German small-town CDU members face party expulsion after joining forces with AfD
Members of Germany’s ruling Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) in a small town near Frankfurt have caused a nationwide scandal by joining forces with their…
From the capitals
Hot TopicLatest reporting and analysis on from the capitals.
‘No wonder Germany is doing so poorly’: Trump slams Merz after ‘pro-Iranian’ remarks
US President Donald Trump has harshly criticised Germany’s Chancellor after the latter apparently lauded the negotiation tactics of the Islamist regime of Iran.
Premium
Merz now least popular politician in Germany
Merz has become the least popular politician in Germany with a mere 28.
EU delegation to China ‘blocked’ from having official WeChat account
The European Union delegation to China said it was blocked from opening an official WeChat account, blaming diplomatic hurdles.
Pentagon floats suspending ‘terrible ally’ Spain out of NATO
An internal Pentagon email has outlined options for punishing NATO allies seen as insufficiently supportive during US operations in the Iran war, including the possibility…
UK’s imperilled Starmer fights on, but for how long?
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is fighting for his political life over an unrelenting scandal related to the appointment of ex-Jeffrey Epstein associate Peter Mandelson…
Meloni insulted on Russian state TV: Italy summons ambassador as tensions with Moscow flare
Tensions between Italy and Russia have escalated sharply in recent hours, further straining already fragile relations between the two countries, after a Kremlin-linked…
Macron backs Lebanon as France is sidelined from Israel talks
French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Élysée Palace on April 21, in a highly symbolic diplomatic meeting held just…
Retailleau creates watchdog for LFI party-led towns
Bruno Retailleau, leader of France’s Les Républicains (LR) and already positioning himself for the 2027 presidential election, has launched what he calls an “LFI…
UK approves total smoking ban for people born after 2008
The UK Parliament has approved legislation that will prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January first, 2009, creating what the government…
EU rejects suspension of Israel Agreement amid internal divisions
The European Union has rejected a push by several member states to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel.
French conservative media mogul Bolloré builds intellectual arsenal ahead of elections
Vincent Bolloré, the French conservative and Christian media magnate, is once again expanding his influence, this time with the launch of a Christian-inspired think-tank…
US broadcaster Newsmax launches in Poland, against PM Tusk allies wishes
A Polish language service run by US broadcaster Newsmax has launched its news website, which is soon to be followed by a fully fledged TV news channel.
Is Berlusconi’s Forza Italia moving away from conservatism?
Two prominent Mediaset journalists have challenged the Berlusconi family, adding momentum to an ongoing debate about a possible strategic shift in their political…
Starmer is sinking, borrow the Bismarck!
The British Prime Minister awoke before dawn, this morning, April 21, 2026, sensing a strange presence nearby. He turned on the bedside light. No, nothing there.
Macron avoids meeting Polish President Nawrocki during Gdańsk visit
He did so yesterday, after Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who heads Poland’s centre-left coalition government, made it clear he did not wish the French head of state…
Polish PM Tusk’s coalition government may lose its parliamentary majority
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned a coalition partner that he will remove it from the government if it votes to dismiss a cabinet minister in a no-confidence…
UK Greens activists said to have called Jews an ‘abomination’
UK Green Party activists have been accused of sharing anti-Semitic messages in WhatsApp groups and on social media, including comments describing Jewish people as…
Ex-French leader Hollande ‘preparing’ to be Socialist President of France again
Former French president François Hollande has stated that he is preparing for a potential return to the Élysée Palace in the 2027 presidential election.
Israeli lawyers file complaint at ICC against Spanish PM for alleged complicity in war crimes in Iran
An Israeli non-governmental organisation has submitted a formal complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague requesting an investigation into…
To predict Trump’s legacy, look to Henry VIII
President Trump’s recent attack on Pope Leo XIV has caused consternation and not a little surprise in some quarters of elite opinion as well as among many Christians…
Chancellor Merz‘s CDU at four-year-low in latest German poll
The Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has sunk to a multi-year-low in a recent poll.
Israel rejects French role in Lebanon negotiations
Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, stated that Israel would prefer to exclude France from ongoing peace efforts with Lebanon.
Sweden thwarted 2025 pro-Russian cyber attack on thermal power plant
Sweden thwarted a pro-Russian cyber attack on a thermal power plant in mid-2025, the government said on Wednesday, saying the group behind it was linked to Russian…
‘Ridiculous’: Tusk’s Polish Government orders criminal proceedings against President Nawrocki’s advisers
Poland’s government-controlled prosecution service has been ordered by the justice minister Waldemar Żurek to begin a criminal investigation against advisers…
Italy suspends defence co-operation with Israel amid criticism of wars in Iran and Lebanon
Italy has suspended its defence co-operation agreement with Israel following a sharp escalation in political tensions between the two countries
Meloni slams Trump after his attack on Pope Leo XIV
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described as “unacceptable” the message posted by US President Donald Trump on his social network after Pope Leo XIV criticised…
French former senior intelligence official accuses Brussels of influencing elections in EU member states
Alain Juillet, a veteran French intelligence figure who served as director of intelligence at France’s external intelligence service (DGSE) , has publicly stated…
Kiev buys Bentleys, why let war put a dent in your mood?
Kiev has become one of the strongest Bentley markets in Europe, according to Richard Leopold, Bentley regional director for Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa.
Orbán goes: How voter fatigue drives leaders from office, no matter how good they are
A lot will be written about the end of the era of Orbán in Hungary, so allow me to add a bit of a meta perspective.