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As of December 17, 2025, the EU remains deadlocked over a €90 billion 'reparations loan' to fund Ukraine's 2026-27 budget using frozen Russian assets, mostly held in Belgium's Euroclear. Belgium opposes the plan, fearing legal and financial risks, demanding guarantees from other EU states. The European Commission insists the plan is vital for Ukraine's defense and peace leverage, while Russia condemns it as theft and threatens retaliation.
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A man raised in south London discovers he has a biological brother living nearby after DNA tests reveal their shared Maltese heritage. Their emotional reunion follows years of mystery about their origins, culminating in a first meeting on Easter Sunday, decades after their biological families remained unaware of each other.
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UK holiday bookings are rising sharply, with 200,000 more bookings expected in January. Destinations are shifting towards quieter, long-haul locations, with early bookings for summer 2026 and 2027. Traditional hotspots remain popular, and travel patterns are evolving amid increased confidence and planning.
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The trial in Crotone examines the sinking of the Summer Love boat in 2023, which resulted in at least 35 deaths, including children. Prosecutors accuse authorities of neglect and failing to act on rescue alerts, amid broader concerns over European migration policies and systemic failures.
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A Ukrainian naval drone attacked the Russian-operated LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz near Malta, causing it to sink. All 30 crew members were rescued. The incident, claimed by Russia as terrorism, occurred off Libya's coast and is linked to Ukraine's ongoing maritime strikes against Russian energy assets under Western sanctions.