POLITICO

Ukrainian forces have reclaimed territory and taken Russian prisoners of war during a push along the frontline, according to reporting by Politico. The advance marks a claimed success for Kyiv's troops amid the ongoing war with Russia. Details on the exact location and scale of the gains were not provided, and the battlefield situation remains fluid.

President Trump's economic stewardship is registering poorly in public opinion polls, even as economic indicators point to a strengthening economy. Politico highlights the contradiction between weak polling numbers and strong economic performance, a gap that is drawing attention from analysts and shaping debate over whether voters' negative perceptions will persist or catch up with the improving data.

POLITICO has published interviews with three leading French presidential candidates: Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Gabriel Attal, drawing out key takeaways on their positions. Topics reportedly include Ukraine, Russia and NATO, with the item being shared among readers tracking French politics and European security ahead of the election.

President Trump has rejected the idea of a global entity to oversee artificial intelligence, according to Politico. The position signals that the United States will not back an international body for AI governance, setting up potential friction with allies and organisations pushing for coordinated global rules on advanced AI development and safety.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico are preparing to sue Donald Trump over a ban restricting their access to the White House. The legal challenge marks an escalation in the ongoing dispute between the administration and major news organisations over press access, with the outlets arguing the exclusion is unlawful. The move has drawn widespread attention to questions of press freedom in the United States.

The European Union is drawing up membership action plans for its most promising enlargement candidates, according to Politico. The plans would set out concrete steps for the strongest hopefuls on the path to joining the bloc. Enlargement has gained renewed momentum as the EU weighs how to integrate countries of the Western Balkans and Ukraine's neighborhood.

The UK is reviewing tariffs imposed on Chinese electric vehicle imports, according to Politico Europe. The move could signal a shift in Britain's trade stance toward Beijing, with potential consequences for domestic carmakers, consumers facing high EV prices, and relations with the EU, which has backed duties on Chinese EVs.

The European Union is preparing accession roadmaps for Ukraine and three other candidate countries, according to Politico Europe. The plans would set out the steps each country must take to join the bloc, covering reforms, rule-of-law requirements and alignment with EU law. Enlargement has gained urgency since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the roadmaps signal Brussels is moving from promises toward concrete timetables, though actual membership will still require unanimous approval from all member states.

Politico reports on a new Democratic plan aimed at preserving the federal Education Department, which has faced calls for dismantling or major downsizing. The proposal outlines how the party intends to defend the agency's core functions and funding, positioning education as a key battleground in Washington's budget and policy fights.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is mapping out the chamber's final run of votes before the midterm elections, Politico reports. The scheduling choices he makes in the coming weeks will determine which priorities reach the floor and which are left until after voters go to the polls, with control of Congress at stake.

Jonathan Reynolds says debate about returning to the EU creates uncertainty for business, according to Politico Europe. The remark, picked up by UA.NEWS, comes as discussion over Britain's future relationship with the EU resurfaces. Reynolds argues that reopening questions about membership unsettles firms that need stable, predictable trading conditions to plan and invest.

Immigration enforcement operations by ICE are creating political headaches for vulnerable Republicans facing tough reelection battles. Politico reports that the raids and heightened deportation activity are forcing at-risk GOP lawmakers to navigate between backing the administration's hardline agenda and responding to constituents alarmed by arrests in their communities, complicating their survival strategies heading into the next election cycle.

Politico examines whether the fast-moving, iterative development approach that made SpaceX dominant in rockets could be applied to nuclear power, an industry long slowed by regulation and cost overruns. The piece weighs SpaceX-style rapid prototyping against the safety demands of reactors, as new nuclear startups and government support for advanced reactors draw renewed attention in the United States.

Senator Rand Paul is being described as an obstacle to homeland security efforts, according to Politico reporting. The headline positions the Kentucky Republican as holding up legislation or policy work in the homeland security arena, though the available information does not specify which measures are affected or how. No further details on the substance of his objections or the response from colleagues are provided.

An Australian artificial intelligence researcher says people in Silicon Valley 'genuinely believe' their warnings about advanced AI, according to an interview reported by Politico. The comments highlight how seriously some technology leaders take the perceived risks of powerful AI systems, a debate that continues to divide researchers, companies and policymakers worldwide.

Politico reports on a nuclear power startup taking a page from SpaceX: moving fast, iterating on hardware, and pursuing rapid test cycles in an industry long defined by slow regulation and massive upfront costs. The piece highlights how Silicon Valley-style engineering culture is being imported into nuclear energy as demand for clean, always-on power surges.

A new Politico report examines how the White House's push to accelerate artificial intelligence development has run into friction with Anthropic, the safety-focused AI company. The piece suggests the administration's deregulatory ambitions are being complicated by Anthropic's cautious stance, making the company a flashpoint in the debate over how fast and how safely AI should advance in the United States.

The conservation foundation Oceana is pressing the European Union to preserve the strength of its common fisheries policy, warning against any weakening of current rules. The appeal, reported by Politico Europe, comes as the EU reviews how the policy is implemented. Oceana argues that rolling back commitments would threaten fish stocks and the sustainability of European waters.

Donald Trump has again spoken warmly about New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a progressive Democrat, in what Politico describes as the latest such display of cordiality between the two. The outlet argues the timing is awkward for Republicans, who have sought to portray Mamdani's brand of democratic socialism as a threat ahead of coming electoral contests.