauling NATO-style missiles, as though his real mission this Christmas was to arm the West against Russia. Naturally, Russia’s own Grandfather Frost steps in to save the day, declaring, “We don’t need anything foreign in our skies.” But the timing of this theatrical stunt has raised more eyebrows than applause... #EUToday #RussiaToday

A suspected act of sabotage disrupted the Estlink 2 undersea power cable between Finland and Estonia on Christmas Day, highlighting growing concerns about the security of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. The incident is just the latest in a series of attacks targeting energy and communication networks, which authorities increasingly attribute to deliberate interference. #EUToday

Germany’s Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has announced the dissolution of the Bundestag, paving the way for snap parliamentary elections. The announcement, made during a televised address on Friday, follows a series of political upheavals that have left the country without a functioning government. President Steinmeier confirmed that the 20th Bundestag has been dissolved and that new elections will be held on 23 February 2025, a date agreed upon by leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU). #EUToday #PoliticsToday

Authorities in Belgium’s largest cities, Brussels and Antwerp, have announced stringent measures to prevent disturbances during New Year’s Eve celebrations. Among the strategies unveiled, a controversial decision to impose house arrest on identified hooligans has sparked significant debate. The initiative aims to curb potential incidents of violence and ensure the safety of residents and visitors. #EUToday #NewYearsEve #Brussels #Antwerp

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has reaffirmed Moscow’s position that a ceasefire in the ongoing war with Ukraine is unacceptable unless accompanied by legally binding agreements guaranteeing a durable peace. In a recent statement, Lavrov stressed that any temporary halt in hostilities without concrete terms would merely provide Ukraine with an opportunity to reorganise its forces and strengthen its military capabilities with Western support, further escalating the conflict. He dismissed calls for a truce as a strategic manoeuvre. #EUToday #StandWithUkraine

Efforts to manage the massive oil spill in the Kerch Strait are being hampered by a combination of adverse weather, logistical challenges, and insufficient resources. The spill, caused by storm damage to two Russian tankers carrying over 9,000 tons of fuel, has devastated more than 35 miles of Black Sea coastline, with volunteers now directly appealing to President Vladimir Putin for federal assistance. #EUToday #KerchStrait

Keir Starmer’s recent announcement about resetting the UK’s relationship with the European Union has sparked both interest and criticism. His plan, while welcomed by some as a long-overdue course correction, has been criticised as overly modest, failing to address the depth of challenges Brexit has created for the UK. #EUToday #KeirStarmer #BrexitShambles

The crash of an Azerbaijani aircraft in Grozny has become a focal point for concerns over aviation safety in regions affected by military activity. The tragedy, which claimed 38 lives, occurred under circumstances that point to the involvement of Russian missile defence systems, raising critical questions about transparency and accountability in such incidents. #EUToday #Grozny