Author: staff
LONDON — Britain’s chief finance minister will argue closer integration with the EU offers the U.K. the best opportunity for higher economic growth — ahead of links with the U.S. and China. Rachel Reeves will say Wednesday evening that stronger ties with the European bloc are “the biggest prize” for Britain, while stressing that calculation isn’t “about choosing sides but about geography.” “There are three big economic blocks: U.S., China and Europe,” Reeves will say, according to extracts shared with POLITICO. “We will always seek every opportunity to grow our economy and these trading relationships, but ultimately only one of these…
United States Undersecretary of War Elbridge Colby is expected to tell European NATO allies that only a limited number of US troops will be withdrawn from NATO territory as part of any posture review, Euronews can reveal. Sources close to the situation have said Colby will use Thursday’s meeting of NATO defence ministers to commit to keeping the vast bulk of currently stationed troops in Germany and Italy and along Europe’s eastern flank in place Colby is deputising for US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, who will not be attending the meeting. There are currently approximately 80-90,000 US troops stationed…
At least 16 police officers were injured and 13 people arrested when opposition protesters clashed with security forces in Albania’s capital on Tuesday, authorities said. Protesters hurled Molotov cocktails and stones at government buildings in Tirana, with police responding with tear gas and water cannons. Both parliament and the prime minister’s office were targeted in the demonstration called by opposition leader Sali Berisha. Berisha, a former premier and bitter rival of current Prime Minister Edi Rama, said a deputy from his centre-right party had been taken to hospital with injuries. The protest is the latest in a series of anti-government…
By Matthew Daly with AP Published on 11/02/2026 – 9:19 GMT+1 The Trump administration on 12 February will revoke a scientific finding that long has been the central basis for US action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change, the White House announced. The Environmental Protection Agency will issue a final rule rescinding a 2009 government declaration known as the endangerment finding. That Obama-era policy determined that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin will “formalise the rescission of the 2009 Obama-era endangerment finding” at a White House ceremony,…
Like MPs, Sam and Anne are staggering through until recess. It’s only Wednesday but they have the latest on Labour psychodramas. Today – who was it calling Anas Sarwar before his presser on Monday? The new suggestion is that it was Angela Rayner. But lots of eyes are still on Wes Streeting, who continues to deny that he isn’t backing Sir Keir Starmer. Elsewhere, Labour suspend Sir Keir’s former chief of communications – Lord Doyle – over alleged links to a convicted sex offender. Plus, is the civil service about to get its first female leader?
With the 2026 Munich Security Conference taking place on Friday, 13, and Europe’s ongoing efforts to produce ammunition and achieve defence industrial autonomy, its gun industry takes centre stage. EU leaders are set to debate the need for permanent, Europe-based production of essential weapons and munitions. But a production increase brings new risks. Exporting firearms in the bloc involves a complex interplay between EU-wide rules and sovereign national regulations, creating loopholes that raise security doubts. Without public oversight, weapons can be sent to “neutral” third countries with weak regulations, which then re-export them to conflict zones. Within the EU’s borders,…
Published on 10/02/2026 – 21:45 GMT+1 The European Commission outlined an action plan against cyberbullying at the European Parliament on Tuesday, aimed at helping young victims of online bullying to safely report abuse and receive help. Part of the plan is the rollout of an EU-wide app that should let children confidentially report bullying to a national helpline, safely store and send evidence, and receive help from law enforcement, education or child protection services. While still in its early stages, the EU executive said it will develop an app blueprint for the bloc’s 27 member states to adapt for local…
Published on 11/02/2026 – 8:02 GMT+1 Travel has changed a lot since the days when families chose between brochures and fixed packages in a high-street travel agency. Travellers today plan holidays and search for deals using apps, credit cards, rewards schemes and price comparisons. New research suggests loyalty programmes now form part of that strategy as well. A recent multi-part consumer study from market researcher Phocuswright found that 84 per cent of leisure travellers used at least one form of loyalty ‘gaming’ in the past year to maximise rewards. Are travellers still loyal to single brands? The findings point to…
Even among those polled who intend to vote Labour, a quarter (23 percent) believe Starmer should go — and almost one in three (32 percent) said his advisors should go even though they wanted the leader to remain. The fieldwork for the polling was still being conducted when Morgan McSweeney and Tim Allan — two key aides in Starmer’s team — resigned. “A majority of all voters — regardless of the party they’re planning to vote for — want some resignations over this, but only Labour voters say advisors should go rather than Starmer himself,” said Seb Wride, head of polling…
Europe has some of the world’s strictest gun laws. Firearm ownership is limited, automatic weapons are banned, and licensing is tightly controlled. At the same time, Europe stands out as one of the world’s biggest producers and exporters of firearms. European factories produce rifles, pistols, ammunition, and military-grade weapons under strict regulation. These arms are shipped far beyond the EU. Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic lead the industry. With the war in Ukraine ongoing and security tensions rising worldwide, European arms production is increasing. Ammunition factories are expanding, weapons output is climbing, and the EU is working…