Lukoil’s global arm falters under Western sanctions
Russian oil major Lukoil is struggling to keep operations running at its sprawling foreign businesses as Western sanctions disrupt oil loadings in Iraq, pump stations in Finland and trading in Switzerland, sources said. The United States and the United Kingdom last month imposed sanctions on Russia’s second-largest oil company, complicating…
Trump rules out Hungary exemption from Russia oil sanctions
Orbán has said he will discuss U.S. sanctions on Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil with Trump at a meeting scheduled for 7 November. Speaking to reporters in Air Force One, Trump confirmed that Orbán had appealed for an exception, citing Hungary’s reliance on Russian crude delivered through pipelines. “He…
EU urges North Macedonia to deliver on constitutional changes
The European Commission’s 2025 Enlargement Report urges North Macedonia to “adopt the necessary constitutional changes with a view to including in the Constitution citizens who live within the borders of the state and who are part of other people, such as Bulgarians.” The measure, agreed in the Council Conclusions of…
Dutch election
One of the tightest elections in Dutch history produced an outcome so close that first steps in negotiating a new coalition government have yet to begin. But at a time when the forward march of the far right across Europe is dominating headlines, sapping the confidence of mainstream parties, one…
Cyprus’ 2026 EU presidency priorities
Cyprus will assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 January 2026, with a plan to prioritise migration, relations with southern neighbours, and water-resilience during its six-month term. Cypriot deputy minister for migration and international protection, Nicholas A. Ioannides, emphasised his country would advance current EU…