Catch up with the most important stories from around Europe and beyond - latest news, breaking news, World, Business, Entertainment, Politics, Culture, Travel.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde has warned of the potential effects of new U.S. trade policies.
00:11Finland is accelerating preparation for all potential conflicts, including nuclear, hybrid war or even a full-scale invasion.
00:21Ireland calls Israel's decision to close its Dublin embassy regrettable, but says it won't change its stance on the war in Gaza.
00:31U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's potential trade policies could negatively impact the EU economy.
00:42Speaking at a press conference in Vilnius on Monday, President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde said that it will continue to cut interest rates, but is worried about economic growth.
00:54As inflation continues to ease towards its 2% target, Lagarde explained that there are both upside and downside risks.
01:16These tensions could result in higher energy prices and freight costs.
01:21U.S. President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on a pledge to impose tariffs of 10 to 20% on all imports.
01:35Russian President Vladimir Putin accused NATO nations of pushing Russia into its red lines.
01:40In his annual meeting with defence officials, the Russian President implied the figurative point of no return may be reached by escalating the conflict in Ukraine.
02:10Putin also voiced his concerns over the developments made by the United States regarding medium and shorter-range missiles.
02:28He added that if the U.S. were to cross this line, Moscow would lift its voluntary restrictions.
02:33The Russian President also applauded Russian forces for capturing 189 settlements this past year.
03:03Since then, Finland has been dealing with other warfare such as the tampering of undersea cables, disinformation and the presence of so-called Russian shadow oil fleets which illegally transport Russian oil, contravening Western sanctions.
03:34The phenomenon of shadow fleet, the phenomenon of GPS disturbance and illegal immigration in the eastern borders are something that we have seen only in last years.
03:45We have seen cable cuts, cable breakdown points which are under criminal investigation.
03:53As I mentioned before, we also see a threat for an environmental accident in the Gulf of Finland and one part of this is GPS disturbance which can be seen especially in the eastern parts of the Gulf of Finland.
04:07Conscripts which have long been part of Finland's overall security policy are now training with the possibility that they could be defending the whole of Europe since the country joined NATO.
04:18Finland has been preparing for any war for several decades.
04:22The invasion by Russia in 1939 is something that Finns are constantly reminded of and the key principle of this comprehensive security and defence strategy is deterrence.
04:32To deter any potential invader, in particular Russia, that this country is prepared, its society as a whole and military are well trained.
04:41It's not aimed only towards Finland or the neighbouring countries but Russia is trying to destabilise the whole of Europe.
04:50So the whole Europe has to take this hybrid war seriously and because Russia cannot pressure us by threatening in the way of conventional war because we are all members of NATO, the hybrid war is the mean they use to threaten us.
05:09Helsinki says it's now open to new EU defence spending including defence bonds.
05:15The government says investing in European security fits in with the country's overall security strategy.
05:20Shona Murray, Euronews, Helsinki.
05:28Western diplomats are beginning to take steps to ease relations with Syria as it starts its political transition.
05:36On Monday, EU Foreign Chief Kaya Kalas announced that the EU will send a diplomat to Damascus to establish contact with the new Syrian leaders.
05:46So we will also discuss today in the Foreign Affairs Council how we engage with the new leadership of Syria and on what level we engage with the new leadership.
05:58And of course what more steps are we willing to take if we see that Syria goes to the right direction.
06:05Her comments come as the UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen met with rebel leader Ahmed al-Shara in Damascus.
06:13He stressed the need for increased humanitarian assistance to Syria and an end to sanctions.
06:20And then of course it's the whole question about economic recovery.
06:24We need to see that this is fixed quickly.
06:27We will hopefully see a quick end to sanctions so that you can see really rallying around building up Syria again.
06:36UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy echoed Kalas in establishing diplomatic contact with al-Shara's HTS rebel group,
06:44although he added that the group is still considered a prescribed organisation by the UK.
06:49Both Lammy and Kalas called for the need for an inclusive government in Syria.
06:58Ireland's Prime Minister Simon Harris has called Israel's decision to close its embassy in Dublin deeply regrettable.
07:06But he also said his government wouldn't change its position on how the war in Gaza is being fought.
07:12Israel announced on Sunday it would close its mission in the Irish capital because of what officials called extreme anti-Israel policies.
07:20I will push back very strongly against any attempt by any country to misrepresent Ireland's position.
07:25Ireland is not anti-Israeli, but Ireland is absolutely anti-starvation of children,
07:33is absolutely anti-killing of civilians and is absolutely pro-peace, pro-international law and pro-human rights.
07:42Meanwhile Israeli forces have continued to pound Gaza's largely isolated north as the Palestinian death toll approaches 45,000.
07:50One airstrike hit the Khalila Wada school in the town of Beit Hanoun and killed at least 15 people according to nearby Kamal Adwan hospital where casualties were taken.
08:01And in Gaza city at least 17 people including six women and five children were killed in three airstrikes that hit houses sheltering displaced people.
08:10Israel's military said in a statement that it struck a terrorist cell in Gaza city and a terrorist meeting point in the Beit Hanoun area.
08:18The war in Gaza began after Hamas stormed southern Israel on the 7th of October last year killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 others hostage.
08:34France's interior minister Bruno Reteu arrived in Mamoutsou, the capital of the French overseas territory of Mayotte,
08:42after the island was shattered by its worst storm in nearly a century.
08:45He told rescue staff that all means would be mobilized to help people including by ship and military aircraft.
09:16The official death toll stood at 14 on Monday but authorities in Mayotte fear hundreds and possibly thousands of people have died in Cyclone Chido.
09:27Entire neighborhoods have been flattened and public infrastructure like the main airport and hospital have been badly damaged, further complicating the response.
09:37South Korea's constitutional court has begun proceedings for the impeachment of President Yun Suk-yol.
09:44Last week lawmakers voted to oust him after he imposed a short-lived martial law earlier in December which had thrust the country into political chaos.
10:06The court has six months to decide if Yun should be removed from his position or to restore his powers.
10:15They are under pressure to decide quickly to bring an end to the country's political instability.
10:22Upholding Yun's impeachment needs the support from at least six out of nine judges.
10:29Upholding Yun's impeachment needs the support from at least six out of nine judges.
10:36But the court currently only has six judges so they will have to vote unanimously in favor.
10:45Roughly 5,000 Santas of different ages are running to raise money for Kosovo's annual charity marathon.
10:53This year they are supporting the hospital's pediatric branch for children.
10:59Meanwhile in France, organizers were handing out the classic red and white hats and overcoats to thousands of Santas as well as one Grinch.
11:08They all ran 10 kilometers in the annual fundraising run in southern Paris.
11:19And in Hungary's Budapest, hundreds of runners braved the cold.
11:28The run is in its 21st year with entry fees going to charities during the holiday season.