UN aid workers feel forgotten and in peril as Gaza war drags on
โWeโre punished for doing our jobs,โ said one foreign doctor who volunteered in Gaza.
Influence
The Russian disinformation machine, a constantly changing ecosystem
The Kremlin’s informational influence network is multifaceted and capable of bypassing obstacles to boost its reach. A study published by two French researchers reveals the state and private structures behind it.
โRussiaโs dirty money will hijack our democratic processโ: how tiny Moldova fears Kremlin is fixing EU referendum
Officials believe โฌ100m has been funnelled into the country to influence the pivotal vote and the presidential electionLast spring, customs officers in the tiny nation of Moldova struck gold. Acting on a national intelligence tip-off from, they interce…
Group with close ties to Trump transition says it was targeted in cyber attack
AFPI did not disclose whether any data was removed in the hack, how the breach occurred or the identification, if known, of the actors behind the intrusion.
Hungaryโs Orbรกn says von der Leyen wants to โoverthrowโ him
The populist leader called this week’s EU Parliament debate a “crucifixion attempt.”
Stop Israel from bombing Iranโs oil sites, Gulf states urge US
The moves by the Gulf states come after a diplomatic push by non-Arab Shi’ite Iran to persuade its Sunni Gulf neighbours to use their influence with Washington amid rising concerns Israel could target Iran’s oil production facilities.
Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy presents โvictory planโ to European allies as long-range strikes discussed
UK says no change to position on Storm Shadow missiles; Ukrainian journalist dies in Russian detention. What we know on day 961See all our Russia-Ukraine war coverageVolodymyr Zelenskyy has said a ceasefire with Russia is not under discussion with Euro…
Russian visa scandal: โWe lost controlโ over system, Polish foreign minister laments
Audit flags several irregularities, including granting visas to Russians “without any legal basis.”
The westโs support for Ukraine is fading โ and that will empower Putin for his next war | Paul Taylor
The US and Europe are failing to provide decisive military aid. A Trump victory could soon reveal the depths of this mistakeIn the corridors of Brussels, there is a sinking feeling that the political will to help Ukraine prevail over Russian aggression…
Europeโs naivety toward Iran is misplaced
To date, the EUโs Iran policy has been ineffective and seriously flawed. And the bloc’s leaders need to wake up to the security threat Tehran poses.
Elon Musk amplifies hurricane disinformation while boosting Trump
The billionaire is using the power of his social media platform to spread falsehoods that officials say are hampering recovery efforts.
ISIS is back, says UK spy chiefย
Rare public appearance from MI5 boss Ken McCallum also includes stark warnings about Russia, Iran โ and funding pressures on the intelligence service itself.
Under the influence: exploring Carlsbergโs Copenhagen
The brewing giantโs architectural and cultural legacy is unmissable in the Danish capital โ especially in the district where its story began
EU must confront Azerbaijan at COP29 over human rights crackdown, top NGOs demand
The fossil fuel-rich climate summit host has said criticism of their domestic record is merely foreign ‘provocations.’
Germans decry influence of English as โidiotโs apostropheโ gets official approval
Linguistic body has relaxed rules on use of apostrophe to show possession, not traditionally correct in GermanA relaxation of official rules around the correct use of apostrophes in German has not only irritated grammar sticklers but triggered existent…
Youโre biased, Romanian far-right MEP tells top court after ban from presidential race
Ultra-nationalist party leader rails against the court’s decision, which has also been queried by her political opponents.
Georgia’s ruling party renews bid to impeach pro-Western president
President Salomรฉ Zurabishvili has regularly opposed the country’s ruling Georgian Dream party, notably after its lawmakers passed a controversial Russian-style ‘foreign influence’ law in June, triggering massive protests.
Ireland is a โplaygroundโ for Russian intelligence, says former army chief
Comment follows claim Kremlin recruited member of parliament to damage UK-Irish relations during Brexit talksIreland is a โplaygroundโ for Russian intelligence, a former deputy chief of an Irish army unit has said following claims that a member of parl…
How the Israel-Hamas war sidelined other world hot spots
Every administration has to readjust to respond to world events, but the Israel-Hamas conflict has been particularly disruptive to Bidenโs other foreign policy efforts.
