LONDON — “I don’t really have a football team … Wimborne Town Football Club!” A U.K. minister appeared to temporarily forget, and then suddenly remember, what football team he supports, during an excruciating back and forth with a broadcaster Wednesday morning. Immigration Minister Michael Tomlinson — who was tasked with making the government’s case ahead … Read more
PARIS — Four migrants died in French waters overnight on Saturday as they tried to reach a small boat setting off from the beach in the northern French town of Wimereux. Dozens were also rescued in the freezing waters by French rescue teams, according to local French media reports. One migrant was in critical condition … Read more
Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. Mark Kimmitt is a retired U.S. Army brigadier general. He served as assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs and deputy assistant secretary of defense for Middle East affairs under President George W. Bush. On December 23, the Chem Puto tanker was attacked by … Read more
Imagine if Brussels was hosting the 2024 Olympics. Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? But believe it or not, while the EU’s capital might not have the necessary infrastructure to hold the world’s largest sporting showpiece, there are some events that it would be ideally placed to host. We took a look at nine of the best. Kicking … Read more
Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. Welcome to a special POLITICO 28 edition of Declassified, a weekly humor column. So, as 2023 staggers to a close like a bloody-nosed drunk lurching down the street on the way to the all-night garage, there’s one main takeaway: Never rule out terrible people … Read more
Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. LONDON — It was meant to be the year two quiet technocrats, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer, brought calm to the fevered Westminster swamp. Unfortunately SW1 didn’t get the memo. Politics remained pretty much as wild in 2023 as it has been since David Cameron — back in action as U.K. foreign secretary … Read more
LONDON — Britain’s honors system will be back in the spotlight Saturday as another procession of celebrities, government cronies and community heroes are handed New Year’s gongs. Up for grabs will be the usual mix of archaic titles, royal-approved medals and — best of all — jobs for life as lawmakers in the House of … Read more
Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. LONDON — Plots, bills and parties give way Monday to family — and ritual. The little traditions we make for ourselves on Christmas Day pause time and briefly silence the rattle of the outside world. POLITICO London Playbook sent out the call for Westminster’s … Read more
An American destroyer intercepted four drones fired by Houthi militants into the busy shipping lanes of the Red Sea, during a chaotic evening of strikes that hit at least one foreign-owned oil tanker. In a statement issued Sunday, U.S. Central Command said its navy had “shot down four unmanned aerial drones originating from Houthi-controlled areas … Read more
The Trudeau government still won’t say if it’s considering imposing sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in the wake of travel bans announced by both the U.S. and the United Kingdom in recent days. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said last week that he will recommend EU sanctions as well. Canada, like its American, British … Read more
