Europe
Photo finish
Germany’s Social Democrats narrowly escape disaster in Brandenburg
The SPD just edges the far-right AfD in a regional election
Weekend profile
Friedrich Merz, Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting?
He has strong odds of thrashing Olaf Scholz next year
Bringing it all back home
Near-shoring is turning eastern Europe into the new China
With firms moving production closer to market, CEE is the place to be
Temptation islands
Aland is lovely, weapon-free and too close to Russia
Finland worries the demilitarised islands could fall prey in a conflict
The cogs of war
Ukraine is a booming market for Balkan arms makers
It’s not just gangsters buying Serbian and Bosnian ammo these days
Charlemagne
Europe is bidding a steady farewell to passport-free travel
Germany is the latest Schengen country to reintroduce border checks
Brussels reboot
Can a new crew of European commissioners revive the continent?
Ursula von der Leyen picks her team
Friedrich the Great
Germany’s conservatives choose the country’s probable next leader
Friedrich Merz is in pole position to take over as chancellor at the election in 2025
Storm Shadow in a teacup
America keeps Ukraine fighting with its hands tied
Russian missiles blast its cities, but it still cannot strike back
Enemy of my enemy
Why Israel has not yet lost Europe
Europeans are angry about Gaza, but they aren’t voting like it
Charlemagne
Nice ideas, Mr Draghi—now who will pay for them?
From “whatever it takes” to “whatever the cost”
Choice v life
Poland’s ruling coalition divides over women’s rights
Donald Tusk has failed to keep his promises on abortion laws