Author: staff
Favourite Finland and nine other countries, including Israel, made it through the first Eurovision Song Contest semi-final on Tuesday. Acts from 15 countries performed their 3-minute songs onstage – often with eye-catching choreography and pyrotechnics – in a bid for votes from juries in participating nations and viewers around the world. Finland, the favourite on betting markets, made the cut with “Liekinheitin,” or “Flamethrower,” a mashup of pop singer Pete Parkkonen’s anguished vocals and violinist Linda Lampenius’ fiery fiddling. Joining them in the final on Saurday are Greece’s Akylas with party-rap track “Ferto,” or “Bring It”; Serbian goth metal band…
“It is part of an embassy’s role to talk to all political forces in its host country,” said a spokesperson for the embassy, declining to comment on what was discussed. A press representative for the party said no visit to Germany was in the works as of now, but Bardella’s inner circle has an example in mind for constructive collaboration with the EU’s economic powerhouse: The working relationship between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Meloni, who has recast herself in office as a more moderate figure after years on the political fringes. Bardella has publicly cited Meloni as an inspiration,…
Published on 13/05/2026 – 8:20 GMT+2 Between the increasingly unpopular Iran war at home and domestic courts striking down his tariffs, Trump needs a win. First, the security bargain. Xi Jinping wants a signal that Washington is stepping back from Taiwan. If Trump treats the island’s security as a bargaining chip to secure China’s help in ending the Iran war, he might hollow out Europe’s own strategic commitments in the Indo-Pacific. Trump is also under pressure to relax chip export controls for quick business deals. If he trades away this edge, Washington and Beijing will set the global standards for…
Trade and geopolitics are expected to dominate the agenda, but United States President Donald Trump’s guest list for his trip to China suggests technology will also be on the table for talks on Thursday with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. Among those making the trip alongside Trump, are Apple’s CEO Tim Cook and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Notably, Nvidia’s chief Jensen Huang is not expected to join. But rather than semiconductors, the agenda is more likely to focus on Iran, Taiwan and artificial intelligence-enabled warfare – especially following its widespread use in conflicts in Gaza and Iran. Artificial intelligence has…
Friedrich Merz erlebt seinen „Bärbel-Bas-Moment“. Nachdem die SPD-Vorsitzende bei den Arbeitgebern ausgelacht wurde, erntete der Kanzler nun beim DGB-Bundeskongress Buhrufe und Gelächter. Die Gräben in der schwarz-roten Koalition scheinen immer größer. Reform-Appelle verhallen im gegenseitigen Misstrauen. Gordon Repinski spielt zusammen mit Rasmus Buchsteiner das schwer Vorstellbare durch: Was passiert, wenn die Koalition zerbricht? Wie realistisch ist eine Minderheitsregierung unter Merz und welche Risiken birgt dieses Berliner Gedankenspiel? Im 200-Sekunden-Interview: Leif-Erik Holm, der wirtschaftspolitische Sprecher der AfD-Fraktion und Spitzenkandidat für die Landtagswahl in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Er grenzt sich rhetorisch vom extremen Rand seiner Partei ab. Aber wie viel inhaltliche Schnittmenge gäbe es…
One of the Commission’s oldest and most powerful departments may be heading for a dramatic overhaul — or even extinction. DG REGIO oversees the hundreds of billions of euros that go towards the social development of local regions and cities. But its potential restructuring by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is a clear sign that the EU’s aims are shifting. Zoya and Ian explain the thinking behind this redesign and the wide-ranging impacts. Also, after just a year as German chancellor, Friedrich Merz’s popularity is plunging to new lows. His most recent comeback tour around the country — aimed at reviving support — has backfired. On the show, we try to understand…
The decision not to broadcast the iconic competition is “not any message against Jewish people,” but a “message against Netanyahu’s state,” the president of Slovenia’s broadcaster told POLITICO. May 11 2 mins read
“Wednesday is a firebreak,” said one Labour official, granted anonymity like others quoted in this piece to speak frankly. “People will see that it’s disrespectful to [Buckingham] Palace — there will be a sense of duty around the monarchy that will kick in for some people.” A government official echoed the same point, noting: “You can’t make a fool of the king, can you?” The sudden pause in intra-party hostilities comes after a whipsaw day in Westminster politics. Early Tuesday, the prime minister faced down his critics at a Cabinet meeting, refusing to allow discussion of his own leadership and…
The decision not to broadcast the iconic competition is “not any message against Jewish people,” but a “message against Netanyahu’s state,” the president of Slovenia’s broadcaster told POLITICO. May 11 2 mins read
LONDON — The opening of a new U.K. parliamentary session is steeped in decades of pageantry and tradition. But few have taken place in these circumstances. On Wednesday morning, King Charles III will enter parliament to deliver a speech setting out Keir Starmer’s legislative agenda for the second parliamentary session of his premiership. Over 35 bills will be listed, according to the government. But after last week’s disastrous local and devolved elections for Starmer’s Labour Party, the question on Westminster’s mind is how much of it will actually be delivered — and by whom. “The British people expect the Government…