France pressures Brussels to sanction Chinese platform Shein
French officials have been pressuring the European Commission to sanction the Chinese e-commerce platform Shein.
Politics
Latest reporting and analysis on politics.
EU sidelined as Italy, France jostle for power in Libya
When Inter Milan played a friendly match in Benghazi against Atlético Madrid last month, it was not just about football.
Middle East between chaos and transformation: Why the future remains uncertain
There is a famous—if apocryphal—quote attributed to Lenin: "There are decades where nothing happens and then there are weeks where decades happen.
‘Follow our laws, not European elites’: US attorneys urge Big Tech to defy EU sustainability rules
A coalition of 16 US State Attorneys General has warned some of the country’s biggest companies, including Microsoft, Google and Meta, not to comply with the European…
Belgium: Emergency meeting today after more drone sightings
Belgium has called an emergency meeting of key government ministers and security chiefs after further drone sightings forced closures of airports and a military…
Too big to fail? Saving Ukraine would cost Europe almost $400 billion
In the history of ideas around war and strategic confrontation, there are strokes of genius, grave mistakes, and everything in between.
‘Europe’s whorehouse’: German parliamentary President demands crackdown on prostitution
Julia Klöckner, the President of the German Bundestag, or parliament, is demanding stricter rules for prostitution in the country.
‘TikTok Islamists’: Germany cracks down on Muslim organisations
The German interior ministry has cracked down on allegedly Islamist organisations operating within the country.
NGOs want aviation, shipping and industrial fishing companies to lose multi-million euro tax breaks
Environmental organisations are urging European governments not to sign off on a law that, they say, would let some of the most polluting industries keep their tax…
Dutch D66 turns to familiar face to navigate coalition maze
In the Netherlands, after a tight election left no party with a majority, the Social-Liberal D66 party led by Rob Jetten has chosen a familiar figure to guide the…
Ukraine detains ex-powergrid chief on fraud suspicion
A former Ukrainian state energy operator chief suspected of embezzlement was ordered to be kept in detention by a Kyiv court today, stoking fears of political interference…
Slaughter, starvation and rape: Sudan burns because the EU looks away
El Fasher fell last week. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) - United Arab Emirates-backed Janjaweed militia on steroids - went door-to-door.
European Left hails Socialist Mamdani’s New York mayoral victory
Europe’s left-wing leaders are celebrating what they describe as a triumph for progressive politics with the election of Zohran Mamdani, the Socialist candidate…
US pharma tariffs push EU chemical firms towards defence investment
Following the US decision to impose tariffs on pharmaceuticals, more European Union chemical and industrial firms are turning their focus towards the defence sector.
‘Uncompetitive EU green rules’ push bloc’s industry to outsource more
Stricter environmental regulations in the European Union are making it harder for domestic companies to stay competitive.
Latvian President blocks parliament decision to withdraw from treaty on preventing violence against women
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs has refused to approve his parliament’s decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention.
Members of Germany’s Antifa ‘confess’ to torching AfD politician’s car
Members of German left-wing group Antifa have apparently claimed responsibility for an arson attack on the car of right-wing politician Bernd Baumann in Hamburg,…
As French RN party gains support, journalist warns of Hitler-like mistake
A warning about the miscalculation by German elites who believed they could control Adolf Hitler has sparked outcry from the National Rally (RN) party in France.
Green Policy suckers slowly turning into sceptics
Here we go again. The annual COP climate jamboree kicks off next week. And each year, the climate moguls decide to meet somewhere ever more jarring.
German Caricature Prize goes to cartoon likening AfD party to SS troops
A cartoonist from Hamburg has won the German Caricature Prize for a cartoon likening the right-wing Alternative for Germany party (AfD) to the Schutzstaffel, the…
AI: USA vs China heading for world domination, Europe of course forgotten
Before you read another word, ask yourself: A year on from the US Presidential election, would the world be a better, safer place if Kamala Harris were now in the…
France threatens to block access to Shein site over sale of childlike sex dolls
French Minister of Economy Roland Lescure has threatened to block access in France to Chinese company Shein over the sale of childlike sex dolls on its French website.
Spain’s regional leader resigns, year after deadly floods
The heavily criticised leader of Spain's Valencia region said today he was stepping down, a year after the area was hit by floods in the country's deadliest natural…
Belgium did not shoot down unidentified drones over collateral damage concerns
Unidentified drones repeatedly flew over Belgian military sites but none were shot down as Belgian officials said they feared debris could hit civilians or damage…
Poland’s Ombudsman slams PM Tusk government’s ‘rule of law’ bill
The Polish Ombudsman, Marcin Wiącek, has criticised the “rule of law” bill proposed by the coalition government because it is based on a “false premise”.
Latvian parliament votes to quit Istanbul Convention on protecting women from violence
The Saeima, the Latvian parliament, has voted to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty intended to protect women from violence.
Farmers and MEPs lobby against latest agriculture reforms
Farmers and MEPs say the European Commission’s plan to return parts of European Union farming policy to national control is “a misstep”.
Hungary PM Orbán backs Polish ex-justice minister threatened with jail
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has slammed the Polish Government for pursuing a what he called a political vendetta and the European Commission for remaining…
EU to police open source software
The European Commission wants to make software "safer" for users via rules that would also apply to open source software.
Fresh immigration wave to hit the EU as Pakistan and Taliban set South Asia on fire
Peace talks between embattled Pakistan and Afghanistan collapsed earlier this week in Istanbul.