52 h. ago Orbán’s stance on Ukraine pushes Hungary to brink in EU relations

Member states are considering removing the country’s voting rights after its attempts to stymie support for KyivThe posters are going up all over Hungary. “Let’s not allow them to decide for us,” runs the slogan alongside three classic villains of Hungarian government propaganda.They are: Ukraine’s wartime leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy; the European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen; and Manfred Weber, the German politician who leads the centre-right European People’s party in the European parliament, which counts Hungary’s most potent opposition politician among its ranks. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago EU chief Ursula von der Leyen delivers crippling warning to the West as she condemns Trump's inner circle of 'bros' and 'oligarchs'

The President of the EU, painted a grim picture of transatlantic relations to Die Zeit, contrasting Washington's tariffs and unpredictable behaviour to the EU's commitment to global trade.

Events

4 d. ago Trump's inner circle of 'bros' and 'oligarchs' are condemned by EU chief von der Leyen as she declares 'the West as we knew it no longer exists'

The President of the EU, painted a grim picture of transatlantic relations to Die Zeit, contrasting Washington's tariffs and unpredictable behaviour to the EU's commitment to global trade.

Politics

5 d. ago ‘West as we knew it no longer exists,’ warns von der Leyen – Europe live

Wide-ranging interview addresses how Trump presidency has upended certainties over EU-US relationsThe United States has removed sanctions on a close aide of the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, the state department said, adding that the punitive measures had been “inconsistent with US foreign policy interests”.Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, spoke on Tuesday with his Hungarian counterpart, the foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, and informed him of the move, state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Trump in the Circle: Wrestling and the battle for American masculinity

Wrestling is a brutal but beautiful sport. So why are its brightest stars drawn to the US president? The answer lies in marginalization and the need to be seenEvery March, I tune in to the NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championships, a ritual I associate with the arrival of spring. It also reminds me of my own athletic tenure. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and started wrestling when I was five, and went on to compete at the Division I level in college.This year’s championships were compulsive viewing. Penn State’s Carter Starocci became the first five-time D-I national champion, and Oklahoma State’s Wyatt Hendrickson stunned Olympic champion, Gable Steveson, in the heavyweight final. Oh. And Donald Trump was there. Joining him were Elon Musk, former wrestler turned Republican Ohio congressman Jim Jordan, and other political allies. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago ‘West as we knew it no longer exists,’ warns Von der Leyen – Europe live

Wide-ranging interview addresses how Trump presidency has upended certainties over EU-US relationsUkraine’s parliament voted to extend martial law until 6 August, a senior lawmaker said, as Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country continues.Reuters reported that an overwhelming majority of 357 deputies supported the extension, which allows the country to continue mobilizing troops and suspends the election cycle. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Birmingham's crippling bin strikes could spread to other parts of UK, warns Union boss

Unite boss Sharon Graham says there is "absolutely" a chance that the ongoing strikes by bin workers in Birmingham could spread - with Sheffield and Peterborough most at risk

Events

6 d. ago Europe's race to rearm is pointless if its adversaries are waging war online | Johnny Ryan

Ireland holds the algorithm off-switch. Ursula von der Leyen must force Dublin to use itEurope is scrambling to remilitarise. The European Commission is raising a €150bn (£129bn) defence fund and is calling on EU countries to invest €650bn (£561bn) more. Germany has cast aside its government debt limit to invest hundreds of billions of euros in defence. Poland will train every male of fighting age for battle, and envisages an army 500,000 strong. Latvia’s president has urged the rest of Europe to conscript citizens, as Latvia does. Even neutral Ireland is buying combat jets. No wonder Europe’s defence industry is booming. In just a few months, the share prices of several big weapons manufacturers have nearly doubled and doubled again. But, despite this new martial pulse, the continent is still sleepwalking towards disaster.Europe can harden its shell and sharpen its claws, but it has done little to protect its soft underbelly against political manipulation. The US is capitulating to...

