US-Putin talks in Moscow show no progress. "It takes two to tango"

Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Olha Stefanishyna assessed that yesterday's meeting between U.S. representatives and Vladimir Putin did not yield much progress. Donald Trump, on the other hand, described the meeting as "very good," though he added that "it takes two to tango." more

The EU proposes that at least 70 per cent of critical goods, including cars, should be manufactured in Europe, which is intended to reduce the Community's dependence on China, the “Financial Times” reported yesterday, citing officials familiar with the draft EU regulation on the matter.more

The budget carrier is scrapping its fee-paying Prime membership after discounts outweighed subscription revenue, even as rivals double down on travel subscriptions.more

The National Park Service is introducing a digital annual pass for foreign tourists throughout the federal recreation system at a cost of $250. US residents will pay $80.more

Yesterday, Denmark's Saxo Bank published a tongue-in-cheek report containing ‘shocking’ economic forecasts for 2026. Some of them sound downright grotesque, but there are a few that may well become more likely in the longer term.more

Russian leader Vladimir Putin assured yesterday that he does not want war with Europe, but if Europe starts it, Russia is ready to fight immediately. He told reporters in Moscow before meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff.more

Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced yesterday that the government, together with the European Space Agency, has signed a letter of intent to locate a dedicated ESA center in Poland. The Prime Minister said Poland is becoming a leader in the space sector, and the planned center will become its driving force.more

The lights are up and the baubles are out: with trees across the country already decorated and on display, there has been some traditional grumbling about whether commercialism means it gets earlier every year. more

Two Poles have been charged by Swedish prosecutors with illegally photographing the Oskarshamn nuclear power plant in southeastern Sweden. The men, who possessed items including a Geiger counter and a cap with a Soviet star, were initially suspected of espionage.more

From today (2 December), citizens of EU countries, the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) residing in Norway will be able to obtain Norwegian identity cards. According to the police, the new document is intended to enhance security and reduce fraud, including identity theft.more

NATO is considering taking more aggressive retaliatory measures against Russia, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, told the British daily “Financial Times”. Today's article points out that the Alliance must find a way to respond to hybrid threats.more

Airbus has announced that fewer than 100 aircraft from the A320 family remain out of service due to the need to update the flight control system software. This marks the end of one of the largest service campaigns in the company's 55-year history, announced after it was revealed that intense solar radiation could interfere with data critical to the functioning of control systems.more

On Saturday, around 200 people gathered in Manhattan, New York, to protest against the anticipated raid by federal agents from Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on illegal immigrants. There were numerous arrests.more

In 2025, pilgrims from Poland are the second largest foreign group visiting the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in central Portugal, one of the most popular places of religious worship in the world. Their presence in organised groups remains at a record level, reaching approximately 23,000 people this year.more

The Swedish government has conducted war simulation exercises for the first time since the 1990s, involving all key state authorities, according to a statement issued yesterday by the office of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.more

Delegations from the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the UK Ministry of Defence have signed a licensing agreement concerning the Ukrainian Octopus interceptor drone.more

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A woman has died and a man is in critical condition after they were attacked by a shark off the coast of Crowdy Bay, a popular tourist beach more than 300 km north of Sydney, Australian media reported today. This is the latest incident involving these predators in recent days.more

An end to the war in Ukraine by the end of 2025 is possible, although talks between the US and Ukrainian delegations in Geneva must continue, said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. He added that Russia will pose a long-term threat to Europe even after a peace agreement.more

A member state is obligated to recognize the marriage of a same-sex couple legally concluded in another EU country, even if the law of that country does not recognize such unions, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled on Tuesday. The case concerns a Polish couple.more

Two National Guard soldiers were shot yesterday afternoon local time near the White House in Washington, D.C. According to the latest reports, the injured are in critical condition. The suspect has been arrested.more

Berlin will become a city of a million trees. By 2040, a tree is to be planted every 15 metres on all streets in the German capital. The Berlin authorities committed to this ambitious plan when support for the initiative was confirmed in a referendum.more

A LOT Polish Airlines plane skidded off the runway at Vilnius Airport. The airport's runway is temporarily closed, the Lithuanian Civil Aviation Authority announced today. A LOT Polish Airlines spokesman said there were 63 passengers on board, all of whom disembarked safely.more

US President Donald Trump announced that only a few sticking points remain before a peace agreement is reached, and he has instructed his envoy, Steve Witkoff, to meet with Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is expected to hold talks with the Ukrainians.more

Malaysia will be the second country after Australia to ban social media use by people under the age of 16, the AP news agency reported, citing statements by government officials. The ban is set to take effect in 2026.more

Germany is the European leader in social spending, which accounts for 41% of all public expenditure. This is more than in any other European country, including the Nordic countries, according to a study published yesterday by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW).more

A 65-year-old Thai woman, presumed dead, began showing signs of life from her coffin just before her planned cremation at a temple, the Thai Examiner reported today. Doctors determined that the woman was suffering from extreme hypoglycaemia, or dangerously low blood glucose levels, which caused a condition resembling death.more

Modifying the peace plan proposed by the United States to make it more acceptable to Ukraine will be a major diplomatic undertaking, the British daily Financial Times assessed yesterday, pointing out the five most difficult points for Kyiv.more

More than 100,000 Norwegians suffer from work-related anxiety, reports the International Journal of Stress Management. Among the main factors that cause work-related anxiety are bullying, work-life conflict, and a lack of autonomy in performing tasks.more

Groundbreaking DNA analysis of Adolf Hitler's blood has uncovered some extraordinary findings about the dictator's ancestry and possible health conditions.more

From November 25 to January 10, over 8.5 million households in the Netherlands will receive the government's guide "Prepare for an emergency." Minister Foort van Oosten emphasized that the aim of the campaign is to prepare residents for the first 72 hours after a serious failure, cyberattack or extreme weather event.more

US officials have warned NATO allies that they want to force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to sign a peace plan in the coming days, threatening that if he does not do so, he will have to agree to much worse terms in the future, The Guardian reported yesterday.more