Trump says Iran will ‘get hit very hard’ if protesters killed
US President Donald Trump warned Iran yesterday that it would get "hit very hard" by the US if more protesters die during demonstrations that have entered a second…
From the capitals
Latest reporting and analysis on from the capitals.
Moody’s lowers city of Budapest’s rating to junk
Ratings agency Moody's downgraded the city of Budapest's credit rating to junk level late Monday, pointing to weak liquidity and an increased default risk amid a…
Conservative TV channel claims top spot in French news, despite criticisms
CNews, a conservative television channel owned by right-wing billionaire Vincent Bolloré, has emerged as France’s most-watched news outlet despite criticism and…
Italian conservatives slam Meloni for inaction on cultural issues
Over Christmas, a group of conservative intellectuals have opened a controversy by saying Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her government have failed to…
AfD invited to 2026 Munich Security Conference after two-year hiatus
Members of Germany’s biggest opposition party, the right-wing Alternative for Germany Party (AfD), have been invited to participate in the Munich Security Conference…
Russia refusing to hand over Gdansk consulate building closed by Poland
Russia has refused to hand over to Polish authorities the Gdańsk building that formerly housed its consulate.
US new special envoy to Greenland ‘totally unacceptable’, Denmark says
Denmark has condemned the United States’ decision to appoint a special envoy to Greenland, calling the move “totally unacceptable” and summoning the US ambassador…
Poland’s President Nawrocki removes key symbol — the Round Table — of Communist past
Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki has removed the Round Table from the presidential palace at which discussions paving the way for the end of Communism took place…
Poland’s opposition PiS in conflict over ‘disloyalty’ of their own ex-PM Morawiecki
Poland’s main opposition party, the Conservatives (PiS), has become embroiled in a conflict over the ambitions and future of the former PiS prime minister Mateusz…
Constitutional watchdog warns of ‘hard-right codes’ on German licence plates
Germany’s secret service is concerned about seemingly innocent letters on vehicle licence plates that may convey covert right-wing extremist messages.
‘Stop taking Poland for granted,’ President Nawrocki tells Zelensky
Polish President Karol Nawrocki said he believes Ukraine has taken his country for granted and failed to treat it as a partner.
Polish Government aims to cut opposition-aligned President’s funds
Poland’s ruling centre-left coalition led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk is threatening to cut the budget of President Karol Nawrocki’s Chancellery in protest…
As Europe roars against Russia, India doubles down on Moscow
Vladimir Putin lands in Delhi. Narendra Modi greets him with full honours.
Danish results show voters flee party of PM Frederiksen
Consider Denmark’s recent municipal elections: They have shaken Danish politics ahead of next year’s national election, with all parties in government receiving…
Meloni urges Zelensky to make Ukraine territory concessions to forge peace
Italy's Prime Minister Georgia Meloni is reportedly trying to persuade Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept a compromise over territory in a peace deal…
Germany isn’t really going to rearm
Europe’s push to rearm has run into a series of snags.
Hungarian foreign minister says ‘relationship with Austria better if FPÖ ruled’
During a visit to Vienna, Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó said the relationship between Hungary and Austria would be better if the right-wing Austrian…
Where are Britain’s capable leaders now?
The conduct of the great office of prime minister of the United Kingdom in the last 15 years has no precedent in the history of that position, which is generally…
European Commission disregards Belgian PM’s fears over Russian assets fund plan
Europe's leaders and Belgium continue their collision course over European Commission plans to tap into €140 billion in frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s…
Germany’s Young Union MPs ‘will not back’ Merz’s pension reform
Germany's Young Union, made up of 18 younger Christian Democratic Union (CDU) MPs, will not vote in favour of a pension reform championed by their leader.
Merz can look West, look East, or look at the moon, Germany is hammered
It’s a worrying sign - perhaps one of irreversible senile decay – when one finds oneself admiring not merely a senior politician, but one who is chancellor…
Polish President cancels meeting with Hungarian PM Orbán over Putin visit
Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki has cancelled his meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in protest against Hungary's leader's trip to Moscow to…
Belgian PM sends scathing letter to von der Leyen warning to back off frozen Russian assets
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has issued a scathing letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging her to abandon plans to tap into…
Russia sentences eight to life for 2022 Crimean bridge blast
A Russian court on Thursday sentenced eight people to life in prison over huge 2022 explosions that partially destroyed the Crimean bridge, an attack both Kyiv and…
Europe’s peace plan oozes with reliance on the US
If you’ve been on X over the past few days, and your algorithm is as politics-filled as mine, you may have seen an old video being passed around.
‘Political earthquake’: Poll shows Bardella clear favourite for 2027 French elections
A new opinion poll conducted by Odoxa-Mascaret has projected that Jordan Bardella, President of France's right-wing National Rally (RN) party, would secure victory…
Polish President Nawrocki calls for end to EU ‘centralisation’
Polish President Karol Nawrocki said the European Union was “not a union of our dreams” because it was becoming over-centralised.
Poland sidelined in Russia-Ukraine peace talks
Poland was excluded from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Geneva at which Germany, France and the UK have played a role.
State-owned bank Belfius pulls plug on Brussels region
Belgian State-owned bank Belfius has said it no longer wants to work with the Brussels Capital Region, citing the region's budget problems.
Ukraine must get rid of kleptocrats before the West can help rebuild
The plans that President Trump has been carefully developing to force a reasonable peace upon Russian President Putin after his nearly four years of unsuccessful…