Germany proposes tougher EU response to hybrid threats from Russia – POLITICO

Germany proposes tougher EU response to hybrid threats from Russia – POLITICO

The foreign ministry in Berlin is looking to increase the consequences of such attacks by adopting new sanctions against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet — oil and gas tankers helping Moscow earn billions of dollars from illicit fossil fuel sales by surreptitious means — and by limiting the time of accreditation and freedom of movement for … Read more

Leaked memo reveals alarming German warnings over Trump – POLITICO

Leaked memo reveals alarming German warnings over Trump – POLITICO

Michaelis describes Trump’s vision as one focused on the “maximum concentration of power with the president at the expense of Congress and the [U.S.] states.” According to the document, key democratic institutions, including the legislature, law enforcement and the media, risk an erosion of their independence and could be “misused as a political arm.”  The … Read more

EU and Mexico revamp trade deal before tariff man Trump takes office – POLITICO

EU and Mexico revamp trade deal before tariff man Trump takes office – POLITICO

“This landmark deal proves that open, rules-based trade can deliver for our prosperity and economic security,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. The bilateral trading relationship is worth more than €100 billion a year — four-fifths in the form of goods and one-fifth in services. Echoing the apprehension around Trump’s tariff ideas, the German car … Read more

Five Brands Reinventing Workwear for Gen Z and Millennials

Five Brands Reinventing Workwear for Gen Z and Millennials

With return-to-office mandates in full swing, workwear is getting an update. From the feeds of TikTok to the runway, tailoring is trending among younger generations of the workforce, specifically Gen Z and Millennials. Oversize silhouettes, exaggerated hemlines (whether floor-length or micro mini) and more casual foundations (think bustier tops, tanks and jeans) are the uniform … Read more

What counts as sovereign in the cloud? – POLITICO

What counts as sovereign in the cloud? – POLITICO

Yet that doesn’t mean only European providers can offer sovereign cloud solutions. American providers might also be able to protect customer data from United States government access through technical measures such as client-side encryption, encryption with third-party key management or confidential computing. If securely implemented, the American provider can then only disclose data in its … Read more

French minister sees Germany’s likely next chancellor as positive for EU – POLITICO

French minister sees Germany’s likely next chancellor as positive for EU – POLITICO

Red lines Resuming the free-trade talks with Washington would be a red line for France and put Paris and Berlin at odds. Still, Merz’s more critical tone toward China, which contrasts with the fealty shown by Scholz and longtime CDU Chancellor Angela Merkel, might bring Berlin closer to the position defended by Paris and the … Read more

Zuckerberg urges Trump to stop the EU from fining US tech companies – POLITICO

Zuckerberg urges Trump to stop the EU from fining US tech companies – POLITICO

Zuckerberg complained that the EU had forced U.S. tech companies operating in Europe to pay “more than $30 billion” in penalties for legal violations over the past two decades. Last November, the tech chief’s Meta conglomerate, which operates Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and other social media and communications platforms, was fined €797 million for breaching EU … Read more

Serbia hit with double whammy on gas supply – POLITICO

Serbia hit with double whammy on gas supply – POLITICO

The two developments are viewed as a direct challenge to the delicate geopolitical balance that Serbia’s Vučić has spent more than a decade crafting, whereby he has signaled approval of Western values and EU policies while also maintaining strong ties with Russia and China. “We love Moscow and Washington, and everyone in the world, but … Read more

Thom Browne Resort 2025 Ready-to-Wear Runway, Fashion Show & Collection Review

Thom Browne Resort 2025 Ready-to-Wear Runway, Fashion Show & Collection Review

Thom Browne went from going all-in on muslin for his fall 2024 couture outing shown in Paris in June, to going all-in on merchandising for his latest coed collection for resort 2025, which demonstrated how his brand is evolving beyond a total look. For resort, he brought a younger, more casual, sporty and layered spin … Read more

Britain’s cozy China trip risks America’s anger – POLITICO

Britain’s cozy China trip risks America’s anger – POLITICO

After years of tension with the previous Conservative government over human rights and security concerns, Reeves has political space to take a different, more business-like approach to Beijing and try and tap China’s vast market for economic benefits.  “Everything the Tories did on foreign policy was about backbench management,” said a U.K. government official, who, like … Read more