Author: staff

That can send drones toward neighboring NATO territory — something Baltic and Ukrainian officials say is now happening. For Kyiv, the balance is delicate. Ukrainian officials have apologized for incidents involving stray drones, while insisting that strikes on Russian military and economic targets are lawful acts of self-defense. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has shown no sign of halting the bombing campaign, which he calls “sanctions” aimed at bringing Russia to its knees. Russia’s air defenses are becoming increasingly porous, prompting it to try to use political pressure to halt the Ukrainian attacks. “Russia wants to discredit Ukraine in the eyes…

European countries have steadily increased their criticism of Israel in recent months, and even staunch supporters like Merz and Meloni — the EU’s most prominent conservative leaders — have taken a notably tougher stance on expansionist ambitions. A video this week showing Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting activists who Israel detained en route to deliver supplies to Gaza drove the criticism to new heights. In their joint statement, the French, German, Italian and British leaders called on Israel to end settlement expansion, ensure accountability for settler violence and “respect the Hashemite custodianship over Jerusalem’s Holy Sites and the…

Granting “associate membership” to Ukraine risks leaving the country in limbo that could make it lose momentum to complete the path to a full membership status, said Helen McEntee, Ireland’s foreign minister. The remarks come in response to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s unprecedented plan to create a tailor-made status for Ukraine, which McEntee considers might create a two-tiered approach to EU membership. “We need to make sure that there isn’t a two-tiered approach or we apply [the accession process] equally to each country,” McEntree said on Friday during a briefing with journalists attended by Euronews. Her remarks carry particular weight…

Babiš and Pavel have been at loggerheads for years, including on defense policy, with the relationship turning adversarial after the former returned to power in 2025. The prime minister, a self-proclaimed Trump fan, and the president, a pro-Western former top NATO military official, have also repeatedly clashed on various other issues, from democratic norms to Babiš’s long-standing business conflict-of-interest controversies. One fight that remains very much open: Who will attend NATO’s summit in Ankara in early July. Babiš insists the president cannot participate in the official government delegation, even though Pavel has attended all NATO summits since he became president…

The confused U.S. messaging dismayed Poland and European allies, but was a boon to Russian President Vladimir Putin, retired U.S. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges said at the POLITICO Speakeasy, adding that Hegseth “should probably resign.”  While Trump has backtracked on how many U.S. soldiers will be in Poland, the broad direction of the Pentagon scaling back its forces on the continent will continue, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a meeting of fellow alliance foreign ministers in Sweden. “It’s well understood in the alliance that the United States troop presence in Europe is going to be adjusted, that…

Several MEPs and social media users have falsely claimed that “claqueurs” were brought in to support Germany’s former Chancellor Angela Merkel, as she received the European Order of Merit award at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 19 May. This newly created prize aims to honour individuals who have contributed to “European integration”, along with the values enshrined in the EU treaties, according to the European Parliament. But several MEPs alleged that the additional non-MEP attendees in the chamber were “extras”, “random types” or “claqueurs”, while others suggested the applause had been staged while Merkel received the “European Order of…

Organisers expect around 65,000 visitors during the four-day event at the Georgia World Congress Center, where fans dressed as video game, manga and film characters moved through more than 1 million square feet of exhibition space. Attendees queued for autographs, bought handmade collectibles and took part in gaming tournaments, while vendors sold figurines, dolls and custom artwork. Many visitors said the event offered a rare sense of community and self-expression. Many visitors say the event offers a rare sense of community and self‑expression, with unofficial meet‑ups for everything from niche indie games to obscure 1990s cartoons. USA organisers say the…

Whether you’re a serial overpacker or the kind of traveller who forgets their passport until the taxi arrives, getting holiday packing right can feel like an art form. Personally, I can’t count the number of times I’ve got into trouble at an airport gate for having bulging or overweight bags. As a frequent traveller, I should be better – but it’s a skill some of us just don’t have. To help you travel smarter this summer, our team has rounded up their tried-and-tested packing hacks alongside expert advice from seasoned travel pros, from the space-saving essentials worth buying to the…

The “Zapper Bolloré” collective has announced that Spanish actor Javier Bardem, British director Ken Loach and American actor Mark Ruffalo have joined the signatories of the open letter expressing concern about conservative businessman Vincent Bolloré’s grip on the film world. In this text, the initiators of the move denounce what they describe as Vincent Bolloré’s “tentacular and ideological” hold over the French film industry. They warn of the growing concentration of media and cultural power in the hands of the billionaire from Brittany. Among the first signatories were actresses Adèle Haenel, Juliette Binoche and Blanche Gardin, actors Swann Arlaud and…

The Tony Blair Institute, of which Blair is executive chairman, is “evolving” its “operating model as we focus on governing in the age of AI,” it said in a statement shared with POLITICO. The firm is preparing a restructuring that will also affect its Brussels office, which it set up in 2023. The consultancy is “conducting an ongoing organisational review to reshape and restructure,” the statement said in response to a report that it would cut staff as it pivots towards AI. The firm will keep a presence in the EU capital to support the work of Andreea Zugravu, a…