Society and culture
Estonia’s Song and Dance Festival is a celebration of national identity
The event demonstrates that a nation can be strong and resolute while also posing no threat.
Slovak rap festival that booked Kanye West called off
Band who chanted ‘death to the IDF’ tell crowd to stop chanting ‘death to the IDF’
UK government strains to learn lessons from welfare debacle
After Austria’s deadliest shooting, gun reform is no longer avoidable
Orbán vs. von der Leyen: Budapest Pride takes center stage in Europe’s culture war
Continental divide: Smaller Western European cities are better for your health
As France-Algeria ties sour, supporters of imprisoned writer turn to Europe for help
Writer Boualem Sansal has been in and out of hospital since he was locked up last November.
Russia’s blacklisted classical music stars make a comeback in Europe
Vladimir Putin’s opera darlings are back in the spotlight — and Ukraine and the EU are not pleased.
EU sports chief hints Israel should get the boot from competitions over Gaza war
“Through sport, we have to promote the values that we stand for, with any country,” Glenn Micallef says.
BBC’s Gary Lineker departs after sharing post about Zionism featuring a rat
Former footballer has hosted iconic highlights show Match of the Day since 1999 but will leave this week.
Scorn in the USA: Trump wants probe into celeb endorsements as Springsteen needles president
“Candidates aren’t allowed to pay for ENDORSEMENTS, which is what Kamala did,” U.S. president roars, as he also targets Beyoncé and Bono over 2024 election campaign.
Legendary Dutch architect has no regrets about Russia projects
“If I thought it was a mistake I wouldn’t have done it and even now in retrospect I think it would be right,” theorist Rem Koolhaas tells POLITICO.
‘Corrupt, incompetent and treasonous’: Springsteen eviscerates Trump and Musk
The heartland rock icon has thoughts about the U.S. president.
EU slams Eurovision for banning flag from stage
“Young Europeans should not need permission to wave their flag,” Glenn Micallef says.
Der Mann hinter Merz: Wer ist Wolfram Weimer?
Designierter Kulturstaatsminister: Warum die Kritik an Wolfram Weimers Positionen das eine ist, für Merz aber die Nähe der beiden, lange vor Wahlkampf und Kanzlerkandidatur, aber ein Geschmäckle …
Sauna diplomacy pauses as top Finnish spot in Brussels closes for now
Finland’s diplomats will “be making use of alternative saunas” this year, as perm rep can’t give a timeline for when famed sweat lodge will reopen.
How a billionaire Russian ‘sugar daddy’ took over an iconic Olympic sport
Sanctioned tycoon Alisher Usmanov parries Western efforts to oust him from shadow leadership role in world fencing.
Russia aspires to Olympic comeback under new IOC boss
“We expect that in the era of the new leader … Russia will return to the Olympic podium,” Moscow’s sports chief said.
Top political job in world sport goes to former Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry
As International Olympic Committee president, she will be the most powerful sporting official on earth — and is set for regular encounters with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Orbán bans Pride in Hungary as polls show rival surging
Fidesz says it’s trying to prohibit Pride to keep children safe from the so-called LGBTQ+ agenda, but opponents say the prime minister’s party is trying to create a wedge issue.
Tate brothers land in Florida after Romania lifts travel ban
U.S. President said he was not aware of the brothers’ release from Romania.
Orbán’s government bans Budapest Pride in ‘public form’
Hungary ‘should not tolerate Pride marching’ through Budapest’s city center, top minister says.
Kremlinvision! Putin launches rival song contest
Moscow’s version of the iconic singing competition will likely have different vibes to the original.
Ukraine demands ‘impartial’ inquiry into death of a citizen in Slovakia
Bratislava and Kyiv have been at loggerheads since the Slovak leadership cut off weapons flows to Ukraine and embraced Moscow talking points.
The US brain drain has begun
The White House appears hell-bent on destroying not just economic and political paradigms, but a higher education system that really did make America great.