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US Bars Former EU Commissioner and Activists in Escalation Against European Tech Rules

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The United States has barred five European figures, including former EU commissioner Thierry Breton, from entering the country, accusing them of pressuring technology companies to censor or suppress American viewpoints. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the individuals led organised efforts to coerce US platforms through regulations targeting disinformation, framing the move as a defence of free speech against foreign influence.

The visa bans are the latest step in the Trump administration’s pushback against European Union regulations such as the Digital Services Act (DSA), which seeks to curb hate speech and misinformation online. Washington argues that the law unfairly targets American companies and restricts free expression. Rubio described the actions of the targeted individuals and organisations as part of a broader campaign by “weaponised NGOs” and foreign states to impose censorship on US speakers and businesses.

Those named include Imran Ahmed of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, HateAid leaders Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, Global Disinformation Index head Clare Melford, and Breton, whom US officials labelled a key architect of the DSA. The move, which uses immigration law rather than sanctions, drew sharp criticism from those affected, with responses calling the decision authoritarian and an attack on free speech, even as European officials and activists warned of rising tensions over digital governance.

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Broken Promises Leave Indian Students in Berlin Facing Deportation Instead of Degrees

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Hundreds of Indian students enrolled at Berlin’s International University (IU) are facing deportation after German authorities questioned the validity of the university’s study format, turning their academic aspirations into uncertainty and distress. Many students, who paid high tuition fees and took loans to study in Germany, have received notices asking them to leave the country, as their programmes are no longer recognised as full-time, in-person studies eligible for student visas.

Deep Shambarkar, a 25-year-old master’s student from Maharashtra, invested nearly €20,000 in his business management degree but now faces removal instead of graduation. Authorities reportedly do not recognise IU’s hybrid teaching model as sufficient for residence permits, prompting similar action against an estimated 300 students. While some students from wealthier backgrounds managed to transfer or return home, others have been left stranded, financially burdened and emotionally distressed.

IU said it regrets the situation and blamed a sudden policy shift by Berlin’s immigration office regarding hybrid programmes. While courts have upheld IU’s accreditation, they also imposed stricter attendance and examination requirements, deepening uncertainty. As IU pauses new international admissions in Berlin, affected students continue to battle legal, financial and psychological hardship, with many describing the experience as devastating and life-altering.

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Bomb Blast in Moscow Kills Two Police Officers Near Site of General’s Assassination

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A bomb explosion in Moscow on Wednesday killed two police officers and another person near the site where a senior Russian general was assassinated earlier this week, Russian authorities said. The blast occurred when the officers approached a man behaving suspiciously, close to the location where Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov was killed by a car bomb two days ago.

Russia’s State Investigative Committee said the explosive device detonated as the officers confronted the suspect, resulting in three deaths. Criminal cases have been opened under charges related to the murder of law enforcement personnel and the illegal trafficking of explosives. Officials did not identify the third victim, while reports from unofficial Russian Telegram channels suggested the bomber may have been among those killed—claims Reuters could not independently verify.

The incident comes amid a series of assassinations targeting Russian military figures and prominent supporters of the war in Ukraine during the nearly four-year conflict. Moscow has accused Ukrainian intelligence of orchestrating several such attacks, including the killing of General Sarvarov, though Kyiv has not officially commented on the latest explosion.

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Pope Leo Voices Sadness Over Russia’s Rejection of Christmas Ceasefire

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Pope Leo has expressed deep sadness over Russia’s refusal to agree to a Christmas ceasefire in its nearly four-year-long war with Ukraine. Speaking to journalists outside his residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, the pontiff said the decision was particularly disheartening given the symbolic importance of Christmas as a time for peace and reflection.

The Pope appealed once again to global leaders and “people of good will” to respect at least Christmas Day as a pause in hostilities. He urged all sides involved in conflicts to consider a temporary ceasefire, even if only for 24 hours, as a gesture of humanity and compassion during the Christian holy period.

Pope Leo, the first pontiff from the United States, said he hoped his renewed appeal would be heard and lead to a brief moment of peace, not only in Ukraine but across the world. His comments come amid continued fighting and international calls for restraint during the festive season.

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Paramount’s Warner Bros Bid Faces Investor Pushback

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Paramount Skydance’s latest $108.4 billion offer to acquire Warner Bros Discovery has been deemed insufficient by major shareholder Harris Oakmark. Owning roughly 4% of Warner Bros shares, the investor emphasized that while Paramount’s amended bid addressed some concerns, it still falls short of providing adequate incentive, leaving the two competing offers — Paramount’s and Netflix’s — as a “toss-up” for shareholders.

The revised Paramount offer includes a $40.4 billion personal guarantee from Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and an increased breakup fee of $5.8 billion if regulators block the deal. However, the $30-per-share bid remains unchanged, prompting Warner Bros’ board to recommend shareholders reject Paramount’s earlier offer in favor of Netflix, whose bid of $23.25 per share is seen as more secure and includes additional Netflix stock and benefits from the Discovery Global spin-off.

Investors highlight the value of Warner Bros’ premium media assets, including HBO Max and major franchises like Harry Potter and Superman. While some, like Thomas Poehling, may accept Paramount’s revised offer if Netflix doesn’t counter, many others are likely to follow the board’s guidance, reflecting both the complexity of the deal and the importance of stable financing in determining the outcome.

