Morning opening: Drones should not going away anytime quickly
Jakub Krupa
Airspace over the Danish metropolis of Aalborg was briefly closed once more final evening after unconfirmed reviews of drone sightings. Whereas no drones had been finally discovered, it exhibits how Denmark is on the sting after repeated incidents this week.
Mild-emitting object flies away as Denmark airport closes resulting from drones – video
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen conceded earlier that “there could also be extra to come back,” as she laid naked the problem these hybrid assaults pose for the nation in a uncommon TV tackle.
She conceded that the latest occasions confirmed “vulnerabilities” in Denmark’s vital infrastructure, however urged residents to not give in to “insecurity and division” they had been meant to create.
“One time it is likely to be drones; one other – cyber-attacks, what we name disinformation, influencing elections or conspiracy theories you learn on-line. However it doesn’t matter what methodology we use, the aim is similar: they need to destabilise our society they usually need us to not belief out authorities,” she warned.
I take into account it a brand new actuality that Denmark and Europe are beneath extra violent and frequent hybrid assaults.
In a stark warning, she conceded that Europeans are prone to expertise extra sabotage and assaults, together with on undersea cables or “direct assaults on European democracies, as we are actually seeing within the small nation of Moldova” which holds a key election this weekend.
As different officers earlier than her, Frederiksen steered away from formally assigning duty for the drone sightings to any specific actor, however she stated “we will no less than state that there’s primarily one nation that poses a risk to Europe’s safety, and that’s Russia.”
On Friday, Danish officers will be a part of 9 different international locations, together with Ukraine, for talks convened by the EU concerning the so-called “drone wall” that’s meant to assist international locations totally on the Jap flank of the bloc to defend themselves from the risk from the East.
I’ll convey you all the important thing updates right here.
It’s Friday, 26 September 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Stay.
Good morning.
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Up to date at 04.26 EDT
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European broadcasters to vote on expelling Israel from Eurovision 2026
Philip Oltermann
European tradition editor
In the meantime, the European Broadcasting Union has confirmed it would maintain an internet vote in November that would see the Israeli broadcaster Kan expelled from subsequent yr’s Eurovision track contest.
Yuval Raphael representing Israel walks on stage in the course of the Grand Remaining of the 69th Eurovision track contest opening ceremony at St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland. {Photograph}: Sebastian Reuter/Getty Photos
In a letter despatched to taking part broadcasters on Thursday, the EBU president, Delphine Ernotte Cunci, wrote there was an “unprecedented range of views” on Israel’s participation in Eurovision, and the difficulty required “a broader democratic foundation”.
In an announcement, the EBU stated:
“We are able to affirm {that a} letter has been despatched from the chief board of the European Broadcasting Union to administrators normal of all our members informing them {that a} vote on participation within the Eurovision track contest 2026 will happen at a rare assembly of the EBU’s normal meeting to be held on-line in early November.”
The choice comes after a number of European broadcasters, together with these from Spain, the Netherlands, Eire, Iceland and Slovenia, threatened to boycott the following version of the world’s largest stay music occasion if Israel was allowed to participate.
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Trump’s risk of tariffs on prescription drugs triggers recent uncertainty in Europe
Lisa O’Carroll
Donald Trump’s in a single day risk to impose 100% tariffs on prescription drugs from firms not primarily based within the US has been met with recent uncertainty throughout Europe.
The Germans and the EU vast commerce physique have expressed concern whereas Eire and Brussels says it stays assured that the 15% tariff price agreed in July will apply to European medication exported to the US.
A pharmacist getting prescription medicines from the cabinets in a pharmacy, UK {Photograph}: Imagedoc/Alamy
The risk additionally brings recent threats to exports from the UK, which continues to be ready to seal a deal delivering Trump’s pledge to offer it “preferential remedy” promised way back to 8 Could, may very well be snared by any new tariffs.
The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations stated “pressing discussions” had been wanted to make clear Trump’s intentions reiterating its place that tariffs on medicines might “improve prices, disrupt provide chains and stop sufferers from getting life saving therapies”.
Nathalie Moll, director normal, EFPIA stated:
“The EU and US have already got a commerce settlement in place; pressing discussions are wanted on easy methods to keep away from any tariffs on medicines that hurt sufferers within the EU and the US.”
Germany’s VFA commerce affiliation stated on Friday the US deal might hit Germany-based pharmaceutical companies laborious and would violate earlier transatlantic commerce agreements. Round 25% of Germany pharma exports go to the US, value about €27bn in 2024, it added.
Eire and Germany are two of the three EU international locations with surplus buying and selling relationships with the US and each giant pharma industries.
Eire’s deputy prime minister Simon Harris stated the federal government could be “finding out the affect” of the announcement however harassed that the joint assertion on 21 August concerning the EU US tariff deal “made completely clear that any new tariffs introduced by the US on prescription drugs beneath its Part 232 investigation could be capped at 15% for pharma merchandise being exported by the EU.”
EU commerce spokesperson Olof Gill confirmed this was additionally the view in Brussels: “This clear all-inclusive 15% tariff ceiling for EU exports represents an insurance coverage coverage that no increased tariffs will emerge for European financial operators”.
The brand new tariff risk comes simply days after the US additionally opened a piece 232 investigation into medical gadgets that may embrace something from stents for the guts to prosthetic hips, X-ray machines and pacemakers.
In the meantime, the UK authorities stated it was urgent for clarification over Donald Trump’s risk to impose new 100% tariff on pharma imports.
