Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. BERLIN — German farmers commenced a week of planned protests on Monday while officials warned that far-right groups are attempting to co-opt the movement for their own political ends. The farmers began the day by blocking roads across much of the country in response … Read more
The Pentagon had already announced that Austin wasn’t planning to resign. “He remains focused on conducting his duties as secretary of Defense in defense of our nation,” DOD spokesperson Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters. The decision by Biden to stand by Austin comes amid calls from Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, for him … Read more
Not another partygate saga! Czech Deputy Prime Minister Marian Jurečka is facing demands for his resignation after revelations that a Christmas party at his ministry continued despite a mass shooting in Prague earlier that day by a gunman who killed 14 people. The minister said previously that he had ended the party prematurely at 9 … Read more
BERLIN — Germany’s decision allow the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Saudi Arabia is due to the changed situation following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel as well as Saudi Arabia’s “very constructive attitude toward Israel,” a government spokesperson said today. The policy shift was made Sunday by German Foreign Minister Annalena … Read more
TAIPEI — The stakes for Taiwan’s democracy could hardly be higher in a tight presidential election on January 13, with Chinese President Xi Jinping delivering an ominous New Year address in which he insisted “reunification of the motherland is a historical inevitability.” The vote cuts to the heart of a battle for regional influence between … Read more
Alors que le Pas-de-Calais est touché par une montée des eaux pour la seconde fois en quelques mois, Xavier Bertrand monte au front, n’en déplaise à ceux qui lui reprochent son combat contre la loi sur le zéro artificialisation nette (ZAN), qu’il avait accusée de “mettre la France sous cloche”. L’artificialisation des sols dans les … Read more
A recent European Commission proposal to cool the litigious broth about connectivity patents by institutionalizing transparency as a means of avoiding disputes is attracting feverish attention. That fever is excessive: let us calm down and refrain from predicting the end of the world. The proposal is a sensible regime that does not eliminate property rights. … Read more
Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. LONDON — Rishi Sunak will need to watch his step this year. The U.K. prime minister faces a succession of tripwires that will make his second (and potentially last) full year in the job the toughest yet. With MPs returning to parliament Monday and … Read more
Months after Hamas’ Oct. 7 incursion into Israel led to an Israeli invasion of Gaza, total casualties on both sides now exceed 24,000 dead, most of them in Gaza. Even as fighting in Gaza winds down, it’s not clear what the future will hold for either Gaza or Israel itself, and some in Israel’s government … Read more
EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders is hoping to become the next secretary-general of the Council of Europe, the international human rights organization, which would mark a hiatus in his career in EU politics. The news, which was first reported by Belgian media outlets Le Soir and De Tijd, was confirmed to POLITICO by a Belgian official … Read more
