Labour quietly ditches Tory ‘pot for life’ pensions plan – POLITICO

Labour quietly ditches Tory ‘pot for life’ pensions plan – POLITICO

The policy aimed to tackle the problem of millions of small workplace pension pots being lost as workers change jobs, with employers instead paying into one portable pension pot which would be taken from one job to the next. The DWP published a call for evidence last November, but the proposal was widely criticized by … Read more

Russia warns Biden that long-range missile approval escalates Ukraine war – POLITICO

Russia warns Biden that long-range missile approval escalates Ukraine war – POLITICO

The move marks a major shift in U.S. policy after the Biden administration’s long-standing refusal to agree to Ukraine’s request for authorization to use the missiles to hit targets outside its own borders. Russia, for its part, has been using Iranian killer drones and North Korean missiles against Ukraine during President Vladimir Putin’s lengthy full-scale … Read more

Starmer to meet Xi for ‘pragmatic’ talks – POLITICO

Starmer to meet Xi for ‘pragmatic’ talks – POLITICO

Relations later frayed under Boris Johnson, however, as Trump pressured Britain to purge Chinese firm Huawei from Britain’s 5G network. Given that the matter was one of national security, the U.K. sided with America, but the move clearly soured relations with China.  Trump may well want to make that relationship more awkward again. Elsewhere on … Read more

Franziska Brantner elected co-leader of German Greens going into snap elections – POLITICO

Franziska Brantner elected co-leader of German Greens going into snap elections – POLITICO

Brantner wants to “make Green great again,” she said, adapting the slogan of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, whom she has criticized as a threat to global climate policy. Brantner will remain state secretary in the German economy ministry, headed by Robert Habeck, Germany’s vice chancellor. He is expected to be nominated as the Green Party’s … Read more

SPD lawmakers call for Pistorius as chancellor candidate: Spiegel – POLITICO

SPD lawmakers call for Pistorius as chancellor candidate: Spiegel – POLITICO

Scholz’s SPD, on the other hand, is polling third with 16 percent, just behind the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and down 10 percentage points since the 2021 election. According to Spiegel, SPD members of the Bundestag in a recent meeting joined local and regional politicians in voicing doubts over Scholz’s chances to succeed … Read more

The paradox of Italy’s industrial strategy – POLITICO

The paradox of Italy’s industrial strategy – POLITICO

Now, encouraged by a wave of support from civil society — as well as the realization that promises to restart the factory were going nowhere — the cooperative born out of this struggle is taking matters into its own hands, outlining a plan for sustainable bottom-up reindustrialization. And yet, as of now, these former GKN … Read more

EU to press China over drones for Russia, warns of ‘consequences’ – POLITICO

EU to press China over drones for Russia, warns of ‘consequences’ – POLITICO

“If we finally confirm there is a transfer of drones [from China to Russia], then that will have consequences,” added the official, who declined to spell out what those consequences could be. The comments, which come more than a month after Reuters first reported on the drone factory, hint at a hardening stance toward China … Read more

UK’s Reeves pledges to ‘work closely’ with Trump as tariff threat looms – POLITICO

UK’s Reeves pledges to ‘work closely’ with Trump as tariff threat looms – POLITICO

The chancellor made the remarks while speaking Thursday night at her first Mansion House event, where she also outlined reforms to boost the City of London by allowing extra risk in the U.K. financial system, among other policy maneuvers. Donald Trump won the U.S. election in a landslide last week, and has pledged to impose … Read more

China ‘concerned’ about Trump’s climate impact, says Beijing envoy – POLITICO

China ‘concerned’ about Trump’s climate impact, says Beijing envoy – POLITICO

Trump has also pledged a major shift in policy focus to further ramp up American oil and gas production, already the largest in the world. “Everybody’s concerned about next steps … whether after the U.S. election, U.S. climate policy will or won’t change,” said Liu. “But most colleagues [here at COP] still feel that regardless … Read more

US seeks to ‘reassure’ world at COP climate conference – POLITICO

US seeks to ‘reassure’ world at COP climate conference – POLITICO

It also comes as green advocates fear the new balance of power in Washington will lead to a rollback of environmental regulations and the end of climate leadership on the world stage. “Cracking down on methane leakage, decarbonizing our economy, and combatting sea level rise are firmly on my agenda for COP29,” said Whitehouse in … Read more