Russian-style laws on rise in former Eastern Bloc countries eager to follow Georgiaโs lead
With Georgia passing yet another controversial law, this time against LGBTQ rights, a growing number of post-socialist EU states, such as Slovakia, Bulgaria and Hungary, appear eager to adopt similar laws, raising concerns within the EU about violation…
Chinese EVs tariffs fallout: Is Germany losing its influence in Brussels?
Is the EU one step closer to a trade war with China? What does last Friday’s vote on the bloc’s tariffs against Chinese-made electric vehicles mean for Berlin’s influence in Brussels? Find the answers in today’s Radio Schuman podcast episode.
Russian-style laws on rise in former Eastern Bloc countries eager to follow Georgiaโs lead
In todayโs edition of the Capitals, find out more about the Spanish being at odds with government over migrant crisis in the Canaries, a key political player in Bulgaria arrested for influence peddling ahead of elections, and so much more.ย
Emmanuel Macronโs last stand
The French leader was able to stall a Latin American trade deal in January. With negotiators again closing in on an agreement, he will struggle to repeat that feat.
Estonian president: Tear down the wall of restrictions weโve built around Ukraine
As the West, the limits weโve placed on ourselves merely reflect our fear, weakness and indecision โ all feeding the aggressor.
Harris or Trump? Election betting goes live in US
On financial exchange startup Kalshi, some traders will be able to bet as much as $100M.
‘Macron announced the creation of an international college’
“Emmanuel Macron very much took the line that we expected him to, defending the international organisation of the French speaking world (OIF), insisting that this language has allowed people from all over the globe to spread their art and their influe…
US Republicans fear UK Chagos Islands deal will boost China
Britain insisted its U.S. allies were fully behind the move to hand control of the islands โ home to a secretive military base โ to Mauritius.
The Labour-linked lobbying firm boasting invite-only access to the UK Treasury
Arden Strategies have gained a reputation as a power player in the new U.K. regime.
Quels commissaires europรฉens ont le plus dโimmobilier, dโargent et dโinfluence ?
POLITICO a passรฉ en revue les dรฉclarations d’intรฉrรชts des prรฉtendants ร lโexรฉcutif bruxellois.
Macron hosts Francophone leaders in bid to boost French influence
President Emmanuel Macron hosts the “Francophonie” summit this week in a bid to bolster French clout in a conflict-ridden world, in particular Africa. Chad President Mahamat Idriss Deby, an ally of France and regular visitor to Paris, will be a promin…
Rising prices and the cost of living are the top drivers of European votersโ choices
Although economic issues were the primary influence on voting behaviour in the European elections in June, positive views towards the EU and the European Parliament continue to rise.
Leaked documents: Which EU commissioners have the most property, money and influence
POLITICO has reviewed the declarations of interest of every European Commission nominee.
Russia paying people to vote against joining EU, Moldova warns
Moscow has built a “mafia-style” network to distribute cash ahead of a critical referendum on the country’s future, top Moldovan officials told POLITICO.
Russia and Chinaโs cooperation in the Arctic is a rising nuclear threat
While Beijing and Moscow have been working to establish a strategic foothold in the region for more than a decade, Washington and Brussels are just now waking up to the danger.
Harris, Trump take an America First tone on dockworkersโ strike
Foreign shipping companies that dominate seaborne trade draw bipartisan criticism as U.S. ports grind to a halt.
Biden approaches limits of influence on Israel
After a year of effort, the U.S. may be unable to stop full-scale regional war.
Once upon a time in Brussels: EU picks Tarantino for top competition job
Academic becomes the third Italian to take influential post after a previous U.S. pick was forced out.
