News Digest

Why Germany’s conservatives can’t get over Angela Merkel

Germany should build as many nuclear plants as possible, Fatih Birol proclaims. Ulrich Siegmund is the friendly new face of the controversial AfD party. He is the son of former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.

Greek central bank chief: We don’t depend on Russian shipping

Yannis Stournaras tells POLITICO why eurobonds have now become essential. Tourism and shipping doesn’t dominate the Greek economy like before, he says. “The outlook is still uncertain, owing particularly to ongoing global trade policy uncertainty and geopolitical tensions,” he adds.

Meloni and Macron postpone their first high-level summit

The death of Quentin Deranque has triggered another round of Franco-Italian fighting. Italy asked France to delay the Toulouse meeting until after the G7 summit in June. The far-right National Rally is already calling foul over controversial personnel moves.

Merz vows coordinated EU line ahead of talks with Trump on tariffs

German chancellor says he will travel to Washington with a common European position after the U.S. Supreme Court curtailed sweeping tariffs. French president says Paris will “look precisely at the consequences” after Washington swiftly reintroduced tariffs following a Supreme Court setback.

ECB’s Lagarde: EU doesn’t need all 27 to move forward on reforms

German chancellor says he will travel to Washington with a common European position after the U.S. Supreme Court curtailed sweeping tariffs. Slovakia’s prime minister said he will halt emergency electricity exports to Ukraine unless oil flows resume.

Dozens of countries steer clear of safety commitment in global AI pledge

Brussels receives stark criticism in New Delhi for setting an example of how not to regulate. “AI must belong to everyone. We must replace hype and fear with sharing evidence,” says António Guterres.

Macron says France ‘will adapt’ after Trump revives 10 percent global tariff

German chancellor says he will travel to Washington with a common European position. French president says Paris will “look precisely at the consequences’ of U.S. tariffs. ECB chief backs smaller country groupings to push capital markets reform.

Fico threatens to cut Ukraine’s emergency power over oil transit dispute

German chancellor says he will travel to Washington with a common European position after the U.S. Supreme Court curtailed sweeping tariffs. Slovakia’s prime minister said he will halt emergency electricity exports to Ukraine unless oil flows resume.

A historic first: could a Lithuanian oak become the European Tree of the Year?

The Laukiai Oak is one of twelve trees competing for the title of European Tree of the Year. The community of Rukai village has been supporting its oak in every way it can – even serenading it with songs.

Stricter checks planned for members of Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union

Proposed amendments to the Riflemen's Act would assess a person’s activities and connections for factors affecting reliability, loyalty and national security interests. The vetting process is planned to take a transitional period of two and a half years.

Cover Story newsletter: Putin’s forever war

Checks and Balance newsletter: Jesse Jackson and the great racial backlash

The Midwest’s remarkable turnaround

Inside Nepal’s Gen Z Revolution

The gender wage gap and what firms have to do with it

The gender gap in firm pay premiums to some extent reflects the fact women are paid less than similarly skilled male colleagues within the same firm. This points to differences in pay for work of equal value which arise because of differences in the bargaining position of men and women.

Main Street banks are pushing into markets and trading

Year of the equal-weighted S&P 500?