Members of the European Parliament have taken “second jobs” to an art form. According to the Financial Times, 59 MEPs are moonlighting in roles related to policy areas they legislate on, with only eight of them actually declaring any potential conflicts of interest. Brussels sleaze alert…
While the European Parliament technically bans “paid lobbying activities,” it still allows MEPs to work for organisations on the official lobby register, and helpfully doesn’t actually forbid conflicts of interest. The FT found more than two dozen MEPs working on files that appear directly related to their side gigs…
One example is German MEP Axel Voss, who leads negotiations on privacy complaint laws enforcing the EU’s GDPR, while also sitting on the data privacy board of Deutsche Telekom as a paid adviser. A European Parliament spokesperson insisted that “transparency was significantly reinforced.” Yet Transparency International’s Raphaël Kergueno argued “MEPs have had numerous chances to change the system, but they’ve decided not to do this. It’s only a matter of time until we get to the next scandal.” And Starmer still wants to cosy up to the Bloc…
Donald Trump has demanded Hamas agree to a peace deal and release all hostages by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday. He posted on Truth Social:
“Hamas has been a ruthless and violent threat, for many years, in the Middle East! They have killed (and made lives unbearably miserable), culminating with the October 7th MASSACRE, in Israel, babies, woman, children, old people, and many young men and women, boys and girls, getting ready to celebrate their future lives together. As retribution for the October 7th attack on civilization, more than 25,000 Hamas “soldiers” have already been killed. Most of the rest are surrounded and MILITARILY TRAPPED, just waiting for me to give the word, “GO,” for their lives to be quickly extinguished. As for the rest, we know where and who you are, and you will be hunted down, and killed. I am asking that all innocent Palestinians immediately leave this area of potentially great future death for safer parts of Gaza. Everyone will be well cared for by those that are waiting to help. Fortunately for Hamas, however, they will be given one last chance! Great, powerful, and very rich Nations of the Middle East, and the surrounding areas beyond, together with the United States of America, have agreed, with Israel signing on, to PEACE, after 3000 years, in the Middle East. THIS DEAL ALSO SPARES THE LIVES OF ALL REMAINING HAMAS FIGHTERS! The details of the document are known to the WORLD, and it is a great one for ALL! We will have PEACE in the Middle East one way or the other. The violence and bloodshed will stop. RELEASES THE HOSTAGES, ALL OF THEM, INCLUDING THE BODIES OF THOSE THAT ARE DEAD, NOW! An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time. Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.”
Thank you for your attention to this matter…
The White House colonnade is now adorned with the official portraits of every US president going back to George Washington. All except one…
Poland’s military command said jets had neutralised more than ten Russian drones that entered its airspace last night. At the same time as a major attack was launched on Ukraine…
Poland has described the incident as an “act of aggression.” This is the most significant violation of Poland’s airspace since the Ukraine war started and it is one day before the country closes its border crossings with Belarus. Polish authorities closed grounded flights at airports including Warsaw’s Chopin Airport. They have mostly restarted with severe delays. President Donald Tusk is holding an emergency government meeting this morning. Nato’s Air Command and the Netherlands scrambled fighters to help deal with the incursion. Developing…
Donald Trump has revoked former vice president Kamala Harris’ extended secret service detail. According to CNN, Harris’ protection will now end on 1st September, having been quietly extended by Joe Biden in the last days of his presidency. Under federal law, former vice presidents are entitled to six months of secret service protection upon leaving office. That expired in July…
CNN says Trump has now cancelled Biden’s year-long extension in a new letter:
“You are hereby authorized to discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorized by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law, for the following individual, effective September 1, 2025: Former Vice President Kamala D. Harris.”
Just as Harris is gearing up for a lucrative book tour in which she tries to explain her defeat last November…
FBI agents have conducted a search of the home of former US National Security Adviser John Bolton. The New York Post reports the raid is “said to involve classified documents“. Bolton has been a fierce critic of his old boss in recent years…
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X this afternoon:
NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) August 22, 2025
The FBI said it was conducting “authorised activity in the area“, and Associated Press reports Bolton has not been detained and no charges have been filed. Developing…
Speaking to Sky News off the back of Rachel Reeves’ Air Passenger Duty hike, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said:
“Labour is dependent on those Red Wall seats, and yet every move she makes poisons economic growth and damages the UK’s recovery… it’s the Chancellor who stumbles from policy misstep to policy misstep… I think her policy decisions are incredibly stupid.”