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ExxonMobil Weighs Sale of European Chemical Plants Amid Tariff Pressure

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ExxonMobil is exploring the sale of its chemical plants in the UK and Belgium, as Europe’s chemicals industry struggles with the impact of U.S. tariffs and growing competition from low-cost Chinese imports, the Financial Times reported. The potential deal, which could raise up to $1 billion, remains at an early stage, with Exxon holding discussions with advisers in recent weeks, according to people familiar with the matter.

The U.S. energy giant operates an ethylene plant in Fife, Scotland, along with several production facilities in Belgium, and has reportedly also considered shutting them down. The European sector continues to face pressure from disrupted trade flows, delayed orders, and a lingering fallout from the 2022 energy crisis. Exxon, however, told the FT it does not comment on “rumours or speculation.”

Other global players are also scaling back in Europe. LyondellBasell (LYB.N) has sold some of its olefin and polyolefin assets earlier this year, while Sabic is shrinking its regional footprint. In May, Exxon entered exclusive talks to divest its majority-owned French unit Esso (ESSF.PA). Industry analysts note that any potential deal could take time, with no certainty a sale will go through.

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Russia Denies Role in GPS Jamming of EU Chief’s Plane

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Russia has dismissed allegations that it was behind the jamming of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s airplane, calling the claims baseless and paranoid. The denial came from Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Thursday, following reports of suspected interference.

An EU spokesperson earlier stated that von der Leyen’s plane experienced GPS disruptions while en route to Bulgaria on Sunday. The spokesperson added that European authorities suspected Russian involvement in the incident, raising concerns over aviation security and potential geopolitical motives.

Moscow, however, has rejected the accusations outright. Zakharova emphasized that the narrative was fabricated and fueled by paranoia, accusing European officials of spreading disinformation. The latest exchange adds to already tense relations between Russia and the European Union amid ongoing political and security disputes.

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UK Regulator Probes $2.4 Billion Healthcare Property Deal

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Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into Primary Health Properties’ (PHP) $2.4 billion acquisition of rival Assura, a leading healthcare real estate investor. The regulator said it was assessing whether the deal could result in a “substantial lessening of competition” in the UK healthcare property market.

PHP completed the takeover of Assura in August, following a prolonged bidding battle with U.S. private equity firm KKR. The acquisition valued Assura at 53.3 pence per share, comprising 0.3865 new PHP shares, 12.5 pence in cash per share, and a special dividend of 0.84 pence. Both companies have yet to comment on the regulator’s review.

Assura currently manages more than 600 healthcare properties, with the National Health Service among its key clients. The CMA has set October 29 as the deadline for its decision on the initial phase of the inquiry.

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French Actor Gerard Depardieu to Face Trial on 2018 Rape Charges

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French film icon Gerard Depardieu, 76, will stand trial on charges of raping actress Charlotte Arnould in 2018, marking another major setback to his career following a sexual assault conviction earlier this year. Arnould, then in her early 20s, alleged that the assaults took place on two separate occasions at Depardieu’s Paris home. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that an investigating judge has referred the case to court, though no trial date has been set.

Arnould, now 29 and a theatre and voice actress, expressed relief over the ruling in an Instagram post, calling it “huge” and criticizing Depardieu’s previous courtroom defense, where his lawyer labeled her a liar. She has since become a prominent voice in France’s #MeToo movement, advocating for victims of sexual violence and accountability in the film industry.

Depardieu, one of French cinema’s most recognizable figures since his breakthrough in the 1970s, has faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct in recent years. In May, he received an 18-month suspended prison sentence for sexually assaulting two women on a film set, a verdict his lawyer vowed to appeal. Arnould’s case, initially dropped in 2018, was reopened in 2020 and formally sent to trial in 2022. Depardieu has denied all wrongdoing.

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Silent March in Belgrade Demands Elections After Railway Station Tragedy

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Tens of thousands of people staged a silent march in Belgrade on Monday to honor the 16 victims of a collapsed roof at the city’s renovated railway station and to demand snap elections aimed at unseating President Aleksandar Vucic and his ruling SNS party. Sixteen high school pupils led the procession across Savski Trg square, each carrying a white rose as the names of the victims were read aloud.

The demonstration, organized by students, also spread to towns including Novi Sad, Kragujevac, and Aleksinac. Protesters accused government-linked corruption of causing the disaster and said only early elections could bring accountability. “Corruption is the root of all problems in our society. Elections can be the only solution,” said Srdjan, a 35-year-old scientist attending the march.

Months of protests have rattled Vucic’s government since the November tragedy, with mostly peaceful rallies occasionally turning violent, most notably on August 13 when clashes injured police and civilians. Opposition groups, students, and watchdogs accuse Vucic of ties to organized crime, political intimidation, and suppressing media freedoms—charges the president and his allies strongly deny.

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France’s National Rally Prepares for Snap Elections as Bayrou Faces Confidence Vote

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France’s far-right National Rally (RN) signaled on Monday that it is preparing for potential snap elections, warning that Prime Minister Francois Bayrou’s efforts to save his minority government are unlikely to succeed. Bayrou faces a September 8 confidence vote after unexpectedly announcing it last week in a bid to push through unpopular budget-tightening plans for 2026.