The Guardian view on Austriaโs election: yet another wake-up call | Editorial
The Freedom partyโs first ever victory is the latest in a string of far-right triumphs in Europe. Business as usual is not a credible mainstream responseThe sequence has become dismally familiar. Piling up votes in provincial and rural areas at the exp…
US officials quietly backed Israelโs military push against Hezbollah
The officials urged caution and stressed the need for diplomacy. But the timing was right for such a military shift, they concluded.
Brussels yawns as Europeโs populists notch yet another win
How many far-right governments need to be elected before the EU admits it has a problem?
Prosecutors say Italian football scene has been at risk of ‘mafia-type influence’ for some time
19 people were arrested in Italy on Monday accused of forming mafia groups connected with the football business. Prosecutors say there have been risks for some time now of a drift towards criminal activities carried out in Italian football stadiums.
New York Times endorses Harris as โthe only choiceโ for president
The editorial board has not backed a Republican for president since Dwight Eisenhower in 1956.
Breton: Franceโs voice carries less weight in EU as Germanyโs influence grows
Former French European Commissioner Thierry Breton shared his concerns about France’s loss of influence within the EU in an interview with Le Monde on Sunday, criticising Germany’s leading role.
Top FIFA official also holds key EU court function
A senior football official makes more than $200K a year while also assessing future judges for Europe’s supreme court.
Thierry Breton to ‘Le Monde’: ‘France’s voice is less powerful’ in Europe
France’s former European commissioner sees a ‘drift’ in Germany’s growing influence in EU institutions. ‘Europe is about balance, serving the general European interest, not the interests of a single country. If we upset this balance, the European proje…
Breton slams โempressโ von der Leyenโs power grab and Franceโs loss of influence in EU
Former French commissioner tells Le Monde that France has lost power in the new European Commission setup.
How Trump’s administration tried to torpedo the EU Green Deal using influence and misinformation campaigns
Bonus Eventus Files (3/3). In 2020, as Europe announced an ambitious policy to make its agriculture more sustainable, the Trump administration decided to go on the attack. In its crusade, it recruited the influence firm v-Fluence founded by a former Mo…
Marine Le Pen is on trial. A guilty verdict could doom her presidential ambitions.
The French far-right wants to make the best out of a complication situation during a trial which could potentially bar Le Pen from running for president in 2027.
Kremlinโs influence looms over Georgian Dream in the October elections [Advocacy Lab Content]
The ruling Georgian Dream party’s campaign ahead of Georgia’s parliamentary elections in October has been marred by fear-mongering and echoes of Russian-style propganda on the war in Ukraine.
Why Britainโs โdeepfake electionโ never happened
The U.K. dodged a predicted deluge of AI-generated misinformation. That doesn’t mean its politicians can rest easy.
Austriaโs Cosa Nostra
My quip on a TV show gave me an insider view of how the dominant People’s Party exerts its influence throughout the country.
Iranians indicted in connection with Trump campaign hack
The indictment could be unveiled as soon as Friday.
Slovenian prime minister backs Commission nominee after controversy
In interview with POLITICO, Robert Golob also says “chemistry” with von der Leyen helped Kos land the nomination
What lobbying footprint does Big Oil have on EU climate policy?
Two new reports have claimed to show just how much influence fossil fuel company lobbying has on EU climate policymaking.
Tech policy: 20 people to meet at Tory conference
We break down the 20 figures shaping the Conservativesโ tech policy in opposition.
UK energy policy: 20 people to lobby at Conservative conference
LONDON โ The Conservative Party โgot trounced in the polls,โ ex-Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho admitted earlier this month. After 14 years controlling Westminsterโs levers of power, voters dumped the Tories unceremoniously from office overnight in July. And yet โ the party is already regrouping, jumping on energy bills and cost-of-living as one basis for a [โฆ]
Ukraine bets on India to help get peace deal with Putin
Why Narendra Modi is Kyiv’s best hope.
Humanity has been a casualty in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Biden can leverage tools available to the U.S. government to encourage Israelis and Palestinians to hold those who peddle in hate and facilitate abuse to account.
Rachel Reevesโ 7 reasons to be cheerful
Britain’s strait-laced chancellor was sent out to cheer up the nation โ and insist there’s more to Labour than penny-pinching.
