A legal dispute that could imperil access to the abortion pill mifepristone adds urgency to an issue that had moved to the backburner in Democratic politics. 

In 2026, the European Commission is expected to publish a strategy on nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion, i.e. the combination of two atoms into a single heavier one, has been known since the first half of the 20th century. Despite significant progress, the controlled and sustained fusion reaction required for practical energy production has not yet been fully mastered. This technology is deemed to offer significant opportunities for generating affordable, decarbonised energy. To expedite the pathway towards the proof of concept, a significant international cooperation project, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), was launched in 2007 by 34 countries, including the EU Member States. The progress in technological development made since then might pave the way for the technology to be ready for industrial use in the second half of the century. Countries such as China and the United States are investing in technological development, and have started designing framework conditions, including a conducive regulatory environment. With the current discussion on the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2028-2034, the EU is also expected to support further investment in fusion technologies, mostly through the proposed EURATOM research and training and Horizon Europe programmes, which build on the current (2021‑2027 MFF) programmes. However, stakeholders are stressing the relevance of providing appropriate framework conditions in addition to commensurate investment. This includes providing a conducive regulatory framework, as well as the talent pool necessary to develop and deploy such technologies. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Senate Republicans maintain their budget reconciliation proposal would authorize security construction, but not Trump’s ballroom. The White House disagrees.

A legal dispute that could imperil access to the abortion pill mifepristone adds urgency to an issue that had moved to the backburner in Democratic politics. 

EU funding for employment and social objectives has long been a substantial component of multi-annual financial frameworks. The proposals for the next MFF will see a new approach in which funding for these objectives will be encompassed within National and Regional Partnership Plans. This study compares the proposals for the current and next MFFs, the relevant legislation and expected governance reforms. It pays particular attention to the ramifications for the European Pillar of Social Rights and concludes with set of recommendations for the European Parliament to consider in responding to the MFF proposal. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Croatia's national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) is an ambitious outline of reforms and investment designed to mitigate the pandemic's socioeconomic fallout and to address the consequences of the two devastating earthquakes of 2020. Following the December 2023 amendment of the Croatian NRRP, to which a REPowerEU chapter was added, the plan's worth reached €10 040.7 million (or 18.5 % of national gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019). The amended plan comes with a grant allocation of €5 779.4 million and a loan allocation of €4 254.2 million from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The grant part includes Croatia's REPowerEU grant allocation of €269 million and the €7.2 million transfer from the country's share of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve. In November 2025, the Council approved the third revision of the plan, which reflects simplification efforts while keeping the EU financial contribution to the plan intact. So far, Croatia has received €7 289.5 million of RRF resources (72.6 % of the amended NRRP) in the form of pre financing, eight grant and four loan instalments. The disbursements are above the current EU average of 69.2 %. The last two payment requests covering two grant and two loan instalments are to be submitted to the European Commission by September 2026. The plan focuses on the green transition by devoting 37.1 % of the resources to it. It also fosters the digital transformation by committing 21.1 % of the funds (excluding the REPowerEU chapter) to digital projects. In the context of the 2025 European Semester, the Council recommended that Croatia accelerate the implementation of its NRRP. The European Parliament continues to ensure transparency and accountability through interinstitutional dialogues on RRF implementation, and scrutiny of the Commission's work. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Seventh edition. The 'NGEU delivery' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

The Justice Department had seized a phone and computers belonging to The Washington Post’s Hannah Natanson as part of a leak investigation.

The justices’ action follows last week’s opinion weakening a central element of the Voting Rights Act.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office has dropped plans to appeal a ruling by a federal judge that quashed two subpoenas to the Federal Reserve and its chairman.

The altercation near the Washington Monument occurred shortly after Vice President J.D. Vance passed by in a motorcade, a U.S. Secret Service official said.

The former New York mayor, 81, initially was placed on a ventilator but now is breathing on his own, his spokesman said.

The order reinstates mail access to the drug for one week while the justices consider emergency applications by drugmakers.

The private briefings on best practices for handling congressional oversight come as polls indicate Democrats have a strong edge ahead of the November midterms.

