European Union

Preliminary data published by Britain's public health agency suggests that people with the omicron variant of coronavirus are between 50 percent and 70 percent less likely to end up in hospital than those with the delta variant, Deutsche Welle writes. However, the UK Health Security Agency cautioned that its analysis was "preliminary and highly uncertain" due to the small number of omicron patients in hospitals.

Bulgarian pensioners who get their first or second vaccine dose in the next six months will get a one-off payment of some €40 Bulgarian prime minister Kiril Petkov said Thursday. Those who already had three shots can also benefit, he added. "Our government's priority is ... to ease the pressure on hospitals and mainly to protect our elderly," Petkov said, amid a national vaccination-rate of just 27 percent.

People who subscribed to US online news agency Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Belarus could face up to six years in prison after authorities listed it as an "extremist" organisation Thursday, Reuters reports. Belarus already holds more than 850 political prisoners since a crackdown began on pro-democracy protesters last year. Some EU states "might not survive" Belarus counter-sanctions being readied in response to EU measures, Belarus also said this week.

The EU should put defence-industry spending on its new list of green-friendly investments in order to stimulate the sector, Italian aerospace firm Leonardo has said. "If the defence industry is put on the naughty list ... the money will go elsewhere," Leonardo's chief financial officer Alessandra Genco said. "This is particularly true for thousands of small and medium enterprises in Europe, which have less bargaining power with banks," she added.

Russia has underlined Europe's dependence on its gas, while keeping EU powers guessing over its next move on Ukraine.

An Italian court dropped investigations related to charges of aiding illegal migration against Carola Rackete, the former captain of German rescue vessel Sea-Watch 3, according to DPA. On June 29, 2019, the Sea-Watch 3 entered the port of the Italian island of Lampedusa despite being banned from doing so. Italy's interior minister at the time was far-right politician Matteo Salvini. The ship still carries out migrant rescues in the Mediterranean.

Germany recorded its first death from the omicron variant of the coronavirus on Thursday, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) health agency announced, Deutsche Welle writes. The RKI said the person was between the ages of 60 and 79. So far 3,198 omicron cases have been detected in Germany — with an increase in cases of 25 percent from Wednesday to Thursday. Of these, 48 people were treated in the hospital.

French president Emmanuel Macron and Italian prime minister Mario Draghi called on Thursday for reforming the EU's fiscal rules to allow greater investment spending. "Just as the rules could not be allowed to stand in the way of our response to the pandemic, so they should not prevent us from making all necessary investments," they wrote in a column in the Financial Times. Berlin has been more reluctant.

Belgium will shut down all seven of its nuclear reactors by 2025 but will not close the door on new-generation nuclear technology, AFP reported. The government agreed on "investments of around €100m on small modular reactors". Phasing-out nuclear power has been enshrined in law since 2003. The French-speaking liberal MR party argued against completely abandoning nuclear power, a strategy proposed by Flemish green energy minister Tinne Van der Straeten.

Humanitarian rescue ship Geo Barents, run by Doctors Without Borders, has 458 people onboard. The German-based charity Sea-Eye-4 has 216, while SOS Mediterranee's the Ocean Viking is carrying 114.

The European Union is a step closer to restricting some uses of so-called "forever chemicals" next year, despite industry opposition.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called Thursday (23 December) on Brussels to reform its fiscal rules to allow greater investment spending while acknowledging the necessity to reduce debt. “Just as the rules could not be...

Russian mercenaries have deployed to separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine in recent weeks to bolster defences against Ukrainian government forces as tensions between Moscow and the West rise, four sources have told Reuters.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his Christmas Eve message on Friday exhorted the UK public to get jabbed as a "wonderful" gift for the nation as cases soar.

Greece plans to tap bond markets next year to borrow 12 billion euros ($13.6 billion), including issuing its first green bond, its debt agency (PDMA) said on Thursday as it outlined its 2022 funding strategy.

British companies found it increasingly difficult over the course of this year to trade with the European Union under the terms of the Brexit trade deal struck with the bloc, a survey showed on Thursday.

Although hailed by part of the European civil society, the EU's tight line on import tolerances for pesticide substances can cause a lot of headaches for African food producers, who fear being excluded from the single market and left with no alternatives to protect their crops.

Have you checked your office emails recently? You probably got many seasons greetings. But did you notice: Some wish you “Merry Christmas” while others say “Happy Holidays”. It’s a matter of corporate policy. And often, the greetings are a political...

Belgium will shut down all seven of its nuclear reactors by 2025 but will not close the door on new-generation nuclear technology, according to a deal reached Thursday (23 December) by the coalition government.

Russia wants to avoid conflict with Ukraine and the West, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (23 December), demanding an "immediate" response from the United States and its allies to Moscow's demand for security guarantees.