Geopolitics · Pollar

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Von der Leyen says 70 billion euro gap in Ukraine funding for 2027 must be closed

Ursula von der Leyen said the 2027 shortfall of 70 billion euros for Ukraine must be covered, with partner financing expected to supply a third of it. Friedrich Merz and Ulf Kristersson spoke to reporters in Brussels on the same day.

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Diplomacy·from Oct 16·upd. 5h ago

Pope Leo XIV asks Putin for a truce in besieged Oleshky from his Rome hospital bed

Phoning from Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he is recovering from lung-cancer surgery, Pope Leo XIV asked Putin on Friday, 16 October, for a truce in Oleshky so that food, medical aid and a voluntary evacuation of civilians could proceed. The Kremlin said Putin offered support for the Vatican's aim of helping secure the city.

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Conflicts·from Oct 16·upd. 9h ago

Washington Post photojournalist injured in settler attack during West Bank olive harvest

Heidi Levine, a Washington Post photojournalist, was injured on Friday, 16 October, when settlers attacked olive pickers near Ramallah in the West Bank. Two Palestinians were also hurt, and the Israeli army says it is examining the incident.

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Conflicts·from Oct 14·upd. 5h ago

Drone attacks on Black Sea ships leave at least 23 seafarers missing or dead

Romania resumed the search for seven missing sailors from a drone-hit tanker, while Bulgaria asked NATO for fighter jets and drone defences after two more merchant ships were struck.

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Conflicts·from Oct 15·upd. 5h ago

Houthi missiles hit Yemen's presidential palace in Aden, killing five, then airport on Friday

Missiles struck the presidential palace complex in Aden on Thursday, 15 October, and two projectiles hit the city's airport on the night of Friday, 16 October. Houthi forces claimed the strikes as attacks on Saudi military sites.

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Migration·from Oct 16·upd. 7h ago

EU summit divided over Spain's migration policy as Sánchez reportedly blocks tough text

Leaders at the Brussels summit criticised Spain's extraordinary regularisation of irregular migrants, while the conclusions recognised the special situation of Ceuta and Melilla. Pedro Sánchez said Europe is more present in both cities than ever before.

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Diplomacy·5h ago

Kast becomes first Chilean president to visit Bolivia in 71 years, signs energy and security deals

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz hosted Chilean President José Antonio Kast in La Paz on Friday, 16 October 2026. The talks produced accords on mining, electricity, fibre optics and fuel, but restoring diplomatic relations was not on the agenda.

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Conflicts·11h ago

Norwegian teen hitman jailed for 20 years over Iran-linked UK murder plot

A 19-year-old Norwegian recruited by the Foxtrot Network was jailed for 20 years on Friday, 16 October 2026, after a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to murder. He had agreed to shoot an unidentified target for 25,000 euros.

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Diplomacy·7h ago

EU summit refuses Poland's ETS2 delay but requires Commission reassessment

The Brussels summit ended without the postponement to 2030 that Poland, Italy and the Visegrad Group sought. Instead, the final document requires the Commission to reassess ETS2's design and safeguard mechanisms.

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Migration·9h ago

Spanish intelligence says Morocco knew of Ceuta mass entry calls days ahead

Spain's National Intelligence Centre told judge María Tardón that Moroccan authorities knew of social media calls for a mass entry into Ceuta, and that their passivity let the crisis overflow.

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Conflicts·7h ago

Putin says Russia's 660 km security zone inside Ukraine is not up for negotiation

Putin said on Friday, 16 October, that Russia is establishing a security zone inside Ukraine along the border and will not discuss it in future peace talks with Kyiv. The Kremlin says about 70% of the planned 660 km zone is already under Russian control.

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Conflicts·5h ago

EU leaders reject US push to unfreeze Russian assets as Trump-Zelensky rift deepens

European leaders turned down a reported US proposal to release billions of euros in frozen Russian assets, while Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš accused Trump of betrayal over a Russian diesel deal.

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