The European Union's gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at 18.8tn euros ($21.7tn) in 2025.

Eurostat specified that Germany had the largest economy among EU member states last year, with a GDP estimated at 4.5tn euros ($5.2tn), or 23.8% of the EU's total. It was followed by France (15.8%) and Italy (12.0%), then Spain (9%) and the Netherlands (6.3%).

Malta had the smallest economy in the EU in 2025, accounting for 0.1% of the bloc's GDP, followed by Cyprus, Estonia and Latvia, each at 0.2%. Lithuania and Slovenia followed at 0.4%, then Croatia at 0.5% and Bulgaria at 0.6%, with Slovakia rounding out the bottom of the list with a GDP growth rate of 0.7%.

Among the Visegrad Four countries, Hungary posted a GDP of 1.2%, the Czech Republic 1.8%, and Poland 4.9%, ranking sixth highest among the EU's 27 member states.

(tasr)

Progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed has won the Democratic primary for the US Senate in Michigan, narrowly defeating Congresswoman Haley Stevens. With more than 95% of the vote counted, El-Sayed secured 48.5%, compared with 47.5% for Stevens, according to the American Conservative.

The result marks a significant setback for the Democratic Party's moderate wing. Stevens was backed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, prominent African American leaders and millions of dollars in outside spending.

A central issue in the campaign was US policy toward Israel. Stevens supported Israel and received substantial financial backing from the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC.

El-Sayed, a Muslim American of Egyptian descent, has described Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip as genocide and has proposed redirecting some US aid to Israel toward domestic social programs. In November, he will face Republican candidate Mike Rogers in the general election.

(mja)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to visit Serbia on Saturday for the first time since taking office. According to AFP, the trip carries considerable symbolic weight, as Serbia remains one of Russia's traditional allies in Europe.

A senior Ukrainian official described the visit as a “slap in the face to Russia”, saying Kyiv hopes to weaken Moscow's influence in Belgrade.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Serbia has not imposed sanctions on Moscow and has maintained close energy and political ties with Russia.

President Aleksandar Vucic has previously met Vladimir Putin in Moscow and called for stronger cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Belgrade continues accession talks with the European Union, which has long criticized Serbia's close ties to the Kremlin. The visit is therefore expected to send a strong diplomatic signal.

(mja)

The US Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has approved, along party lines, a resolution to hold former chief epidemiologist Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress, according to the National Review.

Republicans took the step after Fauci repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination during a recent hearing, declining to answer questions about his private notes on the origins of COVID-19.

Committee chairman Rand Paul argued that Congress must be able to compel cooperation in its investigations. However, the resolution's prospects remain uncertain.

It would require 60 votes to pass the Senate, making approval unlikely given Republicans' 53-seat majority. Any decision on criminal prosecution would then rest with the Department of Justice.

Democrats have described the move as politically motivated, arguing that Fauci was exercising his constitutional right to remain silent.

(mja)

A 13-year-old girl was seriously injured in a knife attack on Wednesday evening in the Spanish town of Puigcerdà, near the French border. According to ElCaso.cat, the alleged attacker was a 33-year-old man of Maghreb origin. His motive remains unknown.

The attack took place near the Cucurú spring, where officers from the Catalan police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, local police and emergency medical teams responded.

The girl, who is reportedly French, was taken to hospital. Despite suffering serious stab wounds, her life is not in danger.

The suspect fled the scene, but police launched a manhunt and arrested him several hours later on the streets of Puigcerdà.

Investigators have found no indication that the suspect and the victim knew each other. The motive remains under investigation as the Mossos d'Esquadra continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack.

(mja)

The European Union has welcomed an agreement calling for Hamas and other non-state armed groups to permanently decommission their weapons and for Israeli forces to withdraw from the Gaza Strip.

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas urged all parties to approve and implement the agreement as soon as possible. US President Donald Trump described it as a major milestone in implementing the Gaza peace plan he unveiled in October.

According to Trump, Hamas will disarm while Israel will withdraw its troops in stages.

Residents of the Gaza Strip, however, reacted with skepticism, saying the announcement was out of touch with the reality they continue to face.

(Reuters, MJA)

According to representatives of the shipping industry and insurance companies, the draft agreement between Iran and Oman on the administration of the Strait of Hormuz faces serious legal and commercial obstacles.

Under the proposal, Tehran would gain greater authority over ships entering the Persian Gulf and would also seek to collect fees amounting to 5%–7% of the cargo's value.

Oman is discussing lower fees, while the United States rejects any transit fees. Shipping associations warn that mandatory fees would set a dangerous precedent and undermine international rules on freedom of navigation through the strategic strait.

Another issue is US sanctions against the Iranian agency that manages the strait, which could prevent companies from legally paying the required fees.

The situation is further complicated by new insurance terms from the London-based Lloyd's market, under which payment of the transit fee could result in the loss of insurance coverage.

(Reuters, mja)

Russian attacks on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia have intensified in recent weeks and, according to local residents and officials, are increasingly putting civilians in the crosshairs. Alongside missiles and glide bombs, Russian forces have begun using first-person view (FPV) attack drones in the city for the first time. Ukrainians say the drones “hunt down” people and vehicles in the streets.

Local authorities say the attacks are intended to spread panic and disrupt daily life. Residents say the attacks are driving away customers, disrupting public transport, making it harder for businesses to operate and rendering long-term planning almost impossible.

The city is introducing new protective measures, including anti-drone netting over roads and drone monitors for bus drivers.

Governor Ivan Fedorov said fewer than 5% of Russian FPV drones penetrate Ukrainian air defenses, although those that do still cause injuries and damage. Even so, the small number that get through continue to cause damage and injuries. Many residents say they have learned to live with the constant danger.

(Reuters, mja)

The investigation into the incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport suggests that the Ukrainian cargo plane, on which police discovered a drone carrying explosives, was transporting military ammunition. German media reported this, citing confidential police documents.

According to these reports, forensic experts determined that the explosives attached to the drone were of high military quality. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the incident as a hybrid attack that poses an increased security risk.

Authorities are also continuing their search for the wreckage of an unidentified object that damaged another cargo plane during a landing maneuver near Leipzig that same night.

The incidents temporarily disrupted operations at one of Germany's most important logistics hubs, which is also used by companies such as DHL, Lufthansa Cargo and Amazon.

Although the perpetrators have not yet been identified, Bundestag member Roderich Kiesewetter attributed responsibility to Russia. The Russian Embassy has not commented on the allegations.

(Reuters, mja)