News Digest

“a credible transition”

European Commission president calls for a “credible transition” that reflects “the democratic aspirations of the brave people of Iran.” Ukraine’s leader left Washington without a promise of Tomahawk missiles from his U.S. counterpart, but insiders blamed poor timing.

risk another Iraq-style quagmire

The chancellor said his government is in no position to reproach Trump on Iran given Europe’s own failures and the need to work with the U.S. to end the war in Ukraine. The chancellor is pushing market-oriented policies he believes will boost competitiveness.

Iran crisis poses fresh test for divided EU

EU leaders want to avoid a legal blowup with the Hungarian prime minister that could feed into his reelection campaign. The EU is now scrambling to respond to a conflict where it has even less leverage. EU diplomats ‘really upset and frustrated’ over Budapest’s stonewalling.

Chaos in Iran is a good endgame for Israel’s Netanyahu

The Russian leader is betting on playing the long game. A friendly regime in Tehran is the ideal outcome. Netanyahu will also be happy with an Iran that is too weak to pursue an atomic work.

Iran crisis puts UK leader Keir Starmer in a new political bind

The U.K. prime minister is under pressure from all sides over his stance on U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Reform UK leader says facing US grilling is probably the only chance the royal has ‘to clear his name’

Avocado toast, influencers and … panic: How the party ended in Dubai

Budapest is fuelling anti-Ukraine sentiment ahead of a key election. The European Commission wants to invest money into border areas. But there won’t be any new funds from the EU’s current budget.

How every EU country responded to the strikes on Iran

Europe is ramping up the targeting of Moscow’s fleet of vessels suspected of carrying sanctioned oil or damaging undersea infrastructure. European leaders urged restraint after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran.

Iran’s exiled prince tells Europe to get off the fence and back the war

Reza Pahlavi urges European leaders to support regime change and his plan for realizing democratic rule. European anti-fraud office has been asked to look into the former trade commissioner. Poll says Emmanuel Macron’s pledge to put French boots on the ground is not backed by French public.

France to bolster military presence in the Middle East

EU allies are warming to the French president’s offer of nuclear protection, but Macron is running out of time to deliver a major strategic shift. Paris shifted its tone after two Iranian drones hit a French naval base in the UAE Sunday.

Why the center left is succeeding in Kosovo

Politicians must have courage to move beyond the center. It rewards those who stand for something — consistently and over time. It's time for a new generation of leaders to stand up for what is right.

Mercosur gamble shows von der Leyen thinks she can go over France’s head

The transatlantic trade war should motivate Europe to get its own act together, Nicolas Forissier tells POLITICO. British ministers are concerned that U.K. firms won’t be treated fairly under new European rules.

Moscow gloats over potential oil price spike from Iran war

Leaders in Damascus, Caracas and now Tehran have all discovered that Russian support only goes so far. Putin may have lost an ally with the death of Khamenei but an oil price shock is good news for the Kremlin.

Starmer lets Trump use UK bases to strike Iran’s missile depots

Laurie Magnus will investigate whether Cabinet Office Minister Josh Simons breached ethics rules. The payment to Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald, who has been forced out by Keir Starmer, could be higher than previously reported. U.S. officials are quietly laying the groundwork to revisit the U.K’s drug pricing deal.

Dating apps as emotional rollercoasters: what risks do they pose to mental health?

Psychologist Edvardas Šidlauskas says emotional exhaustion is a natural experience for many dating app users. Spending large amounts of time on these platforms, he notes, can also intensify symptoms of anxiety and depression. From a psychological perspective, the pursuit of casual encounters is not inherently negative. Many dating app users suddenly vanish, no longer replying to messages. This abrupt disappearance without explanation is not as harmless as it may seem, psychologists say. Not replying is convenient – people save their energy, they say.

Lithuania’s leaders condemn Iran’s retaliation after US and Israeli attacks

Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys condemned Iran’s attacks against Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. President Gitanas Nausėda accused Iran rather than the US or Israel of undermining regional security and violating international law.

Spring pothole season in Lithuania: major roads cracking, drivers facing costly damage

Road maintenance officials say the spring pothole season has begun, warning that the worst is yet to come. State-owned road maintenance company Kelių priežiūra acknowledged that conditions have deteriorated in recent weeks. Lithuania’s largest insurer, Lietuvos draudimas, says it has already registered nearly 50 pothole-related vehicle damage claims in the first seven weeks of the year. Most incidents involve punctured tyres or damaged rims, but impacts can also affect engine protection, suspension systems and other chassis components.

In Iran, Donald Trump is making history

War, succession and the perilous test of two myths about Iran

Why Donald Trump gambled in Iran

Gavin Newsom wants to reintroduce himself

At last, a just war

At last, reasons to be cheerful about European tech

War in Iran could cause the biggest oil shock in years

Ali Khamenei may be dead, but Donald Trump has unfinished business

China hopes IVF can slow its baby bust

A cancer diagnosis can push people to crime

Outside the EU, Britain’s car industry is struggling

India, the world’s most colourful country, is changing its hues

Credit default swaps: Analysis and policies

European Systemic Risk Board uncovers a range of imperfections in the credit default swap market. Findings support policy measures to boost transparency, strengthen oversight, improve market functioning. Outstanding gross notional in the global single-name CDS market has dropped significantly since 2007.

Retail investors shun private credit funds after Blue Owl gating

Blacklisting Russian paramilitaries will not work on its own

Africa should not pick sides in minerals race, says Zambia

Iran conflict: Israel targets Hizbollah in Lebanon

Oil prices forecast to jump despite Opec+ pledge to raise output

Iran war will test the vulnerability of oil markets

What will war in Iran do to the global economy?

Will US payrolls strengthen the case for rate cuts?