News Digest

Europe begins its slow retreat from US dependence

The EU aims to reduce reliance on America in areas such as technology, energy, payments and defense. The Slovak PM, a Trump ally, told leaders at last week's EU summit he was concerned about the way the U.S. president spoke to him.

Salvini’s far-right League party is ripping apart

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani insists that U.S. agents are ‘not going to be those that are on the street in Minneapolis’ Italian prime minister suggests appointing a special envoy for discussions with Moscow.

Commission therapy session: Von der Leyen tries to stamp out tensions in her top team

António Costa misses meeting with president of Brazil, but he will be in Paraguay to sign trade agreement. Italy’s vote is likely to prove decisive in finally getting the mega trade accord with Latin America over the line.

EU plan to share data with US border force sparks surveillance fears

Broadcasters from multiple European countries officially announce they won’t take part in next year’s music festival. 84 percent of voters said no to a proposal to extend mandatory civic or military service to women. Around 79 percent voted against the inheritance tax.

Poll: Far-right candidate breaks through in Paris mayor race

A survey shared with POLITICO shows Reconquest MEP Sarah Knafo advancing to the contest’s second round. Paris has already sent a small military contingent to the Arctic island of Greenland.

France finally passes 2026 budget

Legislative compromise will take a back seat to political jockeying as the race for the Elysée heats up. “I heard more about the Antichrist during those 45 minutes than during the rest of my life,” one attendee says.

Hungary files legal challenge to EU’s Russian gas ban

The EU’s grids urgently need to be renewed and expanded to meet soaring energy demand, Commission argues. Ban on Russian energy was adopted under the ‘guise’ of a trade measure, says minister.

Researchers sue X for access to Hungarian election data

French President Emmanuel Macron wants the ban in place from Sept. 1. EU law demands X provide data to assess risks including foreign interference. The move follows outrage and regulatory pressure over online sales of sex dolls.

Draghi: Europe needs to integrate faster if it wants to matter on world stage

Several dozen German soldiers will join Poland’s East Shield in the spring. Netflix and Paramount are competing to buy Warner Bros. and want European support for their films. The European Commission is considering a ban on foreign investment in European companies.

Rutte is wrong about European defense

If it is to play an equal role in shaping the bloc’s strategic future, the Parliament must link its consent on the multi-annual budget to broader issues. The NATO chief needs to be promoting a more balanced alliance with a strong European pillar — not undermining it.

Pint-swilling Nigel Farage wants to be savior of Britain’s pubs

Reform UK leader has a ‘massive advantage in that he’s a genuine piss artist,’ pub boss Tim Martin says. Britain is currently not among the European countries granted visa-free access to China.

Former French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire allegedly met Epstein at disgraced financier’s house

The U.S. administration vowed in its recent National Security Strategy to boost “patriotic European parties” to the detriment of the EU. A person close to Le Maire told POLITICO that the French politician left the residence as soon as he saw Epstein.

‘I’m definitely not like an angel’: Meloni laughs off church fresco controversy

Giorgia Meloni attacked Instagram influencers Chiara Ferragni and her ex-husband Fedez as the wrong kind of role model. The restoration set off a political row involving opposition parties, cultural authorities and a church with long-standing ties to Italy’s right wing.

FIFA boss says Russia should be let back into international football

The expected move comes after France and Italy changed their stance on the terror designation. Ukraine’s foreign minister dismissed Gianni Infantino as a ‘moral degenerate’ over the suggestion.

Trump vows to sue comic Trevor Noah after Epstein island jibe at Grammys

Ukraine’s foreign minister dismissed Gianni Infantino as a “moral degenerate” over the suggestion. “Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!” rails U.S. president.

Mandelson appeared to leak UK government plans to Epstein

Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith ripped into the government’s u-turn over support for pubs. Metropolitan Police reviewing misconduct allegations after files suggest then-Business Secretary Mandelson passed on “interesting note” from inside government to convicted sex offender.

5 arrested in Germany on suspicion of illegal exports to Russian arms firms

The Alternative for Germany party has done everything from suing to attempting to leverage ties to the Trump administration. The defendants allegedly arranged around 16,000 deliveries to Russia worth at least €30 million, Germany’s federal prosecutor says.

Norway PM says royal princess showed ‘poor judgment’ over links with Epstein

Bratislava criticized for trying to abolish whistleblower protection office. Decision to purchase 24 U.S. fighter jets was taken by the previous government of Petr Fiala. Work is ongoing to decide who will own Donetsk after a peace deal is signed.

Conservatives push for EU to use mutual defense clause

More than 20 ministers from Italy and Germany are meeting at an opulent Roman villa to discuss closer cooperation. Bavarian rejection makes it less likely that Chancellor Merz will support the Commission president’s proposals to punish Israeli government.

What digital sovereignty really means in a fragmented world

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Lithuanian Seimas speaker asked by Israel to sign Trump’s Nobel Prize nomination letter

Lithuanian parliament has received a letter from Israel’s Knesset urging lawmakers to nominate US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Speaker Juozas Olekas has declined to sign it, the Seimas chancellery said. Latvian Saeima Speaker Daiga Mierinia signed the letter.

Asteroid named after 16th-century rector of Vilnius University

The asteroid, catalogue number 2012 EN6 (763533), was discovered in 2012 at the Vatican Observatory. It orbits the Sun at an average distance 2.23 times that of Earth and completes one orbit in 3.33 years.