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Russia Intensifies Drone and Missile Strikes on Ukraine’s Odesa Region

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Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, targeting port infrastructure and causing widespread power outages, Ukrainian officials said. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba described the strikes as “systematic,” warning that Moscow’s military focus may be shifting towards Odesa, a vital hub for Ukraine’s maritime trade. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the assaults aim to block Ukraine’s access to sea-based logistics.

In recent days, Russian drone and missile strikes have damaged civilian vessels, warehouses, and port facilities, disrupting electricity supplies for tens of thousands of residents. Regional authorities reported casualties, including deaths from a ballistic missile strike on the Pivdenniy port, while another attack temporarily cut the only bridge linking Odesa with Moldova. Fires at port facilities also destroyed large quantities of grain-related cargo, adding to economic losses.

Odesa has become strategically critical for Ukraine as other southern ports remain inaccessible due to Russian occupation. Despite the ongoing war, the city serves as a key launch point for a maritime corridor that allows Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea. Zelensky said continued Russian attacks show Moscow has no intention of ending its aggression, as diplomatic efforts led by the United States failed to make significant progress toward peace.

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Samsung’s Harman to Acquire ZF’s ADAS Business in $1.8 Billion Deal

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Samsung Electronics on Tuesday announced that its subsidiary Harman will acquire the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) business of Germany’s ZF Friedrichshafen in a deal valued at about $1.8 billion. The acquisition will allow Harman to integrate autonomous driving technologies with its existing in-car audio solutions, enabling the development of next-generation connected vehicle platforms.

The deal will give Harman access to key ADAS technologies, including front-facing vehicle cameras, sensors, and ADAS controllers, marking Samsung’s full-scale entry into the fast-growing driver assistance market. ADAS uses camera and sensor systems to detect lanes, vehicles, and pedestrians, helping improve road safety as vehicles become increasingly software-driven.

The acquisition highlights Samsung’s strategy to diversify beyond smartphones and memory chips by strengthening its presence in automotive electronics. Samsung estimates the global market for ADAS and central vehicle controllers will grow from 62.6 trillion won in 2025 to 97.4 trillion won by 2030. The transaction, expected to close in 2026, follows other major Samsung deals this year as the company invests aggressively in future growth areas.

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Kushner Exit From Serbia Project Raises Investment Concerns, Says Ruling Party

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Serbia risks losing vital foreign investment following the decision by Jared Kushner’s firm, Affinity Global Development, to withdraw from a major luxury real estate project in Belgrade, according to an official from the country’s ruling party. Milos Vucevic, head of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), warned that the move sends a negative signal to international investors and could benefit other Balkan nations instead.

Affinity Global Development had planned to build a large-scale complex including a hotel, apartments, offices and retail spaces on the site of the former Yugoslav army headquarters in central Belgrade, under a 99-year lease agreement signed last year. However, the project faced strong public opposition, with critics arguing the site should be preserved as a memorial for victims of the 1999 NATO bombing. The plans also became entangled in a corruption investigation linked to the removal of the buildings’ protected status.

Vucevic said protests and political pressure ultimately discouraged investors, claiming the withdrawal reflects poorly on Serbia’s investment climate. He added that Kushner is instead pursuing a separate development project in Albania. Serbian prosecutors last week indicted three officials, including a minister, over alleged illegal actions that enabled the project to move forward. Affinity Global Development has not commented, and there is no indication of wrongdoing by Kushner or his firm.

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Protests Erupt in Albania Over Deputy Prime Minister’s Corruption Charges

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Protests erupted in Tirana, Albania, as demonstrators hurled petrol bombs at the government building housing Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office. The unrest follows the indictment of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku on allegations of corruption, accused of using state funds to favor certain companies in major infrastructure projects.

Balluku, who also leads the Ministry of Infrastructure, dismissed the accusations in parliament as “mudslinging, insinuations, half-truths and lies,” and pledged full cooperation with the judiciary. The Special Prosecution Office has requested that parliament lift her immunity to allow for her arrest, though no vote date has been confirmed.

Police in riot gear protected the government building but did not actively confront protesters. Citizens expressed outrage over alleged theft of tens or hundreds of millions of euros, demanding Balluku’s resignation amid escalating political tensions.

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Spain’s Christmas Lottery Brings Joy and Relief to Wildfire-Hit León

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Spain’s iconic Christmas lottery, El Gordo, distributed a massive €2.77 billion in prize money on Monday, spreading cheer across the country and offering particular relief to residents of León province, which was badly affected by wildfires earlier this year. Many winners of the top prize were based in the region, prompting emotional reactions from locals who described the windfall as a rare moment of hope after months of hardship.

The state-run draw, whose prize pot increased from last year’s €2.70 billion, was held at Madrid’s Teatro Real and broadcast nationwide. In keeping with a tradition that dates back more than two centuries, pupils from the San Ildefonso school sang out the winning numbers while drawing them from two revolving globes, officially ushering in Spain’s festive season. Large crowds gathered at the venue, many wearing Santa hats, traditional outfits and carrying lucky charms.

The ceremony was briefly disrupted when a small group of protesters voiced pro-Palestinian slogans inside the theatre, but the draw soon continued as planned. In the weeks leading up to El Gordo, lottery excitement grips Spain, with families, friends and colleagues pooling money to buy tickets together. On average, Spaniards spend about €66.6 on tickets, with the popular €20 “decimo” offering holders a chance to win a share of the world’s largest lottery payout.

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