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Europe Today

A fraught push for peace, and a race to fund Ukraine

Good morning. It’s Mared Gwyn with your Thursday newsletter. Today: the fraught push to revive peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, cash for Kyiv becomes intertwined in talks on the next EU budget, and Argentina’s Milei reignites a war of words with Spain’s Sánchez.

22/10/2026

Europe News

Lithuania seizes major synthetic drugs lab

Police recover more than 500kg of methamphetamine and 300kg of amphetamine in a three-day operation targeting a suspected international supply network.

21/10/2026

Business

Riots in France: tourism sector fears drop in foreign visitors

Images of the riots in France, broadcast worldwide, are already slowing hotel bookings, and tourism professionals fear ongoing violence will further deter foreign visitors.

21/10/2026

Europe News

EU should revive talks on broader China trade deal, top MEP says

As EU lawmakers prepare to visit Beijing, the European Parliament's trade chief is calling for a broader agreement that could revive elements of a frozen investment pact and address unfair Chinese trade practices across multiple industries.

21/10/2026

EU News

Foreign actors exploited Europe’s riots, did not start them

There is so far no evidence that foreign powers caused Europe’s riots, only that they exploited them, despite politicians blaming online manipulation for them. Brussels has refused to act, citing a lack of evidence.

21/10/2026

Russia

Kremlin open to new Ukraine peace talks as Russia frees US teacher

Moscow says Putin, Trump and Xi will meet in Shenzhen next month after "constructive" talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff, while a US diesel deal easing sanctions on Russia has angered Kyiv and European capitals.

21/10/2026

Economy

Where do Europe’s best pension systems rank and are they secure?

A new ranking of 55 retirement income systems reveals how Europe’s pension systems compare, with concerns over the long-term sustainability of benefits in some of the continent’s largest economies.

21/10/2026

Earth News

'Pull out all the stops': UN lays out path to limiting global warming

“Every additional fraction of a degree and additional year of warming above 1.5°C increases climate impacts and risks, such as the deadly floods, heatwaves and wildfires that have plagued many nations this year”.

21/10/2026

EU News

Why is the EU turning up the heat on the Arctic?

The EU’s revamped Arctic strategy puts security at its core, citing growing Russian and Chinese activity in the region. It focuses on ramping up European security capabilities, military mobility with NATO, icebreakers, satellite surveillance, and a maritime security hub.

20/10/2026

Business Line

Uzbekistan targets jobs and investment as visitor numbers rise

In partnership with Center for the Production of Content for Mass Media under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

As international visitor numbers grow, Uzbekistan is introducing financial incentives for tourism businesses, expanding air and rail connections, and easing travel requirements. The reforms aim to attract investment, increase tourism revenue and create new economic opportunities across the country.

20/10/2026

Europe Today

'Everything is destroyed,' Paris pharmacy owner says after protests

France will impose new curfews in areas where needed on Tuesday, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said, adding that the measures introduced in several cities the previous day had "helped keep the night calm".

20/10/2026

Travel News

The easy way to keep track of days spent in the Schengen Area

Non-EU citizens can easily work out how many days they have left to travel within the EU via the Entry/Exit System (EES) website.

20/10/2026

Europe Today

Ryanair CEO calls Ursula von der Leyen 'useless'

Ryanair is cutting a million seats from Belgium this winter as Michael O’Leary warns of steep fare rises in 2027 and demands foreign airlines pay their share.

20/10/2026

Europe Today

Pressure mounts on Macron as France reels from unrest

Hello from Brussels. I’m Mared Gwyn, holding the newsletter pen once again today. In this edition: what the unrest in France means for its embattled president, and the latest from Ukraine amid signs of intensified diplomacy.

20/10/2026

Europe Today

Blame continues in France, Russia kills two children in Kharkiv

Blame in France over protests continues as Sébastien Lecornu accuses the ultra-left of orchestrating the unrest. In Kharkiv, two children are among the victims of a Russian strike on a park as Putin reportedly floats a summit without Kyiv. And we interview with Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary.

20/10/2026

Europe

US holding up delivery of air defence missiles, Zelenskyy says

Relations between Kyiv and Washington have soured over military aid and intelligence sharing, with Zelenskyy saying that Ukraine received no warning of Russian missile strikes that targeted energy facilities in the capital region.

20/10/2026

Ukraine

Trump says he is open to three-way summit with Putin and Xi in China

Trump also renewed his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying it was "time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine."

20/10/2026