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European Union
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European Union

European Union
European Union
The latest breaking news and stories on the European Union (EU), an economic and political union of 27 member states mainly located in Europe, which accounts for around a sixth of global economic output. Also covering the EU’s relationship with the UK (post Brexit), China and the US, plus commentary and updates on EU legislation, the euro and trade.
Illustration: Craig Stephens
Donald Trump

Opinion | Trump has laid bare the ‘Scramble for Europe’

Faced with an aggressive Trump administration, an unapologetic Russia and a rising China, European efforts towards strategic autonomy may be too little, too late.

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China-EU relations

European leaders say the quiet part out loud: order no longer constrains power

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United States

EU lawmakers divided over resuming work on US trade deal after Greenland crisis

Britain

Farage’s Reform UK attracts another high-profile Conservative defector

Former home secretary joins right-wing Reform UK and declares ‘Britain is indeed broken’.

Britain’s Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Photo: Reuters
Elon Musk

EU opens probe into Musk’s Grok over sexual AI deepfakes

Brussels targets X with a new probe into ‘digital undressing’, vowing to protect women and children from illegal AI content.

Russia

Russian shadow tanker’s Indian captain, crew in French custody

The Grinch is suspected of belonging to Russia’s sanctions-busting ‘shadow fleet’ for the vessel’s failure to fly a flag.

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United States

Opinion | In dealing with Trump, Europe must realise power respects power

Instead of outsourcing its defence capacity to Washington and limiting economic ties with Beijing, the EU should focus on building leverage.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
France

Macron pushes forward France’s social media ban for under 15s

France’s health watchdog said that 90 per cent of children between 12 and 17 use smartphones daily to access the internet.

India

EU envoys top guests at India celebration to seal trade deal

India and the EU have tried to cut dependence on Russia and the US respectively by diversifying imports and pushing their own domestic manufacturing.

My Take

My Take | Trump threatens Greenland but Nato chief says China is the real threat

EU and Nato ‘leaders’ can continue to act slavishly before the Americans. They are just making themselves irrelevant and despised.

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US President Donald Trump (right) speaks with Nato’s secretary-general Mark Rutte during a meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
China-EU relations

Finland’s leader set for 4-day China visit as Europe seeks to counter Trump

Petteri Orpo to lead executives from more than 20 companies in first China visit by a Finnish prime minister since 2017.

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Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is expected to land in China this weekend. Photo: Reuters
2025 Cambodia-Thailand conflict

Letters | When conflicts disrupt education, societies lose

Readers discuss education for crisis-affected children, how Donald Trump is reshaping global politics, and the truth about Europe.

Indonesia

Indonesia’s defence deal with Bosnia signals Asian middle power’s clout

The deal is in line with Jakarta’s goal to pursue an ‘active and free’ foreign policy beyond its Western partners.

United States

Outside In | Why Trump’s Davos farce may come to be seen as a watershed

Whatever his motivations, he’s alarmed allies and made clear the old order based on a benign US is gone, even as his popularity slips at home.

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US President Donald Trump speaks during a Board of Peace charter announcement at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22. Photo: AP
China energy security

In Davos debut, Musk highlights key China advantage in AI race

China’s energy supply edge was also at the heart of a panel discussion on clean energy in Europe.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. Photo: EPA
Donald Trump

Video | The real reason Trump wants Greenland

Security and securing alternative natural resources are priorities for the US president’s administration, and the Danish island has a strategic role in his ambitions.

US-China relations

China to ‘quietly track’ Greenland developments amid Arctic ambitions: analysts

Beijing to focus on maintaining its ‘constructive relationship with US’ and does not need to ‘disrupt that over Greenland’, say experts.

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Ukraine war

Ukraine’s Zelensky slams ‘fragmented’ Europe, says it looks lost facing Trump

In a fiery speech at Davos, the president also blasted EU allies for lack of ‘political will’ in countering Russia’s Putin.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. Photo: Keystone via AP
Ukraine war

Trump sends message to Putin ‘war has to end’ after ‘good’ meeting with Zelensky

Trump’s comments come after crucial Davos talks with Ukraine’s leader, as peace efforts intensify amid fresh strikes and high-stakes diplomacy.

Jimmy Lai trial

Beijing, Hong Kong slam European bid to sanction officials over Jimmy Lai trial

Resolution in response to conviction of former media boss also calls for rethink of city’s trade status under World Trade Organization.

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Extreme weather

Storm unleashes half a year’s rain on Athens, leaving devastation in its wake

Top expert confirms the Greek capital received 40 per cent of its annual rainfall in under 24 hours, leaving two dead and hundreds of homes flooded.

A firefighter pumps water from a parking garage after flooding caused by heavy rain in the Glyfada district of Athens on Thursday. Photo: AP
US-China relations

Opinion | China has Trump 2.0 to thank for emerging stronger in tech and trade

As intense US-China competition becomes the new normal, pressure has strengthened China’s capacity to adapt rather than deter it from its long-term ambitions.

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President Xi Jinping attends a high-level reception to ring in the Lunar New Year at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on January 27, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
India

India, EU ramp up push for ‘historic’ free-trade deal amid US tariff tensions

A trade pact with the EU would offer an ‘alternative market’ for Indian goods amid a fraught global environment, analysts say.

World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos

Watch Trump showcase his ‘Board of Peace’ in Davos

Donald Trump has extended invitations to dozens of nations and hinted at the board’s future role as conflict mediator - with him as chairman.

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Donald Trump

Macroscope | Why Europe struggles to stand up to Trump

Despite being equipped with powerful tools in its economic arsenal, Brussels lacks the leverage needed to keep Washington in check.

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Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte (left) speaks to US President Donald Trump during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on January 21. Photo: AFP
Jimmy Lai trial

European Parliament debates moves to punish Hong Kong after Jimmy Lai conviction

Vote in European Parliament to revoke city’s special trade status and on sanctions to take place Thursday evening.

Former media boss Jimmy Lai. Photo: Edmond So
United States

Trump’s freewheeling Davos speech stirs unease among global audience

Harsh rhetoric from the US leader at forum combined threats towards allies with praise for traditional adversaries during a 70-minute talk.

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Donald Trump

Explainer | What is the ‘trade bazooka’ the EU may use against Trump’s Greenland threats?

Under pressure from the US president, the bloc is considering measures that could inflict billions of dollars of losses on American firms.

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