Germany and five other EU countries issue ultimatum over 2028–2034 EU budget
Germany, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland and Sweden have said they will not support the European Union’s seven-year budget for 2028–2034 without substantial changes. The position was set out by the so-called “frugal” countries — net contributors to the EU budget. The six states are demanding that the European Commission’s…
Bucharest court orders 30-day pre-trial detention for former Romanian presidential candidate
The Bucharest Court of Appeal on Tuesday, September 29, upheld an appeal by DIICOT prosecutors and ordered former Romanian presidential candidate Călin Georgescu placed in pre-trial detention for 30 days. The same measure was applied to businessman Ionel Rusen. The ruling is final. Georgescu and Rusen are accused of forming…
German intelligence services step up surveillance of the Russian embassy in Berlin
German intelligence services have tightened surveillance of the Russian embassy in Berlin. The newspaper Bild reported this on September 28, citing sources in German government circles. According to the paper, cars and vans believed to belong to German security agencies have in recent days been regularly parked outside the diplomatic…
Former Orbán minister detained in Hungary over alleged embezzlement of cultural fund
Hungarian prosecutors said on Tuesday that Balázs Hankó, former minister of culture and innovation in ex-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s cabinet, has been detained on suspicion of embezzling funds from the National Cultural Fund (NKA). According to investigators, Hankó, who also headed the fund, took part in creating a “dual system”…
UK offers to extend its nuclear umbrella to nine JEF countries
The United Kingdom has offered to extend its national nuclear deterrent to nine partner countries in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). The corresponding agreement is expected to be signed in November. The countries in question are Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The Finnish newspaper…