Trump promised the UK “preferential remedy” on pharma tariffs way back to Could however has but to ship on the pledge.”
“We all know this can be regarding for business, which is why we’ve been actively participating with the US and can proceed to take action over the approaching days,” a British authorities spokesperson stated.
“Sectors similar to prescription drugs are vital to our financial system… so we’ll proceed to press the US for outcomes that replicate the energy of our relationship and ship actual advantages for UK business.”
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Germany’s Merz backs proposals for reparations mortgage to Ukraine secured towards Russian frozen belongings
Jennifer Rankin
in Brussels
The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has thrown his weight behind proposals for a mortgage for Ukraine secured towards billions of Russian belongings frozen within the EU.
In a major intervention that would open the door to large funding for Ukraine, the German chancellor stated “a brand new impetus” was wanted to vary Russia’s calculations.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Friedrich Merz give a press assertion on the Federal Chancellery in Berlin {Photograph}: Motion Press/Shutterstock
Writing within the Monetary Occasions, he proposed an interest-free EU mortgage of €140bn to Ukraine that will in the end be repaid by Russia, as soon as Moscow has paid reparations to Kyiv.
France, Germany and Belgium, the place €183bn of Russian central financial institution belongings are frozen at Brussels-based Euroclear, have lengthy resisted calls from central and japanese European international locations to grab Russian funds that had been immobilised quickly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
To interrupt the impasse, the European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen earlier this month proposed a reparations mortgage to Ukraine secured towards the Russian billions, which might stay untouched. Ukraine would solely pay again the mortgage as soon as Russia pays reparations for the colossal harm inflicted by greater than 1,300 days of conflict.
Merz wrote that Germany remained cautious on confiscating the Russian central financial institution belongings “with good cause” citing worldwide regulation and the euro’s position as a reserve foreign money, however advised these points may very well be circumvented with out affecting property rights.
The chancellor stated he would talk about the plans with EU leaders subsequent week, with the intention of getting an settlement on a “legally safe” monetary instrument by an EU summit on the finish of October.
Merz wrote:
“In recent times, now we have typically performed it by ear. Now I’m advocating the mobilisation of economic sources on a scale that can safe Ukraine’s army resilience for a number of years.”
He harassed that the funds ought to be used solely to fund Ukraine’s defence, not normal spending. Different political leaders have argued Russia’s frozen asset ought to pay for the ever-growing price of rebuilding Ukraine.
Merz additionally advised the plan may very well be agreed by a big majority of EU member states, if unanimity was not doable, suggesting a method spherical a doable Hungarian veto.
Germany’s intervention is critical, however different member states will must be satisfied. Belgium has expressed scepticism concerning the reparations mortgage concept, whereas France has beforehand voiced opposition to proposals to grab the belongings.
The Belgian and French governments each maintain stakes in Euroclear and are involved about any motion towards the Russian belongings that would set off authorized circumstances towards the Brussels-based monetary establishment and endanger the standing of the euro as a reserve foreign money.
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Danish defence minister concedes response to drones was at instances too gradual
Danish defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated the police and the armed forces have been at instances gradual of their response to drone sightings this week, however insisted they “have improved and picked up the tempo” and there was no foundation for harsh criticism of the authorities.
Talking on morning TV present Go’ Morgen Danmark on TV2, he stated: “Are we excellent? No. Can we do extra? Sure,” TV2 reported.
He admitted that whereas Denmark has the expertise wanted to sort out drones, it “hasn’t labored properly sufficient” and must be improved.
He additionally disclosed that Denmark obtained some visible imagery of the drones, which might assist with figuring out the fashions seen in Danish airspace and who may very well be behind these incidents.
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Morning opening: Drones should not going away anytime quickly
Jakub Krupa
Airspace over the Danish metropolis of Aalborg was briefly closed once more final evening after unconfirmed reviews of drone sightings. Whereas no drones had been finally discovered, it exhibits how Denmark is on the sting after repeated incidents this week.
Mild-emitting object flies away as Denmark airport closes resulting from drones – video
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen conceded earlier that “there could also be extra to come back,” as she laid naked the problem these hybrid assaults pose for the nation in a uncommon TV tackle.
She conceded that the latest occasions confirmed “vulnerabilities” in Denmark’s vital infrastructure, however urged residents to not give in to “insecurity and division” they had been meant to create.
“One time it is likely to be drones; one other – cyber-attacks, what we name disinformation, influencing elections or conspiracy theories you learn on-line. However it doesn’t matter what methodology we use, the aim is similar: they need to destabilise our society they usually need us to not belief out authorities,” she warned.
I take into account it a brand new actuality that Denmark and Europe are beneath extra violent and frequent hybrid assaults.
In a stark warning, she conceded that Europeans are prone to expertise extra sabotage and assaults, together with on undersea cables or “direct assaults on European democracies, as we are actually seeing within the small nation of Moldova” which holds a key election this weekend.
As different officers earlier than her, Frederiksen steered away from formally assigning duty for the drone sightings to any specific actor, however she stated “we will no less than state that there’s primarily one nation that poses a risk to Europe’s safety, and that’s Russia.”
On Friday, Danish officers will be a part of 9 different international locations, together with Ukraine, for talks convened by the EU concerning the so-called “drone wall” that’s meant to assist international locations totally on the Jap flank of the bloc to defend themselves from the risk from the East.
I’ll convey you all the important thing updates right here.
It’s Friday, 26 September 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa right here, and that is Europe Stay.
Good morning.
Share
Up to date at 04.26 EDT
