Threads
Stories that unfold over weeks: where things stand, what has changed and what comes next.
Latest changes
Tuesday 13 October
France's Barrot accuses Musk of harassment campaigns ahead of 2027 election
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on 13 October that Elon Musk's activity on X amounts to massive online harassment campaigns against European leaders.
IMF forecasts 3.1% global growth in 2026, warns resilience nears its limits
The IMF projected global growth of 3.1% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027, presented in Bangkok on 13 October. It warned that the Middle East energy squeeze and dependence on the AI boom leave the world economy exposed ahead of the annual meetings.
Four telecoms explore joint 2 GHz spectrum bid to reduce Starlink reliance
Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Vodafone and Telefónica are in preliminary talks on a joint approach to 2 GHz frequencies, as EU telecom ministers met in Limerick on 13 October. The aim is to lessen European dependence on Starlink.
CPK applies for over €63 million in EU rail grants
CPK submitted three applications to the European Commission under the Connecting Europe Facility for more than €63 million. The requests cover the Łódź tunnel section of the Polish high-speed line and cross-border planning.
Microsoft unveils Maia 300 AI chip built on TSMC 2-nanometer technology
Microsoft unveiled Maia 300, its third-generation custom AI chip, which uses TSMC 2-nanometer technology in its central processor. Multi-gigawatt deployments are set to begin in 2027, with more than a million chips possible, extending Microsoft's in-house silicon push.
Monday 12 October
India says two crew missing after drone hits MT Petro Dolphin near Hormuz
India's Foreign Ministry said on 12 October that two of the 11 Indian crew aboard the MT Petro Dolphin are missing after a drone struck the vessel in the Strait of Hormuz area, adding to pressure for coordinated maritime security.
UK AI Security Institute regains pre-release access to frontier models
Britain's AI Security Institute regained access to the latest advanced models on 12 October after talks with the US government and developers including Google. Minister Kanishka Narayan said it is evaluating Google's Gemini 4 Argon, under voluntary agreements.
Sikorski urges NATO to prepare response to deadly Russian sabotage
Polish foreign minister Radosław Sikorski said NATO members should prepare a firm response if Russian sabotage kills people. He called for closing Russian consulates and cutting visas for Russians.
IMF chief warns AI could affect 40% of jobs worldwide
IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said in Bangkok on 12 October that AI could affect 40% of jobs worldwide, calling it a slow-moving tsunami. She said AI investment is holding global growth near 3% while threatening labour markets, tax revenues and education.
Meta releases Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full frontier models
Meta released Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full on 12 October, two models it says score nearly as well as Anthropic's most advanced systems, as it tries to catch up with rivals after setbacks in its AI division.
Trump's NATO envoy says US weighs shifting military assets eastward
Matthew Whitaker, Trump's NATO envoy, said Washington is reviewing its global commitments and considering moving military assets from western to eastern Europe. No relocation or withdrawal was announced. He also criticised allies below 2% defence spending, including Czechia.
German Labour Minister Bärbel Bas resigns amid coalition attacks
Labour Minister and SPD co-leader Bärbel Bas resigned on 12 October after open attacks from coalition partners, Reuters reported. Chancellor Merz said the change would not alter the coalition agreement, as the government faces pressure from AfD gains in eastern state elections.
Committee of the Regions warns budget cuts would weaken climate adaptation
The European Committee of the Regions said on 12 October that the negotiating position for the next EU budget contains deep cuts to environment and climate funding, including National and Regional Partnership Plans.
Kremlin withholds confirmation of energy truce and rejects Zelenskyy's 60-day ceasefire
Moscow did not confirm the energy ceasefire Trump announced and said it prefers lasting peace to any ceasefire. Hours after the announcement, Russia bombed a thermal power plant near Kharkiv, according to RFI, and Zelenskyy accused Russia of violating the pause.
NATO commander presents plan to block a Russian attack on Europe
Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO's top military commander, outlined the alliance's new military plan in Warsaw on 12 October, designed to block and blunt a potential Russian attack on Europe.
Polish Pegasus commission refers 11 former officials, including Ziobro, to prosecutors
The Sejm commission investigating Pegasus sent prosecutors notifications of possible offences concerning 11 people, including former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro. It says the spyware ran without the required security accreditation and that data left Polish territory.
Montenegro closes three negotiating chapters, accession treaty drafting begins
Montenegro closed three EU accession negotiating chapters on 12 October, and work began on drafting an accession treaty. Membership still requires approval from all 27 member states, leaving each capital a veto at ratification.
Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia condemn Houthi Riyadh airport attacks
Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia issued a joint statement on 12 October calling the Houthi attacks on Riyadh's airport a dangerous escalation. They backed Saudi measures to deter further strikes and demanded an immediate, unconditional end to the attacks.
Commission warns platforms over livestreaming planned US execution
The European Commission said on 12 October that platforms could face Digital Services Act action if they livestream a planned US execution.
Microsoft's Brad Smith calls for independent AI evaluation and emergency brakes
Microsoft president Brad Smith said in a BBC interview on 12 October that AI faces weaker rules than food or appliances.
Tusk keeps Polish schools under police watch, summons platforms for 16 October
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on 12 October that schools will stay under special supervision with police patrols. Police reported 135 detentions nationwide, and the digital minister summoned major platforms to a meeting on Friday, 16 October.
