Nov 4, 2026, 06:00 AM UTC

European Union member states have agreed to extend sanctions against nearly 3,000 Russian individuals and entities following intense negotiations in Brussels. The compromise was reached after countries including France, Slovakia, and Luxembourg insisted on removing steel tycoon Alisher Usmanov and banker Mikhail Fridman from the penal list to prevent the broader sanctions regime from expiring.

Alongside the extension, EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg approved a record-sized new package of penalties targeting Russia's military-industrial complex. The updated measures seek to maintain economic pressure on Moscow and reinforce support for Kyiv amid shifting international diplomatic dynamics.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau.

US President Donald Trump expressed regret over his Supreme Court appointments in an interview with Time magazine, remarking, "I got them the job of their life, and they often vote against me." While Trump stated he values loyalty, he subsequently clarified he does not expect it from judicial nominees.

The comments followed a Supreme Court decision rejecting an attempt by the administration to tighten mail-in voting rules ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Democratic lawmakers welcomed the ruling as a victory for voting accessibility.

In a separate cabinet development, Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth proposed involving billionaire Elon Musk to explore the future of warfare.

Sources: Der Standard, FAZ, Tagesschau.

The U.S. administration is reportedly encouraging domestic energy firms to accept shipments of Russian diesel, raising sharp concerns among American companies over potential sanctions violations and legal liabilities.

Meanwhile, political developments in Eastern Europe have drawn attention following reports that the Polish presidency is considering a strategic alignment with pro-Russian far-right political factions.

These geopolitical shifts occur against the backdrop of continued escalation in Ukraine, where a recent Russian drone attack targeted the city of Dnipro. Local reports confirm that the strike killed at least 14 people and inflicted extensive damage on municipal infrastructure.

Sources: Iltalehti.

Portugal's parliament has rejected a motion of censure brought by the far-right Chega party against the minority government. The vote followed a three-hour parliamentary debate, during which the ruling coalition voted against the measure while the opposition Socialist Party abstained, securing the government's survival.

The motion targeted controversies surrounding the Minister of Internal Administration. Closing the debate, Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro criticized Chega for proposing a measure bound for defeat, while also questioning the Socialists' position. Leitão Amaro suggested the public would pass a "political judgment" on Chega and affirmed that the administration will maintain its strategy of building case-by-case legislative majorities without designated partners.

Sources: Diário de Notícias (DN), Expresso, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

An international journalistic investigation led by Forbidden Stories revealed that the U.S. government transferred over 25,000 migrants and asylum seekers to 28 third countries under undisclosed bilateral agreements. Internal State Department documents show that approximately 20,000 individuals were sent by bus to Mexico, while more than 5,000 were flown to foreign nations with which they had no prior connections. Some deportees had previously received legal protection from U.S. immigration courts.

Following the revelations, more than a dozen United Nations human rights experts urged Washington to immediately halt third-country transfers, warning that individuals face heightened risks of abuse, torture, and persecution. Concurrently, human rights organisations expressed concern over plans to deport hundreds of detained Afghans to Pakistan, raising fears of their eventual return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Sources: Avaz, Danas, Index, Klix, Vijesti.