By Pierre Lefevre
Paris-based political reporter. Bylines from Paris, Rome and Madrid. Closely follows elections and coalition politics.
EU weighs sweeping tobacco tax overhaul to curb nicotine use
The EU is pursuing its biggest overhaul of tobacco taxation in a decade. The proposed Tobacco Taxation Directive raises taxes on cigarettes
Europe's summer break: where leaders retreat as crises mount
European leaders are trading offices for coastlines and rural retreats, but crises persist. From Macron's jet ski to Sánchez's crisis manage
Ukraine's robot and drone parade signals a new era of warfare
Ukraine's latest military parade featured robots and drones, underscoring the growing role of autonomous systems in modern warfare. The disp
Helicopter crash on Sifnos kills three, including British couple
A private helicopter crashed near homes on the Greek island of Sifnos, killing three people, including a British couple. The aircraft burst
Russia's Supreme Court upholds Yabloko ban as deputy leader gets 11-year sentence
Russia's Supreme Court upheld the removal of the anti-war Yabloko party from September's ballot. Hours later, a Pskov court sentenced deputy
Trump's AI horse image stirs symbolism debate amid economic strain
Donald Trump's latest AI-generated image, showing him riding a black horse beside George Washington, has sparked criticism for its symbolic
Germany challenges EU electricity tax plan as sovereignty breach
Germany has formally objected to a European Commission plan to tax electricity below natural gas, arguing it bypasses EU tax law and nationa
Brussels quietly tracks unidentified aerial phenomena, documents show
The European Commission has been quietly tracking unidentified aerial phenomena since at least 2023, according to internal documents. Pilots
UK petition demands inquiry into harassment of late Cambridge professor Jason Arday
More than 31,000 people have signed a petition urging a public inquiry into the media harassment of Jason Arday, the Cambridge professor fou
Evening Update: Key European Developments on August 16, 2026
From Brussels to Berlin, today's news spans EU policy debates, market reactions, and cultural milestones. Here's what you need to know this
Overnight drone and missile attacks kill 12 across Russia and Ukraine
Overnight drone and missile attacks killed 12 people across Russia and Ukraine. Kyiv hit a book market, while Ukraine launched hundreds of d
Polish pilgrim bus crash in Hungary kills 12, injures dozens
At least 12 people died and 37 were injured when a Polish tourist bus crashed on a Hungarian highway early Sunday. The driver has been detai