EU environment commissioner to face tough crowd in Parliament
Sweden’s poor environmental record has some MEPs worried about commissioner choice.
Rachel Reeves is running Britain really
Behind the scenes, decisions on Labour’s agenda are being dictated to a great extent by the Treasury.
Czech crisis manager set to become EUโs top global dealmaker
As boss of the EUโs โฌ300 billion Global Gateway infrastructure initiative, Jozef Sรญkelaโs job will be to beat China at its own game.
โCatastrophe regionโ: Austrian city faces up to scale of damage left by deadly flooding
Destructive interplay between human influence on rain and land can be seen in municipalities such as St PรถltenBy the third night of rain, the situation in the command centre had escalated from tense to critical. Mateusz Fryn, the deputy firefighter chi…
Nigel Farage is right: Britainโs Remainers are back
For the first time since the 2016 Brexit referendum, Britain’s pro-Europeans have the upper hand.
Adult-content creators call for inclusion in AI policy talks
Adult industry stakeholders are looking to influence artificial intelligence (AI) regulations to protect content creators’ rights amid emerging issues like AI-generated pornography, deepfakes, and age verification challenges.
FS policy: 20 people to meet at Labourโs conference
Looking to influence financial services policy but unsure who to meet at Labourโs inaugural party conference in Liverpool this weekend? Politicians, advisers or policy wonks: Weโve got the ultimate list of who holds the power in and around the first Labour Party conference in 14 years โ and who to have a chinwag with on [โฆ]
UK energy policy: 20 people to lobby at Labour conference
Who to look out for in Liverpool this weekend.
Tech policy: 20 people to meet at Labour conference
We break down the 20 figures inside and outside government shaping Labourโs tech policy.
Trade policy: 20 people to meet at Labour conference
We break down the 20 figures inside and outside government shaping Labourโs trade policy.
How Macron dodged political death โฆ for now
He threw his allies under the bus.
Russia tried to stage coup in Armenia, prosecutors allege
A traditional Moscow ally, Armenia has pivoted to the West since the Ukraine war began, and its PM now says it could seek EU membership.
Will France gain more influence in the next European Commission?
Questions have been raised about the influence France will have over the new European Commission following the appointment of its new commissioner and the divide between conservatives and centrists.
Watch video as Ukraine wipes Russian weapons depot โoff the face of the earthโ
“Locals were wondering if that was a nuclear bomb blast or not,โ Kyiv’s security service told POLITICO about drone strike on key target.
Associate of Frenchman in mass rape trial admits to copycat abuse on his own wife
An associate of Dominique Pelicot, the Frenchman man who drugged his wife and invited dozens of men to rape her in a case that has shocked France and the world, told a court that he committed similar crimes against his own wife under Pelicot’s influen…
Russian election interference efforts targeting Harris campaign, Microsoft finds
The new effort, which involves spreading fake videos discrediting Harris and her campaign, is the latest foreign interference linked to Russia in recent weeks.
Ukraine war briefing: Blinken briefed on Kyivโs plan to push Russia to end war
Zelenskiy expected to present plan to UN general assembly next week; Microsoft says Russia behind Harris disinformation. What we know on day 938See all our Ukraine war coverageUS secretary of state Antony Blinken was briefed during his trip to Kyiv on …
France mourns its loss of influence in von der Leyenโs new Commission
After Thierry Breton’s resignation, French officials are bemoaning a loss of influence in Brussels.
โTout sauf luiโ : les coulisses de la longue rupture dโUrsula von der Leyen avec Thierry Breton
La rupture entre la prรฉsidente de la Commission et son plus grand critique en interne couvait depuis des annรฉes.
Sanchez hails โgreatest-everโ influence on Brussels after Ribera portfolio reveal
With Teresa Ribera getting what is set to be the highly coveted role of executive vice-presidency for clean, fair and competitive transition in von der Leyenโs newly proposed team, Spain could be on its way to having the most influence it has ever had …
Meta bans Russian state media outlets for ‘foreign interference’
The ban by Meta, which owns WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, comes after the United States accused state-run broadcaster RT of covertly funding influence campaigns on social media.
