Sinkevičius becomes Lithuania’s third Social Democrat prime minister
The renewed government now comprises the Social Democrats, the Democrats "For Lithuania" and the Lithuanian Farmers, Greens and Christian Families Union.
From the capitals
Hot TopicLatest reporting and analysis on from the capitals.
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.
AfD leader vows to restore German-Russian ties when she becomes chancellor
Alice Weidel said Germany must seek a pragmatic reset with Russia.
Czech human rights advisers resign, claim government is undermining independent oversight
The Babiš government rejected criticism arguing that placing the agendas within individual ministries will make the system more efficient and improve accountability.
Morocco World Cup win sparks fresh unrest in Dutch cities
In The Hague's Schilderswijk district, home to one of the country's largest Moroccan populations, fans waved flags, set off fireworks and danced in the streets.
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.
Rome censorship: Exhibitors must sign a certificate of political purity before book fair
Paper First will no longer exhibit at Più Libri Più Liberi, Rome's annual fair dedicated to small and independent publishers.
Balázs Orbán leaves MCC as Hungary’s new government targets Fidesz-era foundations
Hungary's largest conservative foundation faces losing its independence under Péter Magyar's reforms, prompting its chairman to step down in protest.
Premium
Spain’s opposition accuses Sánchez of ‘manufacturing voters’ through naturalisation law
PP and Vox say a citizenship law for the descendants of emigrants is being used to engineer a friendlier electorate before the next general election.
Berlin Greens want to allow head and neck tattoo’s for police officers
Current Berlin police guidelines strictly prohibit openly visible tattoos, particularly on the head, neck, hands and lower arms.
Premium
Ukrainian death threats against President Nawrocki and warnings of war on Poland
Zelensky also pulled out of attending a conference on the recovery of Ukraine held in Gdańsk last week.
Premium
Ireland takes the EU chair, caught between Brussels’s rules and Washington’s capital
The rotating presidency of the Council finds a small state arbitrating between the rulebook with which Brussels disciplines Big Tech and the capital on which its…
Premium
German army only recruits 530 people after asking 300,000
While the response rate from men was high at 96 per cent, the actual conversion rate into voluntary service has been extremely low.
Felipe VI meets Sheinbaum on first Mexico visit in seven years
The King had flown to Mexico at Sheinbaum's invitation to attend Spain's World Cup match against Uruguay in Guadalajara.
French government refuses to publish results of mandatory drug tests on ministers and civil servants
The decision comes amid heightened concern over drug use in French society and follows several high-profile incidents involving public sector personnel.
German court jails Saudi man for life over Magdeburg Christmas market attack
Prosecutors had charged him with six counts of murder and 338 of attempted murder.
Premium
Tusk tries to silence Polish whistleblower doctor who said patients died as result of ruling party mismanagement
Polish Prime Minister had said he was not going to get involved in disputes between doctors.
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.
AfD politician brutally attacked, police investigate attempted murder
Michael Meister, an AfD state parliamentarian, was violently attacked outside his home by two assailants, suffering serious injuries in a politically motivated assault.
Ex-nuclear plant bosses urge Merz government to reactivate German reactors
Former leaders of Germany's nuclear plants urge the Merz government to reactivate the recently closed reactors, citing the need for energy stability and technological…
Premium
Le Pen warns against blind alignment with Trump after Iran
She rejected the idea that personal disagreements between leaders should define international relations.
Premium
Rutte says US aircraft used Italian bases in Iran operation, clashing with Rome’s non-belligerence stance
Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the NATO chief had created a misleading impression.
Premium
Zelensky snubs Poland over Ukraine recovery conference in Gdańsk
The Ukrainian leader rejected suggestions the dispute stemmed from Ukraine's actions, saying on Sunday that Nawrocki was motivated by domestic politics.
Italy denies US used its bases to launch strikes on Iran
The Italian defence ministry said that Rutte's account gave a misleading impression by blurring routine support missions with combat operations.
Trump rounds on Spain as he accuses NATO allies of failing the US over Iran
The US president singled out the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, arguing they had let Washington down during the six-week conflict.
Premium
Italy blocks Steve Bannon’s academy, case could now reach Strasbourg court
The dispute unfolds against a backdrop of heightened transatlantic political tension, following recent criticism by Donald Trump of Giorgia Meloni.
Sánchez denies corruption crisis in Spain, blames media for ‘false image’
The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid mounting pressure on his minority government.
Amnesty International criticises new Hungarian government over rule-of-law concerns
The controversy follows Péter Magyar’s demand earlier this year that Sulyok resign, after the president refused to step down.
Premium
Polish right sees Bardella as key future ally for reforming the EU
Both PiS and Confederation will have noted how the last majority PiS government got into conflict with the EU’s top brass.
Merz backs pension overhaul lifting German retirement age towards 70
German Chancellor said the scheme would lift overall pension levels in the 2040s and 2050s, even through financial crises.