Politics

Bloomberg French President Emmanuel Macron gave an unabashed defense of the EU in its political heart, urging the bloc to reject nationalism, deepen integration and promote free trade in the face of US protectionism. In his first appearance at the European Parliament since being elected France’s head of state last year, Macron said divisions in the 28-nation EU evoke a ...

Bloomberg German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she plans to meet with President Vladimir Putin in the “foreseeable future” after military strikes in Syria widened a rift between Russia and the west. Merkel made the proposal after speaking by phone with Putin earlier on Tuesday, when they discussed Syria as well as the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project from Russia ...

Bloomberg A few weeks ago, Donald Trump invited Vladimir Putin to meet — maybe even at the White House. After US-led missile strikes in Syria, the two nations’ officials can’t get into the same room without insulting each other. Speaking at an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council, hours after the US, France and the UK launched missiles ...

Bloomberg Theresa May has conceded that lawmakers should have a retrospective debate — and possibly a vote — on her decision to take part in the bombing of Syria with the US and France. After the British prime minister and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson both said that there was no need for such a vote, May’s office said that she ...

Bloomberg Chancellor Angela Merkel’s attempts to engage President Donald Trump just got harder. Trump lavished praise on the UK and France at the weekend “for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military,” after they joined the US in hitting Syrian targets. All Merkel earned was US criticism for not taking part. “Germany should have joined this P3 group, ...

Bloomberg Donald Trump is “morally unfit” to be president, former FBI Director James Comey said in a highly anticipated prime-time interview, adding that he couldn’t rule out the possibility that the Russian government has incriminating information about the president. “I think it’s possible. I don’t know,” Comey said in an interview with ABC News’ Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos, when asked ...

Bloomberg The foreign ministers of China and Japan agreed to work closely to push North Korea to abandon its nuclear programme, in the latest sign of improved cooperation between Asia’s two largest economies. “To get North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons and missiles in a complete, irreversible and verifiable way, we agreed we must enforce the relevant Security Council ...

Bloomberg Consider what Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is up against. As Greece prepares to free itself from an eight-year European bailout, its 43 year-old premier is confronting challenges at home and abroad. On the domestic front: preparations for post-bailout economic life and the first general election since the end of the program, including feuds with both allies and rivals. ...

Bloomberg Tens of thousands of people joined a demonstration outside Japan’s parliament, in a sign of growing public anger over cronyism scandals engulfing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Organisers say about 50,000 people attended this weekend’s rally in Tokyo — the biggest in nearly three years. Protesters, many young, held up signs calling Abe a “liar” and seeking his resignation. The ...

Bloomberg The US Treasury Department will announce fresh sanctions on Monday on Russia related to its involvement in Syria’s use of chemical weapons, US United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley said. “Russian sanctions will be coming down, Secretary Mnuchin will be announcing those on Monday if he hasn’t already and they will go directly to any sort of companies that were ...