Ursula von der Leyen tightens grip before unveiling her team
Thierry Breton is out of the way, ridding the European Commission chief of her fiercest internal critic.
โAnyone but himโ: Inside Ursula von der Leyenโs long breakup with Thierry Breton
The split between the Commission president and her biggest internal critic had been brewing for years.
Von der Leyen set to reward France with bigger EU top job after Bretonโs exit, French officials say
The new French commissioner-designate could oversee parts of trade, research and innovation, economy and financial services and capital markets union.
Ukraine brushes off links to wannabe Trump assassin
Volodymyr Zelenskyy sends “best wishes” to the Republican candidate, while the International Legion dismisses any connection with Ryan Wesley Routh.
Volkswagen is the anti-Tesla and China is to blame
The German carmaker faces a triple threat from China, a lagging EV transition and labor worries.
Trumpโs statements on Ukraine are โelection messages,โ Zelenskyy says
Ukraineโs president said he is not concerned that the Republican nominee plans to sell Ukraine out.
RT running covert military supply operation for Russian forces, US says
The state-backed media outlet has been sending weapons to Russian units, including sniper rifles and suppressors, body armor, night vision equipment and drones, according to State.
Panic on the canals: How a battle over wages in Venice highlights the complex reality overlooked by policymakers
An escalating standoff between workers and employers in Venice over an expired contract has exposed the volatile reality behind the data that informs Europeโs economic decision-making.
โDragon-Bearโ: How China and Russiaโs spy operations overlap in Europe
Beijing is recruiting agents among EU politicians who have demonstrated fealty to Moscow, underscoring their alignment, according to a senior European intelligence official.
Zelenskyyโs consolidation of power weakens Ukraineโs resilience
The war has done nothing to still the president’s populist impatience with the complexities of governing, and it’s playing against the country’s strengths.
Brexit : Bruxelles se demande si Starmer veut vraiment repartir ร zรฉro
Quand il faudra passer des paroles aux actes, le nouveau Premier ministre britannique aura une position similaire sur lโUE ร celle de ses prรฉdรฉcesseurs, estiment plusieurs sources europรฉennes.
China uses LinkedIn to recruit academics for espionage, Czech intelligence warns
China poses a fundamental threat to Euro-Atlantic civilisation and is using various channels, including LinkedIn, to establish contacts and gain influence and know-how, the Czech Security Information Service (BIS) has warned.
Brussels questions whether Starmer really wants a Brexit reset
EU officials and diplomats say when push comes to shove, the new PMโs position is so far so similar to his Tory predecessorโs.
‘From Silk Roads to green tech, China’s influence strategy in Europe has evolved, but not the method’
By banking on its technological power, Beijing is seeking to regain the ground lost with European elites following the Covid-19 pandemic. But its support for Russia in the war in Ukraine remains an obstacle, writes Le Monde columnist Sylvie Kauffmann.
Building a shared finance and security vision between Britain and Europe
Against a geopolitical backdrop thatโs unrecognizable from just a few years ago, thereโs a strong case for developing a cross-Channel finance and security partnership.
โMiddle fingersโ from EU capitals. Von der Leyenโs last-minute struggles to put together her team.
European Commission presidentโs haggling over gender means sheโs pushing against her own deadline for unveiling the commissioners.
War โtourโ, football and graffiti: How Russia is trying to influence Africa
The African Initiative spreads misleading claims online and promotes Russian culture on the ground.
War โtourโ, football and graffiti: How Russia is trying to influence Africa
The African Initiative spreads misleading claims online and promotes Russian culture on the ground.
War โtourโ, football and graffiti: How Russia is trying to influence Africa
The African Initiative spreads misleading claims online and promotes Russian culture on the ground.
Secretive Draghi is echoing Soviet Union restructuring
Like Gorbachev’s Perestroika, the report from the former ECB chief could herald a change of historic proportions. It’s far less innocuous than it sounds.