Russia has suffered its worst month for casualties since the start of the war in Ukraine, with an average of about 1,500 dead and injured per day in October, totaling 700,000 losses since February 2022, according to UK chief of defence staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin. He emphasized that Russia’s people are paying a heavy price for Putin’s invasion, with the country spending over 40% of its public expenditure on defense and security. Despite pressure to cede territory, Western allies remain resolute in their support for Ukraine, with President-elect Donald Trump’s administration focusing on achieving peace rather than territorial gains, as outlined by political adviser Bryan Lanza.
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Italy’s Monte dei Paschi says ECB has approved Mediobanca takeover
Monte dei Paschi di Siena announced that the European Central Bank approved its €13.3bn takeover of Mediobanca, despite initial expectations for shareholder hurdles due to cross shareholdings. Mediobanca, which rejected the offer as contrary to its interests, has postponed a shareholder meeting for a competing acquisition, while MPS plans to report to the ECB on its control of Mediobanca if investor backing falls below 50%. Explain It To Me Like I'm 5: Monte dei Paschi...
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