Germany's CDU has named Thorsten Frei as its candidate to succeed Jens Spahn as parliamentary group leader following Spahn's resignation over a surrogacy scandal. Frei, a close confidant of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is scheduled for election on July 29.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces mounting pressure to detail how he will fund key policy pledges, including removing VAT from electricity bills, increasing defence spending, and accelerating a national care service. His new government prioritizes easing the cost of living but must navigate fiscal constraints and internal party disquiet.
John Healey's unexpected appointment as Chancellor by new PM Andy Burnham, following his resignation over military spending, signals the new government's rapid policy implementation, including a VAT cut on energy bills. This move, alongside other cabinet changes, suggests a reward for past rebels and a strategic play ahead of a potential snap election.
John Healey, the UK's new Chancellor of the Exchequer under PM Andy Burnham, faces the challenge of balancing Burnham's left-leaning agenda with market calm. The government plans to cut sales tax on household electricity, funded by scrapping the Digital ID program, while emphasizing fiscal credibility amidst high national debt.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev visited Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, signing a strategic partnership declaration. Discussions centered on increasing Azerbaijani gas supplies to Germany via the Southern Gas Corridor and developing the Middle Corridor trade route, as Europe seeks to reduce reliance on Russian energy.
Andy Burnham has appointed John Healey as UK Chancellor, an unexpected choice seen as a safe pair of hands to unite the Labour Party and manage the economy. Healey faces the challenge of funding Burnham's policy promises, including higher defence spending and public control of utilities, without raising key taxes or breaching borrowing rules.
New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, largely unknown in Brussels, prepares for an EU-UK summit. He inherits a "reset agenda" aiming to ease trade barriers, link emissions systems, and establish a youth exchange, while navigating familiar Brexit dilemmas and his stated desire to rejoin the EU in his lifetime.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed energy cooperation with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, while Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt presented an alarming report on rising child sexual abuse cases. Other top stories include Germany's bid for influence over tank maker KNDS, a deadly industrial accident linked to Danish waste, Caritas's warning on aid cuts, and Deutsche Bahn's planned alcohol ban.
UK PM Andy Burnham made a surprise appointment, naming John Healey as Chancellor. The US imposed 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, citing trade discrimination. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warned of geopolitical risks, while vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz declined amid US-Iran tensions.
Britain's new chancellor, John Healey, faces a severe affordability crisis with declining household incomes, high inflation, and rising borrowing costs. The article outlines a "triple bind" and proposes direct inflation reduction through essential price cuts and tax reforms on investment income and landlord taxation to provide relief without provoking higher interest rates.
Shares in UK defence companies, including Babcock, BAE Systems, and Rolls-Royce, surged after Andy Burnham appointed John Healey as chancellor, sparking investor hopes for increased military spending. An analyst, however, cautioned against immediate windfalls due to competing demands.
Germany experienced a significant increase in registered child sexual abuse cases over the past five years, with 17,126 cases recorded in 2025 — a 4.7% rise from 2024. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the figures as highly alarming, emphasizing the need for better digital protection of children.
Andy Burnham, Britain's new prime minister, is largely unknown in Brussels but is set to lead an EU-UK summit this autumn, inheriting Keir Starmer's reset agenda. Key issues include trade barriers, a youth exchange scheme, and defence cooperation, with his Brexit stance creating both hope and caution.
John Healey, a veteran Labour politician, has been appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in Andy Burnham's cabinet, replacing Rachel Reeves. His appointment follows his recent resignation as defence secretary over the government's "well short" defence investment plan, highlighting his commitment to increased defence spending and economic growth.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced an immediate removal of VAT from electricity bills, reducing them by £45 annually from October. The £850m cost will be funded by scrapping the digital ID scheme, though former chief secretary Darren Jones questioned the funding mechanism.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged that the country's prolonged energy crisis stems from the loss of Russian gas supplies, impacting industry with soaring costs. Germany's economy contracted, and the EU plans to fully ban Russian gas by 2027, despite mounting pressure from fuel prices.
Andy Burnham has become the UK's sixth prime minister in a decade, appointing John Healey as Chancellor and outlining plans to cut energy bills and bus fares. He aims to repair Thatcher-era damage, invest in infrastructure, and address the cost of living, while facing market jitters over borrowing.
John Healey, who recently resigned as Sir Keir Starmer's defence secretary over concerns about defence investment, has been appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer in Andy Burnham's cabinet, replacing Rachel Reeves. His return to a vital government role is a surprise given his principled resignation.
John Healey, now Chancellor, faces pressure to deliver on his previous demands for increased UK defense funding, having resigned as Defence Secretary over the Treasury's "unwillingness" to properly fund the military's modernization plans.
Andy Burnham, the incoming Prime Minister, surprised many by appointing John Healey as Chancellor, despite intense lobbying for other candidates like Ed Miliband, Shabana Mahmood, and Rachel Reeves. Healey's selection signals a focus on borrowing rules, re-industrialisation, devolution, and increased defence spending, potentially through "defence bonds."
New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is adopting a cautious approach to economic policy, aiming to balance bold change with fiscal stability to avoid market jitters. His team emphasizes learning from past mistakes, appointing experienced figures like John Healey as Chancellor, and focusing on targeted announcements rather than 'big bang' policies.
Chancellor Merz considers Cabinet reshuffle after Jens Spahn's resignation, train security guard critically injured, Klopp nears deal with Red Bull to become Germany's coach, and Rhine river levels show signs of recovery.
Andy Burnham is set to become UK Prime Minister on Monday following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation. Intense speculation surrounds his choice for Chancellor, with Yvette Cooper Mahmood, Ed Miliband, Wes Streeting, and Pat McFadden among the frontrunners, each presenting different implications for financial markets and Labour Party dynamics.
Andy Burnham's vision to reform Westminster politics by ending briefing culture and factionalism faces immediate challenges within Labour, with internal disputes over policy and roles emerging despite his calls for unity as the new leader.
