Von der Leyen presses ahead for quick solution on EU aid to Ukraine – POLITICO

BRUSSELS — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants to get to a deal on new Ukraine aid “as quickly as possible,” she said on Friday. The issue of the €50 billion aid package for Ukraine landed back on her plate at the occasion of the start of the Belgian presidency of the Council … Read more

How Israel will fight Gaza genocide accusations in The Hague – POLITICO

Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. Jamie Dettmer is opinion editor at POLITICO Europe. Back in November, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the far-right and religious nationalists in his coalition government to pipe down and “be careful with their words” when talking about their desired outcomes for the war … Read more

How the West lost the plot on Serbia – POLITICO

Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. Dragan Đilas is the president of the Party of Freedom and Justice and a member of the Serbia Against Violence coalition. He served as the mayor of Belgrade (2008–2013) and the president of the Democratic Party, Serbia’s main opposition party (2012–2014). When Serbia was … Read more

Nigel Farage is a no-show as his party blasts ‘socialist twins’ Starmer and Sunak – POLITICO

LONDON — Nigel Farage didn’t bother showing up — but his Reform U.K Party is making a big pitch to “save Britain” from both the Tories and Labour. The right-wing populist party — led by the businessman Richard Tice with the arch-Brexiteer Farage as party president — set out its stall for the next election … Read more

Macron makes enemies defending rape-accused star – POLITICO

Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. PARIS — The storm sparked by Emmanuel Macron’s defense of film star Gérard Depardieu shows no sign of abating as the showbiz world tears itself apart over accusations targeting one of France’s best-known actors. The French film star is at the center of a … Read more

What is home in the age of exile? – POLITICO

Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. Tatyana Margolin is co-founder of STROIKA, with a mission to reverse the tide of rising authoritarianism by building, resourcing and connecting resistance movements around the globe. One can reliably gauge the latest geopolitical upheaval by who is sleeping on the red pullout couch in … Read more

Make-or-break national election looms over Belgian EU presidency – POLITICO

Press play to listen to this article Voiced by artificial intelligence. This article is part of the Belgian Presidency of the EU special report. BRUSSELS — Ceci n’est pas une campagne électorale.  As Belgium gears up for its six-month stint at the helm of the Council of the European Union from January 1, the country’s … Read more

Top 10 behind-the-paywall stories of 2023 – POLITICO

It’s been a busy year in EU policy land as lawmakers, leaders and officials raced to tie up loose ends before the European Parliament election next June, with some efforts more successful than others. The EU’s green ambitions became the center of a right-wing backlash as the real-life impact of proposed reforms started to bite. … Read more

Serbia cracks down on protests amid ‘election fraud’ outcry – POLITICO

Dozens of people have been detained during mass protests in Serbia amid claims that elections earlier this month were rigged in favor of the ruling party. Thousands gathered outside a police station in the capital, Belgrade, on Monday evening demanding the release of at least 38 demonstrators believed to have been arrested. Authorities fired tear … Read more

The first nail-biter election of 2024: Taiwan – POLITICO

TAIPEI — 2024 will be a bumper year of elections around the world, but one of the first votes on the calendar will also be one of the most hotly contested and consequential: Taiwan, where there are vital strategic interests at play for both the U.S. and China on January 13. If the campaign started … Read more