Events

9 d. ago Russell Brand in Donald Trump's 'inner circle' after reinventing himself

Former comedian Russell Brand has been invited into US President Donald Trump's list of close friends, having declared himself a born-again Christian having previously rejected religion

Politics

1 week ago EU could tax Big Tech if Trump trade talks fail, says von der Leyen

European Commission president tells FT she wants ‘balanced’ deal but could hit US services in retaliation

Politics

1 week ago Wall Street opens lower despite hopes that ‘well advanced’ trade talks will yield deals

Ursula von der Leyen says EU “want to give negotiations a chance”, by pausing countermeasures for 90 daysRead the latest full reportUS-China trade war intensifies as Beijing’s tariffs come into effect after Trump pauseChina and the European Union have exchanged views on strengthening their economic and trade cooperation in response to US tariffs, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, according to Reuters news agency.In a video call on Tuesday, China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao discussed with European trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic the restart of talks on trade relief and to immediately carry out negotiations on electric vehicle price commitments, the Chinese ministry statement said. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago The Latest: S&P 500 falls 2% at the open despite Trump’s tariff pause

U.S. stocks are giving back some of their historic gains from the day before as Wall Street weighs a global trade war that has cooled in temperature but is still threatening the economy

Politics

1 week ago ‘We are stepping up,’ UK defence secretary tells ‘coalition of the willing’ for Ukraine – Europe live

John Healey tells meeting of more than 30 countries that coalition is working on ‘putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position’We’re getting a bit more details from EU spokesperson, Olof Gill, speaking at the commission’s press briefing right now (which, notably, got delayed by almost half an hour as that von der Leyen statement was being put out).He said:We are not going to offer any greater detail at this point about what we are not saying to the Americans beyond what we have already said.We want to negotiate, we want to talk. Continue reading...

Society

1 week ago Wall Street to fall back despite hopes that ‘well advanced’ trade talks will yield deals

Ursula von der Leyen says EU “want to give negotiations a chance”, by pausing countermeasures for 90 daysRead the latest full reportUS-China trade war intensifies as Beijing’s tariffs come into effect after Trump pauseChina and the European Union have exchanged views on strengthening their economic and trade cooperation in response to US tariffs, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, according to Reuters news agency.In a video call on Tuesday, China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao discussed with European trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic the restart of talks on trade relief and to immediately carry out negotiations on electric vehicle price commitments, the Chinese ministry statement said. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Irish premier welcomes EU pause on US tariff countermeasures

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said ‘we’re not out of the woods yet’.

Politics

1 week ago EU backs down over US tariff retaliation following latest move by Trump: Von der Leyen vows to 'give negotiations a chance'

The European Union will pause its first countermeasures against U.S. tariffs after President Donald Trump temporarily lowered the hefty duties.

Politics

1 week ago EU pauses tariff retaliation for 90 days to match Trump move, holding out hope for talks

The European Union’s executive commission says it will put on hold for 90 days its retaliation measures against new U.S. tariffs to match President Donald Trump’s pause on his sweeping new tariffs and leave room for a negotiated solution

Politics

1 week ago Tariffs live: EU pauses retaliation for 90 days but warns Trump over trade deal

Ursula von der Leyen makes announcement to ‘give negotiations a chance’ after US president makes humiliating U-turn on tariffs for most countries

Events

1 week ago Euro strengthens as EU delays retaliatory tariffs against US by 90 days in response to Trump’s pause – business live

Ursula von der Leyen says EU “want to give negotiations a chance”, by pausing countermeasures for 90 daysRead the latest full reportUS-China trade war intensifies as Beijing’s tariffs come into effect after Trump pauseChina and the European Union have exchanged views on strengthening their economic and trade cooperation in response to US tariffs, the Chinese commerce ministry said on Thursday, according to Reuters news agency.In a video call on Tuesday, China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao discussed with European trade and economic security commissioner Maros Sefcovic the restart of talks on trade relief and to immediately carry out negotiations on electric vehicle price commitments, the Chinese ministry statement said. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Ursula von der Leyen says Trump’s tariffs pause is ‘important step towards stabilising global economy’ – Europe live

European Commission president floats idea of zero-for-zero tariff agreement with US, saying she hopes to achieve ‘frictionless trade’Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis put forward a proposal for a “win-win” trade deal with the US last night, saying the EU and the US should push "for “a solution which will be mutually beneficial.”Speaking to Breitbart US, he said there was “still room for negotiations before we consider any major reciprocal response beyond what has been announced today, which, anyhow, was, the expected EU reaction.” Continue reading...

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