Erdoğan says upcoming Turkish local election will be his last – POLITICO

The founder and leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), Erdoğan has been Turkey’s president since 2014 following a decade as the country’s prime minister. Erdoğan said that the outcome of the local election will have a significant impact on his plans for political succession. “The result that comes out of this election will … Read more

UK’s Tories tear themselves apart over Islamophobia – POLITICO

Indeed, Anderson — elected in 2019 after defecting from Labour — may be tapping into wider Tory sentiment. An Opinium poll of Conservative Party members released Wednesday by the advocacy group Hope not Hate found that more than half (58 percent) believe Islam is a “threat to the British way of life.” A further 40 … Read more

Ex-Macron justice minister acquitted of embezzling EU funds – POLITICO

Outside the courtroom, Bayrou said the court’s decision marked the end of a “seven-year-long nightmare.” It was initially estimated that the European Parliament had incurred €1.4 million in losses from the embezzlement scheme, but the institution’s legal defense had lowered the figure to €293,000 by the start of the trial, AFP reported. Bayrou endorsed Macron … Read more

Politics threatens to spoil Paris 2024 Olympics – POLITICO

Despite the IOC’s ultimate recommendation to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in Paris as neutrals — that is, without a national flag or anthem — the International Gymnastics Federation recently decided not to include any Russian gymnasts on the list of athletes permitted to take part in qualifying competitions for the 2024 Olympics. … Read more

Four migrants die trying to cross English Channel – POLITICO

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

Paris claps back at football boss over racism claim – POLITICO

A deputy mayor in the French capital has accused Paris Saint-Germain boss Nasser al-Khelaifi of defamation after the Qatari football tycoon suggested the city’s refusal to sell PSG a football stadium was rooted in racism. Al-Khelaifi wants to buy the Parc des Princes stadium, which the Qatari-owned French football club is currently renting from the … Read more

How to watch Taiwan’s election like a pro – POLITICO

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

Macron hails Jacques Delors as Europe’s tireless ‘pathfinder’ (and jazz-loving football fan) – POLITICO

PARIS — In a state ceremony held over Jacques Delors’ coffin on Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to “an honest European man” and touched upon more personal aspects of the EU statesman’s life, including his Christian faith and his love of football and “loud jazz.” Placing himself firmly in the mold of the … Read more

‘Seething’ Putin hammers Ukraine with massive missile and drone attacks – POLITICO

Russia battered Kyiv and Kharkiv with missiles and drones overnight, killing at least four people and injuring 92 more, after President Vladimir Putin said he was “seething” and would “intensify attacks” on Ukraine. Moscow hit the capital with a combination of Iranian-made Shahed drones and “waves” of missiles for almost six hours, according to the … Read more

Russia hammers Kharkiv with New Year’s Eve strikes after Ukraine’s attack on border city – POLITICO

Russia launched a fresh wave of missile attacks against Ukraine’s second-largest city on Sunday, just hours after Moscow accused Kyiv of pounding Russian border areas and killing civilians. At least 28 civilians were injured after Moscow hit Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv overnight with six missiles and Iranian-made Shahed drones, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said … Read more