Κυριακή 18 Οκτωβρίου 2026
10 άρθρα
Trump waives Congress’s new Russia penalties
A 16 October order puts planned US tariffs and sanctions on Russian banks, energy firms and tankers on hold indefinitely. Existing American and EU sanctions remain in force, but Europe must enforce its own restrictions while some Russian energy still enters legally. The White House has not published its reasoning, and no one has measured the waiver’s effect on Moscow’s revenue.
Iran names no ships in Hormuz mine claims
Tehran says two supertankers struck mines in the Strait of Hormuz, but has provided no ship names, positions or crew accounts to verify the claims. British naval alerts describe separate attacks off Saudi Arabia, not mine strikes in the strait. For European LNG buyers already missing Qatari cargoes, the claims add a warning without evidence of a new disruption.
Romania downs two drones; ships wait offshore
Romanian F-16s destroyed two Geran-family drones after they entered national airspace on 17 October. Merchant ships hit farther offshore this week had no equivalent protection, and allies have announced no escort mission. Romania has called a NATO discussion on Black Sea defence for 20 October, when governments could decide whether to commit forces.
Thorium clocks tick, but lag atomic rivals
Teams in Vienna and Beijing have kept lasers locked to a transition inside thorium nuclei, turning a long-standing idea into working clocks. The prototypes can run for hours, but their measured stability remains far behind leading optical clocks. Neither team has completed an accuracy assessment, and Vienna found that the apparent reference frequency shifts across its crystal.
Ukraine’s 19.6 GW goal faces fresh strikes
Russia’s overnight attack cut power in Vinnytsia and Zhytomyr as Ukraine prepares its grid for winter. More than 500,000 customer connections had power restored by morning, but Kyiv has not identified all the damaged energy sites or said how much capacity was lost. Those figures will show whether its 1 November supply target remains within reach.
Ukraine’s missile shield hinges on Washington
Ukraine needs US launch warnings and Patriot interceptors to defend against Russian ballistic missiles, giving Washington leverage as it objects to Kyiv’s refinery strikes. Reports that US officials threatened to restrict support are disputed, and the cause of a missed warning remains contested. Europe has pledged money for Ukraine’s defence, but cannot replace those American capabilities this winter.
Poland hosts Ukraine force drill, won’t join
European troops are due to rehearse a possible Ukraine mission in southeast Poland in November, with Warsaw handling transport, supplies and support. Poland says its soldiers will not enter Ukraine. The exercise could show whether several armies can move together, but deployment still requires a ceasefire, Ukraine’s request and separate decisions by each government.
EU’s €2 parcel fee awaits clearance
A new €2 charge for each distinct item in a low-value parcel would sit on top of the existing €3 duty, making cheap, mixed orders more expensive. The Commission expects collection to start on 1 November, but Parliament and the Council can still object, and publication and a ten-day wait must follow before the fee takes effect.
Lithuania seeks defence leeway as deficit climbs
Lithuania wants the EU to extend its defence spending flexibility beyond 2028 and raise the current ceiling of 1.5% of GDP. Its draft budget puts €4.8 billion toward defence in 2027 while projecting a deficit of 4.6% of GDP in 2028. More leeway could ease EU scrutiny of spending growth, but it would leave the borrowing on Lithuania’s books.
Four countries march with different demands
Protests filled streets in France, Belgium, Italy and Portugal on Saturday, but their shared timing concealed different fights over schools, wages and living costs. French deputies can still change a proposed cut of 1,588 teaching posts; Portugal’s unions are pressing for higher pay before a 24 November budget vote. Each demand has a different authority to answer it.