At least three people killed by extreme cold over weekend in Lithuania

Lithuania recorded its lowest temperatures in about 30 years on Monday morning. Extreme cold weather over the weekend injured about 30 people across Lithuania. Three deaths are believed to be linked to exposure, emergency medical officials say.

Lithuanian prosecutors say they conduct no probes linked to Epstein files

Lithuanian businessman Valdas Petreikis, model Ditė Antanaitytė and violinist Justina Auškelytę are mentioned in documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case that mention Lithuania or Lithuanian citizens. The Prosecutor General’s Office said Monday it has not received any information from US authorities or individuals regarding possible crimes or victims linked to documents.

Lithuania’s online media association questions European Parliament’s hearing on LRT

The European Parliament’s Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group invited two Lithuanian parliamentarians to Brussels. The invitation was prompted by reports from the European Broadcasting Union and Lithuanian journalists. The group is expected to submit its conclusions by February 14.

Lithuanian deputy agriculture minister resigns amid corruption probe

Deputy Minister Arūnas Jagminas is under investigation by law enforcement. He is suspected of misappropriating assets and abusing his position while previously serving as director of a company. The party's board plans to meet Monday to discuss the situation. The leadership will decide Monday on the deputy minister's party membership.

European court examines cases of two same-sex couples against Lithuania

The European Court of Human Rights has begun examining two cases against Lithuania over the country’s failure to provide any legal recognition for same-sex couples. The Strasbourg-based court has asked the Lithuanian government to submit explanations in the cases D.S. and R.S v Lithuania and Norbutas and Samatulskis v Lithuania.

Lithuanian filmmaker Andrius Blaževičius wins directing award at Sundance Film Festival

Andrius Blaževičius won the Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic at the Sundance Film Festival for his latest film, How to Divorce During the War. The film was selected from more than 16,000 submissions worldwide and competed against nine other films.

Lithuania records lowest temperatures in 30 years, cold disrupts public transport

Temperatures early Monday fell to –34.3 C in Šeduva, –34 C in Ukmergė, and –33.9 C in Joniškis. The previous record low for February 2 was set 56 years ago in Varėna, at –32.1 C. Some schools across the country are holding remote classes on Monday and Tuesday.

Two more songs advance to Lithuania’s Eurovision finals

Two songs will continue to compete for Lithuania’s spot at Eurovision Song Contest. Atikin, a rap-folk mesh, was the audience favourite. Grįšim by the six-member Vilnius Voices scored best with the jury.

Released Epstein correspondence shows links with several Lithuanian figures

Lithuanian police are not conducting any pretrial investigations related to episodes in the Jeffrey Epstein case that mention Lithuania or Lithuanian names. Jeffrey Epstein was convicted of sexually exploiting minors. He died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

How bots mobilised opposition to Lithuania’s military plans – LRT Investigation

At least six Facebook groups dedicated to Kapčiamiestis are being used to promote this narrative. More than 80 percent of followers appear to be fake accounts based in Asia and Africa. Disinformation has also been identified on local classified-ads pages.

ICE’s impunity: the agency sets a dangerous precedent

A long-awaited trade truce between America and India

The Indian Removal Act: unchecked expansionism and disregard for the rule of law

AI is not the only threat menacing big tech

An election that hopes to bring democracy back to Bangladesh

Six books to understand the civil war and slavery in America

The right to die spreads in America

China’s opacity brings Pekingology back into vogue

Inside the hopeless effort to quash cocaine by force

A social network for AI agents is full of introspection—and threats

Can Europe do nuclear deterrence without America?

The War Room newsletter: Why Xi keeps gutting his own army

Why a new, playful style of wine is delighting drinkers

The US in brief: Shutdown struggles

Survival Modi: Indian PM’s fortunes revive

Europe’s US holdings: Leverage lies in marginal demand

Europe’s strategic relevance lies not in any credible threat of liquidation, but as a source of ongoing demand. Continued accumulation is driven largely by private investors responding to yield differentials. Large-scale divestment would be economically counterproductive.

EU barriers to scaling up: The case of fragmented product markets

European firms tend to be smaller and less productive than US firms. Intra-EU trade barriers are estimated to be between two to three times as large as between US states. Finding ways to ease commerce across borders in the EU can help close the EU’s productivity gap.

The ‘deep-fried’ stocks that spurred a market meltdown

Markets are set to test Warsh

Kevin Warsh: you have to make a bet

Silver’s runaway rally becomes ‘death trap’ for Reddit’s retail crowd

Investors use new tactics to pressure BP on climate change

Meet the fintech worth more than Revolut

Global investors need to go on Japan watch right now

Oracle raises $25bn in bond offering despite concerns over rising debt

Devon Energy’s merger with Coterra looks a little too defensive

Odey claims UK watchdog was under ‘political pressure’ before banning him

Oil tumbles as US-Iran tensions ease

Submit your questions: Are US markets and the economy as strong as Trump claims?

US to launch $12bn critical minerals stockpile to counter China’s dominance

EU struggling to diversify critical minerals supply, warns report

Bondholders prepare to sue Ethiopia over $1bn debt default

Devon and Coterra agree merger to create $58bn US shale group

Private equity retail pioneer faces stiff competition