Europe is grappling with a mix of political pressure, corporate setbacks, and geopolitical maneuvering.
UK business leaders are calling for a sharper, growth-focused budget, while Novo Nordisk faces disappointment after its Alzheimer’s drug failed a key trial.
In France, a telecom union is challenging Amazon’s satellite ambitions over security concerns, and on the global stage, the US and Ukraine are quietly reshaping a peace plan aimed at ending Russia’s war, highlighting the region’s urgent and shifting priorities.
A glance at the major developments in Europe today.
UK businesses push for bold budget
UK business leaders, including the head of the Confederation of British Industry, are urging Finance Minister Rachel Reeves to make some tough, focused choices in her upcoming budget.
They warned that spreading lots of small tax hikes across the economy could actually do more harm than good.
Their main message? The government needs to zero in on policies that genuinely support growth.
That means tackling high energy costs, updating labour rules, and working more closely with businesses to get reforms right.
They said they back the government’s broader plans for industry and infrastructure, but they’re worried about rising pension-related costs making it harder for companies to hire.
At the same time, the government is looking into ways to bring down energy bills for manufacturers from 2027, hoping it will help keep UK industries competitive.
Novo Alzheimer’s trial falls short
Shares of Novo Nordisk slipped after the company announced that its oral semaglutide, the same drug behind its popular weight-loss treatments, didn’t show any real clinical benefit in Phase 3 trials for early-stage Alzheimer’s.
The two big studies, evoke and evoke+, followed more than 3,800 people over two years.
And while the drug did improve some biomarkers linked to the disease, it ultimately didn’t slow cognitive decline any better than a placebo.
Novo Nordisk said it pursued the trials because there’s such a huge unmet need in Alzheimer’s research, even though they knew the chances of success were low.
With the disappointing outcome, the company is shutting down the extension phase of the trials and plans to share full results at an upcoming medical conference.
It’s definitely a setback for hopes that a weight-loss drug could also make a difference in Alzheimer’s.
French union challenges Amazon Kuiper license
A French telecom union is pushing back against Arcep’s decision to let Amazon use French radio frequencies for its satellite internet project, known as Project Kuiper.
The union has taken the case all the way to France’s highest administrative court, arguing that the regulator didn’t do a proper market review and skipped a competitive bidding process altogether.
They say the move raises big questions about public safety, data privacy, and national security, especially since the operator isn’t European.
The challenge comes at a time when France is already keeping a close eye on major US tech companies, and competition in satellite internet is heating up with players like Elon Musk’s Starlink.
Amazon, meanwhile, is moving ahead with plans to launch a huge network of satellites between 2025 and 2026.
US, Ukraine rework peace proposal
The US and Ukraine are working together to rewrite a US-backed peace plan aimed at ending Russia’s invasion, after concerns that the original proposal leaned too much in Moscow’s favor.
Following talks in Geneva, the two sides said they’ve come up with a “refined peace framework” that better reflects Ukraine’s priorities, though they’re keeping the specifics under wraps for now.
A big part of the challenge is figuring out how to handle the toughest issues, things like contested territory, military restrictions, and Ukraine’s future with NATO.
Critics have argued that the earlier plan pushed Ukraine toward making too many concessions, while European allies have been trying to soften some of those points.
Negotiations are still intense, and leaders are scrambling to find a realistic way to end what has become Europe’s deadliest war since World War II.
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