Washington hands record health aid package to faith-based groups
The single American award comes close to matching the entire humanitarian budget the European Commission has set aside for this year.
Bureaucracy
Hot TopicLatest reporting and analysis on bureaucracy.
Washington stalls approval of Macron’s ambassador pick after UN rights clash
Aurélien Lechevallier was due to take up the post in September but has yet to receive American consent.
West Midlands Police invites non-Muslim officers to fast for Ramadan
Documents released under freedom of information laws show the force being held up as a model of inclusivity for other public bodies.
Austrian taxpayers fund nearly €400,000 study on ‘right-wing extremism in fashion’
The team conducts fieldwork, archive research and online analysis, and collaborates with the Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American…
Zelensky removes Ukraine’s ambassador to Washington days after Patriot appeal
Olha Stefanishyna says she stepped down of her own accord, though the presidential decree gives no reason and no successor has been named.
UEFA nations weigh World Cup boycott over FIFA plan to sell stakes to US investors
Europe's 55 football associations are to hold an emergency meeting after FIFA confirmed it would open its commercial arm to private backers linked to the Trump family.
French public hospitals post €2.3 billion deficit as debt ratio worsens
The sector's overall deficit narrowed from €2.9 billion in 2024 to €2.
Brussels fights over “frying pan” square at the heart of the EU quarter
…
Several people dismissed from French ministries after positive drug tests
“There have been positive tests, and people have been removed from their positions,” Lecornu said.
Brussels cancels Venice Biennale grant over Russia’s participation
The European Commission has pulled a two million euro award after the exhibition refused to exclude Russia, which its organisers say would amount to censorship.
Italian court convicts motorway bosses eight years after Genoa bridge collapse
Of the 57 people who stood trial over the disaster that killed 43, a total of 25 were acquitted or saw the charges against them expire.
Ukraine’s parliament backs new prime minister as protests hit Zelensky reshuffle
Naftogaz chief Serhiy Koretsky has taken office with the defence ministry still empty after the removal of Mykhailo Fedorov.
Gibraltar and Spain open frontier as post-Brexit EU treaty takes effect
The agreement applies provisionally from midnight and still requires formal ratification, including consent from the European Parliament.
Macron awards Starmer the Legion of Honour days before he leaves office
Only one other British prime minister has held a comparable French honour. Winston Churchill was awarded the higher-ranking Grand Cross in 1958.
Premium
Eurocontrol freezes Polish air-traffic funds over Pfizer vaccine claim
The company is enforcing a €1.
EU ministers move to unlock Hungary’s frozen recovery billions
"We can already feel a strong wind of change across Hungary," von der Leyen said after meeting Magyar.
FIFA under fire for changing own rules after Trump phone call overturns red card
US President publicly welcomed the decision on social media, writing: “Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice”.
Premium
Panic stations over ‘hospitalgate’ as Tusk threatens his party with purges
Health Minister Jolanta Sobierańska-Grenda is under heavy pressure and lacks any political allies to protect her from being dismissed.
Germany weighs denying AfD ministers access to classified files
Defence Minister said the Government was examining closely who could be granted such access.
UK education system failing white working-class children
An independent inquiry found that only 48 per cent of white working-class children reach a good level of development by age five.
Google loses final appeal against record €4.1 billion EU antitrust fine over Android practices
The company expressed disappointment but has not yet detailed next steps.
Hungary’s parliament votes to abolish Orbán’s sovereignty office
The body held wide powers to scrutinise organisations, media outlets and individuals suspected of serving foreign interests.
Ireland’s EU presidency set to cost around €185 million
To prepare, the country has doubled its permanent representation in Brussels to about 250 officials.
Austrian Supreme Court: Ryanair must scrap unfair booking fees
The ruling covers a wide range of charges that the court found to be either intransparent, grossly unfair, or both.
France and Italy resist EU plan to bar former Russian combatants
Rome and Paris fear the measure could open the door to a blanket entry ban on all Russian citizens.
Spain challenges EU ‘nationality quotas’ in civil service hiring
Spain, joined by Italy and France, challenges the EU's nationality quotas in civil service hiring, arguing they violate merit-based recruitment rules.
EU and UK postpone post-Brexit summit after Starmer quits
"The summit with UK is postponed. Postponed is not cancelled," European Commission chief spokesperson Paula Pinho confirmed.
European Parliament backs ban on AI sexual abuse images and delays wider AI rules
The prohibition follows public anger over sexualised deepfake images that spread on social media.
EU strikes deal to cut red tape for defence investment and procurement
National law could still allow exceptions to automatic approval where there was a serious risk to human health or national security.
Germany’s flagship rail megaproject delayed to 2031 after over 1,000 km of cables laid incorrectly
The errors occurred because cabling work began before the final technical planning for the new digital signalling system was complete.