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...
EU prepares emergency security protocol against hybrid attacks
The European Union is preparing an emergency security protocol to help member states respond jointly to hybrid attacks that fall short of armed aggression. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced this as she arrived for a meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels on 28 September. “We will discuss...
FBI first acknowledges leak of agents’ personal data after cyberattack
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has notified agents and support staff that their personal data was stolen in a cyberattack on the FBIJobs.gov employment portal. In an internal message, the bureau described the event as a “cybersecurity incident.” Employees were told that their names, addresses, job titles, and Social Security...
European Commission allocates €325 million to five pan-European defence projects
The European Commission has allocated €325 million to launch and implement five European Defence Projects of Common Interest (EDPCI). The funding comes from the €1.5 billion European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). On 28 September 2026, EU member states approved the initiatives, making them eligible for EU budget support. The projects...
Germany expands powers of the Federal Police
On 25 September 2026, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat approved a comprehensive reform of the Federal Police Act (Bundespolizeigesetz). The law, whose core dated back to 1994, gives the Federal Police new surveillance tools, broader investigative powers and a stronger role in migration control. In the Bundestag the bill passed...
London distances itself from US decision to invite Putin to G20
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said London does not intend to change its policy of refusing direct contacts with Russian officials at the foreign minister level — despite Vladimir Putin’s invitation to the G20 summit in the United States. Speaking at the Labour Party conference, Miliband stressed that the United Kingdom...