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Tamsin Paternoster

Europe News

Merkel delayed Ukraine's NATO bid over Russia fears, memoir reveals

The former German chancellor feared retaliation by Russia if Ukraine joined NATO, and asked Pope Francis for advice about dealing with Donald Trump.

Korea

Russia and North Korea expand their economic ties in new agreement

The arrangement is the latest in a pattern of increased co-operation betwen the two countries, as North Korean troops have been confirmed to be fighting for Russia in the Kursk region.

Europe News

Germany's Olaf Scholz faces pressure to drop re-election campaign

Members of the German chancellor's Social Democratic Party are increasingly speculating that Scholz's defence minister, Boris Pistorius, is a more popular choice to lead the country.

Europe News

US embassy in Kyiv shutters after 'significant' air attack threat

Warnings of a large air attack threat on the Ukrainian capital on Wednesday come a day after Ukraine used US-supplied ATACMS to strike Russian territory.

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Lebanon

US envoy says truce between Israel and Hezbollah is 'within grasp'

Peace talks between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah centre around troops from both forces withdrawing from a UN buffer zone in southern Lebanon.

Europe News

Damage to underwater cables was 'sabotage', German minister says

Two underwater fibre-optic communications cables running between Finland and Germany were discovered cut on Monday, an incident both countries said was under investigation.

Turkey

US warns Turkey against hosting leaders of Hamas

The Biden administration's message follows reports that senior members of Hamas left Qatar for Turkey last week after Doha withdrew from its key role in efforts to broker an end to the war in Gaza.

Russia

Kremlin says use of US missiles would be a 'radical change' in war

On Sunday, US President Joe Biden authorised Ukraine to use Washington-supplied missiles to strike deeper inside Russia for the first time following months of refusal.

North Korea

Kim Jong-un pushes for speeding up mass production of exploding drones

Leader Kim Jong Un has overseen the development and testing of drones designed to crash into targets and explode.

Europe News

Almost half of Spain's flood victims were aged 70 or over, data shows

Elderly Spaniards made up the highest number of deaths after devastating floods hit Spain's Valencia region.

USA

Trump picks vaccine sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jr for health secretary

President-elect Donald Trump has said Kennedy is his choice for the role of health secretary in the run up to his election victory, even if senior members of his campaign ruled out Kennedy having an official role.

Europe News

Police investigated for violence against protesters in Amsterdam

The city's mayor said that videos of police using violence against pro-Palestinian protesters "looked serious".

Europe News

Italy's president rebukes Elon Musk for interfering in migration row

The tech billionaire had waded in on the latest court ruling setback to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's flagship immigration scheme with Albania.

USA

Biden sending aid for Ukraine to keep fighting next year, Blinken says

The Biden administration said it was determined to help Ukraine fight in its war against Russia, before it hands over power to president-elect Donald Trump in January.

Europe News

Scholz calls for compromise as opposition leader lays out election bid

In the first Bundestag meeting since the ruling coalition collapsed last week, the leader of Germany's largest opposition party laid out his plans for the country in a fiery debate.

USA

Trump taps Fox News personality Pete Hegseth for defence secretary

The president-elect sidestepped several established national security heavy-hitters for the job, with several military officials saying his choice came out of the blue.

Russia

Russian doctor who criticised war in Ukraine sentenced to five years

Dr Nadezhda Buyanova, a paediatrician, was arrested after the mother of one of her patients filmed a video complaining that Buyanova criticised Russia's war in Ukraine.

USA

Blinken heads to Brussels for urgent talks on Ukraine after Trump win

The State Department is set to hold talks in the Belgian capital on how to boost support for the war-torn country before Trump takes over in the transition of power.

Europe News

Germany set to hold snap elections on 23 February, reports claim

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz previously suggested new vote could be held in March, following the breakdown of his ruling coalition.

USA

Trump to appoint hardliners Rubio and Waltz as foreign policy chiefs

Trump's picks for secretary of state and national security adviser have fully supported the president-elect in casting doubt on European countries' contributions to NATO.

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