Russia Sends Jet as Estonia Tries to Inspect Shadowy Oil Tanker
The spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry didn't mention the incident in a weekly briefing nor was a question asked, although a video purportedly of the flyover has appeared widely in Russian media.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
31 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
18 countries apply for EU billions as Europe seeks to provide for its own security without the U.S.
BRUSSELS — Eighteen European Union countries have applied for billions of euros from a new defense fund aimed at helping Europe provide for its own security, the bloc's executive branch said Wednesday, with Poland seeking more than a third of the money. The Security Action for Europe (SAFE) fund is a 150-billion-euro ($173 billion) program of cheap loans that member countries, Ukraine and outsiders with an EU security agreement, like Britain, can use to buy military equipment together. The fund was launched after the Trump administration signaled that Europe is no longer a U.S. security priority. It's for buying key equipment like air and missile defense systems, artillery, ammunition, drones and 'strategic enablers' like air-to-air refueling. The European Commission said that Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Spain had applied for money so far. They have requested at least 127 billion euros ($147 billion) in total, it said. Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Tuesday that his government has identified defense projects worth around 45 billion euros ($52 billion), but that the amount it receives will depend on how the commission allocates funds. Countries using the fund are urged to buy much of their military equipment in Europe, working mostly with European suppliers — in some cases with EU help to cut prices and speed up orders. Earlier this month, 15 EU countries were also permitted to use a 'national escape clause' to allow them to spend more on defense without breaking the bloc's debt rules. U.S. allies in Europe are convinced that President Vladimir Putin could target one of them if Russia wins its war on Ukraine. The SAFE fund and budget leniency are aimed at preparing Europe to defend itself from attack by the end of the decade, but even EU governments concede that this is an ambitious target.
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Former Clinton adviser says Trump's EU trade trip 'absolutely' a success, Europeans 'came scrambling'
A former Clinton adviser lauded President Trump's EU trade trip as an absolute success, and said the Europeans "came scrambling" for a deal. After 2 Way Morning Meeting Host Mark Halperin asked former Hillary Clinton and Jared Polis adviser Dan Turrentine if he deemed President Trump's European trade trip, in which the president and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a landmark trade deal at his Scotland golf course, a success, the longtime Democratic consultant replied "absolutely." "Absolutely, we're gonna get to trade here," Turrentine said Monday, though he qualified his praise by claiming that we still don't know the details of the trade deal. Trump and Von der Leyen announced the deal at his Trump Turnberry golf club Sunday. The deal stipulates that there will be 15% tariffs on EU goods, while goods such as steel, aluminum and copper will continue to be taxed at 50%. The deal also states that the EU will invest $600 billion into the U.S. economy and buy $750 billion worth of American energy by 2028, per a statement put out by the White House. Trump touted the agreement as the "biggest deal ever made." Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hailed the deal as a "monster" win for the United States after it was announced. "They agreed for the first time ever to cut all their tariffs, cut their barriers and let American businesses and farmers and ranchers and fishermen, finally, sell into the European Union… massive market. This is huge for America," Lutnick told Bret Baier Monday. Turrentine said that not just the deal itself, but the fact that it was announced at the president's golf course showed that Trump emerged from the trade negotiations with the upper hand. Trump has long had friction with Europe, accusing the EU of ripping off the U.S. on trade and NATO countries of not contributing their fair share. "The Europeans came scrambling to him, and it does sound like the Europeans badly wanted a deal," Turrentine said. "Whether it was the German automakers frantic because they want to sell cars here, or French luxury good-makers talking about declining sales, the Europeans wanted a deal." French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou slammed the deal as "submission" and said the announcement was a "dark day" in a post on X. "It is a dark day when an alliance of free peoples, brought together to affirm their common values and to defend their common interests, resigns itself to submission," Bayrou wrote. Trump's trade announcement comes on the heels of a string of successful trade negotiations with the UK, Japan, Vietnam and Indonesia. Though critics contend that the president's tariff policy will spike inflation and depress growth, so far inflation is down from its Biden-era peaks and the economy grew 3% last quarter. However, citing the country's "obnoxious" trade barriers and business with Russia, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on India. Turrentine said that Trump's trade blitz represents a "new world order" for international commerce.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Ukrainian air force officer accused of leaking location of NATO F-16 jets to Russia
A Ukrainian air force officer was arrested and charged with spying for Russia by leaking the locations of Kyiv's prized F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighter jets, officials said. The officer, who was only identified as a flight instructor who held the rank of major, stands accused of providing Russia with intel and suggesting the tactics used to attack an airbase housing the NATO-provided jets, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement. 'In particular, the enemy's priority targets were airfields where F-16s, Mirage 2000s and Su-24s were based,' it said. Advertisement 3 A Ukrainian air force officer stands accused of leaking intel and helping coordinate a Russian attack targeting Kyiv's F-16 fighter jets. AP 3 The jets have been critical to Ukraine's ability to fight off Russia's escalating drone and missile strikes. AP 'In addition, to ensure the success of the enemy strike, the defendant prepared and handed over to the occupiers an analytical report on the necessary, in his opinion, tactics for delivering combined strikes,' the SBU added. 'This was to allow the Russians to strike, 'bypassing' the defense of the relevant military facilities.' Advertisement The US-made F-16s arrived in Ukraine late last year to bolster Kyiv's air force and defenses against Russia's escalating bombardments. The warplanes serve as a key tool for Ukraine and are used alongside the French Mirage 2000 jets and the older, Soviet-manufactured Su-24s. The NATO-provided jets are prime targets for Moscow, with its drones and missiles regularly aimed at airfields and military bases where the Kremlin believes the jets may be stationed. Advertisement Along with helping Russia carry out the attack, the SBU also accused the suspect of passing data on Ukrainian air force personnel and combat tactics to the Kremlin. 3 Ukraine's top intelligence agency said the alleged spy also leaked personnel and combat tactics to the Kremlin. Anadolu via Getty Images The arrest of the air force officer comes after the SBU detained two Chinese nationals earlier this month on suspicion of spying on Ukraine's Neptune anti-ship missile program. The intelligence breaches are not only limited to Ukraine, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealing Tuesday that 32 suspects were arrested for allegedly spying for Russia. Advertisement 'At the moment, 32 people who are suspected of collaborating with Russian special services who ordered sabotage or contract beatings have been detained,' Tusk said, according to Polish outlets. With Post wires
