King Charles’ €500K lobster dinner blows hole in French presidency’s budget – POLITICO

On Thursday, Labour MPs addressed an urgent question regarding Donald Trump's claim that the US would "take over" Gaza, where he suggested relocating Palestinians to turn it into a luxurious destination. Thirty-eight Labour MPs urged Sir Keir Starmer to oppose Trump's plans, calling it "ethnic cleansing". Despite not directly addressing the issue during Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir planned to discuss the matter with the US president. Full Article

President Trump's administration has temporarily exempted a U.S. contractor, Proximity International, from a funding freeze to support police in a Syrian desert camp holding ISIS members. The exemption aims to prevent an ISIS resurgence amid Syrian instability. The contractor trains local security forces in Al Hol, housing 39,000 ISIS members, and was granted a one-month waiver, with concerns remaining about long-term security. Full Article

The Bank of England is expected to lower the UK's base interest rate from 4.75% to 4.5%, the lowest level in over 18 months, in an effort to boost the economy and provide relief for mortgage holders. This move comes after inflation unexpectedly fell to 2.5% in December, signaling a need for further stimulus to encourage spending and economic growth. The rate cut is anticipated to impact borrowing costs, particularly for mortgage holders with tracker...

The UK's base interest rate is expected to drop to its lowest level in over 18 months, with analysts predicting a cut from 4.75% to 4.5% by the Bank of England in its upcoming announcement on Thursday. This decrease is seen as a positive development for mortgage holders, as the base rate influences borrowing costs, including tracker mortgages. The potential rate cut comes amidst falling inflation rates and economic stagnation, with hopes that lower interest...

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is planning to tighten migration rules, requiring migrants to demonstrate a longer commitment to the UK before qualifying for indefinite leave to remain, from 5 to 10 years. Legal migrants must prove they have been "net contributors" to the economy for the past decade, covering their and their children's costs, while illegal migrants will be automatically disqualified from obtaining indefinite leave to remain, even if recognized as refugees. Full Article

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have been advised by energy experts to prepare for potential cyber incidents, with Estonia especially emphasizing their seriousness by removing VPN access for external companies. Lithuania has implemented additional measures like anti-drone systems and physical barriers to safeguard their energy infrastructure, as Joe Marshall from Cisco's Talos division warns of Russia's capabilities to meddle in power grids. The Baltic states are gearing up for any worst-case scenarios, with a focus on...