Czechia ✳
Czech PM Babis keeps softening his tone on Russia, worrying EU allies
Andrej Babis, prime minister of Czechia, keeps saying the Ukraine war needs a diplomatic solution and that someone must talk to Russia.
#EU
Czechia ✳
Czech Region Sends Nearly 200 Battery Packs to Help Kyiv Area Through Winter
The Central Bohemian Region, one of Czechia's 14 regional governments, is paying 12 million korun (about $500,000) from its own budget to send nearly 200 portable battery stations to residents of Ukraine's Kyiv oblast (region) before winter.
Analysis ✳
This Week's Defense Deals Show Weapons Buildup Depends on Raw Materials, Not Factories
Four defense stories broke this week: a U.S.
EU halts Brazilian beef imports after audit dispute drags on
The European Union has stopped imports of beef from Brazil because Brazil has not given EU officials the guarantees they need to check that Brazilian beef producers meet EU food-safety rules.
EU moves to fast-track emergency funding for Ukraine's Patriot missiles
The European Union is working to quickly approve multibillion-euro funding so Ukraine can buy PAC-3 Patriot interceptors, missiles used to shoot down incoming attacks, after Russian strikes wore down Ukraine's supply.
EU orders ChatGPT, Reddit and Roblox to follow its strictest online rules
The European Union has told OpenAI's ChatGPT, along with Reddit and Roblox, that they must follow the toughest rules in its Digital Services Act, a law that regulates large online platforms.
Czechia ✳
Russia Says It Is Preparing Mass Strikes on Ukraine's Power Grid Before Winter
Russia's Ministry of Defence said Sunday it is preparing large-scale strikes on Ukraine's electricity system, calling it payback for Ukrainian attacks on Russian power and civilian sites.
Belgium blocks EU plan to use frozen Russian money for Ukraine
The EU wanted to use Russia's frozen central-bank money to help pay for Ukraine, but Belgium has refused to agree, according to euractiv.com.
Germany ✳
German spy agency checks phone network flaw that leaked caller data
An investigation by German broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk found that mobile networks in Germany let callers see private data about the phone they were calling.
France wants a time limit on Ukraine buying non-EU weapons with EU loan money
The European Union lent Ukraine 90 billion euros, and special rules currently let Kyiv use some of that money to buy weapons and parts from outside the EU, including from China and the United States.
USA ✳
US to cancel visas for up to 200,000 asylum seekers
The Trump administration is preparing to cancel the visas of up to 200,000 people who entered the US on a tourist or business visa between 2016 and 2026 and then applied for asylum, according to NPR, DW and other outlets.
Six EU Countries Push for New Tax on Oil Firms' War-Driven Profits
Germany, Italy, Austria, Poland, Portugal and Spain want EU finance ministers to discuss a new tax on oil companies at a meeting in Dublin next month.