Politics

EU gears up for fight with Russian energy holdouts
Brussels will soon tell Hungary and Slovakia to stop dealing with Moscow — whether they like it or not. But the EU’s enforcement plan is fuzzier.

‘Don’t tax Bluey’: Ambassadors to US warn against Trump movie tariffs

A bruised Merz wants to prove he’s a strong leader in first foreign trip as chancellor

The conclave happens behind closed doors. World leaders are still meddling.

Merz is weakened from Day 1. Europe will pay the price.

Parliament probes EU asylum agency amid allegations of mismanagement

Labour MPs try TikTok to beat back Farage
Israeli spyware giant NSO Group ordered to pay nearly $170M to WhatsApp for hacking accounts
The ruling is a major win for privacy advocates and those pushing back against NSO Group’s controversial Pegasus software.
Riots rock Brussels as mayor condemns Bruges hooligans
“They hate Brussels because it’s a multicultural city,” Philippe Close fumes in an interview with POLITICO after disorder tarnished a football final.
Merz becomes German chancellor in second Bundestag vote
Conservative leader scrapes together just enough votes to claim Germany’s top job — but he’s weakened already.
German ex-finance minister kills film producer’s dog with car
“I’m very sorry the dog died,” Christian Lindner says.
Trump to Carney: I’m just not that into you
He’s not Justin Trudeau. But Canada’s new leader still has his work cut out for him.
Macron to meet al-Sharaa in Syrian leader’s first trip to Europe
The former Islamist rebel has received a cautious welcome from the international community.
Germany in turmoil as Merz loses vote to be chancellor. What next?
The conservative leader’s wafer-thin majority is exposed after failing to get parliamentary support in a first vote. Another vote is expected Tuesday.
Humiliated Merz fails to be elected German chancellor on first parliament ballot
This failure is unprecedented in Germany’s postwar history.
Barbie dolls become new victim of Trump’s tariff war
“Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls,” the U.S. president shrugged last week. Now prices are indeed going up.
Starmer’s Reform funk
Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy preview how the day will play out in British politics. As Westminster gets back to work after last Thursday’s …
Come back, Boris? Routed Tories pine for a winning formula
Dire local election results leave some Conservatives wondering if their former leader’s magic could turn things around.
Trump defends viral image of himself as Pope: ‘Catholics loved it’
Trump told reporters he didn’t see the image until Sunday night.
Poland’s Duda tells Trump to force Putin ‘to make peace’
Polish President Andrzej Duda wants Trump to use harsh sanctions measures to compel Putin to negotiate.
Romania in chaos as prime minister resigns
The hard right cruised to victory in Sunday’s presidential election first round, sparking the stunning announcement from socialist PM Marcel Ciolacu.
How George Simion became a right-wing ‘messiah’ for Romanians abroad
TikTok and ultranationalism propels hard-right chief to cult status among Romania’s diaspora.
Centrist Nicușor Dan faces uphill battle to beat Simion in Romanian presidential runoff
Mayor of Bucharest has a daunting deficit to bridge with hard-right opponent.
Trump’s movie tariff threat puzzles Europe
As U.S. productions flock overseas, Trump wants to target foreign moviemakers, opening a new front in the transatlantic trade war.
EU urges Israel not to ramp up military attack on Gaza
“The European Union is concerned at the planned extension of the operation by Israeli forces in Gaza,” a Commission spokesperson says.
Von der Leyen, Macron knock Trump’s war on universities as ‘gigantic miscalculation’
The European Commission chief and the French president are trying to woo American researchers with a new program called “Choose Europe for Science.”
Simion’s Romanian election win sparks right-wing jubilation around Europe
“Excellent result,” cheers former Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki.
Klingbeil, Pistorius, Bas … German Social Democrats reveal ministers for Merz Cabinet
Germany’s junior coalition partner hands key ministries to familiar faces — and springs a few surprises.
Trump seeks to reopen Alcatraz, place tariffs on movies made abroad
“The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE,” he said.
EPP’s war on NGOs is driving a wedge through Europe’s political center
Conservatives face accusations of collaborating with far-right parties in NGO funding probe.
Senior Commission official faces internal disciplinary probe linked to Qatar gifts
Estonian Commission official Henrik Hololei faces disciplinary measures after opening of internal probe into claims of wrongdoing.