RN president Jordan Bardella said the party “must be ready for anything, including a return to the ballot box,” and revealed that 85% of RN’s candidates have already been selected. Marine Le Pen, despite being barred from standing for election due to a conviction for embezzling EU funds, remains the party’s dominant figure and said she and Bardella would meet Bayrou out of courtesy but expect little from the talks.

With opposition parties including the Socialists and Communists committed to voting against Bayrou, his government’s collapse appears imminent. If defeated, President Emmanuel Macron could either appoint a new prime minister, retain Bayrou in a caretaker role, or dissolve parliament for new elections. While Macron previously ruled out early polls, fresh elections could further fragment parliament, with RN poised to gain strength.

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Domino’s Pizza Reaffirms Earnings Outlook, Launches £20M Share Buyback

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Britain’s Domino’s Pizza Group has reaffirmed its annual earnings forecast while announcing a £20 million ($27 million) share buyback programme on Monday. The company recently lowered its 2025 core profit guidance to between £130 million and £140 million, down from the earlier forecast of £141 million to £150 million, citing rising costs and subdued consumer demand.

UK consumers have been tightening their budgets amid persistent inflation, unpredictable weather, and higher prices as companies pass on additional costs. Domino’s CEO Andrew Rennie said in August that the company would raise prices to help offset increasing wage bills and higher National Insurance contributions.

Despite these challenges, analysts at Peel Hunt remain optimistic, expecting Domino’s like-for-like sales to recover next year. They point to the benefits of the company’s loyalty programme expansion, the FIFA World Cup, and improved weather conditions as potential drivers of growth.

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Suspect Arrested in Murder of Former Ukrainian Speaker Andriy Parubiy

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Monday that a suspect has been arrested in the murder of former parliamentary speaker Andriy Parubiy, who was shot dead in the western city of Lviv on Saturday. Calling it a “horrific murder” and a matter of national security, Zelenskiy confirmed that the suspect has already given initial testimony, and urgent investigative actions are underway to establish the full circumstances.

Parubiy, 54, served as Ukraine’s parliamentary speaker from April 2016 to August 2019 and was a key figure in the 2013–14 protests that pushed for closer ties with the European Union. His killing has sent shockwaves across the country, already struggling under the strain of Russia’s ongoing invasion. Zelenskiy expressed gratitude to law enforcement agencies for their swift and coordinated response.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the alleged shooter was detained overnight in the Khmelnytskyi region of western Ukraine. He noted that the crime appeared to be meticulously planned, with the victim’s movements tracked, a route mapped, and an escape strategy prepared. Authorities have withheld further details while the investigation continues.

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Russian Missile Strikes Kill 23 in Kyiv, Damage EU and British Offices

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Russia unleashed one of its heaviest missile and drone barrages on Ukraine’s capital, killing at least 23 people and wounding dozens in a night of explosions that rattled every district of Kyiv. Mayor Vitali Klitschko called it one of the biggest assaults in recent months, with residential buildings, energy facilities, and foreign offices including those of the European Union, Britain, Turkey, and Azerbaijan damaged in the strikes. Ukraine’s military said the country was hit in 13 locations, causing widespread power cuts.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the attack as Moscow’s rejection of peace efforts, just two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss ending the war. “Russia chooses ballistics instead of the negotiating table,” Zelenskiy said, calling for new sanctions. The European Union and Britain summoned Russian envoys to protest the strikes, while EU chief Ursula von der Leyen pledged a 19th sanctions package and reiterated efforts to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.

The White House said Trump was “not happy but not surprised” by the attack, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noting that “perhaps both sides of this war are not ready to end it themselves.” Despite Moscow’s claims that it targeted military-industrial sites, Ukrainian officials said the strikes once again demonstrated Russia’s deliberate targeting of civilians and infrastructure. Ukraine’s air defences shot down most incoming weapons, destroying 563 drones and 26 missiles, while Ukrainian drones retaliated with strikes on Russian oil refineries.

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Denmark Summons U.S. Diplomat Over Alleged Influence Operations in Greenland

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Denmark’s foreign minister has summoned the top U.S. diplomat in Copenhagen following intelligence reports alleging covert influence operations by American citizens in Greenland. According to public broadcaster DR, at least three individuals with ties to former President Donald Trump’s administration are suspected of encouraging opposition to Danish rule and promoting the idea of Greenland’s secession to the United States.

Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen denounced the alleged efforts as “completely unacceptable,” warning that any attempts to create a “fifth column” undermine relations between Denmark and Greenland. “It is important for us to speak out very clearly against the United States,” Rasmussen said, stressing that such activities go against the principles of state cooperation. The U.S. embassy in Copenhagen has not yet commented, while a White House official dismissed Denmark’s concerns, saying: “We think the Danes need to calm down.”

Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory with vast mineral resources and strategic Arctic positioning, has long been of interest to Washington. Trump’s earlier proposal to purchase Greenland was rejected by both Copenhagen and Nuuk, although independence remains a live issue in local politics. Danish intelligence services have cautioned that Greenland continues to be a target of foreign influence campaigns, while Greenlandic leaders have reiterated that the island’s future will be determined solely by its people.

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