Governments, elections, EU geopolitics
The Health Secretary is among a clutch of senior Labour figures reportedly being considered for the Ministry of Defence brief, should Andy Burnham succeed in a future leadership contest.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron have pledged to accelerate progress on EU priorities, framing their urgency as an economic imperative even as France’s political future remains uncertain.
A senior MEP and chair of the European Parliament’s China delegation argues that Brussels holds significant trade leverage over Beijing and that China’s economic model is more fragile than it appears.
Fresh exchanges between Washington and Tehran have pushed the Gulf standoff to a critical juncture, forcing European capitals to reassess their role as mediators in an increasingly volatile confrontation.
Jared Kushner outlined a new US vision for Gaza aid distribution to EU ministers in Brussels, proposing a break from UN-led mechanisms in a closed-door meeting that signals Washington’s intent to reshape post-conflict reconstruction frameworks.
The French and German leaders have pledged joint action on defence, industry and technology, but questions persist over whether their commitments will outlast the next French presidential contest.
The European Parliament’s 719 lawmakers are departing for their summer recess, but political negotiations are already under way ahead of a significant midterm leadership reshuffle scheduled for when the institution reconvenes on 31 August.
The redistribution of senior European Parliament posts at the term’s midpoint is exposing fractures in coalition agreements and setting off a complex summer of political negotiation among the chamber’s major groups.
Vice President JD Vance has openly admitted the Trump administration mismanaged the release of Epstein-related documents, blaming former Attorney General Pam Bondi for overstating what the files actually contained.
Britain’s energy secretary is pursuing an uncompromising green agenda while simultaneously angling for a larger role in Cabinet — but his combative style is dividing opinion inside Whitehall.