Users are spending an increasing amount of time on online platforms. In its preliminary findings published on 6 February 2026, the European Commission found TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) for its addictive design. It is the first time enforcement action has not focused on illegal content, data protection or competition, but on the harmful architecture of the platform itself, especially for minors and vulnerable adults. In March 2026, both Meta and YouTube were also found liable by a US jury for addictive design on their platforms. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

On 16 July 2025, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation establishing a budget expenditure tracking and performance framework and other horizontal rules for the Union programmes and activities ('performance regulation'), as part of a wide-ranging package on the next EU long-term budget – the 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework (MFF). The proposal aims to simplify and harmonise how EU spending is tracked and its performance measured, moving towards a single system with standardised indicators. It defines horizontal spending principles with a view to streamlining their application across the EU budget: climate and biodiversity, 'do no significant harm' to the environment, social policies, and gender equality. Although competitiveness and preparedness play a major role in the next long-term budget, and the European Parliament had requested to include them as horizontal spending principles, the Commission did not include them. Ahead of the proposal, Parliament had called for further improvements in performance reporting under the EU budget, while underlining that the 'implementation of horizontal principles should not lead to an excessive administrative burden on beneficiaries'. A stronger performance framework can improve Parliament's decision-making on EU spending through more transparency. However, increased transparency from a proposed single portal to access EU budgetary data will depend on what information is made available. A briefing requested by Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control underlined that improved access to information – such as exchanges between the Commission and Member States, or to information about suspended milestones – was essential for public accountability. According to the European Court of Auditors, the proposal can improve processes for performance reporting and integration of EU horizontal policy priorities, but has design weaknesses to be addressed, including vague indicators, lack of clear results-based linkages, and risks of measuring implementation rather than achievements. The Court estimates that the proposal may achieve simplification between the Commission and the Member States, but that the administrative burden at national, regional and beneficiary levels may remain unchanged or even worsen. Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

After decades of backing a “war on drugs,” the GOP has warmed to psychedelics for mental health treatment as high-profile backers and veterans tout the drugs.

The president left unclear what measures the U.S. would take and whether any forces would be at risk. Iran said it would strike any foreign force approaching the strait.

Trump called the operation a humanitarian gesture, but his statement left unclear what measures the U.S. would take and whether any forces would be at risk.

A buckshot pellet from the suspect’s shotgun “was intertwined with the fiber of the vest” worn by a Secret Service officer, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said.

Press Robinson, who years ago mounted a legal fight to become the first Black person elected to a Louisiana school board, was on the losing side of the Supreme Court case weakening the Voting Rights Act.

For a decade, golf’s biggest league shunned the president. In his second term, they’ve welcomed him back.

Democrats now hold a five-point advantage in support for Congress, up from two points in February.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled that the commonly used abortion drug mifepristone can only be picked up in-person.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled that the commonly used abortion drug mifepristone can only be picked up in-person.

Trump’s combative defense secretary has grown more self-assured of his job security despite his early missteps in the role, people familiar with the matter said.

The airline said early Saturday it had “no choice” but to wind down operations immediately, dashing hopes of a last-minute financial lifeline.

NATO said it was working to understand details of the plan to draw down about 5,000 troops, which coincides with a feud between the president and the German chancellor.

The airline said early Saturday it had “no choice” but to wind down operations immediately, dashing hopes of a last-minute financial lifeline.

In his first public speech since the White House correspondents’ dinner, the president mocked transgender weightlifters and the “medical crap” an adviser was telling him.

GOP-led states are rushing to take advantage of the Supreme Court’s decision to curtail the Voting Rights Act with new maps that could end the careers of several Black Democratic House members.

Trump also asked one of Barr’s rivals to drop out of the Republican primary in Kentucky, where the winner of that race is likely to succeed McConnell.

Trump’s statement came as the United States continues to enforce a naval blockade of Iran and as he declined to rule out additional strikes on the country.

Prosecutors had alleged that David Rivera had received a secret $50 million contract to influence the first Trump administration.

Liberals say they want a fighter. But Janet Mills, a popular governor who clashed with the president, failed to catch fire in Maine’s Senate race.

A Post-ABC-Ipsos poll shows most Americans call the military action a mistake, even as Republicans remain strongly supportive. Many fear the conflict will lead to a recession.