Politics

Government, policy, institutions, and political power dynamics.

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French voters head to the polls for the first round of local elections

While most towns will have elected their mayors by this Sunday night, several major cities could face a fiercely contested second-round run-off next week.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Israeli soldiers fire on family car in occupied West Bank, killing 4

Tragic incident leaves four dead, including two children, in the northern West Bank.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: EU Ministers to Consider Strengthening Naval Mission Amid US Pressure

Strategic angle: Belgian Prime Minister urges Europe to negotiate with Russia as tensions rise over the Druzhba pipeline.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Left-wing candidate Emmanuel Grégoire tops first round of Paris mayoral race

Socialist candidate Emmanuel Grégoire leads ahead of former culture minister Rachida Dati in the Paris mayoral race.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: Germany news: CDU leads in Hesse vote — partial results

Strategic angle: Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU is set to remain the strongest party at the local level in the central state of Hesse.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: Nobel Laureate in Literature Elfriede Jelinek: 'The destruction of the feminine has always been one of my major themes'

Strategic angle: The Austrian writer and playwright, who usually avoids interviews, agreed to speak exclusively with Le Monde about her body of work, except for her most recent novel.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: 2026 French municipal elections: Voter abstention reaches levels unprecedented except during the pandemic

Strategic angle: Between 41.5% and 44% of registered voters did not cast a ballot on Sunday, March 15, marking an unprecedented level of abstention.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: 5th member of Iranian women's soccer team gives up asylum in Australia

Strategic angle: The player's departure shortly before midnight on Sunday leaves two of an initial seven squad members in Australia.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: Kazakhstan voters back constitutional overhaul, exit polls show

Strategic angle: Voters overwhelmingly approved sweeping reforms in a referendum that could tighten presidential control over institutions and raise concerns about civil liberties.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: ‘No ordinary clean-up operation’: EU deploys drones and robots to remove litter from the sea floor

Strategic angle: The EU-funded initiative is helping tidy up the litter-filled sea floor, and could even be used to detect hidden mines.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: No more waiting: Businesses push for clarity from EU institutions as packaging law applies soon

Strategic angle: Time is almost up for the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation to take effect on 12 August 2026.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: Greece enters the astronaut era as scientist joins ESA training programme

Strategic angle: Dr Adrianos Golemis selected for ESA's astronaut training, marking a significant milestone for Greece in space exploration.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: From IUDs to pills: Where in the EU is it easiest to access contraceptives?

Strategic angle: Despite access to effective and affordable contraception remaining unequal across Europe, experts believe there is overall improvement on the continent.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: From diagnosis to data: How AI is reshaping healthcare and raising ethical questions

Strategic angle: Experts will debate the boundaries of Europe’s digital health future at Euronews Health Summit on 17 March in Brussels.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: Germany Demolishes Sections of Major Highway Bridge in Controlled Blast

Strategic angle: A controlled explosion takes down parts of the A7 motorway bridge as part of a significant replacement project.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: 'A new norm': BBC visits Doha market starting to fill up again two weeks into Iran war

Strategic angle: The BBC's International News correspondent, Barbara Plett Usher, visits Doha's Souq Waqif market as strikes in the region continue.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: Markets may be underestimating how the Iran war could hit the global economy

Strategic angle: The Iran war is exposing fragile economic chokepoints, raising concerns about long-term supply disruptions.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: Netanyahu’s rivals compete to outdo him over Iran

Strategic angle: Israel’s opposition parties criticise PM’s management of war even if they express strong support for offensive

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: Iran taking steps to prevent anti-establishment protests, Tehran residents tell BBC

Strategic angle: Residents describe new security checkpoints around the capital, where they say people are stopped and searched.

Editorial Staff Mar 16

Politics

Briefing: 5 takeaways from an Oscars night that spread the love

Strategic angle: It's thrilling to see the Academy recognize a weird, funny, scary performance like Amy Madigan's in Weapons.

Editorial Staff Mar 16