Policy

EU foreign ministers back Gaza reconstruction plan
The Arab-backed plan would cost $53 billion and see the Gaza Strip rebuilt over five years and would avoid displacing Palestinians.

Italy approves draft law outlawing violence against women

EU sends more troops to Bosnia as Russia defends Serb leader

Europe scrambles to aid Ukraine after US intelligence cutoff

Russian strikes on Ukraine leave at least 14 dead

Tariffs will add excitement to 2026 World Cup, Trump says

US withdraws from UN climate damage fund
UK bans meat, dairy imports from Hungary, Slovakia after foot-and-mouth case
Confirmation of case along the Hungarian-Slovak border comes less than two months after an outbreak of the highly contagious disease in Germany.
Trump says ‘we’re doing very well with Russia,’ hours after threatening sanctions
In a post on Truth Social, Trump put pressure on the country that so far has faced little public pushback from his administration.
Trump strikes dark tone as he seeks to restart Iran nuclear talks
“We can’t let them have a nuclear weapon,” the U.S. president warned.
Trump’s plan to stockpile crypto complicates industry’s policy push
The president’s endorsement of ideas once relegated to the fringes of the crypto community could jeopardize broader efforts by policymakers to legitimize the $3 trillion market.
3 Bulgarians convicted of spying for Russia in the UK
The group was directed by Wirecard fugitive Jan Marsalek.
Italy must compensate stranded migrants, high court rules
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni calls decision involving the coast guard ship Diciotti “highly questionable” and “very frustrating.”
Trump threatens large-scale sanctions, tariffs on Russia in push for cease-fire
In a post on Truth Social, Trump put pressure on the country that so far has faced little public pushback from his administration.
Poland seeks access to nuclear arms and looks to build half-million-man army
Already a major spender within NATO, Warsaw has massive military plans as fears grow about the reliability of the U.S. as an ally against Russia.
Farmers closer to shooting more wolves under proposed EU law
Law championed by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would lower the protection status of Europe’s wolves.
UK’s Just Stop Oil wins a cut in jail time — but lose the bigger battle
Dismay and anger inside London court as landmark ruling on climate activists is read out.
Intense Russian attacks force Ukraine to consider pulling out of Kursk
Kyiv is trying to hang on to the territory it holds inside Russia despite fierce counterattacks by Moscow’s military.
EU’s defense plans are a threat, says Kremlin, warning of retaliatory measures
EU’s proposal to transform “from an economic to a military alliance” will make peace in Ukraine harder to achieve, top spokesperson says.
US curtails Ukraine access to satellite imagery
Maxar, a leading provider of commercial satellite imagery to Ukrainian users, says the Trump administration suspended access in Ukraine.
Hungary detects first case of foot-and-mouth disease in 50 years
Detection of highly contagious disease follows outbreak in Germany in January.
Ukraine uses French Mirage jets for first time in repelling massive Russian attack
It was the first large combined airstrike by Moscow since Washington halted aid and intel-sharing to Kyiv.
Orbán announces Hungarian poll on Ukraine joining the EU
PM says he will “collect the opinion of the people” in a mail-in campaign that critics have derided as a propaganda tool.
This newbie UK minister faces a baptism of fire on a key Labour promise
Miatta Fahnbulleh, left-wing-economist-turned Labour minister, has been tasked with cutting Brits’ energy bills. But convincing the Treasury to budge makes it a mammoth task.
EU tech chiefs say they don’t target US tech
The European Commission pushes back on U.S. criticism of its Digital Markets Act that targets Big Tech.
Trump tariff war would hurt Boeing more than Airbus
The U.S. plane-maker could be the “biggest victim” of a tariff war.
Albania to block TikTok in the coming days
Ban follows fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old that may have been linked to arguments on social media.
Parliament to probe EU grants to Shell, VW and migrant NGOs
A fight over how the Commission spends its cash expands to 28 NGOs and business giants.
Jordan treads lightly with Trump, hoping to avoid mass displacement of Palestinians
Amman this week welcomed the first convoy of sick and injured children from Gaza.
The US-EU breakup—what does it mean for Ukraine, and for peace?
This week’s episode of EU Confidential comes to you from Thursday’s emergency meeting of EU leaders — the political equivalent of sobbing into your pillow on a …