Commission says it will propose China-dependence trade-defence measures in December
The European Commission said on 12 October it will propose trade-defence initiatives in December to reduce EU dependence on China for critical supplies, following the hybrid-car understanding. The hybrid cap is reportedly expected to apply from early December.
EU caps Chinese hybrid imports at 350,000 a year under deal with Beijing
The EU-China arrangement sets an annual quota of 350,000 hybrid and plug-in-hybrid cars, after which no extra vehicles can enter the market. The mechanism could start on 1 December if the whole EU bloc backs it.
Polish commander expects delays in US Patriot interceptor deliveries
Gen. Ireneusz Nowak, Poland's operational commander, said on 12 October that US deliveries of Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptors will be late. The Baltic states face the same delays, and HIMARS contracts are also uncertain, which affects eastern-flank air defence planning.
US officials reportedly threaten to suspend NATO's PURL weapons programme over refinery strikes
The Trump administration contacted Kyiv and European capitals about potentially suspending NATO's PURL programme, which coordinates allied funding for US weapons for Ukraine, to pressure Ukraine over strikes on Russian refineries, the Financial Times reported, as republished by Deutsche Welle on 12 October.
Novak says Russian diesel exports could exceed levels in Trump's arrangement
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on 12 October that Russia's diesel exports could rise above the volumes publicly tied to Trump's proposed arrangement. Exports had fallen after Ukrainian refinery attacks and Moscow's restrictions on overseas sales.
Houthis say Saudi airstrikes hit Sana'a districts after Riyadh airport attacks
The Houthis said Saudi airstrikes struck the Hamdan and Thourah districts of Sana'a early on 12 October. Saudi authorities did not immediately comment. The reported retaliation followed Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi airports.
Germany detains two Turkish citizens over Starlink station arson near Warsaw
German police detained two Turkish citizens suspected of setting fire to a Starlink ground station in Wola Krobowska, Poland, on 23 September. Both await handover to Polish authorities under a European Arrest Warrant, and Polish officials blame Russian services.
Bardella and Abascal visit Ceuta, call for tougher migration policy before Spanish vote
France's National Rally leader Jordan Bardella and Vox leader Santiago Abascal visited Ceuta on 12 October, warning that the enclave will become the "future of Europe" if borders are not retaken. The visit came weeks before Spain's 29 November election.
US envoy Whitaker urges NATO to move forces eastward
US envoy Matthew Whitaker told the Warsaw Security Forum on 12 October that NATO needs upgraded bases, fuel networks and troop-stationing agreements to shift forces from Western to Eastern Europe, and ranked Europe fourth among US priorities.
Commission objects to over €22bn cut in EU budget reserves
The Commission told EU ambassadors on 12 October that the Irish presidency's cuts of more than €22 billion to reserve funds would leave the Union less able to respond to future crises, sharpening the dispute over the 2028–2034 budget ahead of the summit.
Five ballistic missiles hit Kyiv with no partner warning, Zelensky says
Five ballistic missiles struck civilian infrastructure in Kyiv on the evening of 12 October, and Zelensky said Ukraine received no advance warning from partners. A separate drone strike hit a 25-storey residential building in the capital.
Sejm Pegasus commission refers 11 former officials, including Ziobro, to prosecutors
The Sejm commission investigating Pegasus spyware said it ran without the required security accreditation and that data left Polish territory. It sent notifications of possible offences to prosecutors concerning 11 people, including former justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro.
EU foreign ministers approve about 1,600 new Russia sanctions listings
EU foreign ministers formally approved about 1,600 new listings on 12 October targeting Russia's war-linked military industry, lifting the total of people and entities sanctioned over the war in Ukraine to nearly 4,600.
Selma Blair pleads not guilty to two assault counts in Queens
Blair pleaded not guilty on 12 October to two counts of second-degree assault in Queens, covering alleged attacks on a police officer and a nurse. A judge set bail at $20,000 cash or a $60,000 bond, and the FBI separately issued a summons over the in-flight allegations.
Trump says China and Russia are not helping Iran in its war with the US
Trump said late on 12 October that Beijing and Moscow have too much to lose to help Tehran and would be found out quickly. The post came as criticism mounted over his diesel agreement with Russia.
Sunday 11 October
DIICOT freezes Georgescu's Mogoșoaia villa in fraud probe
DIICOT placed a precautionary freeze on Georgescu's Mogoșoaia property as part of the investigation into the alleged €1.1 million fraud scheme, securing an asset tied to the case.
Ukrainian drones halt Yandex data center in Vladimir
Ukrainian drones struck a Yandex data center in Vladimir overnight, knocking out Alisa, Yandex Go and other services in several Russian regions, including Siberia. Russia's defence ministry claimed 479 Ukrainian drones were downed the same night.
Houthi attack on Riyadh airport kills 12, injures over 300
An attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed 12 people and injured more than 300, Reuters reported.
Bucharest court orders 30 days of preventive detention for Georgescu
The Bucharest Court of Appeal placed former presidential candidate Călin Georgescu in 30-day preventive detention over allegations of defrauding a businessman of €1.1 million, following DIICOT's earlier 24-hour custody and five property searches.